I meant to ask this in the Eyes of Amber entry

[james_davis_nicoll]

Why is so much SF concerned with resource extraction?

Comments

[james-nicoll.livejournal.com]

The history of inventory is the history of civilization!

[movingfinger.livejournal.com]

Nothing can be more gripping than the fundamental conflict between FIFO and LIFO!

[galbinus-caeli.livejournal.com]

Did you have to bring porn into the discussion?

[anton-p-nym.livejournal.com]

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.)

[chaotic-nipple.livejournal.com]

Linear B, IIRC, and it was merchant inventories.