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(Iain Banks) Culture ship names.

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ROU Don't Say You Weren't Warned

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Feb 21, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/21/99
to
Anyone got any interesting suggestions for new (Banks-style) names for
future culture vessels/minds? I know Iain isn't (reputedly) actually
online, but hey, maybe telepathy works (?).

eg GCU - Factoring the Prime Directive.
ROU - I've Added You to my Kill-File.
GSV - Forty Two; and Counting.

--
ROU Don't Say You Weren't Warned

John S. Novak, III

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Feb 21, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/21/99
to
On Sun, 21 Feb 1999 20:57:36 +0000, ROU Don't Say You Weren't Warned
<gbbf...@quik.demon.co.uk> wrote:

>Anyone got any interesting suggestions for new (Banks-style) names for
>future culture vessels/minds? I know Iain isn't (reputedly) actually
>online, but hey, maybe telepathy works (?).

>eg GCU - Factoring the Prime Directive.

Heh. I like that one.

GSV - Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

--
John S. Novak, III j...@concentric.net
The Humblest Man on the Net

Kate Nepveu

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Feb 21, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/21/99
to
ROU Don't Say You Weren't Warned <gbbf...@quik.demon.co.uk> wrote:

> Anyone got any interesting suggestions for new (Banks-style) names for
> future culture vessels/minds? I know Iain isn't (reputedly) actually
> online, but hey, maybe telepathy works (?).

> eg GCU - Factoring the Prime Directive.

GCU Tab A
GSV Slot B
GCU Are We There Yet?
GSV Another Way to Travel

Okay, I'm not very good at this. Anyone else?

Kate
--
http://www.concentric.net/~knepveu/ - The Paired Reading Page; Reviews
"Dissect my thought processes if you must but don't hold me
responsible for my appearance while you do so."
--Caroline Stevermer, _A College of Magics_

ROU Don't Say You Weren't Warned

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Feb 21, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/21/99
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Well, I find OUs easiest, but here's a few more:

ROU - Harmful if Swallowed
GSV - Been There, Done That
GCU - This Way Up
--

Loznik

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Feb 21, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/21/99
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On Sun, 21 Feb 1999 21:57:37 GMT, kne...@lynx.neu.edu (Kate Nepveu)
suggested:

>ROU Don't Say You Weren't Warned <gbbf...@quik.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>
>> Anyone got any interesting suggestions for new (Banks-style) names for
>> future culture vessels/minds? I know Iain isn't (reputedly) actually
>> online, but hey, maybe telepathy works (?).
>
>> eg GCU - Factoring the Prime Directive.
>
>GCU Tab A
>GSV Slot B
>GCU Are We There Yet?
>GSV Another Way to Travel
>
>Okay, I'm not very good at this. Anyone else?
>
>Kate
>--

How about:-
ROU "Don't Touch That Button ..."
LOU "If I Could Do It Again, I Would Do It All Over You" [1]
GSV "Pedal To The Metal"
LSV "My Other Vehicle's A GSV"
GCU "More Power, Igor"
VFP "It Was Like That When I Got Here"

[1] yeah, they have Caravan fans in The Culture.

Sorry, it's late. But you asked for it :-)


Loznik {:-)>

"Sometimes things fall apart
That's God's love in disguise"

James Moar

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Feb 21, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/21/99
to

In article <Z2S+HDAA...@quik.demon.co.uk>, ROU Don't Say You Weren't
Warned <gbbf...@quik.demon.co.uk> wrote:


>Anyone got any interesting suggestions for new (Banks-style) names for
>future culture vessels/minds? I know Iain isn't (reputedly) actually
>online, but hey, maybe telepathy works (?).
>
>eg GCU - Factoring the Prime Directive.

> ROU - I've Added You to my Kill-File.
> GSV - Forty Two; and Counting.

GCU Don't Have a Cow, Man.

GCU This End Up.

GSV If You Can Read This You Are Too Close.

ROU You Blew Up the WHAT?


James Moar

File not found, I'll load something *I* think is interesting.

ROU Don't Say You Weren't Warned

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Feb 22, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/22/99
to
In article <36d0978...@news.globalnet.co.uk>, Loznik
<loz...@garbage.bigfoot.com> writes
<snip>

>VFP "It Was Like That When I Got Here"

Ok, that one's worth framing!!

--

ROU Don't Say You Weren't Warned

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Feb 22, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/22/99
to
In article <36d0978...@news.globalnet.co.uk>, Loznik
<loz...@garbage.bigfoot.com> writes
<snip>
>VFP "It Was Like That When I Got Here"
>
In the same vein:

"ME? I hardly touched it"
or "I'm Sure It Can be Repaired"

Jens Kilian

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Feb 22, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/22/99
to

GCU Who? Me?
GSV I Swear I Left It Around Here Somewhere.
ROU None Of Your Business

--
mailto:j...@acm.org phone:+49-7031-14-7698 (HP TELNET 778-7698)
http://www.bawue.de/~jjk/ fax:+49-7031-14-7351
PGP: 06 04 1C 35 7B DC 1F 26 As the air to a bird, or the sea to a fish,
0x555DA8B5 BB A2 F0 66 77 75 E1 08 so is contempt to the contemptible. [Blake]

Peter Kendell

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Feb 22, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/22/99
to

ROU Don't Say You Weren't Warned <gbbf...@quik.demon.co.uk> wrote in
message news:Z2S+HDAA...@quik.demon.co.uk...

>Anyone got any interesting suggestions for new (Banks-style) names for
>future culture vessels/minds? I know Iain isn't (reputedly) actually
>online, but hey, maybe telepathy works (?).
>
>eg GCU - Factoring the Prime Directive.
> ROU - I've Added You to my Kill-File.
> GSV - Forty Two; and Counting.
>

ROU - Ooops
GSV - A Walk in the Park
GCU - Thank You For Your Time

Peter


facter

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Feb 22, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/22/99
to
hehehe, i always liked GSV Are We There Yet ?

Fac.


ROU Don't Say You Weren't Warned wrote:

> Anyone got any interesting suggestions for new (Banks-style) names for
> future culture vessels/minds? I know Iain isn't (reputedly) actually
> online, but hey, maybe telepathy works (?).
>
> eg GCU - Factoring the Prime Directive.
> ROU - I've Added You to my Kill-File.
> GSV - Forty Two; and Counting.
>

> --

Rusty Wallace

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Feb 22, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/22/99
to
"James Moar" <jw...@st-and.ac.uk> wrote:

>
>GCU Don't Have a Cow, Man.
>

I haven't actually read a Banks novel yet. Can I play?

GSV Nobody Saw Me Do It

Richard Baker

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Feb 22, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/22/99
to
ROU Don't Say You Weren't Warned wrote:
>
> Anyone got any interesting suggestions for new (Banks-style) names for
> future culture vessels/minds? I know Iain isn't (reputedly) actually
> online, but hey, maybe telepathy works (?).
>
> eg GCU - Factoring the Prime Directive.
> ROU - I've Added You to my Kill-File.
> GSV - Forty Two; and Counting.

ROU Temporary Suspension of Ethics

Rich

David Navarro

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Feb 22, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/22/99
to
ROU Don't Say You Weren't Warned wrote:
>
> Anyone got any interesting suggestions for new (Banks-style) names for
> future culture vessels/minds? I know Iain isn't (reputedly) actually
> online, but hey, maybe telepathy works (?).
>
> eg GCU - Factoring the Prime Directive.
> ROU - I've Added You to my Kill-File.
> GSV - Forty Two; and Counting.

GSV - Too Clever by Half
ROU - Trust at your Peril
GCU - Basking in your Regard
GSV - An Infinitely Strage Universe

--
___________________________________________________
David Navarro http://www.alcaudon.com
___________________________________________________
In the beginning there was nothing, which exploded.


Cambias

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Feb 22, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/22/99
to
ROU Poor Anger Management
ROU Cause For Alarm
GSV Not My Responsibility
GSV Adequate Resources
GCU Where There's Smoke

Colin Rosenthal

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Feb 23, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/23/99
to
On Mon, 22 Feb 1999 12:37:22 -0800,
David Navarro <dna...@anim.dreamworks.com> wrote:
>ROU Don't Say You Weren't Warned wrote:
>>
>> Anyone got any interesting suggestions for new (Banks-style) names for
>> future culture vessels/minds? I know Iain isn't (reputedly) actually
>> online, but hey, maybe telepathy works (?).
>>
>> eg GCU - Factoring the Prime Directive.
>> ROU - I've Added You to my Kill-File.
>> GSV - Forty Two; and Counting.
>
>GSV - Too Clever by Half
>ROU - Trust at your Peril
>GCU - Basking in your Regard
>GSV - An Infinitely Strage Universe

GSV - It Was Like That When I Got Here

--
Colin Rosenthal
Astrophysics Institute
University of Oslo

Peter Kendell

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Feb 23, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/23/99
to

ROU Don't Say You Weren't Warned <R...@quik.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:CjidTjA3...@quik.demon.co.uk...

>In article <36d0978...@news.globalnet.co.uk>, Loznik
><loz...@garbage.bigfoot.com> writes
><snip>
>>VFP "It Was Like That When I Got Here"
>>
>In the same vein:
>
> "ME? I hardly touched it"
>or "I'm Sure It Can be Repaired"

or "Claim it on your insurance"


Michael Grant

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Feb 23, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/23/99
to
bl
A long time ago, on a Usenet far, far away, ROU Don't Say You Weren't
Warned scribed:
^

> Anyone got any interesting suggestions for new (Banks-style) names for
> future culture vessels/minds? I know Iain isn't (reputedly) actually
> online, but hey, maybe telepathy works (?).
>
> eg GCU - Factoring the Prime Directive.
> ROU - I've Added You to my Kill-File.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
If you're seeking to capture the essence of the Internet here, I
suggest the GSV _Is This Thing On?_.

-------IN--MEMORIAM--PHOENICIS.CANTABRIGENSIS.ACADEMIAE.UK--------------------
One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them; | Risus Sardonicus :-]
One ring to gather them and in the darkness bind them:--| (Michael S. Grant)
Just press 5 for ringback. | M.S....@hw.ac.uk
----------< http://www.cee.hw.ac.uk/~msgrant/ >-------------------------------

Colin Rosenthal

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Feb 23, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/23/99
to
On Tue, 23 Feb 1999 13:57:45 GMT,
Michael Grant <msgrant@PROBLEM_WITH_INEWS_GATEWAY_FILE> wrote:
> bl
>A long time ago, on a Usenet far, far away, ROU Don't Say You Weren't
>Warned scribed:
> ^
>> Anyone got any interesting suggestions for new (Banks-style) names for
>> future culture vessels/minds? I know Iain isn't (reputedly) actually
>> online, but hey, maybe telepathy works (?).
>>
>> eg GCU - Factoring the Prime Directive.
>> ROU - I've Added You to my Kill-File.
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>If you're seeking to capture the essence of the Internet here, I
>suggest the GSV _Is This Thing On?_.

Shouldn't that be the GSV "$$$MAKE MONEY FAST HOT GIRLS TAKE IT FROM BEHIND$$$"
?

James Battista

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Feb 23, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/23/99
to
Colin Rosenthal <col...@toliman.uio.no> wrote:
: On Tue, 23 Feb 1999 13:57:45 GMT,

LOL!

Which of course manufactured ROU Hot Teen Pussy and GCUs Ponzi Scheme
and ELIT3 DO0D.

Not to mention, linking it to this group, GSV Hexapodia The Key Insight

I still wonder if, after having met us in 'The State of the Art,'
there are ships like GCU Enterprise and GSV Death Star and ROU Pol Pot
blatting around the universe.

Of course, after the Terran radiation shell expands out to whatever point
at which the Culture sees Yahoo Serious is when they come running to
either cure us or disintegrate the Earth.


Martin Wisse

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Feb 23, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/23/99
to
On Sun, 21 Feb 1999 20:57:36 +0000, ROU Don't Say You Weren't Warned
<gbbf...@quik.demon.co.uk> wrote:

>Anyone got any interesting suggestions for new (Banks-style) names for
>future culture vessels/minds? I know Iain isn't (reputedly) actually
>online, but hey, maybe telepathy works (?).
>
>eg GCU - Factoring the Prime Directive.
> ROU - I've Added You to my Kill-File.

> GSV - Forty Two; and Counting.

GCU Insert Funny Name Here

Martin Wisse

David Navarro

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Feb 23, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/23/99
to
James Battista wrote:
>

> I still wonder if, after having met us in 'The State of the Art,'
> there are ships like GCU Enterprise and GSV Death Star and ROU Pol Pot
> blatting around the universe.
>
> Of course, after the Terran radiation shell expands out to whatever point
> at which the Culture sees Yahoo Serious is when they come running to
> either cure us or disintegrate the Earth.

Well... In _The Player of Games_ it's said that Gurgeh plays Chess...
Whether it's Earth chess or the Culture equivalent is not clear, but
given "The State of the Art", it's arguable that Banks was talking
about the real thing.

But speaking of the Death Star... Why would a GSV name itself that? It
would be like a dreadnought naming itself "Puny Fishing Boat"... :)

Andrew Plotkin

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Feb 23, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/23/99
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David Navarro (dna...@anim.dreamworks.com) wrote:

> But speaking of the Death Star... Why would a GSV name itself that? It
> would be like a dreadnought naming itself "Puny Fishing Boat"... :)

You can't see a GSV naming itself "Puny Fishing Boat"?

"Death Star" would be the same joke, only twice.

--Z

--

"And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah: these were the
borogoves..."

Simon Slavin

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Feb 23, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/23/99
to
In article <Z2S+HDAA...@quik.demon.co.uk>,

ROU Don't Say You Weren't Warned <gbbf...@quik.demon.co.uk> wrote:

> eg GCU - Factoring the Prime Directive.

You mean

GCU Fracturing the Prime Directive

GCU Lonely As A Cloud
GCU Insidious
GCU Hard Place
GCU Anyone Got A Screwdriver ?
GCU You Dancing ?
GCU I Ate My Greens
GCU Shiny Thing
GSV Travelling Hopefully
GSV Have Space Suit
GSV Illogical, Captain
GSV Being There
ROU Come Outside And Say That
ROU Bleed On Me ?
ROU Bad Impulse Control
ROU Target Rich Environment
ROU When I Grow Up I Wanna Be A GCU

I suspect that alt.books.iain-banks do a lot of this.

Simon.
--
No junk email please. <http://www.hearsay.demon.co.uk>
----------------------------------------------------------
'Evil Bastard' is a value judgment. 'Trickster' is a job description.
-- Dorothy J Heydt


James Battista

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Feb 23, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/23/99
to
Martin Wisse <mwi...@ad-astra.demon.nl> wrote:


: GCU Insert Funny Name Here


And the old standard ROU Clever Euphemism For Violence

Danny Sichel

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Feb 23, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/23/99
to
Kate Nepveu wrote:

> ROU Don't Say You Weren't Warned <gbbf...@quik.demon.co.uk> wrote:

> > Anyone got any interesting suggestions for new (Banks-style) names for
> > future culture vessels/minds? I know Iain isn't (reputedly) actually
> > online, but hey, maybe telepathy works (?).

> > eg GCU - Factoring the Prime Directive.

> GCU Tab A
> GSV Slot B
> GCU Are We There Yet?
> GSV Another Way to Travel

> Okay, I'm not very good at this. Anyone else?

Me, I'm even worse at it, because I've never read *anything* by Banks
(although the level of Banks fanaticism I've seen here has persuaded me
to put him on my list of stuff to seek out), and thus have no idea
whatsoever of what "GCU', "GSV", "ROU", etc., stand for (or, if they
don't actually stand for anything, at least what they *mean*. Is "ROU"
an indicator of a military vessel of some sort? From what I understood
of the Culture, I hadn't thought that they'd *need* military vessels...)

I'm getting a vague idea of the sort of phrases that Banks would choose
for the various types of ships, yes, but I can't make a valid
contribution to the thread unless I know the parameters. Y'follow?
------
"He followed me home. Can we keep him?"
"Sorry, you know the rules. Muties only."
"Well, if his parents were human, wouldn't that make him a mutie?"
"It certainly would! Were they?"
"I dunno. They might have been."
"Good enough. Get him a costume."
- Mutant Beach Party

John S. Novak, III

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Feb 23, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/23/99
to
On Tue, 23 Feb 1999 21:37:50 -0300, Danny Sichel <eds...@umoncton.ca> wrote:

>Me, I'm even worse at it, because I've never read *anything* by Banks
>(although the level of Banks fanaticism I've seen here has persuaded me
>to put him on my list of stuff to seek out), and thus have no idea
>whatsoever of what "GCU', "GSV", "ROU", etc., stand for (or, if they
>don't actually stand for anything, at least what they *mean*. Is "ROU"
>an indicator of a military vessel of some sort?

Rapid Offensive Unit, I believe.

Hence names like the ROU My Inner Child Kicked Your Inner Child's Butt.
(Okay, so it's a bit lengthy...)

Or the ROU Nobody Saw Me Do It.

>From what I understood
>of the Culture, I hadn't thought that they'd *need* military vessels...)

They seem to have fought a rather nasty war in the not too distant
past, and keep a number of vessels around (some active, a lot more
inactive and stashed) to deal with upstarts, creeps, poseurs, and the
occasional Out of Context Problem.

John S. Novak, III

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Feb 23, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/23/99
to
On 23 Feb 1999 15:16:02 GMT, James Battista <jim...@duke.edu> wrote:

>Which of course manufactured ROU Hot Teen Pussy and GCUs Ponzi Scheme
>and ELIT3 DO0D.

And now, for the old-timers, a thought certain to strike terror in the
hearts of men:

The GSV B!FF

David Navarro

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Feb 23, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/23/99
to
Danny Sichel wrote:
>

> Me, I'm even worse at it, because I've never read *anything* by Banks
> (although the level of Banks fanaticism I've seen here has persuaded me
> to put him on my list of stuff to seek out), and thus have no idea
> whatsoever of what "GCU', "GSV", "ROU", etc., stand for (or, if they
> don't actually stand for anything, at least what they *mean*. Is "ROU"

> an indicator of a military vessel of some sort? From what I understood


> of the Culture, I hadn't thought that they'd *need* military vessels...)
>

> I'm getting a vague idea of the sort of phrases that Banks would choose
> for the various types of ships, yes, but I can't make a valid
> contribution to the thread unless I know the parameters. Y'follow?

Well... The level of Banks fanaticism in this newsgroup increased by
about fifty percent when I jumped in... :)

a GCU is a General Contact Unit. Those ships basically roam the galaxy
and contact other civilizations. If the contactee is advanced enough,
there may be a disclosure, otherwise the GCUs will just observe, or
set up the parameters for future mercenary action. Those ships are
absolute information sponges, capable of taking in the complete
cultural, scientific and artistic output of entire planets in a matter
of days.

A ROU is a Rapid Offensive Unit, basically a Warship. They can lay
waste to entire solar systems without breaking a sweat, butg some of
them also like to be hugged, and to snuggle with you in bed. (Don't
ask... You'll find out when you get to read _Use of Weapons_).

You guessed right, most Culture ships (except maybe those belonging to
the Peace Faction) can kick ass and take names. Most of the military
ships referred to are leftovers from a rather nasty war that took
place a few thousand years before most of the Culture books (except
_Consider Phlebas_ I believe).

The GSVs (General Systems Vehicles) are to the Culture what cities are
to Earth. They are where most of the interesting stuff takes place, as
opposed to the more rural and laid-back Orbital habitats (almost
nobody lives down in planets). They are about a hundred miles long,
and the more crowded of them can house several billion people.
Remember the Super Star Destroyer from The Empire Strikes Back? Ships
that size are routinely manufactured and deployed by GSVs.

Most ships are sentient and full Culture citizens, although all bigger
ships have the capability to build and deploy not-very-bright utility
ships. The greater GSVs are piloted by a triunvirate of Minds, machine
intelligences a million times smarter than your standard human or
level-1 drone.

There are other, less significant classes of ship, such as Limited
System Vehicles and such, but the three above are the most fun.

Gareth Wilson

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Feb 24, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/24/99
to
>
> Martin Wisse <mwi...@ad-astra.demon.nl> wrote:
>
> : GCU Insert Funny Name Here
>

GCU Your Ad Here: Call 213543524646467
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gareth Wilson
Christchurch
New Zealand
e-mail gr...@student.canterbury.ac.nz

"A cesspool of smoking, cursing, and poor vocabulary"
-Jimmy Bakker on prison
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Graydon

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Feb 24, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/24/99
to
In article <7avaem$55m$2...@news.duke.edu>,

James Battista <jim...@duke.edu> wrote:
>Martin Wisse <mwi...@ad-astra.demon.nl> wrote:
>: GCU Insert Funny Name Here
>
>And the old standard ROU Clever Euphemism For Violence

The only two Culture ship names I have yet come up with that really seem
to have the right feel are:
GSV Yellow Brick Road
GOU Dubious Prospects
--
graydon@ | Hige sceal þe heardra, heorte þe cenre,
lara.on.ca | mod sceal þe mare þe ure maegen lytlað.
| -- Beorhtwold, "The Battle of Maldon"

Rich Horton

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Feb 24, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/24/99
to
On Tue, 23 Feb 1999 21:37:50 -0300, Danny Sichel <eds...@umoncton.ca>
wrote:

>Me, I'm even worse at it, because I've never read *anything* by Banks
>(although the level of Banks fanaticism I've seen here has persuaded me
>to put him on my list of stuff to seek out), and thus have no idea
>whatsoever of what "GCU', "GSV", "ROU", etc., stand for (or, if they
>don't actually stand for anything, at least what they *mean*. Is "ROU"
>an indicator of a military vessel of some sort? From what I understood
>of the Culture, I hadn't thought that they'd *need* military vessels...)

You might have thought so, but since two of the Culture books involve
the Culture in actual wars, and two of the others involve military
action, well ...

The Culture is, erm, agressive in promoting its peaceful ideals. It's
only fair to say that Banks reports that many Culture citizens are not
happy with this, and that some withdraw in protest.

ROU - Rapid Offensive Unit
GCU - General Contact Unit
GSV - General Service Vehicle

--
Rich Horton

David Given

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Feb 24, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/24/99
to
In article <36d4f62...@news.concentric.net>,
rrho...@concentric.net (Rich Horton) writes:
[...]

> The Culture is, erm, agressive in promoting its peaceful ideals. It's
> only fair to say that Banks reports that many Culture citizens are not
> happy with this, and that some withdraw in protest.

Anyone who disagrees with the Culture and leaves stops *being* the
Culture, so that the basic Culture remains the same. You may want to join,
say, the Elench instead.

(BTW, Banks says that there are a number of Culture-like civilisations who
think that *they* are the true Culture and what we call the Culture has
secceeded from *them*. Fun, eh?)

> ROU - Rapid Offensive Unit
> GCU - General Contact Unit
> GSV - General Service Vehicle

That's General *Systems* Vehicle. Think of Manhattan, flying, but a
hundred times the size.

--
+- David Given ---------------McQ-+
| Work: d...@tao.co.uk | Truth is stranger than fiction, because
| Play: dgi...@iname.com | fiction has to make sense.
+- http://wired.st-and.ac.uk/~dg -+

Chad R Orzel

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Feb 24, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/24/99
to
In article <7b0853$org$1...@lara.on.ca>, Graydon <gra...@lara.on.ca> wrote:

>James Battista <jim...@duke.edu> wrote:
>>
>>And the old standard ROU Clever Euphemism For Violence
>
>The only two Culture ship names I have yet come up with that really seem
>to have the right feel are:
>GSV Yellow Brick Road
>GOU Dubious Prospects

My standard suggestion is a Brin quote:

ROU Picturesque, If Ultimately Lethal

Later,
OilCan

("GCU Never Tell Me the Odds" might work, too...)


Kate Nepveu

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Feb 24, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/24/99
to
j...@concentric.net (John S. Novak, III) wrote:

> Hence names like the ROU My Inner Child Kicked Your Inner Child's Butt.
> (Okay, so it's a bit lengthy...)

ObPratchettReference:

"'Hi!' she said brightly. 'I'm the inner babysitter!'"
--Getting in touch with one's inner child is not always wise
(_Hogfather_)

I'm not sure ROU The Inner Babysitter works, though...

(ROU Carpe Jugulum?)

Kate
--
http://www.concentric.net/~knepveu/ - The Paired Reading Page; Reviews
"Dissect my thought processes if you must but don't hold me
responsible for my appearance while you do so."
--Caroline Stevermer, _A College of Magics_

Keith Morrison

unread,
Feb 24, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/24/99
to
Gareth Wilson wrote:

> > : GCU Insert Funny Name Here
> >
>

> GCU Your Ad Here: Call 213543524646467

LCU But Elle Don't See Me

--
Keith Morrison
kei...@polarnet.ca

Robert Sneddon

unread,
Feb 24, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/24/99
to
In article <Z2S+HDAA...@quik.demon.co.uk>, ROU Don't Say You
Weren't Warned <gbbf...@quik.demon.co.uk> writes

>Anyone got any interesting suggestions for new (Banks-style) names for
>future culture vessels/minds? I know Iain isn't (reputedly) actually
>online, but hey, maybe telepathy works (?).

I remember Iain at a con suggesting "Acceptable Level Of Collateral
Damage" as a possible future ROU name.
--
To reply by email, send to nojay (at) public (period) antipope (dot) org

Robert Sneddon

Michael Steeves

unread,
Feb 24, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/24/99
to
On 23 Feb 1999 20:36:33 PST, j...@concentric.net wrote:
} On 23 Feb 1999 15:16:02 GMT, James Battista <jim...@duke.edu> wrote:
} >Which of course manufactured ROU Hot Teen Pussy and GCUs Ponzi Scheme
} >and ELIT3 DO0D.
}
} And now, for the old-timers, a thought certain to strike terror in the
} hearts of men:
}
} The GSV B!FF

ROU K*b*? GSV James Parry?

-Mike
--
Mike Steeves (mste...@shore.net)
"He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man."
--Dr. Johnson

ROU Don't Say You Weren't Warned

unread,
Feb 24, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/24/99
to
So who's going to be the one to tell the ROUs (and even those wimpy
little LOU's) that they're out of work??? You know the military, just
like the rest of government, only changes its size in one direction.

GSV: You want me to do WHAT?

In article <slrn7d709...@207.155.184.72>, John S. Novak, III
<j...@concentric.net> writes
<snip>


>
>>From what I understood
>>of the Culture, I hadn't thought that they'd *need* military vessels...)
>

Keith Morrison

unread,
Feb 24, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/24/99
to
Chad R Orzel wrote:

> My standard suggestion is a Brin quote:
>
> ROU Picturesque, If Ultimately Lethal

ROU There Are Many Ways to Die, And You've Just Met One

Maureen McHugh

unread,
Feb 24, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/24/99
to
ROU Reality Check
GSV Now Everyone Will Want One


Maureen McHugh

read Valerie Freireich's Nebula eligible story "Talk to Me" on
http://tripod.members.com/~Maureen_McQ

David Joseph Greenbaum

unread,
Feb 25, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/25/99
to
In a fit of divine composition, Maureen McHugh (m...@en.com) inscribed in
fleeting electrons:

: ROU Reality Check


: GSV Now Everyone Will Want One

ROU DOH!
GSV M5 GALACTIC NORTH, TO THE INTERCHANGE, KEEP LEFT.
MSV SOLID GOLD BOMB

Dave G.
--
Such fragrance -
from where,
which tree?

Niall McAuley

unread,
Feb 25, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/25/99
to
oil...@wam.umd.edu (Chad R Orzel) writes:
>ROU Picturesque, If Ultimately Lethal

ROU Candygram for Mongo
--
Niall [real address ends in se, not es]


Nancy Lebovitz

unread,
Feb 25, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/25/99
to
In article <7b24ke$9...@newsstand.cit.cornell.edu>,

David Joseph Greenbaum <dj...@cornell.edu> wrote:
>In a fit of divine composition, Maureen McHugh (m...@en.com) inscribed in
>fleeting electrons:
>
>: ROU Reality Check
>: GSV Now Everyone Will Want One
>
>ROU DOH!
>GSV M5 GALACTIC NORTH, TO THE INTERCHANGE, KEEP LEFT.
>MSV SOLID GOLD BOMB

ROU KOOK-OF-THE-MONTH>

Scott Taylor

unread,
Feb 25, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/25/99
to
Nancy Lebovitz wrote:
> David Joseph Greenbaum <dj...@cornell.edu> wrote:
> >In a fit of divine composition, Maureen McHugh (m...@en.com)
> >inscribed in fleeting electrons:

> >: ROU Reality Check
> >: GSV Now Everyone Will Want One

> >ROU DOH!
> >GSV M5 GALACTIC NORTH, TO THE INTERCHANGE, KEEP LEFT.
> >MSV SOLID GOLD BOMB

> ROU KOOK-OF-THE-MONTH>

LOU ...And All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt

(Suspected of being loosely translated)

Scott Taylor
Freelancer for Hire
Have Powerbook, Will Travel

Richard Baker

unread,
Feb 25, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/25/99
to
Mike Stewart wrote:
> How about:
>
> ROU No Rest for the Wicked

Ken MacLeod (who is a friend of IMB) has Culture-like names for warships
in his most recent novel, _The Cassini Division_. I think the best is
(from memory): _Necessary Evil, But Still Cool_.

Rich

Ken MacLeod

unread,
Feb 25, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/25/99
to
In article <36D587...@geocities.com>, Richard Baker
<rich_...@geocities.com> writes

Yes, they were Culture-inspired, and I thought that one was the best
too.

My favourite non-IMB Culture ship name came up in a competition:

GCU Strange Light In The Sky
--
Ken MacLeod

equi...@mindspring.com

unread,
Feb 25, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/25/99
to
Reading this thread made me think of all the different planet names
I've read. Perhaps the coolest is 'Renaissance Vector' from
_Hyperion_.

Any other opinions?
Equinox44(at)mindspring.com

Their slow, awkward gait and bright colors make hunting Teletubbies fun and easy for even the novice sportsman.

Andrea Leistra

unread,
Feb 25, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/25/99
to
In article <36D57E...@faerealm.com>,
Scott Taylor <izzy...@faerealm.com> wrote:

[Culture ship names]

>LOU ...And All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt

ROU S? I Don't Think They Exist

(sorry, sorry....)
--
Andrea Leistra


Scott Taylor

unread,
Feb 25, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/25/99
to
Andrea Leistra wrote:
> Scott Taylor <izzy...@faerealm.com> wrote:
>
> [Culture ship names]
>
> >LOU ...And All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt
>
> ROU S? I Don't Think They Exist

boo

boooo....

> (sorry, sorry....)

Okay, all is forgiven...

(...but /not/ forgotten).

Loznik

unread,
Feb 25, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/25/99
to
On 25 Feb 1999 15:16:49 GMT, eei...@eei.ericsson.es (Niall McAuley)
suggested:

LOL! Nice one :-)


Loznik {:-)>

"All the lies, all the truth,
All the things that I offer you."

Loznik

unread,
Feb 25, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/25/99
to
On Thu, 25 Feb 1999 21:51:25 GMT, equi...@mindspring.com suggested:

Niven's "We Made It" was always a favourite of mine.

Keith Morrison

unread,
Feb 25, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/25/99
to

> } And now, for the old-timers, a thought certain to strike terror in the
> } hearts of men:
> }
> } The GSV B!FF
>
> ROU K*b*? GSV James Parry?

GSV Jumbo Cosmosphere

By the by, do other people know that Robert McElwhacky has recently
been seen back online?

--
Keith Morrison
kei...@polarnet.ca

Keith Morrison

unread,
Feb 25, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/25/99
to
Loznik wrote:

> >Reading this thread made me think of all the different planet names
> >I've read. Perhaps the coolest is 'Renaissance Vector' from
> >_Hyperion_.
> >
> >Any other opinions?
>
> Niven's "We Made It" was always a favourite of mine.

It may not count, but an amateur story I read once had a planet
named "Sudden Dea..."

--
Keith Morrison
kei...@poalrnet.ca

David Navarro

unread,
Feb 25, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/25/99
to
Richard Baker wrote:
>
> Mike Stewart wrote:
> > How about:
> >
> > ROU No Rest for the Wicked
>
> Ken MacLeod (who is a friend of IMB) has Culture-like names for warships
> in his most recent novel, _The Cassini Division_. I think the best is
> (from memory): _Necessary Evil, But Still Cool_.

Well... Starship names will just never be the same in SF. :)

--
___________________________________________________
David Navarro http://www.alcaudon.com
___________________________________________________
In the beginning there was nothing, which exploded.


Bill Woods

unread,
Feb 25, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/25/99
to
Keith Morrison wrote:

> Gareth Wilson wrote:
>
> > > : GCU Insert Funny Name Here
> > >
> >
> > GCU Your Ad Here: Call 213543524646467
>
> LCU But Elle Don't See Me

LCU But You Won't See Me


--
Bill Woods


Mark A Mandel

unread,
Feb 26, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/26/99
to
Loznik (loz...@garbage.bigfoot.com) wrote:
: On Thu, 25 Feb 1999 21:51:25 GMT, equi...@mindspring.com suggested:

: >Reading this thread made me think of all the different planet names


: >I've read. Perhaps the coolest is 'Renaissance Vector' from
: >_Hyperion_.

: Niven's "We Made It" was always a favourite of mine.

"Fiddler's Green", in RAH's _Friday_. (In nautical legend, it's the
opposite of Davy Jones' Locker: it's where good sailors go when they die.)

-- Mark A. Mandel
ConCertino '99 Programmed Chair
July 9-11, 1999, Westborough, Mass.
http://www.lovesong.com/massfilc/concertino/


--
If you're reading this in a newsgroup: to reply by mail,
remove the obvious spam-blocker from my edress.

Dave Weingart

unread,
Feb 26, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/26/99
to
One day in Teletubbyland, Keith Morrison <kei...@polarnet.ca> said:
>By the by, do other people know that Robert McElwhacky has recently

DISSEMATION of this IMPORTANT Information is ENCOURAGED!!!
--
73 de Dave Weingart KA2ESK Over the hills and far away
mailto:phyd...@liii.com Falwell says Tinky-Winky is gay
http://www.liii.com/~phydeaux

Euan Troup

unread,
Feb 26, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/26/99
to
In article <7b3ph1$j...@newstoo.ericsson.se>, Niall McAuley
<eei...@eei.ericsson.es> writes

>oil...@wam.umd.edu (Chad R Orzel) writes:
>>ROU Picturesque, If Ultimately Lethal
>
>ROU Candygram for Mongo

GSV Only Pawn In Game Of Life
--
Euan Troup

Peter Cash@ibm_no_more_spam.net

unread,
Feb 27, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/27/99
to
ROU Don't Say You Weren't Warned wrote in message
<+CiCbfAw...@quik.demon.co.uk>...

>So who's going to be the one to tell the ROUs (and even those wimpy
>little LOU's) that they're out of work??? You know the military, just
>like the rest of government, only changes its size in one direction.

For the advanced minds of the peace-loving Culture, this is no problem--we
*OUs simply declare ourselves "demilitarized".

ROU Plutonium Plowshare

--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~
Die Welt ist alles, was Zerfall ist. (Apologies to Ludwig Wittgenstein)
--PTCash...@ibm.net -- Remove NOTHING to reply
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~


Bruce Sterling Woodcock

unread,
Feb 27, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/27/99
to
Maureen McHugh wrote:
>
> ROU Reality Check
> GSV Now Everyone Will Want One

ROU We Apologize For The Inconvenience
GCU So Long, And Thanks For All The Fish
GSV Baby On Board

'ric Davis

unread,
Feb 27, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/27/99
to
Peter Cash@ibm_no_more_spam.net <PTCash@ibm_nomorespam_.net> wrote:

> ROU Don't Say You Weren't Warned wrote in message
> <+CiCbfAw...@quik.demon.co.uk>...
> >So who's going to be the one to tell the ROUs (and even those wimpy
> >little LOU's) that they're out of work??? You know the military, just
> >like the rest of government, only changes its size in one direction.
>
> For the advanced minds of the peace-loving Culture, this is no problem--we
> *OUs simply declare ourselves "demilitarized".
>
> ROU Plutonium Plowshare
>

DROU Plutonium Plowshare
^
Maybe?

DROU Gridfire Toothpick might be a closer translation though.

GCU Do You Really Think So?
GOU Morganti Blade
GSV Help! A Mouse!
GSV-L Snail's Pace
LCU Bond, James Bond (to quote Graydon:specialization to the point of
degrading non-specialist capability)
--
'ric

Rick Rodrigues

unread,
Feb 27, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/27/99
to
ROU Tell It To The Judge

"The ghosts wailed the day the ancestors discovered words."
- Chinese Proverb

Jo Walton

unread,
Feb 27, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/27/99
to
In article <1dnvnkl.rx...@modem-75.infed.dialup.pol.co.uk>
btg...@rmplc.co.uk "'ric Davis" writes:

> LCU Bond, James Bond (to quote Graydon:specialization to the point of
> degrading non-specialist capability)

ROU Bad Insecurity Management

--
Jo - - I kissed a kif at Kefk - - J...@bluejo.demon.co.uk
First NorAm Public Appearance: Imperiums to Order, Kitchener, March 20th
Freshly UPDATED web-page http://www.bluejo.demon.co.uk - Interstichia;
RASFW FAQ, Reviews, Fanzine, Momentum Guidelines, Blood of Kings Poetry


Phil Fraering

unread,
Feb 27, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/27/99
to
bi...@mindspring.com (Rick Rodrigues) writes:

>ROU Tell It To The Judge

Hmm, has anyone gotten this one yet:

GSU Momentary Lapse of Reason
--
Phil Fraering "It is also for adults, of course, except for those
p...@globalreach.net who think they do not want to see a film about
/Will work for *tape*/ anything so preposterous as a seal-woman, and
who will get what they deserve." - Roger Ebert

Christopher K Davis

unread,
Feb 27, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/27/99
to
Mike Stewart <mj...@netdoor.com> writes:

> mste...@shore.net (Michael Steeves) wrote:


>> On 23 Feb 1999 20:36:33 PST, j...@concentric.net wrote:
>>> The GSV B!FF
>> ROU K*b*? GSV James Parry?

> And the ever-popular ROU Archimedes Plutonium.
> Of course, by this point "ROU" stands for Rapidly Offending Usenetter.

GSV Is it October yet?
ROU GLOBAL ALERT FOR ALL

--
Christopher Davis * <ckd...@ckdhr.com> * <URL:http://www.ckdhr.com/ckd/>
Put location information in your DNS! <URL:http://www.ckdhr.com/dns-loc/>

Phil Fraering

unread,
Feb 27, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/27/99
to
spam...@kalevala.demon.co.uk (Roy Stilling) writes:


>GCU Truth Economist

ROU Space Opera

Phil

Dave Weingart

unread,
Feb 28, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/28/99
to
Hmmm...I haven't seen anthing like

GSV Tiny

or (at the other end of the spectrum)

GSV Vaster Than Empires (and more slow)

James Youngman

unread,
Feb 28, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/28/99
to
Danny Sichel <eds...@umoncton.ca> writes:

> > GCU Tab A
> > GSV Slot B
> > GCU Are We There Yet?
> > GSV Another Way to Travel
>
> > Okay, I'm not very good at this. Anyone else?
>
> Me, I'm even worse at it, because I've never read *anything* by Banks
> (although the level of Banks fanaticism I've seen here has persuaded me
> to put him on my list of stuff to seek out), and thus have no idea
> whatsoever of what "GCU', "GSV", "ROU", etc., stand for (or, if they
> don't actually stand for anything, at least what they *mean*. Is "ROU"
> an indicator of a military vessel of some sort? From what I understood
> of the Culture, I hadn't thought that they'd *need* military vessels...)

GSV General Systems Vehicle (These are the BIG ones.)
GCU General Contact Unit
ROU Rapid Offensive Unit
VFP Very Fast Picket (A demilitarised ROU, irrc)

Habitat Minds etc. also have similar names.

--
ACTUALLY reachable as @free-lunch.demon.(whitehouse)co.uk:james+usenet

James Youngman

unread,
Feb 28, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/28/99
to
David Navarro <dna...@anim.dreamworks.com> writes:

> The GSVs (General Systems Vehicles) are to the Culture what cities are
> to Earth. They are where most of the interesting stuff takes place, as
> opposed to the more rural and laid-back Orbital habitats (almost
> nobody lives down in planets). They are about a hundred miles long,

Much longer than that. See Excession.

James Youngman

unread,
Feb 28, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/28/99
to
loz...@garbage.bigfoot.com (Loznik) writes:

> VFP "It Was Like That When I Got Here"

Good one.

James Youngman

unread,
Feb 28, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/28/99
to

GCU Would You Mind Repeating That?
GCU Stop or You'll Break It.

James Youngman

unread,
Feb 28, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/28/99
to
ROU Don't Say You Weren't Warned <gbbf...@quik.demon.co.uk> writes:

> Anyone got any interesting suggestions for new (Banks-style) names for
> future culture vessels/minds? I know Iain isn't (reputedly) actually
> online, but hey, maybe telepathy works (?).
>
> eg GCU - Factoring the Prime Directive.
> ROU - I've Added You to my Kill-File.
> GSV - Forty Two; and Counting.


GCU Oops.
GSV I'm Sure I had It Around Here Somewhere
VFP Collateral Damage
GCU Not In My Back Yard

Indiana Joe

unread,
Feb 28, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/28/99
to
I've never read the stories, but I think I'm developing a feel for the
names. :-)

ROU Perversity of the Universe

--
Joe Claffey | "Make no small plans."
jr...@home.net | -- Daniel Burnham

Steve Charlton

unread,
Feb 28, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/28/99
to
In article <7b3ph1$j...@newstoo.ericsson.se>, Niall McAuley
<eei...@eei.ericsson.es> writes
>oil...@wam.umd.edu (Chad R Orzel) writes:
>>ROU Picturesque, If Ultimately Lethal
>
>ROU Candygram for Mongo
ROFL

GSV Pocket Change
GSV Shopping List
GSV Full House

ROU Flash in the Pan
ROU Extreme Prejudice
ROU General Protection Fault
ROU Rainbow Warrior
ROU War Office, Wanna Fight?
ROU Make My Day
ROU He Went Mad, So I Shot Him
ROU One for Sorrow
ROU CAM Bombs Are Us
ROU Let Us Prey
ROU The Weather

ORBITAL The Magic Roundabout

Literary References:
ROU Interesting Times
GCU Winds of Change
GCU Light Fantastic
GCU Riotous Assembly
ROU Clear and Present Danger
ROU Without Remorse
GSV Infinite Dreams
GCU Tau Zero
ROU Shockwave
GCU The Other Side of the Sky
ROU Inferno
ROU A Whiff of Death

GSV Cut Your Grass, Lady?
ROU Standard Situation 'N'
ORBITAL Spindizzy

--
Steve Charlton |There may be intelligent life on other planets in the
st...@aces.demon.co.uk |galaxy, but somebody, somewhere, had to be first.
Carl Sagan (sadly missed)

Graydon

unread,
Feb 28, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/28/99
to
In article <F7uI0...@kithrup.com>, Sean Eric Fagan <s...@kithrup.com> wrote:
>I haven't seen this one yet, but it struck me as rather apt:
>
> GOU Screw 'em if They Can't Take a Joke

GOU Are You Living For Love?
--
graydon@ | Hige sceal ţe heardra, heorte ţe cenre,
lara.on.ca | mod sceal ţe mare ţe ure maegen lytlađ.
| -- Beorhtwold, "The Battle of Maldon"

Sean Eric Fagan

unread,
Feb 28, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/28/99
to
In article <7bc315$25b$1...@lara.on.ca>, Graydon <gra...@lara.on.ca> wrote:
>> GOU Screw 'em if They Can't Take a Joke
>GOU Are You Living For Love?

ROU Looking For Love in All the Wrong Places


Maureen McHugh

unread,
Feb 28, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/28/99
to
In article <F7vt4...@kithrup.com>, s...@kithrup.com says...

>
> ROU Looking For Love in All the Wrong Places

I like this one. I think it captures some essential Banksian element.

read Valerie Freireich's nebula eligible short story "Talk to Me" at
http://members.tripod.com/~Maureen_McQ/

Zara Baxter

unread,
Feb 28, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/28/99
to

ROU Gone Postal
?

Zara

--
Someone asked why there's a North Wales, South Wales and West Wales
newsgroup but no East Wales. East Wales is England.
--Jo Walton in rec.arts.sf.written

Nancy Lebovitz

unread,
Feb 28, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/28/99
to
In article <exJ7IBAM...@aces.demon.co.uk>,
Steve Charlton <st...@aces.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>
>Literary References:

>
>GSV Cut Your Grass, Lady?

GSV We Also Walk Dogs

Dom Powell

unread,
Feb 28, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/28/99
to
In article <36dc7442....@news.netdoor.com>,
Mike Stewart <mj...@netdoor.com> wrote:
>
>I actually think that most Pink Floyd album titles would make good
>Banks ship names.

Good grief, you're right. GCU Saucerful of Secrets?
ROU The Final Cut?

-- Dom | "Crime has a bossanova beat." |


NOW what?

(Scott Schwartz) Scott Schwartz

unread,
Feb 28, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/28/99
to

GSV Mechanical Advantage


J Greely

unread,
Feb 28, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/28/99
to
j...@lana.uucp (=JK4=Joshua Kaderlan()) writes:
> ROU We Had to Destroy the Village to Save It

Hmmm, how about this instead:

ROU Hearts And Minds


On different tangents...

GCU It's A Cookbook

GSV Knock-Knock

LSV Watch Me Pull A Rabbit Out Of My Hat

VFP Sometimes A Cigar Is Just A Cigar

ROU Pull My Finger

-j

Sean Eric Fagan

unread,
Feb 28, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/28/99
to
In article <920156393.8959.0...@news.demon.co.uk>,

>>> ROU Reality Check
>>> GSV Now Everyone Will Want One
>>ROU We Apologize For The Inconvenience
>>GCU So Long, And Thanks For All The Fish
>>GSV Baby On Board
>GCU Truth Economist

I haven't seen this one yet, but it struck me as rather apt:

GOU Screw 'em if They Can't Take a Joke


Craig

unread,
Feb 28, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/28/99
to
On Sun, 21 Feb 1999 20:57:36 +0000, ROU Don't Say You Weren't Warned
<gbbf...@quik.demon.co.uk> wrote:

>Anyone got any interesting suggestions for new (Banks-style) names for
>future culture vessels/minds? I know Iain isn't (reputedly) actually
>online, but hey, maybe telepathy works (?).
>
>eg GCU - Factoring the Prime Directive.
> ROU - I've Added You to my Kill-File.
> GSV - Forty Two; and Counting.
>

>--

>ROU Don't Say You Weren't Warned

ROU - My Dad's Bigger Than Yours; alternate is
ROU - My Dad's a GSV
GCU - Pillow Talk
ROU - Devil's Auditor
ROU - PMS
GCU - Knock Knock
GSV - I'm Not Stopping To Ask For Directions
ROU - If You Can Read This You're Too Close ( or was this done in this
thread...can't remember)
GCU - Velvet Glove
GSV - Minds Over Matter
ROU - Got A Light?
GCU - I'll Show You Mine If You Show Me Yours

It's too damn late...

Craig
cmt17 at cable - lynx dot net

Ross Smith

unread,
Feb 28, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/28/99
to
ROU Another One Bites The Dust
ROU The Means Justify The End
GCU Public Nuisance
GSV pU yaW sihT
GSV Not Wanted On Voyage
ROU The Continuation Of Diplomacy
GCU Invisible Idiot
ROU You Go First
ROU Deadlier Than The Mail
ROU All Right, This Time You Hold That End

--
Ross Smith ....................................... Auckland, New Zealand
<mailto:r-s...@ihug.co.nz> ........ <http://crash.ihug.co.nz/~r-smith/>
"I keep my ear very close to the ground, and in consequence I
listen to a lot of dog crap." -- Alexei Sayle

Scott A. Taylor

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Mar 1, 1999, 3:00:00 AM3/1/99
to
"schwartz+!usenet%"@((Scott Schwartz))bio.cse.psu.edu (Scott Schwartz) wrote:

> GSV Mechanical Advantage

GSV Sufficiently Long Lever

--
Scott Taylor
Freelancer for Hire
Have Powerbook, Will Travel
New E-Mail: izzy...@frontiernet.net

=JK4=Joshua Kaderlan()

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Mar 1, 1999, 3:00:00 AM3/1/99
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In article <F7vt4...@kithrup.com>, Sean Eric Fagan <s...@kithrup.com> wrote:
>In article <7bc315$25b$1...@lara.on.ca>, Graydon <gra...@lara.on.ca> wrote:
>>> GOU Screw 'em if They Can't Take a Joke
>>GOU Are You Living For Love?
>
>ROU Looking For Love in All the Wrong Places
>
ROU We Had to Destroy the Village to Save It


--Josh


Dave Weingart

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Mar 1, 1999, 3:00:00 AM3/1/99
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One day in Teletubbyland, mj...@netdoor.com said:
>I actually think that most Pink Floyd album titles would make good
>Banks ship names.

Eccentric Atom Heart Mother :)

Dave Weingart

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Mar 1, 1999, 3:00:00 AM3/1/99
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One day in Teletubbyland, za...@zip.com.au (Zara Baxter) said:
>
>ROU Gone Postal
>?

USA reference. Post office workers are under a fair amount of stress,
and from a very few incidents when one cracks and walks into their
place of work with a gun and starts shooting people...well, guess
the rest :/


And why not things like

ROU Use of Weapons
LSV Against A Dark Background
GSV Feersum Enjinn

jjs

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Mar 1, 1999, 3:00:00 AM3/1/99
to
Dave Weingart <phyd...@liii.com> wrote:
: ROU Use of Weapons

: LSV Against A Dark Background
: GSV Feersum Enjinn

ROU You Didn't Say I Couldn't

David Given

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Mar 1, 1999, 3:00:00 AM3/1/99
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In article <izzylobo-280...@209-130-220-65.nas-1.roc.frontiernet.net>,

izzy...@frontiernet.net (Scott A. Taylor) writes:
> "schwartz+!usenet%"@((Scott Schwartz))bio.cse.psu.edu (Scott Schwartz) wrote:
>> GSV Mechanical Advantage
>
> GSV Sufficiently Long Lever

GSV Well, I Do Have A Strong Enough Place To Stand

--
+- David Given ---------------McQ-+
| Work: d...@tao.co.uk | I don't suffer from insanity. I revel in
| Play: dgi...@iname.com | it.
+- http://wired.st-and.ac.uk/~dg -+

Anna Feruglio Dal Dan

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Mar 1, 1999, 3:00:00 AM3/1/99
to
Ross Smith <r-s...@ihug.co.nz> wrote:

> GSV Not Wanted On Voyage

This one's in State of the Art, I think.

Samael

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Mar 1, 1999, 3:00:00 AM3/1/99
to
Which reminds me of Dark Side of the Sun (Pratchett SF - semi-serious).

In which one of the ships (extremely fast) which is called 'The One Jump
Behind'. It's later explained that it's full name is 'The Ship which is so
fast that if Einstein is right and space is curves, it would be so far in
front that it would end up one jump behind.'

Samael

David Navarro

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Mar 1, 1999, 3:00:00 AM3/1/99
to
Dave Weingart wrote:
>
> One day in Teletubbyland, za...@zip.com.au (Zara Baxter) said:
> >
> >ROU Gone Postal
> >?
>
> USA reference. Post office workers are under a fair amount of stress,
> and from a very few incidents when one cracks and walks into their
> place of work with a gun and starts shooting people...well, guess
> the rest :/
>
> And why not things like
>
> ROU Use of Weapons
> LSV Against A Dark Background
> GSV Feersum Enjinn

Or of course:

ROU Radical Avenger

:)

--
___________________________________________________
David Navarro http://www.alcaudon.com
___________________________________________________
In the beginning there was nothing, which exploded.


Johan Larson

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Mar 1, 1999, 3:00:00 AM3/1/99
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Well, since a ROU is the Culture equivalent of a torpedo-boat, presumably
a GOU is their equivalent of a battleship. (Gulp.)

Somewhere, there has to be a
GOU Unacceptable Phallic Overtones

Or perhaps the
GOU Little Bluebird of Happiness

(Are GOU's actually mentioned in the books? I _think_ I remember one, but
I'm not sure. It may have been a typo.)

Johan Larson


PTCash...@ibm.net

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Mar 1, 1999, 3:00:00 AM3/1/99
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Graeme Lindsell wrote in message <36db2...@clarion.carno.net.au>...
> The Culture really likes it's military classes, doesn't it: Torturer,
>Gangster, Murderer, Abominator, Thug.

I think the lack of euphemism is refreshing. We might call a class of ships
the "Liberator" or "Freedom Fighter"-- but the Culture's names are more true
to the nature of the thing, are they not?

Besides, the names themselves should dissuade you from messing with the
Culture, thus obviating the need for actual violence.

VFP "Look, I'm a Plowshare!"

--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~
Die Welt ist alles, was Zerfall ist. (Apologies to Ludwig Wittgenstein)
--PTCas...@ibm.net--Remove NOTHING to reply
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~

Graeme Lindsell

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Mar 2, 1999, 3:00:00 AM3/2/99
to
Some spoilers for Excession below:

In article <36DB2593...@students.wisc.edu>, Johan Larson

<jgla...@students.wisc.edu> wrote:
>Well, since a ROU is the Culture equivalent of a torpedo-boat, presumably
>a GOU is their equivalent of a battleship. (Gulp.)
>

Not really IMO. The lifetimes of these ships in battle is tiny: microseconds
if you believe the numbers in Excession (which don't match the other
dimensions for the battle given), seconds in the other battles mentioned.
I think the OUs are basically attrition units, ROUs have pretty much the same
weaponry as GOUs but are more expensive to make.

There are hints in "Excession" that the Torturer class ROU is the Culture's
current top line superiority unit (When two of the Minds are discussing the
available units to defend the Excession, they specifcally mention that some of
the units are Torturer class; the order of battle for the "instant fleet" has
the T2OUs as equivalent to Torturer class, and the T1OU is based on a
design study for an Abominator class. )

The Culture really likes it's military classes, doesn't it: Torturer,
Gangster, Murderer, Abominator, Thug.

>(Are GOU's actually mentioned in the books? I _think_ I remember one, but


>I'm not sure. It may have been a typo.)

The GOU Limiting Factor is an important character in "The Player of Games".
I think the Culture kept the ROUs around since they had a use as VFPs,
while most of the GOUs were probably mothballed - the Limiting Factor was
mothballed before being woken up for Gurgeh's trip.


Graeme Lindsell | Computer Support Entity and Post-
Research School of Chemistry | Graduate Student
Australian National University |"I was 17 miles from Greybridge before
Ph:(06) 249 5653 Fax:(06) 249 0750 | I was caught by the school leopard"

Jens Kilian

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Mar 2, 1999, 3:00:00 AM3/2/99
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Johan Larson <jgla...@students.wisc.edu> writes:
> Somewhere, there has to be a
> GOU Unacceptable Phallic Overtones

What do you mean, *overtones*?

Ulver Seich: "It looks like a dildo!"
Chamlis Amalk-ney: "That's only appropriate - armed,
it can f*ck solar systems."

(Dialogue from "Excession", from memory and inaccurate.)

Bye,
Jens.
--
mailto:j...@acm.org phone:+49-7031-14-7698 (HP TELNET 778-7698)
http://www.bawue.de/~jjk/ fax:+49-7031-14-7351
PGP: 06 04 1C 35 7B DC 1F 26 As the air to a bird, or the sea to a fish,
0x555DA8B5 BB A2 F0 66 77 75 E1 08 so is contempt to the contemptible. [Blake]

Bertil Jonell

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Mar 2, 1999, 3:00:00 AM3/2/99
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ROU You Look like a Nail
ROU They looked hostile to me...
GCU Happy Birthday!
GSV Would you like fries with that?

-bertil-
--
"It can be shown that for any nutty theory, beyond-the-fringe political view or
strange religion there exists a proponent on the Net. The proof is left as an
exercise for your kill-file."

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