AKICIF -- or, I need my auxiliary memory units about chess in science fiction

[kinzel]

OK crew ...

there's not much time for me to research this week in the face of writing and travel schedules, so I need to call on my auxiliary memory units on the web. Many of you know that Shan is a chess player, though we don't see him rushing off to play very often ... but Shan is not the only chess playing SF character and I'm not the only chess playing sf writer --- GRRM was once a tournament player, for example... as was Alexis Gilliland.

So ... was it a Poul Anderson book or a Robert Heinlein book in which the arch enemy commits suicide in part because of a chess position? Any other chess-playing characters you recall?

And ... here's our schedule so far for StellarCon ... you'll see why I asked...


FRIDAY
05:00 PM Space Opera: What It Is and What It Ain't Sharon
05:00 PM Small Press Publishing SF and why it isn't and can't be science Steve
06:00 PM Opening Ceremonies
08:00 PM Chess with Steve Miller

SATURDAY
02:00 PM Reading: Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, from Longeye
05:00 PM Liaden Universe (R), a Short History Sharon and Steve
08:00 PM Are Current Trends in SF Losing Male Readers? Sharon, Moderator
08:00 PM “No S**t! There I was...” Steve

SUNDAY
02:00 PM World/Culture Building Sharon and Steve
03:00 PM Whatever Happened to the World of Tomorrow?/GOH final word

Watch for us around the con -- look for us at the art show, and in the dealer's room, behind the SRM Publisher table.

Comments

Chess Masters and stories

[(Anonymous)]

There was "Unicorn Variations" by Zelazny - this
kid played a chess game with a unicorn. I vaguely
recall it being a short story.

I don't know if this counts but John Brunner had a novel called "The Squares of the City" which was
supposed to be based on a famous chess match. I didn't get it (the chess bit), but it was a decent read. Maybe if I knew more about the famous game it was based on, but eh.

There's Katherine Neville's "The Eight" which is not really SF but more Urban Fantasy/Thriller. Well
I guess if Umberto Eco is SF, so is Katherine Neville.

I don't remember the Poul Anderson or Robert Heinlein references you mention.

Lauretta
@ Constellation Books

[sraun]

It was Heinlein - Sixth Column. The Chief Priest/ Leader of the Underground spoke to the Asian Governor of the conquered US, and claimed a move, with a mate in X. The revolution happened the next day. They captured the Asian Governor, as he was led away to his cell he asked what the solution was, the Leader said he didn't know, he'd lied. The next morning was going to be either trial or ship back to Asia, and they found he'd committed suicide in his cell.

[kinzel.livejournal.com]

That's the one I was thinking of, Scott ... but my pile of Heinlein books is in the basement, on the other side of the treadmill which is in front of the pile of boxes of books destined for the office which is blocking the bookcase ...anyway...

Thanks! I thought it was Heinlein but also had echoes of that final confrontation in Anderson's Star Fox... which I ought to reread because ti used to be one of my favorite books.

[keristor.livejournal.com]

Alternate title: "The Day After Tomorrow" (that's the title of the UK edition I have, I don't know whether it was used outside the UK).

[sraun]

I was drawing a complete blank on that title, and it's actually the title of the copy I own! IIRC, there's a reference on the cover 'Previously published as Sixth Column'.

[keristor.livejournal.com]

Mine certainly has that reference somewhere, I unremember whether it's on the cover or in the publishing history inside (my copy isn't near where I am). As with many books which have been retitled I tend to think of it by the original title even though I have only read them in the UK editions (e.g. 'Doc' Smith's "Masters of the Vortex", originally "The Vortex Blaster"), the original titles seem to me not only better in most cases but also according to the author's wishes.

[hamsterbook.livejournal.com]

Don't know if this counts...IIRC
1-in Feist's 'Magician:Master',Pug is captured and on Kelewan. He shows he's not a barbarian by playing chess.Badly.
2-In Donaldson's 'Mirror of her Dreams' all the king seems to care about was this game.(I don't remember if it was chess or checkers).
3-In Ship Who Searched(BrainShip series)by Mccaffrey and Lackey
Tia plays chess,alot.(3 dimensional?)it was used to show her precociousness.
4-In the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Ron had to play chess to get past the defenses.

[doccolt.livejournal.com]

IN one David Weber's Honor Harrington series books I think it's "In Enemy Hands" or perhaps the sequel chess plays a significant role.
The failure of the commander of a prison planet to send a chess move to the sector commander of State Security is a crucial element in the satisfactory conclusion of the story.

Chess playing scifi

[(Anonymous)]

PLEASE don't forget Mr. Spock. Live long and prosper.

[not-croaker.livejournal.com]

And more recently, the Japanese tv series "Code Geass" has a significant chess motif, complete with chessmaster protagonist leading a revolution.

[jelazakazone.livejournal.com]

I'm currently reading a Fantasy novel by Lynn Kurland which has a magician who chooses to duel with a game of chess (and one twist is the pieces are enslaved people). I believe the name of the book is Princess of the Sword.

[redpimpernel.livejournal.com]

Not a chess playing character but a chess reference:
In Stalag 17 the traitor's signal to the Nazi's was a knot in the light cord above the chess board.

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

googling around a bit, I found:

Chess in Blade Runner?

http://www.geocities.com/siliconvalley/lab/7378/lit.htm - a lengthy list, including

Asimov Pebble in the Sky
Burroughs Chessmen of Mars
Clarke Quarantine
Gerrold Chess with a Dragon
Heinlein Rolling Stones
Kuttner The Chess Civilization
Lieber A Pail of Air, Midnight by the Morphy Watch, ChangeWar, The 64 Square Madhouse
Maltzberg Tactics of Conquest
Russ, Joanna A Game of Vlet
Saberhagen Pawn to Infinity, To Move and Win
Tepper, Sheri King's Blood Four, Necromancer Nine, Wizard's Eleven
Vogt Players of Null-A
Vonnegut Welcome to the Monkey House

[elektra.livejournal.com]

um, er. . . looking at the now posted con schedule, I see that "Chess with Steve Miller" is scheduled in the Workshop Suite, the same place that, alas, "Spades with Uncle Timmy" was scheduled. Perhaps the plan was actually for people to come and play chess with you?

[sethb.livejournal.com]

I recommend "Von Goom's Gambit" (in one of the Best From F&SF anthologies).

Chess in SF & F

[tharkun860.livejournal.com]

In a number of series, there exists one or more chess-analog games.

In ERB's John Carter of Mars series, the 5th book is "Chessmen of Mars", and the Martian game is called Jetan. There is a Wikipedia article on Jetan.

In the Gor novels by John Norman, there is a chess variant called Kaissa. There's a Wikipedia article on Kaissa, but it appears to refer to a Russian chess variation.

In the Dray Prescott series by Alan Burt Akers set on the world of Kregen in the Antares star system, there is a chess variant called Jikaida. In one book, Dray Prescott is forced to play a game with live players in which he is forced to make the winnig move by capturing (meaning killing in single combat) one of his own pieces . . .

I'm sure there are other examples.

Craig