quote:

Originally posted by grasstains:
Somebody else (Charles Grant or Forry Ackerman perhaps) outdid him by one letter when they wrote:
"The last man on Earth sat alone in a room, there was a lock on the door....."

Then there was Grant or Ackerman (I think) writing a one letter story entitled something like "Galactic Report Card Rating Earth's Third Quarter Performance" which was, of course, "F".

That was Forry who outdid him by one letter, and wrote "lock".

That was also Ack who wrote the book you refer to, "Cosmic Report Card: Earth". I have an original, signed copy given me by Forry, also signed by RB, George Clayton Johnson, Ann Robinson, and various guests at Forry's 89th Birthday Bash last November.

Says Ackerman, "At the time, it was considered that Fredric Brown had written the world’s shortest; "The last man on Earth sat alone in a room. There was a knock on the door…" So I penned the shortest possible story I could imagine, suggesting that aliens were grading all the planets in our solar system."

http://books.lulu.com/content/170951

Be sure to click on "View Back Cover" - funny man.

Mr. Spauding,

You are one lucky dude. Please indulge us with the story of how you went about collecting this wonderful piece of SF history, the word "memorabilia" just doesn't seem to do justice to the extreme coolness of it. I'd love to see a science fiction-themed episode of ANTIQUE ROADSHOW.

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quote:

Originally posted by grasstains:
Please indulge us with the story of how you went about collecting this wonderful piece of SF history...

Nothing to tell, really. 4E just gave copies out as gifts to attendees of the bash last year.

Wonder what he'll give this year. Seventeen more days!

quote:

Originally posted by Doug Spaulding:

quote:

Originally posted by grasstains:
Please indulge us with the story of how you went about collecting this wonderful piece of SF history...

Nothing to tell, really. 4E just gave copies out as gifts to attendees of the bash last year.

Wonder what he'll give this year. Seventeen more days!

I have an invitation to the 90th Birthday celebration, but I don't have anyone to go with. Would like company, assuming that you are attending? I live in Laguna Hills.
email: patrask2@cox.net

Back to the name change...

A full moon peered out from behind the clouds as lightning struck the roof of the Tesla Emporium. After an AC shocker or two, the robots within were in a talkative mood.

“Heard about Robot Lincoln?”
“Ayah. He can be found neither hither nor thither.”
“Well, old Hoover has it that Lincoln’s listening device picked something up.”
“You don’t mean to say—“
“Yes, what The Tin Man and Adam Link came closest to. In his chest enclosure, where once may beat a heart…he heard a murmur.”
“He’s Geppettoed then.”
“Yes. Robot Lincoln is now a real live boy.”

Arrrr, an eez'a shifty one at that.

Repeat after me--five times, as fast as you can.
Never seen a shiftier scene shifter.
Never seen a shiftier scene shifter.
Never seen a shiftier scene shifter.
Never seen Charlie Sheen's sister.
Afro Sheen Shaft hair seen blister.

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I knew there'd be some ribbing up at the big house. What I also liked about it is not only am I a real boy, I'm a real word too...