"Edward L. Ferman - Best From F&SF, 23rd Edition" - читать интересную книгу автора (Ferman Edward L)

Let me give you a quick rundown of this exciting interactive game. It is the year 2783. Man has
reached out to settle thousands of planets scattered across the galaxy. Then, suddenly, the galaxy is
invaded by a horde of alien beings, the Zorphs. They enslave all planets in their path. Those that resist are
destroyed without mercy. You, as Captain of the Avenger, the great Terran warship, will range
interstellar space, seeking out and destroying the forces of Zorph.
On your screen you will be given a display of your current sector of the galaxy and the stars in that
sector. You may fire off laser probes to determine the location of Zorph warships. You have a number of
weapons at your disposal including quantum rays, antimatter missiles and, for desperate situations,
doomsday torpedoes. Your ship is protected by shields against any attack, but you must be careful to
maintain your energy supply. Any Zorphs in your sector will attack you and each attack will use up some
of your reserve energy. If your energy is depleted, your shields fail and the next Zorph attack destroys
you. You can replenish your energy reserve by returning to a friendly base. You can hop sectors using
hyperspace, al-
though void storms may toss you about a bit in space and time. In addition, you will have to handle a
variety of problems with your ship such as invasion by mind-warping beings, power-system failure, and
occasional crew mutinies. The console commands that control your warship are simple and are given in
the attached instructions being transmitted to your local printout facility.
Now do not get the idea that everyone here is simply sitting around playing Zorphwar. That is far
from the case. While our schedules have slipped a bit in the last couple of months, morale is at an all-time
high. With a crew of satisfied programmers, I feel there is nothing we cannot accomplish.
Finally, before you make any snap judgments, I ask that you log in on your console and try
Zorphwar. Good hunting!

Megalo Network Message: June 30, 1977
Source: P. T. Warrington
Destination: W. S. Halson
Subject: Promotion to Fleet Captain
Bill Buddy: As stated on Page 12 of the Zorphwar Handbook, any Captain completing six
consecutive successful missions against the Zorphs is entitled to promotion to Fleet Captain. If you will
check my War Record File, you will discover that I destroyed all Zorphs in the galaxy in the six games I
played yesterday afternoon. Please send along whatever certificate you have to indicate my Fleet Captain
status.
As for schedules, I have discussed the matter with JX. and demonstrated Zorphwar to him. Both of
us are in entire agreement with your analysis. Maintaining morale is one of our primary goals, and we are
sure you have things under control. J.L. is, by the way, interested in access to Zorphwar on his own
executive terminal. I trust that you will see to the necessary arrangements.
As for the exception reports triggered by your schedule slippage, J.L. has signed off on the necessary
forms to justify a new schedule. We have doubled the expected times required to complete phases four
through seven. While this stretches out the predicted completion for Project 8723 by two years, we feel
that you people are doing important work in other areas and should not be forced to produce a program
of use only to those uptight jokers hi Accounting.
Now I must get back to Zorphwar. Twenty more successful missions, and I move up to Sector
Commandant!

Megalo Network Message: July 6, 1977
Source: W.S. Halson
Destination: P. T. Warrington
Subject: Enclosed Certificate
Congratulations, Fleet Captain! I am pleased to transmit to the facsimile printer in your area a copy
of your certificate suitable for framing and wall display. Note that it is a fine example of