Colossus

Colossus Trilogy Series, Book 1

By: D. F. Jones

Narrated by: P.J. Ochlan

Charles Forbin has dedicated the last 10 years of his life to the construction of his own supercomputer, Colossus, rejecting romantic and social endeavors in order to create the United States' very first Artificially Intelligent defense system.

Colossus is a supercomputer capable of taking in and analyzing data rapidly, allowing it to make real-time decisions about the nation's defense.

But Colossus soon exceeds even Forbin's calculated expectations, learning to think independently of the Colossus Programming Office, processing data over 100 times faster than Forbin and his team had originally anticipated.

The President hands off full control of the nation's missiles and other defense protocols to Colossus and makes the announcement to the world that he has ensured peace.

However, the USSR quickly announces that it too has a supercomputer, Guardian, with capabilities similar to that of Colossus.

Forbin is concerned when Colossus asks - asks - to communicate with Guardian.

The computer he built shouldn't be able to ask at all.

©1966 D. F. Jones (P)2017 Tantor

Interesting premise

Interesting premise. Technologies and wording is of course outdated and a bit archaic. Some books such as the moon is a harsh mistress stands the test of time unfortunately, this book just never got to that level.

the relevance to today's AI

Needs to be made into a movie, updated for the characters to use updated tech such as cellphones instead of landlines.

Colossus’s dialogue was exactly as one would expect. Loved it now looking for the other two.

Too short. It would been better presented and enjoyed if the computer had been given more attention and more of an in depth explanation of Colossus’s inner life.

Colossal Creativity

I only disliked the dated "character" of Collosus reflected by its ability to surpass human intellect although it seemingly had no interest in solving the relocation of the Isle of Whyte's population.

Colossus proved to be an emotionless computer that "twirls its mustache" at tale's end like a stereotypicalyl inhumane human despot, LOL!

Because of the miles and era the novel seems, retrospectively, to be alternate history fiction.

As a child I loved the film adaptation immensely.

Great story!

I recall seeing the movie in the 70"s. Scared the heck out me and still a great, realistic A I. story.