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Lecture Demonstration

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Language
  
Publication date
  
1973

Author
  
Country
  
United States of America

Media type
  
Print (Hardcover)

Originally published
  
1973

Genre
  
Science Fiction

Publication type
  
Published in
  
Astounding: The John W Campbell Memorial Anthology

Similar
  
Star Light, Heavy Planet, Small Changes, Close to Critical, Mission of Gravity

Lecture Demonstration is a short story by Hal Clement. It was first published in Astounding: The John W Campbell Memorial Anthology in 1973.

Contents

Plot introduction

The story laid on the planet Mesklin as used in the author's novel Mission of Gravity, but set in an earlier period when the College established by the Terrestrials is still being set up and the teachers as well as the students are still learning.

Plot summary

Dr LaVerne, a teacher with the College, takes a party of Mesklinite students on a geological expedition. Whilst examining a layer of rock, it collapses. Teacher and students fall into a cavern. They are unable to climb out; the limiting factor is time as the teacher is enclosed in a suit with a finite oxygen supply.

The students and teacher discuss various possibilities until they realise that they can raise the melting point of the surrounding ammonia 'snow' to the point where it solidifies. They climb out to safety.

References

Lecture Demonstration Wikipedia


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