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The Skylark of Space Trivia Quiz

The genre known as Space Opera can be considered to have begun with "The Skylark of Space"! It is also the first novel by the "Father of Space Opera", E. E. 'Doc' Smith. Science Fiction itself is much older but if you want galaxy-spanning GOOD v EVIL...

A multiple-choice quiz by cave_draco. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
cave_draco

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
346,515

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
105

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What is Richard Seaton's middle name? Hint

Maurice

Phillips

Ballinger

Adrien

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Question 2 of 10

2. Why did Dorothy Vaneman borrow Martin Crane's violin? Hint

To practice

To play dance music

To put Seaton to sleep

To give a concert

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Question 3 of 10

3. What town/city did the World Steel Corporation totally destroy as a result of not taking Marc Duquesne's advice? Hint

Diamond City, North Carolina

Doodletown, New York

Bankerville, West Virginia

Silver City, Idaho

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Question 4 of 10

4. While World Steel built "The Cripple", who was building the "Skylark"? Hint

MacDougall

MacDonald

Mackintosh

Montgomery

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Question 5 of 10

5. What was the primary reason for the delay in pursuing DuQuesne after he kidnapped Dorothy? Hint

A shortage of copper

Failure of water recycling

World Steel obstructionism

The need for a crew

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Question 6 of 10

6. Who lost self-control when DuQuesne's party recovered consciousness after their random flight through the galaxy? Hint

Dorothy

Perkins

Margaret

Brookings

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Question 7 of 10

7. What prevented DuQuesne's intended return to Earth? Hint

A dead star

The Disembodied Intelligences

Seaton & Crane

A space battle

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which Green System race do the Skylarkers meet first? Hint

Mesklinites

Kondalians

Mardonalians

Lathians

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Question 9 of 10

9. What title did the Kondalians assign to Martin Crane that worried Margaret, his betrothed? Hint

Karfedix of Wealth

Karbix of Kondal

Karfedix of Desire

Karfedelix

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Question 10 of 10

10. DuQuesne was pleased at the idea of what metal being used in a laboratory rather than in jewellery? Hint

Gold

Platinum

Silver

Mithril

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What is Richard Seaton's middle name?

Answer: Ballinger

Phillips is the middle name of Richard Feynman; Adrien and Maurice are the middle names of Paul Dirac - two of my favourite physicists. Albert Einstein didn't have a middle name.

2. Why did Dorothy Vaneman borrow Martin Crane's violin?

Answer: To put Seaton to sleep

Seaton had been overworking so Dorothy, a Doctor of Music, wanted the heaviest artillery she could get with which to play lullabies. Martin's violin was a Stradivarius. No name for it is ever mentioned although many of Stradivarius' instruments, not just violins, do have names!

3. What town/city did the World Steel Corporation totally destroy as a result of not taking Marc Duquesne's advice?

Answer: Bankerville, West Virginia

Bankerville is fictional, the other three are ghost towns. DuQuesne advised "very small quantities of copper". Brookings interpreted that as one or two ounces...

4. While World Steel built "The Cripple", who was building the "Skylark"?

Answer: MacDougall

No list of engineers is complete without Montgomery Scott.

"The Cripple", or "Old Crip", was intended to withstand shipment and fabrication, but only just, it certainly wasn't space-worthy. World Steel don't seem to like our heroes!

5. What was the primary reason for the delay in pursuing DuQuesne after he kidnapped Dorothy?

Answer: A shortage of copper

The crew of the "Skylark" consisted of Seaton and Crane. The water-recovery system didn't work but they could carry enough water. World Steel could probably have supplied the required copper had they been willing, but the primary reason for the delay was a shortage of copper.

6. Who lost self-control when DuQuesne's party recovered consciousness after their random flight through the galaxy?

Answer: Perkins

Brookings was World Steel and wasn't among DuQuesne's party. Perkins was just a criminal and was playing out of his league. Dorothy Vaneman and Margaret Spencer are built of sterner stuff.

7. What prevented DuQuesne's intended return to Earth?

Answer: A dead star

They got too close to a dead star and had no way of escaping its clutches. It's not clear whether they encounter a dark star, the Newtonian equivalent of a black hole, or just a black dwarf. It doesn't much matter which...

Do our heroes find them in time?

8. Which Green System race do the Skylarkers meet first?

Answer: Mardonalians

The Kondalians and the Mardonalians were at war - Situation Normal for that part of the Green System. The Skylarkers met the Mardonalians first but they were discovered to have evil intentions.

The Lathians are a race in "Next of Kin" by Eric Frank Russell. The Mesklinites are a race in "Mission of Gravity" by Hal Clement.

9. What title did the Kondalians assign to Martin Crane that worried Margaret, his betrothed?

Answer: Karfedix of Wealth

As Martin says "I happen to have some money..."

Margaret was worried that it might be thought she was marrying for money. Karfedix means ruler or prince; Karbix is a religious title, Tarnan is Karbix of Kondal; Karfedelix is a lesser title, DuQuesne is a Karfedelix of Knowledge.

10. DuQuesne was pleased at the idea of what metal being used in a laboratory rather than in jewellery?

Answer: Platinum

Platinum is rare, DuQuesne would be appalled at the major current use - catalytic converters. It is not only corrosion resistant but also a fine catalyst for many chemical processes.

Mithril only appeared in a revised "The Hobbit"; until the revision Bilbo's mail shirt was silvered steel.

Source: Author cave_draco

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor looney_tunes before going online.
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