james_davis_nicoll: (Default)
james_davis_nicoll ([personal profile] james_davis_nicoll) wrote2009-04-16 11:27 am

I meant to ask this in the Eyes of Amber entry

Why is so much SF concerned with resource extraction?

[identity profile] james-nicoll.livejournal.com 2009-04-16 03:40 pm (UTC)(link)
The history of inventory is the history of civilization!

[identity profile] movingfinger.livejournal.com 2009-04-16 04:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Nothing can be more gripping than the fundamental conflict between FIFO and LIFO!

[identity profile] galbinus-caeli.livejournal.com 2009-04-16 06:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Did you have to bring porn into the discussion?

[identity profile] anton-p-nym.livejournal.com 2009-04-16 07:40 pm (UTC)(link)
The history of inventory is the history of civilization!

Was it Linear A that was eventually interpreted thanks to what turned out to be laundry lists?

-- Steve's wondering if there might be a story in aliens finally cracking English thanks to all the bills of lading they unearth. (Probably not as good a one as "Omnilingual", though.)

[identity profile] chaotic-nipple.livejournal.com 2009-04-16 08:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Linear B, IIRC, and it was merchant inventories.