Does anyone know the title of this story?

[IngridG]

I read this a very long ago and have forgotten a lot of details, but this is the basic plot: Aliens are exploring a deserted earth (it is about to blow up or something). The humans have somehow manage to evolve much faster than they had anticipated and escaped. At the end they are discussing if a race that evolved so quickly could be a problem. The last line is something like "Well there are billions of us and a hundred of them <laughter>. Ten years later that remark was not so amusing"

I would love to read it again if I could just find the title.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Drachir]

I remember the scenario. It was a short story and was written about 50 years ago if that is any help. Sadly I cannot remember the title or the author.

 

[polymath]

I've read that. Let me think a bit.

 

[polymath]

But IIRC it wasn't about how fast humans evolved, it was about how fast they adapted technology. Though I could be wrong.

 

[chrispenycate]

Ouch, that was a long time ago. And I suspect I read it in an Analog or something rather than a compilation. I will attempt to put my memory in gear…

 

[polymath]

Was it the Arthur C. Clarke short story, Armaments Race? That's what a rummage around the Internet brought up, but I can't find any discussion of the story itself.
I'd put my suggestion under 'possibly'.

No, that wasn't it. Back to the drawing board.

 

[IngridG]

Thanks polymath, you gave me enough clues to find it! It is called "Rescue Party" and was the first short story Arthur C. Clarke sold professionally (to Astounding Science Fiction in 1946).

 

[polymath]

Cool!

 

[Jives]

The name of the story is "Rescue Mission", I believe.

The aliens find a large satellite dish and follow the beam out into deep space where they are surprised to find the entire human race arrayed in sub-light spaceships.

I just read it again last week, so I'll check tonight on the actual title and author.