I read it in high school, and lately I've been trying to remember what it was. I know there's an ominous tone to it. I think they're in the jungle -- pretty sure they're not in a city. At the end, it's like the end of the world when the stars just start vanishing in the sky.
2007-03-28 16:20:12 · 4 answers · asked by monad 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
I'd just like to thank you all so much for answering this question for me. It's been plaguing me for days. I hadn't even thought of using yahoo answers until a few hours ago.
You are all just wonderful. Thank you so very much. I'm off to the book shop.
2007-03-28 17:38:31 · update #1
It sounds more Bradbury to me. I dont recall such a story in anything Vonnegut. It could also be Harlan Ellison, Ursula Le Guin -- many people. Hard to say. Pax - C.
2007-03-28 16:24:44 · answer #1 · answered by Persiphone_Hellecat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"The Nine Billion Names of God" by Arthur C. Clarke
Summary: Monks in the Himalayas use computers to write out all possible names in order to find the sacred name of God. It is never revealed which result was correct; but at the end the stars begin to wink out, indicating that the current universe is about to be destroyed to make way for the next (presumably better) version.
2007-03-28 17:07:26 · answer #2 · answered by dukefenton 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I read it to. They went to some monks that were writing the nine billion names of god, which is the name of the short story and the book it is found in.
"The Nine Billion Names of God"
Arthur C. Clark
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2007-03-28 16:36:01 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is Nightfall, by Isaac Asimov, I think. It's been anthologised in, among others, "Nightfall and Other Stories". Another remote possibility is "The Nine Billion Names of God". (Same author.)
2007-03-28 16:30:10 · answer #4 · answered by sallyotas 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋