A long time ago I read a short story, the premise of which was that the pun was the only original form of humor on Earth, the rest having been introduced to Earth by aliens. Considering the concept, I am reasonably sure it was a Bradbury story. Can anyone assist?

Thanks

As a Bradbury story, doesn't ring a bell. (no pun intended)

I've heard of this story. Don't think it was RB. Unfortunately, I cannot recall who it was.

It could fall within the vast "similar, but not Bradbury" category.

This is what I have done in the past with these story IDs and still hope to do again whenever I have time, (which I MUST tell myself I will...someday...but it won't happen this year!) but in the meantime it REALLY helps if people do their own.

1. Go to the Abebooks forums. Make sure you are in the "Booksleuth" forum.
http://forums.abebooks.com/abesleuthcom
Post under "Science Fiction." If I were you, I wouldn't crosspost there, although some stories fall into more than one category, i. e. Children's and Science Fiction. This forum houses the most friendly, helpful, useful, knowledgeable folks I've been able to find online.

2. Go to Google Groups (or, if you REALLY MUST, Usenet--same groups in a different form, only Usenet preferers seem to have a less efficient system coupled with a superior, know-it-all attitude.) Start with this one:
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.books.isaac-asimov?lnk=lr
because Asimov is the author most frequently mistaken for Bradbury. Even if the story isn't one of Dr. Asimov's, his fans are polite, helpful, and widely read in other Science Fiction.
When you post there, crosspost to the following groups: rec.arts.books, rec.arts.books.childrens, and rec.arts.sf.written
The worst that will happen is some obnoxious troll, most likely on rec.arts.books.childrens where a number of them have taken up semipermanent residence, who has nothing better to do, will call you rude for crossposting (WHY, I have never determined and refuse to argue it with them.) The best that will happen is you only have to type your question (or copy and paste the one you already typed) once, and it will simultaneously appear in all four groups. If the people who answer just hit "reply" without stripping out the other addresses, all answers will appear in all those groups, so you only have to check one instead of opening up four groups separately. Usenet has a smattering of knowledgeable and helpful folks along with a community of idiots with too much time on their hands, but a lot of people see questions posted there and you may receive semidecent answers.

3. If all these free sources fail, go to: http://www.logan.com/loganberry/stump.html They are the ultimate authority and if the question can be solved nowhere else, it is well worth the $2.00 they charge to have it posted to their site, where it will stay on the unsolved pages until solved, without getting "bumped down" the way things do in message board format. It will then go permanently to the solved pages in case anyone else ever has the same question.

4. Lastly, most important! When you get your answer, whether it be right away or months or years later, PLEASE come back and post it here! If your post is no longer near the top, you can find it by clicking "Find" at the top of the page and searching for your username or some other unusual or distinctive phrase. It would also be nice to mention from what source the answer came. If it's not posted here, it will end up on my "unsolved" list if and when I do get time to go back through all these, and I'll end up doing all of the above unnecessarily (except for paying for other peoples' stumpers, at which I draw the line)! Thanks!

Hope this helps!

I don't recognise the story from that description, but from the concept I would say it sounds more like a Robert Bloch, Fredric Brown or Isaac Asimov thing (all three being keen punsters). Or maybe it was a Feghoot, one of Grendel Briarton's (=Reginald Bretnor) punning short short stories.

Puns, eh? I don't know about that story, but is there any truth to the rumour that Lawrence Welk is making a comeback with a hit entitled "The Edgar Allan Polka" ?

quote:

Originally posted by Braling II:
..."The Edgar Allan Polka" ?

Don't forget, E. A. Poe's birthday is coming up: January 19th! He'll be 198.

The "Poe Toaster" made his annual visit to Poe's grave today!
Here's one of many articles:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1110AP_Poe_Mystery_Visitor.html

A bit more from the book "Beyond The Grave" for those interested:

http://www.prairieghosts.com/eapoe.html

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Braling II,

Edgar Allan Poe has the same birthday as Robert E. Lee!?! General Lee is 200 today!

Robert,

Through inquiring about your story at asimovs.com the response I got was "The Jokester" by the good doctor himself.

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Thanks for clearing that up and POSTING the solution! Another off the "unsolved" pile. Now, let's hope it doesn't go on the "solved, but OP never came back to check" pile!

It's the least I can do.

I read the story last night to confirm and, yup, that's the one. I'll never understand how people confuse the two authors' works. You've got Bradbury, The Poet. And you've got Asimov, The Great Explainer. Their styles are completely different. Asimov's "The Fun They Had." is a bit Bradburian, and maybe a few others, but that one I read last night (like most of Asimov) had no poetic rhythm what-so-ever. Maybe they just get confused because their stories are so heavily anthologized.

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quote:

Originally posted by grasstains:
Maybe they just get confused because their stories are so heavily anthologized.

I think it's because they both wear white hair and black spectacles!

It's The Good Doctor's bolo tie that sets them apart.

Did you know??? Isaac Asimov had a fear of flying, always rode the train, or bus, or drove himself. And Ray Bradbury has a fear of automobiles... strange for two guys known for strapping us into rocketships.

I read the story in Asimov's collection ROBOT DREAMS.

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quote:

Originally posted by grasstains:
It's The Good Doctor's bolo tie that sets them apart.

That and his burnsides.