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

Buy Jupiter and other stories
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SOLVED: Adult Fiction > SOLVED. Science Fiction Short Story about Powerful Computer that stops working. [s]

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message 1: by Elisabeth (new)

Elisabeth | 8 comments There's this short story about this computer that is super intelligent and can answer every question ever but one day stops working. A couple of scientists start to try and figure out what whent wrong and discuss the possibilities of why it stopped working. I remember at one point they discuss if the computer would be able or not to know the price/amount of grain produced.
Eventually one of them decides to write a question but this time adds the word "please" before submitting it. This causes the computer to start working again


message 2: by Kris (new)

Kris | 54908 comments Mod
Elisabeth, around what year did you read this short story?

Is it from a sci-fi anthology/ collection for adults or teens? (What was the common theme of the short stories?)


message 3: by SamSpayedPI (new)

SamSpayedPI | 2306 comments One of the stories in The Cyberiad by Stanisław Lem perhaps? I don't remember that one in particular, but it seems similar to some of the other stories.


message 4: by Ayshe (new)

Ayshe | 4720 comments "Key Item" by Isaac Asimov seems to be it.


message 5: by SamSpayedPI (new)

SamSpayedPI | 2306 comments Ayshe wrote: ""Key Item" by Isaac Asimov seems to be it."

That's collected in Buy Jupiter and Other Stories I think.


message 6: by Elisabeth (new)

Elisabeth | 8 comments Ayshe wrote: ""Key Item" by Isaac Asimov seems to be it."

Yes that's it! I remember reading it in 7th grade and I really enjoyed it! Thank you so much!


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