Pop quiz

Clear Skies · February 15, 2003, 09:35

Anyone who knows me will know that I have pretty strange tastes in books and music, so here's a quick quiz to find out just how strange

Here are the first lines of my 10 favourite books and 10 favourite songs, but which books and which songs are they? The songs are likely to be incredibly easy; the books may be a little trickier. Author/artist as well as title, if possible. Where songs are covers, any artist will do, although the originals are generally the best

Oh, and no googling or using other search engines. That's cheating :P I'll edit in the answers as they come in.

Books:

1. His name was Gaal Dornick and he was just a country boy who had never seen Trantor before. - Foundation, Isaac Asimov
2. In the week before their departure to Arrakis, when all the final scurrying about had reached a nearly unbearable frenzy, an old crone came to visit the mother of the boy, Paul. - Dune, Frank Herbert
3. By human standards it could not possibly have been artificial: it was the size of a world; but it was so oddly and intricately shaped, so clearly intended for some complex purpose that it could only have been the expression of an idea.
4. "Your grandfather," said Vanyel's brawny, fifteen-year-old cousin Radevel, "was crazy." - Magic's Pawn, Mercedes Lackey
5. In the Court of the Fountain the sun of March shone through young leaves of ash and elm, and water leapt and fell through shadow and clear light. - The Farthest Shore - Ursula Le Guin
6. According to the first scroll of Wen the Eternally Surprised, Wen stepped out of the cave where he had received enlightenment and into the dawning light of the first day of the rest of his life. - Thief of Time, Terry Pratchett
7. Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains.
8. "Too many," James shouted, and slammed the door behind him. "What?" said Will.
9. We can't know, at this time, whether the rebels won or lost the final battle in the underground tunnels of the Human Hive. - Dragon Sun, Michael Ely
10. If I squint, tilt my head, and shut my left eye, all I can see out the window is 1932, straight down to the lake. Brown warehouses, oatmeal-colored smoke-stacks, faded signs painted on brick walls advertising long-discontinued brands: "Lovely", "Gaywear".

Songs:

1. When we were together I was blown away, just like paper from a fan. - In Demand, Texas
2. It was Christmas Eve, babe, in the drunk tank. - Fairytale of New York, The Pogues feat. Kirsty MacColl
3. A long, long time ago, I can still remember how that music used to make me smile. - American Pie, Don McLean
4. I was driving across the burning desert, when I spotted six jet planes leaving six white vapour trails across the bleak terrain.
5. Now here you go again, you say you want your freedom. - Dreams, Fleetwood Mac
6. If it weren't for your maturity, none of this would have happened. - Hands Clean, Alanis Morrissette
7. Post office clerks put up signs saying, 'Position closed'.
8. Making my way downtown, walking fast, faces pass and I'm homebound. - Vanessa Carlton, A Thousand Miles
9. My tea's gone cold, I'm wondering why I got out of bed at all. - Thank You, Dido
10. There is fiction in the space between the lines on your page of memories.

Wraith · February 15, 2003, 09:48

1. I recognize Trantor, but not the specific book.

2. Dune. Duh.

4. Magic's Pawn

5. The Farthest Shore

6. Thief of Time

7. Rousseau, isn't it?

Wraith
A book a day - that's all we ask

Urban Ranger · February 15, 2003, 10:05

Oh, not the kind of pop quiz I was thinking of, the kind of quiz profs spring on people. Like, "surprise!"

Main_Brain · February 15, 2003, 10:16

B 9) seems to be Dragon Sun

boy i am either bad or Wraith took all the easy ones ;=)

Bas · February 15, 2003, 10:27

Songs:

2. Fairytale of New York, by the Pogues, I think.
3. American Pie by Don McLean?
6. Alanis Morrissette, Hands Clean.
8. It's that incredibly annoying piano song... Vanessa Carlton I think.
9. Dido, Thank You.

My God, I should be ashamed that I actually recognize this much.

Zkribbler · February 15, 2003, 10:53

Drat!! Bas gave the correct answer on Song 3 before I got a chance to.

And take that silly question mark outta there!

Wraith · February 15, 2003, 10:58

--"boy i am either bad or Wraith took all the easy ones"

Depends on your favorite genres.

That said...

Book 1 I'm going to venture a guess on. I do recognize Trantor, so I'll pick the best book of the series and just say Foundation. Been a long time since I've read those.

(When is the SF thread voting on the next book, anyway? I seem to recall that being one of the nominees.)

As for songs being easier... well, I don't listen to a whole lot of non-classical music that isn't an anime soundtrack.

Should have recognzied one earlier, though. Weird Al parodies it an all.

Wraith
Migratory life form with a tropism for bookstores