Good Short Story by Asimov

**Rincewind** · 01-30-2007, 11:30 AM

I stumbled upon this at Digg. It's been a few years since I read it and I thought I'd link it here.

The Last Question

The ending is great. It really makes you think.

Spoilers may be contained in comments below, so read the story (5 minutes MAX) then read the comments.

space for spoilers

**CingularDuality** · 01-30-2007, 11:55 AM

Great story! I had not read that one before!

AMosely · 01-30-2007, 12:16 PM

I wonder if Carl Sagan had read that, he would have found it amusing, but impossible.

Good post, I love pondering the cosmos.

tau_neutrino · 01-30-2007, 01:10 PM

Great story, reminds me of "Ring", a book by Stephen Baxter I read a while ago.

**Rincewind** · 01-30-2007, 01:48 PM

Yeah, it really is neat. I like how he constructed the Cosmic AC and how humans communicate with it (via thought) and then slipped in that ending. It was like an "ah-ha! Hmmm?"

A subtle nod to prayer and omniscience and then there it is

aeroripper · 01-30-2007, 02:06 PM

So the Cosmic AC (born from its machine predecessors, originally constructed by man) is 'god' since it created light again. So technically man would be its own god if it were able to create new light somehow, or a singular event of creating a new universe full of light.

Even then any universe created would always be finite and dying. Or maybe I don't understand.

fighter10101 · 01-30-2007, 02:29 PM

Anyone read "the good earth is dying" ?
He's writings are exelent, and I admire his views on war.
The essay is at the end of the book Sigmund F./ A. Einstein " why war" a letter exchange.

**Rincewind** · 01-30-2007, 02:41 PM

Genesis 1:3, Aero.

The first words of God in the Bible are "Let there be light." Genesis 1:3 is basically the last sentence of the story, with one word changed.

This literary device links the AC to God. It's brilliant.

Diceman · 01-30-2007, 04:58 PM

Great short, Rincewind. Thanks for posting.

I had read this story back in college, for a Science Fiction class. I had forgotten all about it, and it was fun to read it again.

Beatnik · 01-30-2007, 06:08 PM

You'd think at some point this hyperintelligent computer would figure out how to turn off the Caps Lock key.

Good story. Reminds me of his Foundation series.

Obi · 01-30-2007, 06:43 PM

So if the whole process is repeated again what will the new AC do with the old AC?

Diceman · 01-30-2007, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Obi

So if the whole process is repeated again what will the new AC do with the old AC?

Isn't that making an assumption that the two will interact? And even if they do interact, they will probably do the same thing as the "current" AC did with the previous AC.

Terror · 02-01-2007, 11:57 PM

This story reminds me of Voltaire, "If there were no god, it would be necessary to invent Him." On a lighter note, I love how Asimov is able to link so many things to his own writing and make it humorous when you put it all together in your head.

01-30-2007, 11:30 AM	#1 (permalink)
Rincewind Join Date: May 2005 Location: Casting useless spells in Oklahoma. Age: 27 Posts: 2,779	Good Short Story by Asimov I stumbled upon this at Digg. It's been a few years since I read it and I thought I'd link it here. The Last Question The ending is great. It really makes you think. Spoilers may be contained in comments below, so read the story (5 minutes MAX) then read the comments. space for spoilers __________________ ~~ Veritas simplex oratio est ~~ No matter how far a wizard goes, he will always come back for his hat. --T. Pratchett <---- You know you're getting old when you rely on your forum meta-data to remind you how old you are. Required Reading for all TG sandboxers

01-30-2007, 11:55 AM	#2 (permalink)
CingularDuality Join Date: May 2003 Location: Dallas/Ft. Worth area of Texas, USA Age: 33 Posts: 16,791	Re: Good Short Story by Asimov Great story! I had not read that one before! __________________ Become a supporting member! -- Shop at the Tactical Market! Take the world's smallest political quiz! "I was touched by His Noodly Appendage." TacticalGamer TX LAN/BBQ Veteran:

01-30-2007, 12:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
AMosely Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Maine Age: 33 Posts: 2,624	Re: Good Short Story by Asimov I wonder if Carl Sagan had read that, he would have found it amusing, but impossible. Good post, I love pondering the cosmos.

01-30-2007, 01:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
tau_neutrino Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Age: 26 Posts: 1,052	Re: Good Short Story by Asimov Great story, reminds me of "Ring", a book by Stephen Baxter I read a while ago. __________________ TacticalGamer TX LAN/BBQ Veteran:

01-30-2007, 01:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
Rincewind Join Date: May 2005 Location: Casting useless spells in Oklahoma. Age: 27 Posts: 2,779	Re: Good Short Story by Asimov Yeah, it really is neat. I like how he constructed the Cosmic AC and how humans communicate with it (via thought) and then slipped in that ending. It was like an "ah-ha! Hmmm?" A subtle nod to prayer and omniscience and then there it is __________________ ~~ Veritas simplex oratio est ~~ No matter how far a wizard goes, he will always come back for his hat. --T. Pratchett <---- You know you're getting old when you rely on your forum meta-data to remind you how old you are. Required Reading for all TG sandboxers

01-30-2007, 02:06 PM	#6 (permalink)
aeroripper Join Date: Dec 2005 Age: 25 Posts: 2,284	Re: Good Short Story by Asimov So the Cosmic AC (born from its machine predecessors, originally constructed by man) is 'god' since it created light again. So technically man would be its own god if it were able to create new light somehow, or a singular event of creating a new universe full of light. Even then any universe created would always be finite and dying. Or maybe I don't understand.

01-30-2007, 02:29 PM	#7 (permalink)
fighter10101 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Europe Posts: 196	Re: Good Short Story by Asimov Anyone read "the good earth is dying" ? He's writings are exelent, and I admire his views on war. The essay is at the end of the book Sigmund F./ A. Einstein " why war" a letter exchange. __________________

01-30-2007, 02:41 PM	#8 (permalink)
Rincewind Join Date: May 2005 Location: Casting useless spells in Oklahoma. Age: 27 Posts: 2,779	Re: Good Short Story by Asimov Genesis 1:3, Aero. The first words of God in the Bible are "Let there be light." Genesis 1:3 is basically the last sentence of the story, with one word changed. This literary device links the AC to God. It's brilliant. __________________ ~~ Veritas simplex oratio est ~~ No matter how far a wizard goes, he will always come back for his hat. --T. Pratchett <---- You know you're getting old when you rely on your forum meta-data to remind you how old you are. Required Reading for all TG sandboxers

01-30-2007, 04:58 PM	#9 (permalink)
Diceman Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Yellowknife, NT Age: 30 Posts: 986	Re: Good Short Story by Asimov Great short, Rincewind. Thanks for posting. I had read this story back in college, for a Science Fiction class. I had forgotten all about it, and it was fun to read it again. __________________ [drill][medic][conduct][tg-c1][tpf-c1] [ma-c2][taw-c1] Principles of good Sandbox Etiquette: Assume good faith - Be polite, please! - Work toward agreement. - Argue facts, not personalities. - Concede a point when you have no response to it, or admit when you disagree based on intuition or taste. - Be civil. - Be prepared to apologize. In animated discussions, we often say things we later wish we hadn't. Say so. - Forgive and forget. - Recognize your own biases and keep them in check. - Give praise when due. Treat others as you would have them treat you

01-30-2007, 06:08 PM	#10 (permalink)
Beatnik Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Austin, TX Age: 33 Posts: 4,320	Re: Good Short Story by Asimov You'd think at some point this hyperintelligent computer would figure out how to turn off the Caps Lock key. Good story. Reminds me of his Foundation series. __________________ -F- Beatnik

01-30-2007, 06:43 PM	#11 (permalink)
Obi Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Scotland Age: 20 Posts: 2,081	Re: Good Short Story by Asimov So if the whole process is repeated again what will the new AC do with the old AC? __________________

02-01-2007, 11:57 PM	#13 (permalink)
Terror Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 37	Re: Good Short Story by Asimov This story reminds me of Voltaire, "If there were no god, it would be necessary to invent Him." On a lighter note, I love how Asimov is able to link so many things to his own writing and make it humorous when you put it all together in your head. __________________ Remember, remember the 5th of November.

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