Science fiction and fantasy: Xenite.Org -- Worlds of Imagination on the Web!

Andre Norton Forum

All Damnthings

Archive index

Andre Norton Forum
All Forums

  Posted by Irene Harrison on August 04, 2000 at 08:08:21:
In Reply to: Re: The Damnthing posted by Michael Martinez on August 03, 2000 at 20:24:45:



: : I just had to laugh. Anyone who remembers the Damnthings from : : H Beam Piper's 'Fuzzy' stories would know instantly just : : exactly how Andre feels about her computer.

: I've met Irene a time or two, but I don't know if she is old enough to remember that all computers used to be called "beasts". Andre has never became a Beastmaster (or Beastmistress), I guess. :)

I don't remember the Damnthings in the 'Fuzzy' stories. Guess I'm going to have to visit the library.

Maybe calling computers "beasts" is a regional thing?

I've been in computers since they first got user terminals - ah, that means punch cards for most programming and paper tapes for re-booting, and user terminals for Wang calculators (like the credit card calculators of today) and terminals for the NEW on-line programming language APL. I remember that even 6 years later I was using a tele-type terminal that I could type faster than it could print the letters on it's paper.

I advised Andre not to use drums to disrupt the robots in "No Folded Handes", but she went with them. My suggestion was have the drums bring lightening - that could disrupt the innards of a robot, and probably any communications with a home base.

In a more modern time, I would have just suggested that she send a virus to the robots - or better yet, just have them all have Microsoft operating systems - then they'd crash often & just have to be re-booted.

Signed, Irene (I am a real programmer, do not try this at home) Harrison


Tip: Earlier messages, if they are missing when you click on the links, may be in a lower-numbered archive. Edit the URL in your browser window to change the archive number. Ex. archive_02/ becomes archive_01/.
Tip: Click on the Andre Norton Forum link to followup to archived messages. You'll need to copy the text from this message and repost it in your new message.


The Andre Norton Forum is a Xenite.Org Web site.

Xenite.Org is home to Lord of the Rings movie news. We have been providing the most comprehensive Lord of the Rings movie news on the Web since February 1998.

Xenite.Org also brings you Xena Online Resources. Xena Online Resources is the Web's largest directory of Hercules and Xena-related content.

Xenite.Org is home to more than 100 science fiction and fantasy Web sites.

The Andre Norton Forum is an independent, moderated forum provided as a courtesy to fans of Andre Norton by Xenite.Org. Please be sure to review our Posting Policy before participating in our forums. This archive is provided as a courtesy of Xenite.Org and in no way implies or imparts any liability or obligation on our part to uphold or maintain the content provided herein. This message and other archived messages from Xenite.Org forums may contain content not necessarily endorsed, reviewed, or approved by Xenite.Org and/or its moderation staff. All opinions expressed in these archives are those of the original posters and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of Xenite.Org, its owner or owners, moderators, administrators, and/or other volunteer staff or agents. All content is copyright the original poster unless otherwise noted. This page is copyright © 1997-2001 Michael L. Martinez. All rights reserved. No reproduction, electronic or otherwise, may be made without the express permission of the copyright holders, except as occurs in normal browser caching and search engine indexing. You may print one copy of this page for your personal use.