Lucius Posted November 19, 2016 Report Share Posted November 19, 2016 I have to recommend keeping in mind the "black market" part of the request. Suggestions really ought to include reasons why said items wouldn't be freely available for trade, unless that's implicit in the description of them. Bertrand Russell's old teapot. Because some religious organizations are seeking it to destroy it....others to confiscate it as a holy relic Escher's staircase. Because Escher already reported it stolen My faith in humanity. An obvious counterfeit Common sense An obvious counterfeit Occam's cordless electric. It's illegal to sell it without the cord Lucius Alexander The palindromedary says there's some ridiculous limit on how many quoted blocks of text we can use!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DasBroot Posted November 19, 2016 Report Share Posted November 19, 2016 With my luck I'd find a nice little memento. I'd be curious why it was on the black market but since I was shopping there I'd probably just figure it was stolen and somehow be ok with that for the moment. It would have an alien virus on it that I was unaware of and basically wipe out all life on earth when I got back. Not sure I haven't already contracted it this week to be honest... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pariah Posted November 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2016 A bronze statue of a rat. Cancer and BoloOfEarth 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hermit Posted November 20, 2016 Report Share Posted November 20, 2016 Throw it in the sea and go buy the one with the bronze lawyer BoloOfEarth, Cancer and Pariah 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Posted November 20, 2016 Report Share Posted November 20, 2016 Throw it in the sea and go buy the one with the bronze lawyer I'd rather have the rat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Posted November 20, 2016 Report Share Posted November 20, 2016 Jimmy Hoffa frozen in carbonite. the mummified remains of Nazca Indian named Dave an autographed picture of Giorgio Tsoukalos (Ancient Aliens). Pariah 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enforcer84 Posted November 20, 2016 Report Share Posted November 20, 2016 "Hey, I think that's MY kidney..." Hermit 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucius Posted November 20, 2016 Report Share Posted November 20, 2016 I have to recommend keeping in mind the "black market" part of the request. Suggestions really ought to include reasons why said items wouldn't be freely available for trade, unless that's implicit in the description of them. I was thinking of something similar; only it'd be alien aphrodisiacs made from certain body parts taken from kidnapped human beings (I leave it to the readers to guess which parts in particular the makers of the aphrodisiacs use to create their concoctions). Major Tom 2009 Hair, fingernails, and blood. The aliens are disappointed to discover however that the alchemical preparation only makes them attractive to Humans. Xenomorph sex toys. Banned along with anything else that encourages Xenomorph sex. An aquamarine power ring. Sold covertly because the Aqua Marines don't like other people having their rings, and don't care for counterfeits floating around either, so real or not it's not safe to wear publicly... A Martian named Marvin He's just here shopping Fermat's proof that was too large to fit into the margin. Not for sale - written in bits and pieces here and there around the market as graffiti. The Star Trek Enterprise. Drive it like you stole it - because someone did. Lucius Alexander And an unauthorized palindromedary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Posted November 20, 2016 Report Share Posted November 20, 2016 Starscream ash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pariah Posted November 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2016 A wormhole weapon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hermit Posted November 20, 2016 Report Share Posted November 20, 2016 Elder God in a Can Bazza 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazza Posted November 20, 2016 Report Share Posted November 20, 2016 Cthulhu-In-A-Can Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cancer Posted November 20, 2016 Report Share Posted November 20, 2016 A muffler for a 1947 DeSoto. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pariah Posted November 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2016 A radiator cap for a '65 VW Beetle. McCoy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pariah Posted November 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2016 An alethiometer. Lucius 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Liaden Posted November 20, 2016 Report Share Posted November 20, 2016 A wormhole weapon. Something that devastating would most likely be offered at a special invitation-only auction; but weapons would surely be part of a general black market, particularly weapons so horrifying in their effects that civilized societies had outlawed them: chemical, biological, radioactive, or nanotech anti-personnel weapons. (BTW am I the only one taking this topic seriously?) Pariah 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazza Posted November 20, 2016 Report Share Posted November 20, 2016 Probably, it seems the rest of us are having fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wcw43921 Posted November 21, 2016 Report Share Posted November 21, 2016 This might be closer to what Pariah was looking for-- Zappers--The "Saturday Night Specials" of laser blasters. Cheaply manufactured and usually sold in quantity for fast money, these directed-energy weapons are infamous through the interstellar underworld for their low cost and lack of reliability. Ranging from small-sized that fit easily in the palm of a hand with only a few shots in the power cell, to heavier two-handed models with high-capacity power cells capable of rapid fire--not to mention capable of exploding if discharged at too high a rate of fire for too long. The primary customers for zappers are street gangs looking for high levels of disposable firepower at a moment's notice, or any other groups that are truly violent, exceedingly desperate, or both. Needless to say, zappers are highly illegal, even on worlds where personal weapons possession is freely tolerated, and possession of one is punishable by fines or imprisonment. Lord Liaden 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Posted November 21, 2016 Report Share Posted November 21, 2016 An incandescent light bulb? Or would that be American black market only? Burrito Boy and Pariah 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clonus Posted November 21, 2016 Report Share Posted November 21, 2016 Something that devastating would most likely be offered at a special invitation-only auction; but weapons would surely be part of a general black market, particularly weapons so horrifying in their effects that civilized societies had outlawed them: chemical, biological, radioactive, or nanotech anti-personnel weapons. (BTW am I the only one taking this topic seriously?) Mine was mostly serious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cancer Posted November 21, 2016 Report Share Posted November 21, 2016 I admit this thread has been playing out more like a flea market or second hand store than a black market, at least, the black markets I've read about. (In just-occupied Berlin, the black market was in just about anything, and the most common "currency" was cigarettes. I remember reading that a good notebook and a pair of new pens were a significant black market purchase for those attending university.) Lord Liaden 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clonus Posted November 21, 2016 Report Share Posted November 21, 2016 Brain implants that can be used to remotely incapacitate or "reward" recipients Psi-enhancing drugs Proscribed books (religious texts?) Stolen robots Fissionables Space whale ambergris. Space whales are an endangered species, you know. Translator programs for languages spoken on interdicted planets Recordings of broadcasts from interdicted planets Intoxicants from the Enemy Empire Precursor artifacts that belong in a museum Pre-owned cyborg parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Logan D. Hurricanes Posted November 21, 2016 Report Share Posted November 21, 2016 I admit this is thread has been playing out more like a flea market or second hand store than a black market, at least, the black markets I've read about. (In just-occupied Berlin, the black market was in just about anything, and the most common "currency" was cigarettes. I remember reading that a good notebook and a pair of new pens were a significant black market purchase for those attending university.) That's the thing about the black market. It can often deal in mundane items that are simply scarce or more expensive than people can pay. The number one pirated commodity in the US is a knock-off Tide detergent. Lord Liaden 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Liaden Posted November 21, 2016 Report Share Posted November 21, 2016 Those observations about black-market items are excellent points. However, the mundane things tend to be less interesting from a story perspective, and don't really play up the "alien" part of the topic. OTOH posters in the thread have already hinted at substances which are mundane to other races, but which have exotic effects on humans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aylwin13 Posted November 21, 2016 Report Share Posted November 21, 2016 The Cleveland Browns ability to find and keep a good quarterback. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.