(Found)Planets are eggs

TomMazanec

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Oct 17, 2020
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Short story.
1960s?
A cosmic sized bird comes to the planet Mercury, which "hatches" into giant hatchling. Then the bird flies to Venus. It seems the planets are eggs and it is time for them to hatch.
World begins program to drill down and kill Earth's "bird". Scientist leader of project warns that if Earth begins to "knock" time is running out and they must redouble their efforts.
Narrator ends that "this morning, Earth began to knock".
 

PaulMmn

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Oct 19, 2010
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Sounds like several species of birds-- why would they all hatch at the same time-- they'd been 'roasting' at different distances from the sun! :)
 

BAYLOR

There Are Always new Things to Learn.
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Short story.
1960s?
A cosmic sized bird comes to the planet Mercury, which "hatches" into giant hatchling. Then the bird flies to Venus. It seems the planets are eggs and it is time for them to hatch.
World begins program to drill down and kill Earth's "bird". Scientist leader of project warns that if Earth begins to "knock" time is running out and they must redouble their efforts.
Narrator ends that "this morning, Earth began to knock".

Born of the Sun By Jack Williamson Written 1934 Somewhat similar concept In that all of the planet in the solar system include in the moon each contained a Phoenix.
 

BAYLOR

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Just what I was thinking… a daft classic, and one of Tremaine’s thought variants.

In 1976 . while in barber shop, I read comic adaptation of that story , at time , I didn't note the title and had no idea what it was based on. The magazine Slipsteam Adventures in Science fiction issues #3 . I never forgot that comic, decades later I could still remeber the story detail for detail. It wasn't; till signed up here that I learned the title and that it was by Jack Williamson . I finally got read the actual story and , wonderful stuff ! It would make a specular feature film !
 

Bick

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Good tale, Baylor. It took a little finding, as it was Starstream: Adventures in Science Fiction. This is the issue you read in the barber shop:

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I'd never heard of the comic - now I want to find some old copies on eBay :)
 

Bick

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That's the one Bick. :cool: This publication wasn't around long . About a year.:unsure:
Indeed, four issues released, all in 1976, by all accounts. I don't remember it because it was (a) American and I doubt it made it to the UK, and (b) I was only 7 when it was published. I'm sorely tempted though...

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Issue #1 contained:

Dominus adapted from the story by Barrington J. Bayley
The Last Guinea-Pig adapted from the story The Proper Study by Joan Hunter Holly
Who Goes There? adapted from the story by John W. Campbell, Jr
Rabbits to the Moon adapted from the story by Raymond C. Banks
The Music of Minox adapted from the story by Chad Oliver

1631242055227.png

Issue #2 contained:
Night of the Storm adapted from the story by Dean R. Koontz
The Brain Traveller, original script by Arnold Drake
Flight of the Horse adapted from the story by Larry Niven
Collecting Team adapted from the story by Robert Silverberg
The Utopia Tree, original script by Arnold Drake
Phoenix Planet adapted from the story Serpentine by Mary Schaub

1631242066639.png

Issue #3 contained:
Born of the Sun adapted from the story by Jack Williamson
A Day in the Life of Dr. Moon, original script by Arnold Drake
Microcosmic God adapted from the story by Theodore Sturgeon
Last Voyage of the Albatross adapted from the story by A. E. Van Vogt
The Crystal Singer adapted from the story by Anne McCaffrey

1631242082623.png

Issue #4 contained:
Call Me Joe adapted from the story by Poul Anderson.
Benjamin Franklin - "Martian", original script by Arnold Drake
Does a Bee Care? adapted from the story by Isaac Asimov
The City adapted from the story Nice Place to Visit by Stephen Goldin
Report to the Plenary Council, original script by George Kashdan and Roger Elwood
And the Blood Ran Green adapted from the story The Fear Planet by Robert Bloch
 

hitmouse

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Not heard of Starstream either. Intrigued. Those covers are a bit retro, even for 1976.
 

BAYLOR

There Are Always new Things to Learn.
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Good tale, Baylor. It took a little finding, as it was Starstream: Adventures in Science Fiction. This is the issue you read in the barber shop:

View attachment 81826 View attachment 81827

I'd never heard of the comic - now I want to find some old copies on eBay :)

Starstream. Ah, I got title wrong .:eek: Oh well.:)

Ive seen copy of the magazine Astounding Magazine with Born of the Sun. I could have bought it but, didn't do so.
 
Last edited:

Richiehead

Berr Drinking Poconut
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Apr 9, 2012
Messages
43
Short story.
1960s?
A cosmic sized bird comes to the planet Mercury, which "hatches" into giant hatchling. Then the bird flies to Venus. It seems the planets are eggs and it is time for them to hatch.
World begins program to drill down and kill Earth's "bird". Scientist leader of project warns that if Earth begins to "knock" time is running out and they must redouble their efforts.
Narrator ends that "this morning, Earth began to knock".

'And Lo! the Bird' by Nelson S Bond.
And Lo! now I'm trying to find a copy to read. Looks interesting!
"And Lo the Bird" is 100% definitely the correct answer to the original question - I remember that last sentence vividly !
 

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