Trying to find a sci-fi book I read as a kid

Squeegee Beckenheim · 9th August 2017, 03:27 PM

Unfortunately, I can't remember a great deal about it, so I'm hoping someone here is familiar enough with it to recognise it from very sparse information.

The premise, as I remember it, has a contemporary man (I'm thinking 80s, but maybe 70s) killed in some unique way and then being resurrected in the future in an also unique robot body that looks and feels like a human body, but has all the advantages (like strength) of a robot.

The only other things I can remember are that he pilots a spaceship at some point; that he has the companionship of a couple of women, and that he sleeps with both of them simultaneously; and that there's a scene where he realises that he can sit comfortably without the use of a chair by locking his legs in a sitting position.

That's all I can remember, which I know isn't a lot to go on at all. It's possible that the title has the word "sun" in it, and that maybe the plot revolves around him having to save the Earth from some sun-related disaster or something, but I say both of those things with a very low percentage estimate of certainty. I don't remember it being particularly good, but I do remember it being quite fun, and I think I'd enjoy revisiting it.

I am trying to think of another one, but I may have recalled it. There was a novel which felt "old-fashioned" to me in which the protagonist had to travel through lots of different worlds by stepping on numbered steps, as if disconnected stairs from a staircase. I think this is probably James Blish's The Jack Of Eagles. Does that sound right to anybody who knows that story well?

smartcooky · 9th August 2017, 11:28 PM

Man Plus (Frederick Pohl)?

Squeegee Beckenheim · 10th August 2017, 01:20 AM

Not that, no. Thanks for the suggestion, though.

big-E · 10th August 2017, 02:48 AM

Quote:

...the protagonist had to travel through lots of different worlds by stepping on numbered steps, as if disconnected stairs from a staircase...

This sounds a little bit like 'The Impacted Man' by Robert Sheckley... the stairs weren't numbered though.

sts60 · 10th August 2017, 04:07 AM

The second one does sound like Jack of Eagles, where the protagonist is going through the "sigma sequence" - basically parallel worlds which for some reason (explained n the story, but long forgotten) he needs to physically step up between each. They weren't explicitly numbered, though, IIRC.

Squeegee Beckenheim · 10th August 2017, 11:01 AM

I could well be misremembering the numbers thing from what I think is probably Jack Of Eagles.

Seismosaurus · 10th August 2017, 01:54 PM

Originally Posted by Squeegee Beckenheim

The premise, as I remember it, has a contemporary man (I'm thinking 80s, but maybe 70s) killed in some unique way and then being resurrected in the future in an also unique robot body that looks and feels like a human body, but has all the advantages (like strength) of a robot.

The only other things I can remember are that he pilots a spaceship at some point; that he has the companionship of a couple of women, and that he sleeps with both of them simultaneously; and that there's a scene where he realises that he can sit comfortably without the use of a chair by locking his legs in a sitting position.

That's all I can remember, which I know isn't a lot to go on at all. It's possible that the title has the word "sun" in it, and that maybe the plot revolves around him having to save the Earth from some sun-related disaster or something, but I say both of those things with a very low percentage estimate of certainty. I don't remember it being particularly good, but I do remember it being quite fun, and I think I'd enjoy revisiting it.

I'm fairly sure I've read this, but I have no idea what the title is or who wrote it.

As I recall, the opening was set in the future and the guy was on a space flight when there was some accident and he was frozen in space. They had to wait decades until the technology to revive him became available. And meanwhile he was not declared to be legally dead, and his money was managed by trustees - and thanks to some cool inventions he'd come up with, his estate became colossally valuable. Unfortunately for him, his return thus triggered some kind of political shenanigans.

He also woke in something of a dystopian world in which most people lived pretty miserable lives - and this was at least partly the fault of his company, which dominated the economy and government. That's what made the trustees nervous, that he might want to "correct" things.

Does that sound familiar to you?

DevilsAdvocate · 10th August 2017, 09:17 PM

Originally Posted by Seismosaurus

I'm fairly sure I've read this, but I have no idea what the title is or who wrote it.

As I recall, the opening was set in the future and the guy was on a space flight when there was some accident and he was frozen in space. They had to wait decades until the technology to revive him became available. And meanwhile he was not declared to be legally dead, and his money was managed by trustees - and thanks to some cool inventions he'd come up with, his estate became colossally valuable. Unfortunately for him, his return thus triggered some kind of political shenanigans.

He also woke in something of a dystopian world in which most people lived pretty miserable lives - and this was at least partly the fault of his company, which dominated the economy and government. That's what made the trustees nervous, that he might want to "correct" things.

Does that sound familiar to you?

That sounds like The Unincorporated Man. He's a not a robot, though.

cullennz · 10th August 2017, 10:53 PM

Have no idea, but just because it bears the flimsiest similarity to Buck Rogers I can manage it gives me a chance to post the greatest scene rom the show ever filmed

It's cringeness is flawless

Buck Gets Funky!

jimbob · 12th August 2017, 01:13 AM

Originally Posted by Seismosaurus

I'm fairly sure I've read this, but I have no idea what the title is or who wrote it.

As I recall, the opening was set in the future and the guy was on a space flight when there was some accident and he was frozen in space. They had to wait decades until the technology to revive him became available. And meanwhile he was not declared to be legally dead, and his money was managed by trustees - and thanks to some cool inventions he'd come up with, his estate became colossally valuable. Unfortunately for him, his return thus triggered some kind of political shenanigans.

He also woke in something of a dystopian world in which most people lived pretty miserable lives - and this was at least partly the fault of his company, which dominated the economy and government. That's what made the trustees nervous, that he might want to "correct" things.

Does that sound familiar to you?

Or Today We Choose Faces by Roger Zelazny.

The protagonist is a Mafia hitman who is resurrected by the future Mob for a job as they are now another corporation and have lost most experience of illegality - part of the conceit is that the businesses from the laundered money are more profitable and less risky than criminal enterprises.

Squeegee Beckenheim · 12th August 2017, 05:47 AM

Seismosaurus' suggestion doesn't ring a bell, but my memories are vague enough that I can't actually say that that isn't it. I am reasonably certain he was a contemporary man, though.

I'm sure it's not the Zelazny one.

Trebuchet · 12th August 2017, 07:47 AM

There's a Niven "corpsicle" one that seems similar, but not similar enough.

jimbob · 12th August 2017, 08:53 AM

Originally Posted by Squeegee Beckenheim

Seismosaurus' suggestion doesn't ring a bell, but my memories are vague enough that I can't actually say that that isn't it. I am reasonably certain he was a contemporary man, though.

I'm sure it's not the Zelazny one.

No, the Zelazny one sounded a bit like the one that Seismosaurus was describing.

RationalVetMed · 19th August 2017, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by Trebuchet

There's a Niven "corpsicle" one that seems similar, but not similar enough.

A World Out of Time maybe? But not a robot, sorry.

Niall

Trebuchet · 19th August 2017, 01:19 PM

Originally Posted by RationalVetMed

A World Out of Time maybe? But not a robot, sorry.

Niall

That's the one I was thinking of, yes. I knew it wasn't what was being looked for.

Squeegee Beckenheim · 20th August 2017, 02:28 AM

Originally Posted by RationalVetMed

A World Out of Time maybe? But not a robot, sorry.

Niall

Not that, but thanks for the suggestion.

SOdhner · 23rd August 2017, 08:21 AM

https://www.goodreads.com/group/show...e-of-that-book

This is a group on Goodreads dedicated to answering these sorts of questions. Give it a shot, maybe they can find it.

Dr. Keith · 23rd August 2017, 10:29 AM

I'm pretty sure that was a Hardy Boys book. Maybe Encyclopedia Brown, but I'm leaning more towards the Hardy Boys.

jimbob · 23rd August 2017, 10:30 AM

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...is_the_Hangman

Some similar themes. Until I googled the name, I hadn't realised it was also Roger Zelazny.

Squeegee Beckenheim · 30th August 2017, 03:02 PM

Originally Posted by SOdhner

https://www.goodreads.com/group/show...e-of-that-book

This is a group on Goodreads dedicated to answering these sorts of questions. Give it a shot, maybe they can find it.

Thanks, I'll give that a go.

9th August 2017, 03:27 PM	#1
Squeegee Beckenheim Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 22,374	Trying to find a sci-fi book I read as a kid Unfortunately, I can't remember a great deal about it, so I'm hoping someone here is familiar enough with it to recognise it from very sparse information. The premise, as I remember it, has a contemporary man (I'm thinking 80s, but maybe 70s) killed in some unique way and then being resurrected in the future in an also unique robot body that looks and feels like a human body, but has all the advantages (like strength) of a robot. The only other things I can remember are that he pilots a spaceship at some point; that he has the companionship of a couple of women, and that he sleeps with both of them simultaneously; and that there's a scene where he realises that he can sit comfortably without the use of a chair by locking his legs in a sitting position. That's all I can remember, which I know isn't a lot to go on at all. It's possible that the title has the word "sun" in it, and that maybe the plot revolves around him having to save the Earth from some sun-related disaster or something, but I say both of those things with a very low percentage estimate of certainty. I don't remember it being particularly good, but I do remember it being quite fun, and I think I'd enjoy revisiting it. I am trying to think of another one, but I may have recalled it. There was a novel which felt "old-fashioned" to me in which the protagonist had to travel through lots of different worlds by stepping on numbered steps, as if disconnected stairs from a staircase. I think this is probably James Blish's The Jack Of Eagles. Does that sound right to anybody who knows that story well?
	__________________ I don't trust atoms. They make up everything.

9th August 2017, 11:28 PM	#2
smartcooky Philosopher Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Nelson, New Zealand Posts: 9,713	Man Plus (Frederick Pohl)?
	__________________ _{As democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move toward a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. - Henry Louis Mencken - Baltimore Evening Sun, July 26, 1920}

10th August 2017, 01:20 AM	#3
Squeegee Beckenheim Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 22,374	Not that, no. Thanks for the suggestion, though.
	__________________ I don't trust atoms. They make up everything.

10th August 2017, 02:48 AM	#4
big-E Thinker Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 158	Quote: ...the protagonist had to travel through lots of different worlds by stepping on numbered steps, as if disconnected stairs from a staircase... This sounds a little bit like 'The Impacted Man' by Robert Sheckley... the stairs weren't numbered though.
big-E Thinker Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 158

10th August 2017, 04:07 AM	#5
sts60 Illuminator Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3,066	The second one does sound like Jack of Eagles, where the protagonist is going through the "sigma sequence" - basically parallel worlds which for some reason (explained n the story, but long forgotten) he needs to physically step up between each. They weren't explicitly numbered, though, IIRC.
sts60 Illuminator Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3,066

10th August 2017, 11:01 AM	#6
Squeegee Beckenheim Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 22,374	I could well be misremembering the numbers thing from what I think is probably Jack Of Eagles.
	__________________ I don't trust atoms. They make up everything.

10th August 2017, 01:54 PM	#7
Seismosaurus Philosopher Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 5,648	Originally Posted by Squeegee Beckenheim The premise, as I remember it, has a contemporary man (I'm thinking 80s, but maybe 70s) killed in some unique way and then being resurrected in the future in an also unique robot body that looks and feels like a human body, but has all the advantages (like strength) of a robot. The only other things I can remember are that he pilots a spaceship at some point; that he has the companionship of a couple of women, and that he sleeps with both of them simultaneously; and that there's a scene where he realises that he can sit comfortably without the use of a chair by locking his legs in a sitting position. That's all I can remember, which I know isn't a lot to go on at all. It's possible that the title has the word "sun" in it, and that maybe the plot revolves around him having to save the Earth from some sun-related disaster or something, but I say both of those things with a very low percentage estimate of certainty. I don't remember it being particularly good, but I do remember it being quite fun, and I think I'd enjoy revisiting it. I'm fairly sure I've read this, but I have no idea what the title is or who wrote it. As I recall, the opening was set in the future and the guy was on a space flight when there was some accident and he was frozen in space. They had to wait decades until the technology to revive him became available. And meanwhile he was not declared to be legally dead, and his money was managed by trustees - and thanks to some cool inventions he'd come up with, his estate became colossally valuable. Unfortunately for him, his return thus triggered some kind of political shenanigans. He also woke in something of a dystopian world in which most people lived pretty miserable lives - and this was at least partly the fault of his company, which dominated the economy and government. That's what made the trustees nervous, that he might want to "correct" things. Does that sound familiar to you?
	__________________ Promise of diamonds in eyes of coal She carries beauty in her soul

10th August 2017, 09:17 PM	#8
DevilsAdvocate Illuminator Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 4,980	Originally Posted by Seismosaurus I'm fairly sure I've read this, but I have no idea what the title is or who wrote it. As I recall, the opening was set in the future and the guy was on a space flight when there was some accident and he was frozen in space. They had to wait decades until the technology to revive him became available. And meanwhile he was not declared to be legally dead, and his money was managed by trustees - and thanks to some cool inventions he'd come up with, his estate became colossally valuable. Unfortunately for him, his return thus triggered some kind of political shenanigans. He also woke in something of a dystopian world in which most people lived pretty miserable lives - and this was at least partly the fault of his company, which dominated the economy and government. That's what made the trustees nervous, that he might want to "correct" things. Does that sound familiar to you? That sounds like The Unincorporated Man. He's a not a robot, though.
	__________________ Heaven forbid someone reads these words and claims to be adversely affected by them, thus ensuring a barrage of lawsuits filed under the guise of protecting the unknowing victims who were stupid enough to read this and believe it! - Kevin Trudeau

10th August 2017, 10:53 PM	#9
cullennz Embarrasingly illiterate Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 14,097	Have no idea, but just because it bears the flimsiest similarity to Buck Rogers I can manage it gives me a chance to post the greatest scene rom the show ever filmed It's cringeness is flawless Buck Gets Funky!
	__________________ I generally oppose gun control, but I support the ban on assault weapons and I support a slightly longer waiting period to purchase a gun. With today’s Internet technology we should be able to tell within 72-hours if a potential gun owner has a record. Source: The America We Deserve, by Donald Trump, p.102 , Jul 2, 2000

12th August 2017, 01:13 AM	#10
jimbob Uncritical "thinker" Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: UK Posts: 19,479	Originally Posted by Seismosaurus I'm fairly sure I've read this, but I have no idea what the title is or who wrote it. As I recall, the opening was set in the future and the guy was on a space flight when there was some accident and he was frozen in space. They had to wait decades until the technology to revive him became available. And meanwhile he was not declared to be legally dead, and his money was managed by trustees - and thanks to some cool inventions he'd come up with, his estate became colossally valuable. Unfortunately for him, his return thus triggered some kind of political shenanigans. He also woke in something of a dystopian world in which most people lived pretty miserable lives - and this was at least partly the fault of his company, which dominated the economy and government. That's what made the trustees nervous, that he might want to "correct" things. Does that sound familiar to you? Or Today We Choose Faces by Roger Zelazny. The protagonist is a Mafia hitman who is resurrected by the future Mob for a job as they are now another corporation and have lost most experience of illegality - part of the conceit is that the businesses from the laundered money are more profitable and less risky than criminal enterprises.
	__________________ OECD healthcare spending Expenditure on healthcare http://www.oecd.org/els/health-systems/health-data.htm link is 2015 data (2013 Data below): UK 8.5% of GDP of which 83.3% is public expenditure - 7.1% of GDP is public spending US 16.4% of GDP of which 48.2% is public expenditure - 7.9% of GDP is public spending

12th August 2017, 05:47 AM	#11
Squeegee Beckenheim Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 22,374	Seismosaurus' suggestion doesn't ring a bell, but my memories are vague enough that I can't actually say that that isn't it. I am reasonably certain he was a contemporary man, though. I'm sure it's not the Zelazny one.
	__________________ I don't trust atoms. They make up everything.

12th August 2017, 07:47 AM	#12
Trebuchet Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The Great Northwet Posts: 19,093	There's a Niven "corpsicle" one that seems similar, but not similar enough.
	__________________ Cum catapultae proscribeantur tum soli proscripti catapultas habeant.

12th August 2017, 08:53 AM	#13
jimbob Uncritical "thinker" Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: UK Posts: 19,479	Originally Posted by Squeegee Beckenheim Seismosaurus' suggestion doesn't ring a bell, but my memories are vague enough that I can't actually say that that isn't it. I am reasonably certain he was a contemporary man, though. I'm sure it's not the Zelazny one. No, the Zelazny one sounded a bit like the one that Seismosaurus was describing.
	__________________ OECD healthcare spending Expenditure on healthcare http://www.oecd.org/els/health-systems/health-data.htm link is 2015 data (2013 Data below): UK 8.5% of GDP of which 83.3% is public expenditure - 7.1% of GDP is public spending US 16.4% of GDP of which 48.2% is public expenditure - 7.9% of GDP is public spending

19th August 2017, 12:55 PM	#14
RationalVetMed Graduate Poster Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 1,467	Originally Posted by Trebuchet There's a Niven "corpsicle" one that seems similar, but not similar enough. A World Out of Time maybe? But not a robot, sorry. Niall
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19th August 2017, 01:19 PM	#15
Trebuchet Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The Great Northwet Posts: 19,093	Originally Posted by RationalVetMed A World Out of Time maybe? But not a robot, sorry. Niall That's the one I was thinking of, yes. I knew it wasn't what was being looked for.
	__________________ Cum catapultae proscribeantur tum soli proscripti catapultas habeant.

20th August 2017, 02:28 AM	#16
Squeegee Beckenheim Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 22,374	Originally Posted by RationalVetMed A World Out of Time maybe? But not a robot, sorry. Niall Not that, but thanks for the suggestion.
	__________________ I don't trust atoms. They make up everything.

23rd August 2017, 08:21 AM	#17
SOdhner Graduate Poster Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,743	https://www.goodreads.com/group/show...e-of-that-book This is a group on Goodreads dedicated to answering these sorts of questions. Give it a shot, maybe they can find it.

23rd August 2017, 10:29 AM	#18
Dr. Keith Not a doctor. Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 17,510	I'm pretty sure that was a Hardy Boys book. Maybe Encyclopedia Brown, but I'm leaning more towards the Hardy Boys.
	__________________ I once proposed a fun ban. Suffering is not a punishment not a fruit of sin, it is a gift of God. He allows us to share in His suffering and to make up for the sins of the world. -Mother Teresa

23rd August 2017, 10:30 AM	#19
jimbob Uncritical "thinker" Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: UK Posts: 19,479	https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...is_the_Hangman Some similar themes. Until I googled the name, I hadn't realised it was also Roger Zelazny.
	__________________ OECD healthcare spending Expenditure on healthcare http://www.oecd.org/els/health-systems/health-data.htm link is 2015 data (2013 Data below): UK 8.5% of GDP of which 83.3% is public expenditure - 7.1% of GDP is public spending US 16.4% of GDP of which 48.2% is public expenditure - 7.9% of GDP is public spending

30th August 2017, 03:02 PM	#20
Squeegee Beckenheim Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 22,374	Originally Posted by SOdhner https://www.goodreads.com/group/show...e-of-that-book This is a group on Goodreads dedicated to answering these sorts of questions. Give it a shot, maybe they can find it. Thanks, I'll give that a go.
	__________________ I don't trust atoms. They make up everything.