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

[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.