The First Time Trivia Quiz

Answer: Pebble in the Sky

Isaac Asimov was a colossal titan of the science fiction genre and a member of the "Big Three" of authors, which included Arthur C. Clarke and Robert Heinlein. A prolific genius, he wrote or edited over 500 books, blending his science background with his fantastic imagination. In fact, he was the first author to have a book published in 9 of 10 categories of the Dewey decimal system. In fact, he missed only philosophy/psychology (100s). The appeal in his storytelling lay in his rigorous logic and world-building; for example, he revolutionized ethical thought with his "Robot" series, establishing the 'Three Laws of Robotics', which we call into question today when we explore which limitations to place on AI.

Asimov broke into the writing scene with the story "Pebble in the Sky". It follows a 20th-century tailor transported into a radioactive future where Earth is a backwater of a vast Galactic Empire. This debut showcased Asimov's early fascination with sociological conflict and laid the foundation for his expansive future history, like the "Empire" and "Foundation" series.

Answer: Patternmaster

Octavia E. Butler was a literacy force who reshaped the science fiction genre by centering the experiences of Black women. A multiple Hugo and Nebula Award winner, she was the first science fiction author to receive a MacArthur "Genius" Grant. Her strength lay in her ability to combine complex themes of power dynamics, racial hierarchy, and biological symbiosis into harrowing yet deeply human narratives.

Her central books like "Kindred" and the "Parable" series, she moved beyond traditional space opera to explore social entropy and human evolution. Butler's "Earthseed" philosophy famously predicted societal shifts with startling accuracy; her writing spawned the genre of Afrofuturism and empowered other authors of colour to add their creative spirit to the speculation of what the future may hold.

Her debut novel was "Patternmaster", published in 1976. Set in a post-apocalyptic future, it depicts a society governed by telepaths linked through a psychic pattern. The main character, Teray, is thrust into the role of a 'patternmaster' and has to come of age, but the story also deals with class struggles and the role of communication in society. The success of the story allowed Butler to continue this into a successful series.

Answer: Hot Sleep

Orson Scott Card is a name synonymous with modern science fiction. He is renowned for blending stories including military strategy with a deep and profound depth that connects with you emotionally and ethically. His writing prowess is famously displayed in the "Ender" series and its companion "Bean" series. His fame started with the seminal "Ender's Game" in 1985.

Card's depth lies in exploring empathy and the psychological burdens of leadership, particularly through the eyes of those who we do not expect it from, often children. He achieved an unprecedented feat in the genre, becoming the first author to win both the Hugo and Nebula Awards for Best Novel in two consecutive years ("Ender's Game" and "Speaker for the Dead").

All this started with "Hot Sleep", first published in 1979. It follows Jason "Jas" Worthing as he leads a group of colonists away from Earth to preserve a seemingly-dangerous genetic trait on a different world. This early work introduced Card's fascination with the concept of memory, one that he would use in his later novels extensively.

Answer: Against the Fall of Night

Arthur C. Clarke was a titan of science fiction, celebrated as one of the "Big Three" of the genre alongside Isaac Asimov and Robert Heinlein. His prowess stemmed from a unique fusion of scientific realism to metaphysical wonder, thus bridging the facts of science to the infinity of our imaginations. Best known for "2001: A Space Odyssey" and its sequels, he masterfully explored humanity's place in the cosmos and the potential for alien contact.

"Against the Fall of Night" was Clarke's first major fictional breakthrough. Though published first in the magazine "Startling Stories" in 1948, it was later printed as a book in 1953. This novella about the immortal city of Diaspar and the hidden city of Lys, while contrasting humanity's reach for the stars with a return to the basics established Clarke's themes of evolution, technology, and the far-distant future. Clarke later revisited the story and rewrote it as "The City and the Stars".

Answer: Solar Lottery

Philip K. Dick was a magnificent author whose work transcended traditional sci-fi. In fact, many of his works dove deep into the fragility of reality and the essence of identity. His unique ability was his ability to create "paranoia-fueled" narratives where characters constantly question their memories, their surroundings, and their very humanity (or lack thereof). Unlike his contemporaries who focused on outer space, Dick explored the "inner space" of self, pioneering themes of simulated realities, drug culture, and corporate surveillance. It may be said that his work was the foundation for what would soon become the cyberpunk genre.

"Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" and "The Man in the High Castle" are Dick's two most well-known novels. However, he started his literary career with "Solar Lottery", first put in print in 1955. Set in a dystopian future where the world's leader is chosen by a randomizing computer called "The Bottle", the story explores corporate intrigue and high-stakes assassination. Even at the onset, the nature of power was a point of fascination for Dick.

Answer: Rocket Ship Galileo

Robert Heinlein was often called the "Dean of Science Fiction" as a foundational author who bridged the gap between pulp adventure and literary sophistication. His expertise lay in his rigorous engineering plausibility and provocative exploration of social themes like individual liberty and military ethics. Unlike many contemporaries, Heinlein centered his stories on what he called "competent men" navigating complex systems. Along with Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov, he is considered one of the "Big Three" of the genre. He pioneered the idea of hard science fiction (plausible stories based on scientific facts) while pushing sociological boundaries.

Robert Heinlein's debut novel in book form was "Rocket Ship Galileo", first published in 1947. This was an adventure about three teenagers and their uncle, all building a moon rocket. The story launched his iconic series of what became known as 'Scribner's juveniles' - science fiction novels aimed at the young adult audience. Though his first short story, "Life-Line", appeared back in 1939, "Rocket Ship Galileo" established his mastery of storytelling.

Answer: The Dragon in the Sea

Frank Herbert was a master of the printed word whose best-known work, "Dune", redefined the limits of science fiction and became one of my favourite novels of all time. It was published in 1965, actually after years of research into the state of Oregon's sand dunes, "Dune" shifted the genre away from robots and ray guns to focus on the potential of the human mind and the dangers of religious fervour. Herbert's world-building on the desert planet Arrakis was unparalleled. What Tolkien did for languages, Herbert did for other worlds. He introduced the Melange spice, the witches of the Bene Gesserit, and created the Fremen culture. He expanded this intricate universe through five sequels (and many more by his son, Brian), exploring the long-term consequences of power and the stagnation of empires.

Nevertheless, Frank Herbert's first published novel was called "The Dragon in the Sea". It was first published in 1965, and was set aboard a high-tech submarine during a global resource war. It followed a psychologist's mission to find a spy in a high pressure and fast-paced environment.

Answer: Rocannon's World

Ursula K. Le Guin was one of the first science fiction authors that I was exposed to, and her stories did not disappoint. Her approach was a soft sci-fi approach, focusing on anthropology, psychology, and environmentalism rather than just on hardware. In her "Earthsea" cycle, she reinvented fantasy by replacing the typical "war of good versus evil" with a Taoist quest for balance, and both good and evil can be found in each of us.

While she had published stories previously, Ursula K. Le Guin's first novel was "Rocannon's World". It serves as the bridge between her early interest in high fantasy and the sprawling "Hainish" interstellar universe. The "Hainish" cycle challenged gender norms by giving us societies of humans that operate outside of the binary gender system. The story follows an ethnographer stranded on a primitive planet who must embark on a heroic quest to save his friends, blending space travel with the ever-present battle of good vs. evil that can unite differences. It became a sort-of prequel to "The Left Hand of Darkness" which was the foundational book in the "Hainish" cycle.

Answer: The Big U

Neal Stephenson is one of those sci-fi writers that makes you feel like the genre is an ages-old art. Many of his works are characterized by dense technical research, sprawling plots, and a dry, sharp wit. He effortlessly weaves complex disciplines like cryptography, orbital mechanics, and linguistics into high-stakes and fast-paced adventures. His strength is in the details, which never seem dry when he adds them in.

His 2008 masterpiece, "Anathem", one of my favourite books, is perhaps the ultimate example of this. In it, Stephenson imagines a world where intellectuals live in monastic seclusion, protecting ancient knowledge of math and philosophy from a volatile outside world. By fusing Platonic realism with quantum many-worlds theory, Stephenson created an epic novel that hits you intellectually on many levels.

However, Stephenson did not start there. His first published novel was "The Big U", written while he was still a student. Perhaps reflecting on his feelings at the time, it is satire of life at "American Megaversity", a giant, skyscraper-campus where academic bureaucracy and student subcultures spiral into a surreal civil war. One of the interesting things in this debut is that Stephenson allowed himself to use humour as a part of the narrative, something he avoided later on.

Answer: Five Weeks in a Balloon

Alongside H.G. Wells, Jules Verne stands as a foundational pillar of science fiction. Together, the two of them are aptly known as the fathers of the genre. Verne was a visionary, seeing the future through the lens of meticulous research. He extrapolated the burgeoning technologies of the Industrial Revolution of his time into grand adventures. Verne's influence is most felt in his "Voyages Extraordinaires" series.

This series included the masterpieces "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea", "Journey to the Center of the Earth", and "From the Earth to the Moon". In them, Verne predicted everything from lunar modules and electric submarines to solar sails. Imagination or innovation were one and the same to him. In fact, by centering his narratives on the thrill of exploration and the marvels of engineering, Verne didn't just tell stories, he provided us with the blueprints for the future. These ideas inspired generations of real-world scientists and explorers to actually create the things that we were told about.

While he wrote plays and short stories earlier, Verne's first full-length novel was "Five Weeks in a Balloon". Published in 1863, it follows a Dr. Samuel Ferguson as he attempts to cross the African continent in a hydrogen-filled balloon. It was popular almost immediately and opened the door to the successful career that Verne would have.