SF story about a super-intelligent dog?
January 23, 2012 11:47 PM Subscribe
Please help me identify this science-fiction short story about a super-intelligent dog.
This short story was published in "Analog" (or possibly "Galaxy", but I doubt it) some time in the late 70s or early 80s. It was told from the point of view of a dog who had been specially bred for intelligence so that he could actually think and reason ("Canis sapiens", as it were). The dog had also been surgically altered so that his front paws could function as crude hands.
In the story, the dog was sent through a military obstacle course, full of automated or remote controlled weaponry firing live ammo, which he had to either avoid or neutralize. In one scene, he used his hands/paws to throw grenades; in another he avoided a (robotic?) machine gun emplacement by leaping on top of the turret and waiting for his chance to leap away towards his goal.
Any ideas?
This short story was published in "Analog" (or possibly "Galaxy", but I doubt it) some time in the late 70s or early 80s. It was told from the point of view of a dog who had been specially bred for intelligence so that he could actually think and reason ("Canis sapiens", as it were). The dog had also been surgically altered so that his front paws could function as crude hands.
In the story, the dog was sent through a military obstacle course, full of automated or remote controlled weaponry firing live ammo, which he had to either avoid or neutralize. In one scene, he used his hands/paws to throw grenades; in another he avoided a (robotic?) machine gun emplacement by leaping on top of the turret and waiting for his chance to leap away towards his goal.
Any ideas?
I'm not sure what story you're thinking of, e-man, but I am sure you should read Bradley Denton's 2005 novella "Sergeant Chip." (20,000 words.)
posted by cgc373 at 2:45 AM on January 24, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by cgc373 at 2:45 AM on January 24, 2012 [2 favorites]
Yeah, are you sure this isn't Sergeant Chip? What a great story.
posted by Malla at 5:29 AM on January 24, 2012
posted by Malla at 5:29 AM on January 24, 2012
Response by poster: No, neither of those stories are the one I'm looking for, although "Sergeant Chip" seems to be written in a similar spirit.
One more thing: at the end of the obstacle course, the dog meets his "master" - the officer/scientist who leads the project that created him. The officer explains to the dog the purpose behind his creation [Spoiler].
posted by e-man at 9:17 AM on January 24, 2012
One more thing: at the end of the obstacle course, the dog meets his "master" - the officer/scientist who leads the project that created him. The officer explains to the dog the purpose behind his creation [Spoiler].
posted by e-man at 9:17 AM on January 24, 2012
Is it Ralph von Wau-Wau? Featured in several stories by Spider Robinson.
posted by Bruce H. at 1:35 PM on January 24, 2012
posted by Bruce H. at 1:35 PM on January 24, 2012
Best answer: I haven't been able to find the info, but someone else apparently was looking for the same story on rec.arts.written.sf in 2003. Totally long shot but in Google Groups if you click Show Options to get the headers and then the ellipses in the redacted email address, a Captcha should let you see the full address - and you could email the person to see if they ever found out. There's also an index of Analog (it definitely sounds like an Analog and not a Galaxy or F&SF story) here, if you think you might recognize the title and you feel like slogging through dozens of issues' listings.
posted by aught at 1:47 PM on January 24, 2012
posted by aught at 1:47 PM on January 24, 2012
Response by poster: Aught, the story noted in rec.arts.written.sf is indeed the one I'm looking for. I'll try to follow up.
posted by e-man at 11:13 PM on January 24, 2012
posted by e-man at 11:13 PM on January 24, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
(I haven't read it myself, so I don't know the details, but I know it is about a super-intelligent dog...)
posted by maybeandroid at 12:38 AM on January 24, 2012