Short story where Earth submits to alien warriors but a Terran admiral dooms Earth by trying to ambush alien...
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Short story where Earth submits to alien warriors but a Terran admiral dooms Earth by trying to ambush alien fleet
The Next CEO of Stack OverflowBook about aliens who attack Earth and destroy the SunLooking for sci-fi book about alien invasion where Earth builds a giant laser to stop an incoming alien fleetScifi short story. Alien makes first-contact with humanity but finds us overly obsessed with sexStory about an logical alien race whose society is destroyed by a missionary trying to convert them?Alien race (possibly feline) takes human captive en route to final battle for Earth, fleet uses relativistic velocity to destroy alien armada?Short story: aliens with easy FTL travel but flintlock-type weaponsWhat was the first science fiction story that showed a successful alien conquest of the Earth?Aliens attack earth. Alien commander sues for peace after super-powerful 2nd alien race tries to blow up the sun?Short story about feline-like aliens who go wild about proteinBook about alien ships emerging from holes in the earth
Plot Summary/Details
The story is at least partially written in a flash-back. The protagonist is a senior military commander in the Terran space fleet (forget the actual name).
An alien race, described as very man-like, arrives on Earth. They are man-like, but larger and more muscular, than a typical human. There is also something unusual about their faces. I think the features are somewhat rougher than those of human beings, don't change expression as easily, or perhaps all of them look similar to each other. Some combination of that, as best I can remember.
The aliens are a warrior race, who have mastered FTL travel, and have conquered many star systems. When they arrive at a new world, as they have with Earth, they offer two options. First, the world can submit to them, and enjoy the status of a favored thrall (I believe that is the term used). Second, the world's people can try to resist, in which case they will be brutally conquered and enslaved. Rebellion or betrayal of the first option also leads to the second outcome. IIRC, these first aliens are only emissaries with one or two ships, but a huge armada is waiting to take possession of the system.
There is much debate by humanity over what to do, but in the end, the perceived technological superiority and resources of the alien invaders is such that submission is the only sane option. The protagonist, writing in his journal, accepts this with resignation. One of his peers, a hot headed type, is outraged that humanity has given up without a fight.
The "doom" comes when the protagonist learns that the hot-headed admiral conceived of a plan to stop the alien fleet as it entered the system. The Terran space fleet has been taken behind one of the outlying planets or gas giant moons. Under the command of the hot-headed admiral, the alien armada is ambushed. All comes to naught, however, when it is discovered the alien ships possess a force field that renders them effectively invulnerable to anything in the Terran arsenal. The entire Terran fleet is destroyed, and the enraged aliens head towards Earth.
The story closes with the protagonist writing of the events in his journal. He sees a number of alien warriors closing in on his location. He comments on their facial features, saying "they don't look - " the story breaks off mid-sentence, implying the protagonist has just been killed.
Timeframe of Publication
I read this in some old anthology. I can't remember when I read it (90's, maybe?), but it was clearly an older book. I would guess 1960's or earlier.
story-identification short-stories alien-invasion
edited Aug 8 '17 at 1:54
Blackwood
14.7k56378
asked Aug 8 '17 at 1:10
Helbent IVHelbent IV
5,46122699
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 5 mins ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
add a comment |
Plot Summary/Details
The story is at least partially written in a flash-back. The protagonist is a senior military commander in the Terran space fleet (forget the actual name).
An alien race, described as very man-like, arrives on Earth. They are man-like, but larger and more muscular, than a typical human. There is also something unusual about their faces. I think the features are somewhat rougher than those of human beings, don't change expression as easily, or perhaps all of them look similar to each other. Some combination of that, as best I can remember.
The aliens are a warrior race, who have mastered FTL travel, and have conquered many star systems. When they arrive at a new world, as they have with Earth, they offer two options. First, the world can submit to them, and enjoy the status of a favored thrall (I believe that is the term used). Second, the world's people can try to resist, in which case they will be brutally conquered and enslaved. Rebellion or betrayal of the first option also leads to the second outcome. IIRC, these first aliens are only emissaries with one or two ships, but a huge armada is waiting to take possession of the system.
There is much debate by humanity over what to do, but in the end, the perceived technological superiority and resources of the alien invaders is such that submission is the only sane option. The protagonist, writing in his journal, accepts this with resignation. One of his peers, a hot headed type, is outraged that humanity has given up without a fight.
The "doom" comes when the protagonist learns that the hot-headed admiral conceived of a plan to stop the alien fleet as it entered the system. The Terran space fleet has been taken behind one of the outlying planets or gas giant moons. Under the command of the hot-headed admiral, the alien armada is ambushed. All comes to naught, however, when it is discovered the alien ships possess a force field that renders them effectively invulnerable to anything in the Terran arsenal. The entire Terran fleet is destroyed, and the enraged aliens head towards Earth.
The story closes with the protagonist writing of the events in his journal. He sees a number of alien warriors closing in on his location. He comments on their facial features, saying "they don't look - " the story breaks off mid-sentence, implying the protagonist has just been killed.
Timeframe of Publication
I read this in some old anthology. I can't remember when I read it (90's, maybe?), but it was clearly an older book. I would guess 1960's or earlier.
story-identification short-stories alien-invasion
edited Aug 8 '17 at 1:54
Blackwood
14.7k56378
asked Aug 8 '17 at 1:10
Helbent IVHelbent IV
5,46122699
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 5 mins ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
1
This sounds similar to Space Battleship Yamato myanimelist.net/anime/12029/Uchuu_Senkan_Yamato_2199
– Michael McQuade
Aug 8 '17 at 1:51
2
I read the title and immediately thought en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zapp_Brannigan
– Mooing Duck
Jan 3 at 19:24
2
I know I've read this one too, probably back around the late 1990s. I think the main character was a British military officer who was somehow selected (perhaps by the UN Security Council?) for the new role of commander-in-chief of all Earth's armed forces after the aliens made it clear they expected to be able to deal with such an individual.
– Lorendiac
Feb 23 at 2:13
add a comment |
Plot Summary/Details
The story is at least partially written in a flash-back. The protagonist is a senior military commander in the Terran space fleet (forget the actual name).
An alien race, described as very man-like, arrives on Earth. They are man-like, but larger and more muscular, than a typical human. There is also something unusual about their faces. I think the features are somewhat rougher than those of human beings, don't change expression as easily, or perhaps all of them look similar to each other. Some combination of that, as best I can remember.
The aliens are a warrior race, who have mastered FTL travel, and have conquered many star systems. When they arrive at a new world, as they have with Earth, they offer two options. First, the world can submit to them, and enjoy the status of a favored thrall (I believe that is the term used). Second, the world's people can try to resist, in which case they will be brutally conquered and enslaved. Rebellion or betrayal of the first option also leads to the second outcome. IIRC, these first aliens are only emissaries with one or two ships, but a huge armada is waiting to take possession of the system.
There is much debate by humanity over what to do, but in the end, the perceived technological superiority and resources of the alien invaders is such that submission is the only sane option. The protagonist, writing in his journal, accepts this with resignation. One of his peers, a hot headed type, is outraged that humanity has given up without a fight.
The "doom" comes when the protagonist learns that the hot-headed admiral conceived of a plan to stop the alien fleet as it entered the system. The Terran space fleet has been taken behind one of the outlying planets or gas giant moons. Under the command of the hot-headed admiral, the alien armada is ambushed. All comes to naught, however, when it is discovered the alien ships possess a force field that renders them effectively invulnerable to anything in the Terran arsenal. The entire Terran fleet is destroyed, and the enraged aliens head towards Earth.
The story closes with the protagonist writing of the events in his journal. He sees a number of alien warriors closing in on his location. He comments on their facial features, saying "they don't look - " the story breaks off mid-sentence, implying the protagonist has just been killed.
Timeframe of Publication
I read this in some old anthology. I can't remember when I read it (90's, maybe?), but it was clearly an older book. I would guess 1960's or earlier.
story-identification short-stories alien-invasion
edited Aug 8 '17 at 1:54
Blackwood
14.7k56378
asked Aug 8 '17 at 1:10
Helbent IVHelbent IV
5,46122699
Plot Summary/Details
The story is at least partially written in a flash-back. The protagonist is a senior military commander in the Terran space fleet (forget the actual name).
An alien race, described as very man-like, arrives on Earth. They are man-like, but larger and more muscular, than a typical human. There is also something unusual about their faces. I think the features are somewhat rougher than those of human beings, don't change expression as easily, or perhaps all of them look similar to each other. Some combination of that, as best I can remember.
The aliens are a warrior race, who have mastered FTL travel, and have conquered many star systems. When they arrive at a new world, as they have with Earth, they offer two options. First, the world can submit to them, and enjoy the status of a favored thrall (I believe that is the term used). Second, the world's people can try to resist, in which case they will be brutally conquered and enslaved. Rebellion or betrayal of the first option also leads to the second outcome. IIRC, these first aliens are only emissaries with one or two ships, but a huge armada is waiting to take possession of the system.
There is much debate by humanity over what to do, but in the end, the perceived technological superiority and resources of the alien invaders is such that submission is the only sane option. The protagonist, writing in his journal, accepts this with resignation. One of his peers, a hot headed type, is outraged that humanity has given up without a fight.
The "doom" comes when the protagonist learns that the hot-headed admiral conceived of a plan to stop the alien fleet as it entered the system. The Terran space fleet has been taken behind one of the outlying planets or gas giant moons. Under the command of the hot-headed admiral, the alien armada is ambushed. All comes to naught, however, when it is discovered the alien ships possess a force field that renders them effectively invulnerable to anything in the Terran arsenal. The entire Terran fleet is destroyed, and the enraged aliens head towards Earth.
The story closes with the protagonist writing of the events in his journal. He sees a number of alien warriors closing in on his location. He comments on their facial features, saying "they don't look - " the story breaks off mid-sentence, implying the protagonist has just been killed.
Timeframe of Publication
I read this in some old anthology. I can't remember when I read it (90's, maybe?), but it was clearly an older book. I would guess 1960's or earlier.
story-identification short-stories alien-invasion
story-identification short-stories alien-invasion
edited Aug 8 '17 at 1:54
Blackwood
14.7k56378
asked Aug 8 '17 at 1:10
Helbent IVHelbent IV
5,46122699
edited Aug 8 '17 at 1:54
Blackwood
14.7k56378
asked Aug 8 '17 at 1:10
Helbent IVHelbent IV
5,46122699
edited Aug 8 '17 at 1:54
Blackwood
14.7k56378
edited Aug 8 '17 at 1:54
Blackwood
14.7k56378
edited Aug 8 '17 at 1:54
Blackwood
14.7k56378
14.7k56378
asked Aug 8 '17 at 1:10
Helbent IVHelbent IV
5,46122699
asked Aug 8 '17 at 1:10
Helbent IVHelbent IV
5,46122699
asked Aug 8 '17 at 1:10
Helbent IVHelbent IV
5,46122699
5,46122699
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 5 mins ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 5 mins ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
1
This sounds similar to Space Battleship Yamato myanimelist.net/anime/12029/Uchuu_Senkan_Yamato_2199
– Michael McQuade
Aug 8 '17 at 1:51
2
I read the title and immediately thought en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zapp_Brannigan
– Mooing Duck
Jan 3 at 19:24
2
I know I've read this one too, probably back around the late 1990s. I think the main character was a British military officer who was somehow selected (perhaps by the UN Security Council?) for the new role of commander-in-chief of all Earth's armed forces after the aliens made it clear they expected to be able to deal with such an individual.
– Lorendiac
Feb 23 at 2:13
add a comment |
1
This sounds similar to Space Battleship Yamato myanimelist.net/anime/12029/Uchuu_Senkan_Yamato_2199
– Michael McQuade
Aug 8 '17 at 1:51
2
I read the title and immediately thought en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zapp_Brannigan
– Mooing Duck
Jan 3 at 19:24
2
I know I've read this one too, probably back around the late 1990s. I think the main character was a British military officer who was somehow selected (perhaps by the UN Security Council?) for the new role of commander-in-chief of all Earth's armed forces after the aliens made it clear they expected to be able to deal with such an individual.
– Lorendiac
Feb 23 at 2:13
1
1
This sounds similar to Space Battleship Yamato myanimelist.net/anime/12029/Uchuu_Senkan_Yamato_2199
– Michael McQuade
Aug 8 '17 at 1:51
This sounds similar to Space Battleship Yamato myanimelist.net/anime/12029/Uchuu_Senkan_Yamato_2199
– Michael McQuade
Aug 8 '17 at 1:51
2
2
I read the title and immediately thought en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zapp_Brannigan
– Mooing Duck
Jan 3 at 19:24
I read the title and immediately thought en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zapp_Brannigan
– Mooing Duck
Jan 3 at 19:24
2
2
I know I've read this one too, probably back around the late 1990s. I think the main character was a British military officer who was somehow selected (perhaps by the UN Security Council?) for the new role of commander-in-chief of all Earth's armed forces after the aliens made it clear they expected to be able to deal with such an individual.
– Lorendiac
Feb 23 at 2:13
I know I've read this one too, probably back around the late 1990s. I think the main character was a British military officer who was somehow selected (perhaps by the UN Security Council?) for the new role of commander-in-chief of all Earth's armed forces after the aliens made it clear they expected to be able to deal with such an individual.
– Lorendiac
Feb 23 at 2:13
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
It's possible that you are thinking of TFS Ingenuity which is part of a 5-book series.
answered Feb 27 at 1:15
Invent PaloozaInvent Palooza
358118
4
Can you edit your answer to explain why you think it is correct?
– Organic Marble
Feb 27 at 1:26
Helbent IV thinks he read this somewhere around the 1990s, and I think I read it in the late 1990s. According to Amazon, a novel called TFS Ingenuity was published in 2015, making it far too recent to be the story Helbent IV and I seem to agree was already in print at least 20 years ago. (Also, that was just one shorter piece inside an anthology, instead of being the first novel in a longer series.)
– Lorendiac
Feb 27 at 4:07
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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It's possible that you are thinking of TFS Ingenuity which is part of a 5-book series.
answered Feb 27 at 1:15
Invent PaloozaInvent Palooza
358118
4
Can you edit your answer to explain why you think it is correct?
– Organic Marble
Feb 27 at 1:26
Helbent IV thinks he read this somewhere around the 1990s, and I think I read it in the late 1990s. According to Amazon, a novel called TFS Ingenuity was published in 2015, making it far too recent to be the story Helbent IV and I seem to agree was already in print at least 20 years ago. (Also, that was just one shorter piece inside an anthology, instead of being the first novel in a longer series.)
– Lorendiac
Feb 27 at 4:07
add a comment |
It's possible that you are thinking of TFS Ingenuity which is part of a 5-book series.
answered Feb 27 at 1:15
Invent PaloozaInvent Palooza
358118
4
Can you edit your answer to explain why you think it is correct?
– Organic Marble
Feb 27 at 1:26
Helbent IV thinks he read this somewhere around the 1990s, and I think I read it in the late 1990s. According to Amazon, a novel called TFS Ingenuity was published in 2015, making it far too recent to be the story Helbent IV and I seem to agree was already in print at least 20 years ago. (Also, that was just one shorter piece inside an anthology, instead of being the first novel in a longer series.)
– Lorendiac
Feb 27 at 4:07
add a comment |
It's possible that you are thinking of TFS Ingenuity which is part of a 5-book series.
answered Feb 27 at 1:15
Invent PaloozaInvent Palooza
358118
It's possible that you are thinking of TFS Ingenuity which is part of a 5-book series.
answered Feb 27 at 1:15
Invent PaloozaInvent Palooza
358118
answered Feb 27 at 1:15
Invent PaloozaInvent Palooza
358118
answered Feb 27 at 1:15
Invent PaloozaInvent Palooza
358118
answered Feb 27 at 1:15
Invent PaloozaInvent Palooza
358118
358118
4
Can you edit your answer to explain why you think it is correct?
– Organic Marble
Feb 27 at 1:26
Helbent IV thinks he read this somewhere around the 1990s, and I think I read it in the late 1990s. According to Amazon, a novel called TFS Ingenuity was published in 2015, making it far too recent to be the story Helbent IV and I seem to agree was already in print at least 20 years ago. (Also, that was just one shorter piece inside an anthology, instead of being the first novel in a longer series.)
– Lorendiac
Feb 27 at 4:07
add a comment |
4
Can you edit your answer to explain why you think it is correct?
– Organic Marble
Feb 27 at 1:26
Helbent IV thinks he read this somewhere around the 1990s, and I think I read it in the late 1990s. According to Amazon, a novel called TFS Ingenuity was published in 2015, making it far too recent to be the story Helbent IV and I seem to agree was already in print at least 20 years ago. (Also, that was just one shorter piece inside an anthology, instead of being the first novel in a longer series.)
– Lorendiac
Feb 27 at 4:07
4
4
Can you edit your answer to explain why you think it is correct?
– Organic Marble
Feb 27 at 1:26
Can you edit your answer to explain why you think it is correct?
– Organic Marble
Feb 27 at 1:26
Helbent IV thinks he read this somewhere around the 1990s, and I think I read it in the late 1990s. According to Amazon, a novel called TFS Ingenuity was published in 2015, making it far too recent to be the story Helbent IV and I seem to agree was already in print at least 20 years ago. (Also, that was just one shorter piece inside an anthology, instead of being the first novel in a longer series.)
– Lorendiac
Feb 27 at 4:07
Helbent IV thinks he read this somewhere around the 1990s, and I think I read it in the late 1990s. According to Amazon, a novel called TFS Ingenuity was published in 2015, making it far too recent to be the story Helbent IV and I seem to agree was already in print at least 20 years ago. (Also, that was just one shorter piece inside an anthology, instead of being the first novel in a longer series.)
– Lorendiac
Feb 27 at 4:07
add a comment |
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1
This sounds similar to Space Battleship Yamato myanimelist.net/anime/12029/Uchuu_Senkan_Yamato_2199
– Michael McQuade
Aug 8 '17 at 1:51
2
I read the title and immediately thought en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zapp_Brannigan
– Mooing Duck
Jan 3 at 19:24
2
I know I've read this one too, probably back around the late 1990s. I think the main character was a British military officer who was somehow selected (perhaps by the UN Security Council?) for the new role of commander-in-chief of all Earth's armed forces after the aliens made it clear they expected to be able to deal with such an individual.
– Lorendiac
Feb 23 at 2:13