Decades of Science Fiction Quarter 4 – 2016 – Reading & Assignment Schedule Read each story with the class and/or on your own. Write or type your short answers to the five Discussion Questions you will find at the end of each story. These are thoughtful, interpretive questions, so your answers will be original and unique. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ March 30: “The Disintegration Machine” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, pages 65-75 Due April 1 Doyle is the creator of the character Sherlock Holmes. Respond to Discussion Questions 1 through 5 on pages 75 & 76. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ April 1: “The Metal Man” by Jack Williamson, pages 78-87 Due April 5 Answer all five Discussion Questions on page 87. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ April 5: “Misfit” by Robert Heinlein, pages 119-137 Due April 7 Robert Heinlein is perhaps most well-known for his 1959 novel Starship Troopers. “Misfit” is also military science fiction. Discussion Questions 1 through 5 are on page 137. Answer them all. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ April 7: “Robbie” by Isaac Asimov, pages 149-165 Due April 11 “Robbie” is one of Asimov’s collected stories in I, Robot. Asimov created the “Three Laws of Robotics” in his extensive Robot series. “1. A Robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. 2. A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. 3. A robot must protect its own existence, except where such protection would conflict with the First or Second Law.” Answer Discussion Questions 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 on page 165. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ April 11: “Desertion” by Clifford D. Simak, pages 168-178 Due April 13 This story is one in a collection called City about robots and talking dogs in the future. Answer all five Discussion Questions on page 178. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ April 13: “That Only a Mother” by Judith Merril, pages 180-188 Due April 15 Answer the Discussion Questions on page 188. April 13 is scheduled as a state testing day; classes will be 40 minutes long. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ April 15: “The Exiles” by Ray Bradbury, pages 201-212 Due April 19 You may have read Bradbury’s most famous novel Fahrenheit 451 when you were a sophomore. Answer Discussion Questions 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5; all are on page 212. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ April 19: “Death between the Stars” by Marion Zimmer Bradley, pages 246-258 Due April 21 Answer Discussion Questions 1 through 5 on page 259. April 19 is scheduled as a state testing day; classes will be 40 minutes long. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ April 21: “The Ship Who Sang” by Anne McCaffrey, pages 272-288 Due April 25 This story is one in a collection about Helva’s adventures as a ship. McCaffrey is well-known for her Pern series of novels. The five Discussion Questions are on page 288. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ April 25: “’Repent, Harlequin!’ Said the Ticktockman” by Harlan Ellison, pages 290-299 Due April 27 Discussion Questions 1 through 5 can be found on page 300. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ April 27: “The Electric Ant” by Philip K. Dick, pages 302-317 Due April 29 Marvel Comics adapted this story in 2010 as a limited series produced by writer David Mack of Daredevil and artist Pascal Alixe of Ultimate X-Men with covers by artist Paul Pope, a veteran comic book artist who recently consulted for Heroes Reborn. You may be familiar with Philip K. Dick’s work from the films Blade Runner, Total Recall, Minority Report (also a television series), The Adjustment Bureau, A Scanner Darkly or The Man in the High Castle (an amazon series). On page 318, answer Discussion Questions 1 through 5. April 27 is a P-Diddy day! ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ April 29: “The Sliced-Crosswise Only-on-Tuesday World” by Philip José Farmer, pages 332-344 Due May 3 On page 345, answer the five Discussion Questions. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ May 3: “Cloak of Anarchy” by Larry Niven, pages 347-364 Due May 5 Answer Discussion Questions 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 on page 364. Your teachers will submit grades today, May 3, for Progress Reports. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ May 5: “The Hunting” by Doris Beetem, pages 366-376 Due May 9 The Enterprise’s Vulcan Science Officer Spock and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy are the main characters in this Star Trek fan fiction. It might help to know a little bit about Vulcans as you answer Discussion Questions 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 on page 376. May 5 is a minimum day; last night was Falcon Fest! Classes are an hour long & school ends at 12:36 PM. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ May 9: “The Thaw” by Tanith Lee, pages 378-394 Due May 11 The five Discussion Questions can be found on page 395. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ May 11: “Valhalla” by Gregory Benford, pages 409-416 Due May 13 Time travel discussions often lead to the idea that a time traveler should go back to stop Hitler. This story addresses that very concept. Answer Discussion Questions 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 on page 416. Your Quarter 4 Book Review is due today, May 11. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ May 13: “Skin Deep” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch, pages 418-431 Due May 17 Answer all Discussion Questions 1 through 5 on page 431 exploring human-alien relations. Today is the end of the two-day grace window for your Quarter 4 Book Review. Don’t be late! ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ May 17: “Steelcollar Worker” by Vonda McIntyre, pages 509-523 Due May19 The Discussion Questions are on page 523. May 17 is the fourth quarter district assessment. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ May 19: “The Hammer of God” by Arthur C. Clarke, pages 525-535 Due May 23 This story may remind you of the films Deep Impact and Armageddon or even the recent television series You, Me and the Apocalypse. Arthur C. Clarke is most famous for 2001: A Space Odyssey. Answer Discussion Questions on page 535. If you were absent on May 17, you will take the district assessment today. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ May 23: “Clean Up Your Room” by Laura Anne Gilman, pages 538-551 Due May 25 This story may remind you of the Disney Channel movie Smart House. Discussion Questions are on page 551. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ May 25: After we review the last story and turn in homework, we will review, go over grades and prepare for the final exam. The final is a test on all twenty short stories you have read & studied this quarter. You will identify passages from the stories and answer various questions about the plot and characters. The final exam is made up of multiple choice and matching questions. It is challenging. You may use your notes and answers to Discussion Questions. You may not use your book. The Last day to turn in any late work will be the Traditional Day on Thursday, May 26. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Mrs. Johnson will sign your senior clearance form for graduation at the end of each final exam period. June 1: Period 6 Final Exam, 10:35 AM-12:35 PM June 2: Period 7 Final Exam, 8:15-10:15 AM - following Period 7, you will go to the stadium for graduation practice June 3: No school, grades due, graduation practice June 4: Graduation .