Sci-Fi Plots and Their Authors Quiz

Answer: H. G. Wells

The aliens in this case are Martians and the novel by H. G. Wells was first serialised before being published in hardcover in 1898. It is called "The War of the Worlds". The Martians are more advanced than humans on Earth and have decided to take over Earth as remaining on Mars is becoming impractical. Eliminating mankind is part of the plan.

Answer: Arthur C. Clarke

Arthur C. Clarke's 1968 novel "2001: A Space Odyssey" is the one being hinted at here. Although Clarke received the credit, it was a joint project with Stanley Kubrick who was behind the film version developed at the same time. Some earlier short stories of Clarke's contributed to the story line. An alien monolith uncovered on the moon triggers a space mission.

The spacecraft's artificial intelligence goes rogue.

Answer: Douglas Adams

"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" started off as a radio sitcom broadcast between 1978 and 1980. The novel with the same title came out in 1979. This became part of a 'trilogy' of five books, a TV series and film adaptation. The novel starts off with Arthur Dent protesting against plans to demolish his house.

This pales into insignificance when the Vogons arrive. He and his alien friend Ford Prefect survive the destruction of Earth by hitching a ride in a spaceship.

Answer: John Wyndham

The is the first novel by this author writing as John Wyndham. The author's birth name was John Wyndham Parkes Lucas Beynon Harris and he also wrote using the pen names John Benyon, John B. Harris, Lucas Parkes and Wyndham Parkes. He had four earlier novels starting in 1927 although his first short story appeared in 1919 (written as J. W. B. Harris).

"The Day of the Triffids" (1951) depicts a post-apocalyptic Earth where most people have been blinded by the green light from an apparent meteor shower. Society tries to adapt in different ways. Things are complicated by a bioengineered carnivorous plant (a triffid) which becomes a problem for the human population due its ability to move.

Answer: Iain M. Banks

Iain M. Bank's 1987 science fiction novel "Consider Phlebias" is in the space opera genre. The novel is part of the Culture post-scarcity civilisation created by Banks, with this being the first of ten such novels. The Culture ship minds often use enhanced humans as their proxies.

The shape-changing mercenary Horza becomes involved in trying to retrieve a ship mind which has survived the destruction of its host body.

Answer: Naomi Alderman

The 2016 novel "The Power" by Naomi Alderman is in the form of a manuscript depicting an imagined history 5,000 years in the past. A tumultuous 21st century is described when womankind becomes dominant as a result of developing the ability to project electricity from their hands. The story follows four characters as the powers develop. The novel has been adapted for television.

Answer: Gareth L. Powell

Author of the "Ack-Ack Macaque" (2012-15) and "Embers of War" (2018-2020) trilogies, Gareth L. Powell also wrote "Stars and Bones" (2022). First in the "Continuance" series, an alien intelligence called the Benevolence disapproves of the way humans treat their planet.

The entire population is therefore placed on a thousand sentient spaceships and sent on their way. Some time later the ark ships encounter a less benevolent alien force.

Answer: China Miéville

Winning both science fiction and fantasy awards, China Miéville's 2009 novel "The City & The City" sees Inspector Tyador Borlú investigating the murder of a foreign student. The settings are the twin city states of Besźel and Ul Qoma that co-exist in the same physical area but whose citizens are not permitted to view or interact with the other city or its citizens. Failure to "unsee" the other place and its citizens constitutes the crime of "breaching".

This complicates the investigation.

Answer: Nick Harkaway

A war involving "go-away bombs" has reduced Earth's population to a couple of billion. The bombs, intended to disappear whatever was targeted, had an unfortunate side-effect which results in a new problem. A fix is found (called FOX) which is supplied via a pipeline. The narrator is hired to extinguish a fire which threatens the pipeline during which his past catches up with him.

Answer: Stephen Baxter

This is a sequel to H. G. Well's 1895 novella "The Time Machine". The 1995 novel "The Time Ships" by Stephen Baxter was authorised by Wells' estate and written to commemorate the centenary of the original novella's publication. The same time traveller endeavours to go back to save Weena (an Eloi in the first book) but finds out he has changed the future by writing of his earlier experiences.

He now has further time travelling adventures with a Morlock called Nebogipfel in tow.