What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

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Query abandoned by poster > ABANDONED. a man who crashlands a spaceship on an alien world and finds a seemingly abandoned alien city

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message 1: by Revevil (new)

Revevil | 5 comments Hello,

To anyone who can help me. I don't understand why, but I'm obsessed with this book I read part of 25 years ago. I do not know the author name or book name, and it may have even been a short story. This much I can tell you:

I read the book in mid or late 80's, so it could not have been published after that. The book is about a man who crashlands a spaceship on an alien world and finds a seemingly abandoned alien city. I believe it has skyscrapers that are made of black glass. (This story is NOT The City by Ray Bradbury). In the story, I remember the man going through different buildings and trying to find some sign of life; but as far as I was into the book, he did not yet find any signs of life. There was something watching him, maybe something sinister, the entire time he was walking through the city. The age range of the book may be for children or young adults.

The authors I used to read are Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Douglas Adams, C.S. Lewis, Madeleine L'Engle, and J.R.R. Tolkien.

I can't stop thinking about this book, like it has hold of part of me. Is it not amazing that a story in a book can grab hold of you and never let go? How am I affected this much by this story? If anyone can tell me what story this was, I will be eternally grateful.

I know this may sound silly, but I'm writing my own book right now and I feel like I need to get back the part of me that became mesmerized and trapped within the confines of that book.


message 2: by Ann aka Iftcan (new)

Ann aka Iftcan (iftcan) | 6917 comments Mod
The Last Planet possibly? It's not a 100% match, but it fits in with the authors you were reading then.


message 3: by Revevil (new)

Revevil | 5 comments Ann aka Iftcan wrote: "The Last Planet possibly? It's not a 100% match, but it fits in with the authors you were reading then."

I don't think thats it, but thank you for bringing that up. That book sounds very close, and I think I will look at the rest of her book collection. I'm glad you mentioned that book because I forgot about that author, and looking at her books with those vintage sci-fi covers, thats what I used to read. It might also be another one of her books I read too. Andre Norton aka Alice Mary Norton. She made a lot of books too.


message 4: by Justanotherbiblophile (last edited May 14, 2014 01:05AM) (new)

Justanotherbiblophile | 1814 comments Perhaps you'd like to update your title to something like 'apparently abandoned alien city' optionally with: (found by crash-landed human).

Only one I can think of is a whole ship of people, and they eventually find some life... so not even gonna provide a name, unless you're really unsure of what you're looking for (which it doesn't sound like you are).


message 5: by Cumbling Michael (last edited May 14, 2014 01:14PM) (new)

Cumbling Michael (CumblingMichael) | 165 comments Hi Revevil

A couple of suggestions, neither of which is exactly what you described.

The first is the Robert Heinlein short story "By His Bootstraps" featured in the collection "The Menace From Earth". The Menace from Earth (Future History, #18) by Robert A. Heinlein This does feature the exploration of an abandoned alien city, but not space travel, because (view spoiler)

My second suggestion is Andre Norton's "Galactic Derelict" Galactic Derelict (Time Traders/Ross Murdock, #2) by Andre Norton , which features both space travel and abandoned alien cities. (view spoiler) Andre Norton may not have been the greatest writer of dialogue, but goodness she could imagine a fascinating story.

Cheers now


message 6: by Revevil (new)

Revevil | 5 comments Mike wrote: "Hi Revevil

A couple of suggestions, neither of which is exactly what you described.

The first is the Robert Heinlein short story "By His Bootstraps" featured in the collection "The Menace From Ea..."


Thank you, I will check those books out. I was also thinking that I used to be into these multiple choice books as well. Not just Choose Your Own Adventure, but the longer ones with less illustrations and a lot more text. It was like reading almost an entire chapter and then being presented with a decision to make. I tried to Google these book series, and whoa they are obscure!! Guess they are not that popular anymore, but I used to love reading all those series. I think tomorrow I am going to the library where I checked out that book and see if they still have it.

BTW, if I find out exactly which book I was talking about, for sure I will post the name and let you guys know too.


message 7: by Revevil (new)

Revevil | 5 comments I just figured out they have a category for those books here! They are called Gamebooks. I am going to be looking through those. This website is awesome!


message 8: by Abby (new)

Abby | 215 comments Excuse me for not being as familiar with Ray Bradbury. Is "The City" one of the stories that occurs in The Martian Chronicles?


message 9: by Justanotherbiblophile (last edited May 15, 2014 07:19PM) (new)

Justanotherbiblophile | 1814 comments According to a simple google search, "The City" is a short story in _The Illustrated Man_

spoilers:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Illu...

But, it's about a group of humans (vs. one guy) exploring an apparently abandoned alien city (view spoiler)

Which is why the OP told us it was not that suggestion in their query.


message 10: by Abby (new)

Abby | 215 comments That's the search results I was getting too. Well then, in the fear of being redundant, try giving The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury a try. I remember a man exploring an alien city on Mars.


message 11: by Serena (last edited May 16, 2014 06:43AM) (new)

Serena | 106 comments Could be Andre Norton's 'The Stars Are Ours' 2ed in series, 'Star Born'? Both are in 'Star Flight'.


Justanotherbiblophile | 1814 comments Second book is _Ad Astra_

And has a group in a rocket sled investigate a dead alien city, and get (kinda) shot down by anti-aircraft weapons.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star...

In _The Martian Chronicles_ the story that seems the most plausible is:
"The Musicians" (boys playing in ruins)


message 13: by Revevil (new)

Revevil | 5 comments Thank you everyone for the suggestions. I still have not found the book I was looking for, but if I do I will post it here right away.


message 14: by Kate (new)

Kate Farrell | 4040 comments Mod
Revevil, if you bump this thread up every month or so, it will keep people thinking about it and new people to the site will see it. More people looking!


message 15: by Vyron (new)

Vyron | 2 comments i beleive the book you are looking for is the x factor by andre norton


message 16: by Vyron (new)

Vyron | 2 comments the x factor by andre norton


message 17: by Michele (new)

Michele | 2488 comments The X Factor for the click.


message 18: by Lobstergirl, au gratin (new)

Lobstergirl | 44924 comments Mod
Revevil, was "The X Factor" your book or are you still looking?


message 19: by Lobstergirl, au gratin (new)

Lobstergirl | 44924 comments Mod
Lobstergirl wrote: "Revevil, was "The X Factor" your book or are you still looking?"

No response in 3 years. Moving to Abandoned.


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