Talk:Colossus (novel)

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As-written, this reads more like a promotional piece than an encyclopedia article: Man creates the ultimate machine... COLOSSUS, and it assumes responsibility for the defence of the free world... but the Russians have developed a near relative, the GUARDIAN... both possessed of unforeseen and frightening side effects... the machines prove capable of free thought... and threats. 66.17.118.195 20:28, 22 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

That's because it is promotional. It's the wording on the back cover of the book. Needs someone who remembers the story well enough to write a plot summary. Winnow 23:36, 22 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Make it so[edit]

I remember talking to my father about this book. We were wondering whether the intelligence agencies would be able to make the problems seem unimportant. It seemed like the best solution was to make sure that reality had things that were similar to the things in this book.

In retrospect, it seems that reality has very many similarities to the world of Colossus.

"Make it so"

Frizb (talk) 18:37, 3 January 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Characters and Plot[edit]

Was it known in the first book that Dr. Fisher was a spy? I just started reading "Fall of Colossus" and thought it was not revealed until then. Could easily be wrong on that point. My copy is not at my side, will take a look and revise if needed. (p. 191 in the ebook “One small thing—well, it seems small relatively—the Russian list of agents came in this morning. Dr. Fisher’s name is on it.”) SteveJEsposito (talk) 22:07, 25 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Something important is the time setting. It appears to me that D.F. Jones set the book in the mid 1990s, from the passage about Colossus' new gravitational theory/law discovery. One character mentions Hoyle shelving his theory in the 1960s (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoyle%E2%80%93Narlikar_theory_of_gravity "S. W. Hawking showed in 1965 that it is incompatible with an expanding universe.") and saying "that was over 30 years ago."

Keep in mind, the next book turns the timeline on its head in the first 25 pages, then again Guardian gets a new name before that in the second book too. — Preceding unsigned comment added by SteveJEsposito (talk • contribs) 17:39, 25 July 2016 (UTC) SteveJEsposito (talk) 20:40, 25 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]

The story takes place in the 1990s, which is revealed in chapter 10: “As far as I can see, it’s the theory of gravitation as amended by Hoyle back in the sixties. I’m a bit rusty on all that, but some of it looks rather odd.” p. 75

"This is new, Charles! Colossus has gone on where Hoyle left off over thirty years ago!” Fisher banged his fist on the desk, snatched up the roll of paper and waved it at Forbin. “New! Do you hear? Do you realize what it means?” p. 76 SteveJEsposito (talk) 22:13, 25 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]

The destruction of the missile in retaliation to tampering near the end of the book was done as follows: Silo 64 was on Guardian’s target list. I could not know a missile had been tampered with until the sabotaged lock had been fitted, and then I could not fire it. As soon as I had tested and received a defective response, I launched the Guardian missile. Both detonated.

Corrected wording on the page. SteveJEsposito (talk) 22:28, 25 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]