The Trouble With.....Flat Cats!!

[EnsignHarper]

So did Mick and the boys have cryptomnesia when they named their band?

From Muddy Waters, not Heinlein - the song "Mannish Boy" has a line, "I'm a Rollin' Stone". (NOT, as reported, "Rolling Stone blues")

 

[Harvey]

And apparently, Kellam de Forrest had very little problems with Tribbles, otherwise they would have said something.

Actually, de Forest Research caught the similarities. This is what they said in their August 11, 1967 research report (note that this report indicates that Desilu was notified of the similarities earlier, when the story was purchased):

It’s a green-gold ball of fluff, a tribble. – The premise of a small, featureless, fluffy, purring animal, friendly and loving, that reproduces rapidly when fed, and nearly engulfs a space ship, is the major plot complication of the last one third of Robert A. Heinlein’s novel, The Rolling Stones, published by Scribner’s in 1952. Use of this plot line which parallels the story line of the novel could lead to legal complications. Mr. Heinlein might claim that his property was rendered unsaleable to television and motion pictures because the story line had appeared on Star Trek. The similarities between these two stories were pointed out when the story outline was first presented. It might be advisable to contact Mr. Heinlein and negotiate purchase of property.

 

[Therin of Andor]

I must have read the story 10 years after seeing the episode but still made the connection.

The story was reprinted in a very early "Starlog".

 

[Nebusj]

I must have read the story 10 years after seeing the episode but still made the connection.

The story was reprinted in a very early "Starlog".

I'm intrigued. Would you know which one? Archve.org has a reasonably complete run of Starlog in its archives.

 

[publiusr]

I miss Starlog and OMNI.

I think I suffer from cryptomnesia. I write some fic over at starshipmodeler.net's writer's corner--it is hard to be original.

I remember a Starlog article about an unmade movie called Monolith--anyone recall that?

 

[Sir Rhosis]

Starlog # 4. Here's a site which reprints the Starlog printing as well as a comics adaption of "Arena":

http://swords-and-veeblefetzers.blogspot.com/2009/12/worlds-unknown-04-fredric-browns-arena.html

Sir Rhosis

 

[CaptMurdock]

As for Heinlein, after reading the script for TTWT, he remarked something to effect that they had both lifted ideas from Ellis Parker Butler's story "Pigs Is Pigs" and from the biblical story of Noah.

You mean according to Gerrold, Heinlein said that, which is what he wrote in his book "The Trouble With Tribbles".

Fair enough. I accept your correction to my lack of attribution.

 

[Maurice]

As for Heinlein, after reading the script for TTWT, he remarked something to effect that they had both lifted ideas from Ellis Parker Butler's story "Pigs Is Pigs" and from the biblical story of Noah.

You mean according to Gerrold, Heinlein said that, which is what he wrote in his book "The Trouble With Tribbles".

Fair enough. I accept your correction to my lack of attribution.

I wasn't really commenting on a lack of attribution, rather that what we have is Gerrold's claim of what Heinlein supposedly said.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

I wasn't really commenting on a lack of attribution, rather that what we have is Gerrold's claim of what Heinlein supposedly said.

I think Gerrold would be fairly honest about that because when he wrote it, Heinlein was very much alive and dialed in to the sci-fi scene. A mention like that in Gerrold's book would get back to Heinlein lickity split.

 

[Maurice]

AGAIN, the point is it's not a direct quote. It might be 100% accurate, but it's not like we have it from the primary source in order to be certain.