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Quiz about More Science Fiction First Lines
Quiz about More Science Fiction First Lines

More Science Fiction First Lines Quiz


Can you remember which science fiction books the following first lines are from? Some are from 'Young Adult' fiction.

A multiple-choice quiz by Rowena8482. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
Rowena8482
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
274,310
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
765
Last 3 plays: Guest 62 (0/10), Guest 86 (3/10), PurpleComet (7/10).
Question 1 of 10
1. Which work by Diana Wynne-Jones starts with the line
"Have you heard of the Flying Dutchman? No? Nor of the Wandering Jew? Well it doesn't matter."?
Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Which Anne McCaffrey book opens with the line
"Torrents of rain covered the western side of the great Tranh mountain range of Altair, streaming in muddy runnels down slopes already saturated with nine straight days of precipitation."?
Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Which science fiction classic opens with the line
"Dr Strauss says I shoud rite down what I think and remembir and evrey thing that happins to me from now on." (sic)
Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. "The reeds scarcely moved as the animals wound their way through them." is the first line of which classic dystopian novel? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Which Andre Norton novel begins with the lines
"The city was very large. When Kristie had been one of the very Littles, she used to make herself dizzy by lying on her back and looking up."
Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. "Today we're going to show you eight silent ways to kill a man." is the opening line of which novel? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Which classic science fiction novel opens with the line
"Like a radar echo bounding from a distant object and returning to its source, the sound of Roy Complain's beating heart seemed to him to fill the clearing."?
Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Which book by Mike Resnick opens with the line
"'This place looks pretty full,' remarked Thaddeus Flint to the brightly clad, undersized hunchback standing next to him."?
Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. The following is the first line of the "Prodrome" of a science fiction novel by John Christopher. Which one?
"As sometimes happens, death healed a family breach."
Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Which Young Adult book by Alan Garner begins with the line
"The guard knocked on the door of the compartment as he went past."
Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 05 2024 : Guest 62: 0/10
Feb 17 2024 : Guest 86: 3/10
Feb 08 2024 : PurpleComet: 7/10
Feb 02 2024 : Guest 76: 4/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Which work by Diana Wynne-Jones starts with the line "Have you heard of the Flying Dutchman? No? Nor of the Wandering Jew? Well it doesn't matter."?

Answer: The Homeward Bounders

First published in 1981, "The Homeward Bounders" tells the story of Jamie and his attempts to return home after being trapped in the mysterious "Game" by the even more mysterious "Them."
2. Which Anne McCaffrey book opens with the line "Torrents of rain covered the western side of the great Tranh mountain range of Altair, streaming in muddy runnels down slopes already saturated with nine straight days of precipitation."?

Answer: The Rowan

"The Rowan," first published in 1990, is the first book in Anne McCaffrey's "The Tower and the Hive" series, and introduces the "Talents."
3. Which science fiction classic opens with the line "Dr Strauss says I shoud rite down what I think and remembir and evrey thing that happins to me from now on." (sic)

Answer: Flowers for Algernon

"Flowers for Algernon," also printed as "Charly," by Daniel Keyes, was first published in 1966. It won a Nebula Award and (as the original short story,) a Hugo Award.
4. "The reeds scarcely moved as the animals wound their way through them." is the first line of which classic dystopian novel?

Answer: Greybeard

"Greybeard" is by Brian Aldiss, and was first published in 1964. It tells the story of a world in which no children are born, and follows an aging man and his wife as they wander aimlessly looking for "something" to give purpose to their lives.
5. Which Andre Norton novel begins with the lines "The city was very large. When Kristie had been one of the very Littles, she used to make herself dizzy by lying on her back and looking up."

Answer: Outside

"Outside" was first published in 1974.
Andre Norton's first novels were published in the 1940s and she is still being published posthumously, having written well over 200 books for children and young adults.
6. "Today we're going to show you eight silent ways to kill a man." is the opening line of which novel?

Answer: The Forever War

"The Forever War" by Joe Haldeman was first published in 1974, and won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards.
It is an allegory of the dislocation felt by veterans returning from Vietnam, and tells the story of draftee William Mandella.
7. Which classic science fiction novel opens with the line "Like a radar echo bounding from a distant object and returning to its source, the sound of Roy Complain's beating heart seemed to him to fill the clearing."?

Answer: Non-Stop

"Non-Stop" by Brian Aldiss is set on a lost "Generation ship" sent out to colonise a distant planet.
First published in 1958, it was reprinted as part of the "SF Masterworks" series.
8. Which book by Mike Resnick opens with the line "'This place looks pretty full,' remarked Thaddeus Flint to the brightly clad, undersized hunchback standing next to him."?

Answer: The Best Rootin' Tootin' Shootin' Gunslinger in the Whole Damned Galaxy

"The Best Rootin' Tootin' Shootin' Gunslinger in the Whole Damned Galaxy" (first published in 1983) is the fourth book in Resnick's "Galactic Midway" series about a travelling carnival owner who sees an opportunity to make money by "going galactic" and touring the planets with his shows.
The other three books in the series are "Sideshow" (1982), "The Three Legged Hootch Dancer" (1983), and "The Wild Alien Tamer" (also 1983).
9. The following is the first line of the "Prodrome" of a science fiction novel by John Christopher. Which one? "As sometimes happens, death healed a family breach."

Answer: The Death of Grass

"The Death of Grass" was first published in 1956, and made into a film called "No Blade of Grass" in 1970.
The part of Clara in the film was played by Wendy Richard of "Are You Being Served" and "Eastenders" fame.
10. Which Young Adult book by Alan Garner begins with the line "The guard knocked on the door of the compartment as he went past."

Answer: The Weirdstone of Brisingamen

"The Weirdstone of Brisingamen" was first published in 1960, and is the first book in the "Alderley" series, set in the English county of Cheshire.
Source: Author Rowena8482

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Related Quizzes
This quiz is part of series Rowena's Sci-fi Quizzes:

All the science fiction quizzes I have written, apart from the ones about books by Robert A. Heinlein and C. J. Cherryh which have their own quiz lists.

  1. Anne McCaffrey's "Tower and Hive" books Average
  2. Raising Dragons Average
  3. Old Man's War Average
  4. The Last Colony Average
  5. Let's Hear it for the Girls Tough
  6. Joy to the Jovian Tough
  7. Which End of the World is This? Tough
  8. Science Fiction First Lines Average
  9. Red Pill, Blue Pill Tough
  10. Xenobiology, Xenophobia, Xenophily Tough
  11. Root for the Home Team Tough
  12. Where Angels (Still) Fear to Tread Tough

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