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Quiz about A Tribute to Robert J Sawyers Books

A Tribute to Robert J. Sawyer's Books Quiz

Welcome to what appears to be the first (but hopefully not last!) quiz dedicated to the fabulous works of Robert J. Sawyer, Canadian science-fiction author. This quiz will focus on elements from his books and may contain a few spoilers for certain novels

A multiple-choice quiz by Nataku5. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
Nataku5

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
198,334

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
121

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. While certainly not the first science-fiction author to use dinosaurs as a plot device, Sawyer's "Quintaglio Ascension" trilogy takes a different approach by showing us an alternate world of intelligent dinosaurs. Each book of the trilogy focuses on a Quintaglio version of which famous human thinker? Hint

Da Vinci, Copernicus, Sartre

Copernicus, Descartes, Darwin

Galileo, Darwin, Freud

Da Vinci, Galileo, Socrates

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. "Frameshift" contains a scientist, Pierre Tardivel, and his wife, Molly Bond, who are made the targets of an unusual genetic experiment. Among many other bizarre twists and elements, Molly possesses a certain power-- what is it? Hint

She can move objects with a thought

She can read minds

She is able to predict the future

Her sense of smell is stronger than any human being's

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Question 3 of 10

3. One of Sawyer's books, "Iterations" is an anthology of his short stories. Among them is his famous 250-word story, "If I'm Here, Imagine Where They Sent My Luggage", featuring a rather unusual mode of transportation, which functions by thought. At the end of the story, where is it implied that the unfortunate traveller ends up? Hint

On Jupiter

In Hell

In prison

In Antartica

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Question 4 of 10

4. In "Calculating God", an alien descends to Earth and asks to speak with a paleontologist, in the interest of discussing certain natural historical events and how these prove the existence of God. Tom Jericho is assigned to work with the alien, Hollus. What particularity about Hollus does Tom only realize later in the story? Hint

Hollus is not real at all, but a robot

Hollus is actually female

Hollus isn't really a scientist, but an artist

Hollus is dying

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Question 5 of 10

5. In "Flashforward", a scientific experiment gone wrong causes everyone in the world to briefly flash twenty years ahead. After witnessing its future, the world begins to question whether or not it is possible to change the future. What event causes them all to realize that it is indeed possible? Hint

A landmark seen intact in the future is publicly destroyed

Nothing happens-- everyone is still uncertain as to the inevitability of the future

A large fire which was supposed to take place is prevented in time

A man, who was alive and well in the future, commits suicide

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Question 6 of 10

6. In "Terminal Experiment", Peter Hobson creates three electronic simulations of himself-- one control, one to simulate afterlife, and one to simulate immortality. One of the three becomes a killer. Which one, and why? Hint

None of them is actually the killer-- it was the real Peter all along

The control-- because it was affected by human desires, but had no fear of its immortal soul being damned

The afterlife simulation-- being already "dead", it felt it had nothing to lose

The immortal-- it decided it had forever to dwell on its act and repent

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which one of Robert J. Sawyer's books takes place aboard a colonization ship called the "Argo"? Hint

Golden Fleece

Starplex

Illegal Alien

Humans

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Question 8 of 10

8. "Factoring Humanity" deals with cryptic messages from afar that are actually instructions to build a hypercube, a device with startling power. What does the hypercube allow an individual to do? Hint

It allows one to travel backwards in time, but only at the exact spot the hypercube is located

It acts as a portal to a hidden dimension, which allows one to manipulate matter any way they want

It allows individuals to see their own future

It links all human minds together, thus enabling someone to jump into another's mind

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Question 9 of 10

9. In the "Neanderthal Parallax" series, a portal is opened between our world and an alternate Earth where Neanderthals have become the dominant species. Mary and Ponter, a human and a Neanderthal, meet and fall in love. However, when they decide to create a child using genetic technology, there is a conflict as to whether or not the child should possess a certain gene-- which one? Hint

A gene which will give it strong hunting urges and possible violent tendencies

A gene which will allow it to believe in God

A gene that will determine which language the child will be able to speak

A gene which will determine its sexual orientation

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Question 10 of 10

10. Aside from the "Quintaglio Ascension", another one of Robert J. Sawyer's books features dinosaurs. Which one? Hint

Frameshift

Calculating God

Starplex

End of an Era

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: Galileo, Darwin, Freud

"Far-Seer", the first in the series, introduces us to the Quintaglio world and the dinosaur equivalent to Galileo. "Fossil Hunter" deals with the first character's son, the dinosaur counterpart to Darwin, while "Foreigner" focuses on the Quintaglio's Freudian equivalent.

Answer: She can read minds

Molly's telepathy is a key factor in many elements of the plot, not the least of which is her ability to communicate with her young daughter.

Answer: In Hell

This neat method of transportation is activated by thought; alas, the poor traveller was in such a foul mood by the time he get his device to work that his final thought was about giving the company "hell".

Answer: Hollus is actually female

It comes as a bit of a shock to Tom to realize that Hollus was not only female, but also a mother, as Tom had been referring to "him" throughout the entire story, mislead by the deepness of her voice.

Answer: A man, who was alive and well in the future, commits suicide

There is an amusing scene where, in the interest of proving that the future can be changed, a man goes on television and breaks a small knickknack he knew to be intact in the future. As a joke, our main character arranges to send an exact duplicate of the object to the man in question.

Answer: The control-- because it was affected by human desires, but had no fear of its immortal soul being damned

This book brings up the concept of humans having an immortal soul, and how the thought of how this soul will be affected after death causes us to fear the consequences of certain actions in life.

7. Which one of Robert J. Sawyer's books takes place aboard a colonization ship called the "Argo"?

Answer: Golden Fleece

The book in question is "Golden Fleece", the story of a bizarre death aboard a ship comprised of a tightly-knit group of humans.

Answer: It links all human minds together, thus enabling someone to jump into another's mind

And in a stunning conclusion, once the entire world becomes linked, the empathy allows for the complete dissolution of violence.

Answer: A gene which will allow it to believe in God

Religion is something very important to Mary; therefore, she is horrified to be told that the belief in God (or any spiritual power) is the result of genetic coding the Neanderthals don't seem to possess.

10. Aside from the "Quintaglio Ascension", another one of Robert J. Sawyer's books features dinosaurs. Which one?

Answer: End of an Era

Time travel and evolutionary mysteries abound in "End of an Era".

Source: Author Nataku5

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