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"Science fiction writers foresee the inevitable, and although problems and catastrophes may be inevitable, solutions are not."
- Isaac Asimov

Color Generator  
  A variable spectrum light source  

Problems with metamerism provide clues during an investigation in this quote.

'...There's been no mistake; I took great pains.' Gersen studied the tiles. '...what color light will bring the tiles to the same color as the sketch?'

...Mankinello put the tiles under a color generator. 'Presumably you're interested in standard incandesence?'

'Standard star-light. I presume that's close to the same thing.'

'Somewhat different due to the stellar atmospheres. But I can easily code for the stellar progression. Let's start with about 4,000 degrees.' He turned a wheel, flicked a switch, checked with a comparator. 'Close' He turned the wheel. 'There it is. 4,350 degrees.' He glanced through a port. 'See for yourself.'

Gersen peered through the opening. The tiles were now identical to the colors of the sketch. 'Color temperature, 4,350 degrees: Class K?'

'I'll tell you exactly.' Mankinello consulted a reference. 'Class G8.'

Technovelgy from The Killing Machine, by Jack Vance.
Published by Fantastic Fiction (?) in 1964
Additional resources -

The letters refer to stellar spectral types - O B A F G K M R N S.

Thanks to R. Probert for contributing this item.

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Additional resources:
  More Ideas and Technology from The Killing Machine
  More Ideas and Technology by Jack Vance
  Tech news articles related to The Killing Machine
  Tech news articles related to works by Jack Vance

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