Short Story with a simple form of machine evolution
Clash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP
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This story Starts out like the standard "Planet of the Apes" routine: Space voyagers from Earth get caught in some sort of warp and return to a recognizable Earth, but the civilization they knew is long gone. In this story, however, all macro biological life has disappeared completely, to be replaced by a wilderness of feral machines, many of them replicating the standard biological forms: amulatory predators/prey (analogous to animals), sessile energy accumulators (like plants), even sea "creatures". Some predators are able to use parts of their prey directly, although most incorporate some kind of smelter or other recycling feature that allows them to mine basic materials from prey. Explosives are part of the repertoire of prey defenses, hinting that some of this may have been kicked off by humans tinkering with autonomous machines meant for warfare. I think it was by a well-known SF author, like, say, Robert Silverberg. I believe it dates back to the 1980s, could have encountered it in a collection of older stuff, but it's definitely post-60s, as integrated chips are mentioned explicitly as a resource.
story-identification short-stories evolution
asked Dec 8 at 0:42
willibro
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up vote
6
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favorite
This story Starts out like the standard "Planet of the Apes" routine: Space voyagers from Earth get caught in some sort of warp and return to a recognizable Earth, but the civilization they knew is long gone. In this story, however, all macro biological life has disappeared completely, to be replaced by a wilderness of feral machines, many of them replicating the standard biological forms: amulatory predators/prey (analogous to animals), sessile energy accumulators (like plants), even sea "creatures". Some predators are able to use parts of their prey directly, although most incorporate some kind of smelter or other recycling feature that allows them to mine basic materials from prey. Explosives are part of the repertoire of prey defenses, hinting that some of this may have been kicked off by humans tinkering with autonomous machines meant for warfare. I think it was by a well-known SF author, like, say, Robert Silverberg. I believe it dates back to the 1980s, could have encountered it in a collection of older stuff, but it's definitely post-60s, as integrated chips are mentioned explicitly as a resource.
story-identification short-stories evolution
asked Dec 8 at 0:42
willibro
314
add a comment |
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
This story Starts out like the standard "Planet of the Apes" routine: Space voyagers from Earth get caught in some sort of warp and return to a recognizable Earth, but the civilization they knew is long gone. In this story, however, all macro biological life has disappeared completely, to be replaced by a wilderness of feral machines, many of them replicating the standard biological forms: amulatory predators/prey (analogous to animals), sessile energy accumulators (like plants), even sea "creatures". Some predators are able to use parts of their prey directly, although most incorporate some kind of smelter or other recycling feature that allows them to mine basic materials from prey. Explosives are part of the repertoire of prey defenses, hinting that some of this may have been kicked off by humans tinkering with autonomous machines meant for warfare. I think it was by a well-known SF author, like, say, Robert Silverberg. I believe it dates back to the 1980s, could have encountered it in a collection of older stuff, but it's definitely post-60s, as integrated chips are mentioned explicitly as a resource.
story-identification short-stories evolution
asked Dec 8 at 0:42
willibro
314
This story Starts out like the standard "Planet of the Apes" routine: Space voyagers from Earth get caught in some sort of warp and return to a recognizable Earth, but the civilization they knew is long gone. In this story, however, all macro biological life has disappeared completely, to be replaced by a wilderness of feral machines, many of them replicating the standard biological forms: amulatory predators/prey (analogous to animals), sessile energy accumulators (like plants), even sea "creatures". Some predators are able to use parts of their prey directly, although most incorporate some kind of smelter or other recycling feature that allows them to mine basic materials from prey. Explosives are part of the repertoire of prey defenses, hinting that some of this may have been kicked off by humans tinkering with autonomous machines meant for warfare. I think it was by a well-known SF author, like, say, Robert Silverberg. I believe it dates back to the 1980s, could have encountered it in a collection of older stuff, but it's definitely post-60s, as integrated chips are mentioned explicitly as a resource.
story-identification short-stories evolution
story-identification short-stories evolution
asked Dec 8 at 0:42
willibro
314
asked Dec 8 at 0:42
willibro
314
edited Dec 8 at 0:51
asked Dec 8 at 0:42
willibro
314
asked Dec 8 at 0:42
willibro
314
asked Dec 8 at 0:42
willibro
314
314
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add a comment |
2 Answers
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This is probably Poul Anderson's story "Epilogue" which fits all of the details you mention. There's a discussion of the story at http://poulandersonappreciation.blogspot.com/2013/08/epilogue.html and another at https://polaris93.livejournal.com/2745134.html. It was first published in Analog Science Fact -> Science Fiction, March 1962 and has been reprinted many times, see the ISFDB: http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?61784
answered Dec 8 at 1:12
Mark Olson
12.1k24172
Thanks, that's definitely it.
– willibro
Dec 9 at 3:12
add a comment |
up vote
4
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A novel, not a short story, is a quirky tale by James Hogan, Code of the Lifemaker. 1983. ISFDB: http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/se.cgi?arg=code+of+the+lifemaker&type=Fiction+Titles
(Though ISFDB does say an "excerpt" was published as a story.)
Somewhat humorous. Reasonably good (not Hogan's best, not his worst).
Includes a prologue with a pretty entertaining description of how the moon Titan gets "colonized" by a species of completely self-aware robots. How they live, reproduce, have politics and governments, etc. Some of the robots are "people" and others are "animals".
And then mankind detects odd sporadic radio signals from there and decides to investigate. For some reason, some of the scientific/research crew going out there consists of a "mind reading" charlatan and his tight crew of accomplices.
These images of the cover will give you an idea: google image search
(Even if it isn't the story you're thinking of check it out.)
answered Dec 8 at 4:09
davidbak
9251616
1
I agree with davidbak. Even if this isn't the story you are seeking if you like the other one you would probably like this book as well. Even better, there is a sequel.
– beichst
Dec 8 at 15:53
Thanks, an interesting suggestion! I think what provoked my memory of the story was a recent read of Ken Macleod's "The Corporation Wars" trilogy, which is also fairly funny and features intelligent, semi-evolved machines.
– willibro
Dec 9 at 3:14
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
9
down vote
This is probably Poul Anderson's story "Epilogue" which fits all of the details you mention. There's a discussion of the story at http://poulandersonappreciation.blogspot.com/2013/08/epilogue.html and another at https://polaris93.livejournal.com/2745134.html. It was first published in Analog Science Fact -> Science Fiction, March 1962 and has been reprinted many times, see the ISFDB: http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?61784
answered Dec 8 at 1:12
Mark Olson
12.1k24172
Thanks, that's definitely it.
– willibro
Dec 9 at 3:12
add a comment |
up vote
9
down vote
This is probably Poul Anderson's story "Epilogue" which fits all of the details you mention. There's a discussion of the story at http://poulandersonappreciation.blogspot.com/2013/08/epilogue.html and another at https://polaris93.livejournal.com/2745134.html. It was first published in Analog Science Fact -> Science Fiction, March 1962 and has been reprinted many times, see the ISFDB: http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?61784
answered Dec 8 at 1:12
Mark Olson
12.1k24172
Thanks, that's definitely it.
– willibro
Dec 9 at 3:12
add a comment |
up vote
9
down vote
up vote
9
down vote
This is probably Poul Anderson's story "Epilogue" which fits all of the details you mention. There's a discussion of the story at http://poulandersonappreciation.blogspot.com/2013/08/epilogue.html and another at https://polaris93.livejournal.com/2745134.html. It was first published in Analog Science Fact -> Science Fiction, March 1962 and has been reprinted many times, see the ISFDB: http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?61784
answered Dec 8 at 1:12
Mark Olson
12.1k24172
This is probably Poul Anderson's story "Epilogue" which fits all of the details you mention. There's a discussion of the story at http://poulandersonappreciation.blogspot.com/2013/08/epilogue.html and another at https://polaris93.livejournal.com/2745134.html. It was first published in Analog Science Fact -> Science Fiction, March 1962 and has been reprinted many times, see the ISFDB: http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?61784
answered Dec 8 at 1:12
Mark Olson
12.1k24172
answered Dec 8 at 1:12
Mark Olson
12.1k24172
answered Dec 8 at 1:12
Mark Olson
12.1k24172
answered Dec 8 at 1:12
Mark Olson
12.1k24172
12.1k24172
Thanks, that's definitely it.
– willibro
Dec 9 at 3:12
add a comment |
Thanks, that's definitely it.
– willibro
Dec 9 at 3:12
Thanks, that's definitely it.
– willibro
Dec 9 at 3:12
Thanks, that's definitely it.
– willibro
Dec 9 at 3:12
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
A novel, not a short story, is a quirky tale by James Hogan, Code of the Lifemaker. 1983. ISFDB: http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/se.cgi?arg=code+of+the+lifemaker&type=Fiction+Titles
(Though ISFDB does say an "excerpt" was published as a story.)
Somewhat humorous. Reasonably good (not Hogan's best, not his worst).
Includes a prologue with a pretty entertaining description of how the moon Titan gets "colonized" by a species of completely self-aware robots. How they live, reproduce, have politics and governments, etc. Some of the robots are "people" and others are "animals".
And then mankind detects odd sporadic radio signals from there and decides to investigate. For some reason, some of the scientific/research crew going out there consists of a "mind reading" charlatan and his tight crew of accomplices.
These images of the cover will give you an idea: google image search
(Even if it isn't the story you're thinking of check it out.)
answered Dec 8 at 4:09
davidbak
9251616
1
I agree with davidbak. Even if this isn't the story you are seeking if you like the other one you would probably like this book as well. Even better, there is a sequel.
– beichst
Dec 8 at 15:53
Thanks, an interesting suggestion! I think what provoked my memory of the story was a recent read of Ken Macleod's "The Corporation Wars" trilogy, which is also fairly funny and features intelligent, semi-evolved machines.
– willibro
Dec 9 at 3:14
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
A novel, not a short story, is a quirky tale by James Hogan, Code of the Lifemaker. 1983. ISFDB: http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/se.cgi?arg=code+of+the+lifemaker&type=Fiction+Titles
(Though ISFDB does say an "excerpt" was published as a story.)
Somewhat humorous. Reasonably good (not Hogan's best, not his worst).
Includes a prologue with a pretty entertaining description of how the moon Titan gets "colonized" by a species of completely self-aware robots. How they live, reproduce, have politics and governments, etc. Some of the robots are "people" and others are "animals".
And then mankind detects odd sporadic radio signals from there and decides to investigate. For some reason, some of the scientific/research crew going out there consists of a "mind reading" charlatan and his tight crew of accomplices.
These images of the cover will give you an idea: google image search
(Even if it isn't the story you're thinking of check it out.)
answered Dec 8 at 4:09
davidbak
9251616
1
I agree with davidbak. Even if this isn't the story you are seeking if you like the other one you would probably like this book as well. Even better, there is a sequel.
– beichst
Dec 8 at 15:53
Thanks, an interesting suggestion! I think what provoked my memory of the story was a recent read of Ken Macleod's "The Corporation Wars" trilogy, which is also fairly funny and features intelligent, semi-evolved machines.
– willibro
Dec 9 at 3:14
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
A novel, not a short story, is a quirky tale by James Hogan, Code of the Lifemaker. 1983. ISFDB: http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/se.cgi?arg=code+of+the+lifemaker&type=Fiction+Titles
(Though ISFDB does say an "excerpt" was published as a story.)
Somewhat humorous. Reasonably good (not Hogan's best, not his worst).
Includes a prologue with a pretty entertaining description of how the moon Titan gets "colonized" by a species of completely self-aware robots. How they live, reproduce, have politics and governments, etc. Some of the robots are "people" and others are "animals".
And then mankind detects odd sporadic radio signals from there and decides to investigate. For some reason, some of the scientific/research crew going out there consists of a "mind reading" charlatan and his tight crew of accomplices.
These images of the cover will give you an idea: google image search
(Even if it isn't the story you're thinking of check it out.)
answered Dec 8 at 4:09
davidbak
9251616
A novel, not a short story, is a quirky tale by James Hogan, Code of the Lifemaker. 1983. ISFDB: http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/se.cgi?arg=code+of+the+lifemaker&type=Fiction+Titles
(Though ISFDB does say an "excerpt" was published as a story.)
Somewhat humorous. Reasonably good (not Hogan's best, not his worst).
Includes a prologue with a pretty entertaining description of how the moon Titan gets "colonized" by a species of completely self-aware robots. How they live, reproduce, have politics and governments, etc. Some of the robots are "people" and others are "animals".
And then mankind detects odd sporadic radio signals from there and decides to investigate. For some reason, some of the scientific/research crew going out there consists of a "mind reading" charlatan and his tight crew of accomplices.
These images of the cover will give you an idea: google image search
(Even if it isn't the story you're thinking of check it out.)
answered Dec 8 at 4:09
davidbak
9251616
answered Dec 8 at 4:09
davidbak
9251616
answered Dec 8 at 4:09
davidbak
9251616
answered Dec 8 at 4:09
davidbak
9251616
9251616
1
I agree with davidbak. Even if this isn't the story you are seeking if you like the other one you would probably like this book as well. Even better, there is a sequel.
– beichst
Dec 8 at 15:53
Thanks, an interesting suggestion! I think what provoked my memory of the story was a recent read of Ken Macleod's "The Corporation Wars" trilogy, which is also fairly funny and features intelligent, semi-evolved machines.
– willibro
Dec 9 at 3:14
add a comment |
1
I agree with davidbak. Even if this isn't the story you are seeking if you like the other one you would probably like this book as well. Even better, there is a sequel.
– beichst
Dec 8 at 15:53
Thanks, an interesting suggestion! I think what provoked my memory of the story was a recent read of Ken Macleod's "The Corporation Wars" trilogy, which is also fairly funny and features intelligent, semi-evolved machines.
– willibro
Dec 9 at 3:14
1
1
I agree with davidbak. Even if this isn't the story you are seeking if you like the other one you would probably like this book as well. Even better, there is a sequel.
– beichst
Dec 8 at 15:53
I agree with davidbak. Even if this isn't the story you are seeking if you like the other one you would probably like this book as well. Even better, there is a sequel.
– beichst
Dec 8 at 15:53
Thanks, an interesting suggestion! I think what provoked my memory of the story was a recent read of Ken Macleod's "The Corporation Wars" trilogy, which is also fairly funny and features intelligent, semi-evolved machines.
– willibro
Dec 9 at 3:14
Thanks, an interesting suggestion! I think what provoked my memory of the story was a recent read of Ken Macleod's "The Corporation Wars" trilogy, which is also fairly funny and features intelligent, semi-evolved machines.
– willibro
Dec 9 at 3:14
add a comment |
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