Science Fiction Short Story Search

February 21, 2006 9:07 AM

Help identify science fiction short stories that originally ran in either Analog or Asimov magazine.

These would have ran, best guess, somewhere between 1981 and 1995.

In the first story, the setting was a near-future earth where quirky AI systems (and quirky technology in general) were pervasive. For example, when the protaganist picked up a phone to make a long-distance call, the AI systems of the long distance companies would come on the line and bicker with each other to give lowest bid for the call. Or he could gamble with a gas pump system to get a lower price.

Other details I can hazily recall (hopefully from the same story): the protaganist was some sort of privite investigator/cop; there was a scene where he described shaving himself by spaying foam over his face, letting it set a bit, the ripping it off all at once. A car crash would result in the entire car filling with safety foam. He would help himself wake up by shocking himself with a car battery.

The second story was based on the moon (or somewhere with a life support system). The protaganist had rigged up some home-brew plant-based oxygen generator and wanted to discontinue service from the air utility company, but they wouldn't comply. So he keeps paying his utility bill in odd ways (the only one I can recall is in a different currency than whatever is the norm for the storyworld). Eventually the utility company sends out some sort of inspector and they come to some agreement.

Both of these stories definitely were light-hearted vs. "hard" science fiction. Just knowing the titles/authors would be great, links for buying/reading a nice bonus. Thanks!

posted by mikepop to writing & language (5 comments total)

Not sure if you looked on the magazines' search pages:

Asimov's SF
Analog
posted by JJ86 at 10:33 AM on February 21, 2006

While this doesn't really help, a lot of the things you described are from seperate SF stories:

Or he could gamble with a gas pump system to get a lower price. Reminds me of the Toaster from the Red Dwarf trilogy

a scene where he described shaving himself by spaying foam over his face, Sounds a bit like the depilatory cream used in Stranger in a Strange Land (minus the ripping off part)

A car crash would result in the entire car filling with safety foam Was used in Demolition Man.

Like i said, doesn't really help, but it's interesting (to me) to see that these themes were appropriated for later stories.

Good luck!
posted by quin at 10:49 AM on February 21, 2006

I would highly recommend taking this question to the Asimov's forums. You'll have your answers in a day or two.
posted by JeremyT at 11:42 AM on February 21, 2006

Other details I can hazily recall (hopefully from the same story): the protaganist was some sort of privite investigator/cop; there was a scene where he described shaving himself by spaying foam over his face, letting it set a bit, the ripping it off all at once. A car crash would result in the entire car filling with safety foam. He would help himself wake up by shocking himself with a car battery.

This has a bit of a Larry Niven feel. Is it possible that it's one of his "Gil 'The Arm' Hamilton" stories?
posted by interrobang at 4:36 PM on February 21, 2006

Diplilatory cream was also used in "Farnham's Freehold", by Robert Heinlein. I guess Bob hated shaving as much as I do. Where's my diplilatory cream?
posted by Goofyy at 1:08 AM on February 22, 2006