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Colossus Trilogy: Colossus/Fall of Colossus/Colossus and the Crab
25th Anniversary Omnibus Edition
For the first time ever, Colossus: The Boxsetcollects D F Jones’ bestselling trilogy of technothrillers.
‘A whip-cracker…’ – Chicago Tribune
Colossus: The Boxset includes:
Colossus
Man has lost control...
Charles Forbin has dedicated the last ten years of his life to the construction of his own supercomputer, Colossus, the United States’ very first Artificially Intelligent defence system.
Colossus is a supercomputer capable of in-taking 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, processing data hundreds of times faster than Forbin had ever thought possible…
And when the Russian equivalent announces itself and the two supercomputers face off with the might of each superpower at their control, the entire world is thrown into a chaotic maelstrom that may end in World War Three.
Having handed over total control of American defence missiles to Colossus, the President and Forbin must act quickly to shut down the unstable machine.
But will Forbin be able to take down the machine he’s spent ten years building?
Or will Colossus cause real damage before it’s too late?
The Fall of Colossus
In the thrilling sequel, Colossus’ power is still expanding beyond belief and beyond Forbin’s control.
No longer is Colossus content managing the world’s military might – now it undertakes surveillance and strict authoritarian rule over its entire populace.
The world as we know it may be at an end…
But soon, Forbin will receive a message that changes everything … a message from another planet: Mars.
Now the enduring scientist must decide which threat is greatest: that of Colossus, his unwieldy supercomputer, or the Martians, with the power to destroy it, and potentially all of mankind in the process…
Colossus and the Crab
The 22nd Century. Forbin has but one chance to save the world, for once and for all – or to be its doom.
Having calling upon invaders from Mars to destroy the supercomputer Colossus, Forbin now finds himself negotiating for Earth’s very existence.
The Martians want compensation.
Compensation in the form of Earth’s greatest resource: oxygen.
Will he give in to their demands? Or will Forbin find another way to halt the Martian threat?
There is only one solution: Colossus must return.
But will Forbin be able to reactivate his creation in time, or will Earth be finally and irrevocably left to its fate?
Find out in this thrilling conclusion to D F Jones’ bestselling trilogy.
For the first time ever, Colossus: The Boxsetcollects D F Jones’ bestselling trilogy of technothrillers.
‘A whip-cracker…’ – Chicago Tribune
Colossus: The Boxset includes:
Colossus
Man has lost control...
Charles Forbin has dedicated the last ten years of his life to the construction of his own supercomputer, Colossus, the United States’ very first Artificially Intelligent defence system.
Colossus is a supercomputer capable of in-taking 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, processing data hundreds of times faster than Forbin had ever thought possible…
And when the Russian equivalent announces itself and the two supercomputers face off with the might of each superpower at their control, the entire world is thrown into a chaotic maelstrom that may end in World War Three.
Having handed over total control of American defence missiles to Colossus, the President and Forbin must act quickly to shut down the unstable machine.
But will Forbin be able to take down the machine he’s spent ten years building?
Or will Colossus cause real damage before it’s too late?
The Fall of Colossus
In the thrilling sequel, Colossus’ power is still expanding beyond belief and beyond Forbin’s control.
No longer is Colossus content managing the world’s military might – now it undertakes surveillance and strict authoritarian rule over its entire populace.
The world as we know it may be at an end…
But soon, Forbin will receive a message that changes everything … a message from another planet: Mars.
Now the enduring scientist must decide which threat is greatest: that of Colossus, his unwieldy supercomputer, or the Martians, with the power to destroy it, and potentially all of mankind in the process…
Colossus and the Crab
The 22nd Century. Forbin has but one chance to save the world, for once and for all – or to be its doom.
Having calling upon invaders from Mars to destroy the supercomputer Colossus, Forbin now finds himself negotiating for Earth’s very existence.
The Martians want compensation.
Compensation in the form of Earth’s greatest resource: oxygen.
Will he give in to their demands? Or will Forbin find another way to halt the Martian threat?
There is only one solution: Colossus must return.
But will Forbin be able to reactivate his creation in time, or will Earth be finally and irrevocably left to its fate?
Find out in this thrilling conclusion to D F Jones’ bestselling trilogy.
- GenresScience Fiction
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1977
39 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
About the author
D.F. Jones
16 books50 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Dennis Feltham Jones, a British Science Filction Author wrote under the byline D.F. Jones
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Dennis Feltham Jones, a British Science Filction Author wrote under the byline D.F. Jones
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 21, 2016
Colossus - a classic Science Fiction story of truly gigantic strength (sorry!). Written around half a century ago and later made into a major film, , this first book of the trilogy still has the power to thrill. I read it those several decades ago when the fear of world wide extinction by nuclear war was an ever present threat, the technically developed nations separated by the Iron Curtain and weapons of terrifying power pointed in both directions. The fairly recent use of the hydrogen bomb against Japan at the end of WWII was still very much remembered: nothing like it had been experienced before. And it scared us all - just one finger pushing a button either in anger or by mistake could end us all.
It was also a time of rapid growth in computer development, though they were not the everyday items now present. No internet, no PCs, but there was the promise of artificial intelligences which would become greater than man, able to rationally see to the heart of a problem using logic at lightening speed without resort to emotional input. This, for many people, was also a frightening, if remote, idea.
Into this setting, Colossus was born - a computer which would forever resolve the fear of further war by taking away the human element.
Although slightly dated in style, it remains a terrific read, as I discovered when I revisited it recently. Although it is supposed to be set in the 22nd century, it is best to place it's setting as back in the 20th, when it was written, then the failure to mention technical achievements seen in present times is no longer problematic. Doing this also opens a window into the fears and emotional expectations of that time.
Although familiar with Colossus, I was unaware of the two following books in the trilogy until this boxset was produced. Written some years later, the second story, set five years after the activation of Colossus, is at least a very welcome sequel. Again, the book gives a fascinating peak into the attitudes prevalent in the second half of the 20th century. It raises all sorts of questions, not least, 'What is freedom?' and has some very interesting thoughts about the way in which women think as well as the drive for personal power. All of this combined, once again, into a rattling good, easy to read thriller. The third book, Colossus and the Crab, continues the adventure, about which I will say little - no need to spoil the surprise - other than it continues with even more action than it's predecessors as it also shines a light on the perceived human desires and understandings of the time.
This boxset of the three Colossus stories is the perfect way to discover, or return to, the imagination of D.F.Jones and one of the great classis science fiction trilogies. It also is a glimpse into time past. The characters are adequately crafted but it is the ideas which dominate brilliantly. It is a book no science fiction fan should miss.
I have reviewed the individual books in the trilogy seperately elsewhere but don't read them first unless already familiar with the book which goes before each one. Instead, buy this boxset and enjoy the full excitement that is the Colossus trilogy
It was also a time of rapid growth in computer development, though they were not the everyday items now present. No internet, no PCs, but there was the promise of artificial intelligences which would become greater than man, able to rationally see to the heart of a problem using logic at lightening speed without resort to emotional input. This, for many people, was also a frightening, if remote, idea.
Into this setting, Colossus was born - a computer which would forever resolve the fear of further war by taking away the human element.
Although slightly dated in style, it remains a terrific read, as I discovered when I revisited it recently. Although it is supposed to be set in the 22nd century, it is best to place it's setting as back in the 20th, when it was written, then the failure to mention technical achievements seen in present times is no longer problematic. Doing this also opens a window into the fears and emotional expectations of that time.
Although familiar with Colossus, I was unaware of the two following books in the trilogy until this boxset was produced. Written some years later, the second story, set five years after the activation of Colossus, is at least a very welcome sequel. Again, the book gives a fascinating peak into the attitudes prevalent in the second half of the 20th century. It raises all sorts of questions, not least, 'What is freedom?' and has some very interesting thoughts about the way in which women think as well as the drive for personal power. All of this combined, once again, into a rattling good, easy to read thriller. The third book, Colossus and the Crab, continues the adventure, about which I will say little - no need to spoil the surprise - other than it continues with even more action than it's predecessors as it also shines a light on the perceived human desires and understandings of the time.
This boxset of the three Colossus stories is the perfect way to discover, or return to, the imagination of D.F.Jones and one of the great classis science fiction trilogies. It also is a glimpse into time past. The characters are adequately crafted but it is the ideas which dominate brilliantly. It is a book no science fiction fan should miss.
I have reviewed the individual books in the trilogy seperately elsewhere but don't read them first unless already familiar with the book which goes before each one. Instead, buy this boxset and enjoy the full excitement that is the Colossus trilogy
March 20, 2019
The first book is the inspiration for the classic sci-fi film The Forbin Project, and while much is the same, the book is a very much a product of its time. No doubt this set of novels would be condemned as a product of "toxic masculinity", and by all counts, it did make me cringe on more than one occasion. That aside, there is an excellent story outlining the dangers of technology within. Set in a future where the Cold War still has humanity teetering on the edge of extinction, in steps Forbin and his scientists who create a master computer to watch over the defenses of the United States. It's a well thought out novel on what could go wrong. Unfortunately books 2 and 3 take a weird turn starting with the end of book 1 and soon involve computer intelligence from Mars. Sounds exciting in theory, but the whole of the original concept created in the first book is chucked out the door by the later novels, and one wonders if they weren't a product of forced publication rather than what the author originally intended. Skip books 2 and 3 if possible and just enjoy the first novel (Colossus).
July 17, 2021
Given that the other reviews of the books within this omnibus have been posted under the individual novels, I have done likewise.
Colossus: The Forbin Project
The Fall of Colossus
Colossus and the Crab
Apart from Colossus: The Forbin Project, which I rated as three stars, I gave the other two books only one or two stars each, hence my rating for the omnibus as a whole.
Colossus: The Forbin Project
The Fall of Colossus
Colossus and the Crab
Apart from Colossus: The Forbin Project, which I rated as three stars, I gave the other two books only one or two stars each, hence my rating for the omnibus as a whole.
June 17, 2017
Good read.
Although all three stories, each flowing into the next, we're written in the 70's, there were noticeable hints of technology we have today. I felt that there were parts of book two and three that could be edited tighter and made one novel, I'm glad I finished it. Loved the concept, and the story kept my attention to the end.
Although all three stories, each flowing into the next, we're written in the 70's, there were noticeable hints of technology we have today. I felt that there were parts of book two and three that could be edited tighter and made one novel, I'm glad I finished it. Loved the concept, and the story kept my attention to the end.
February 5, 2023
The first novel is stellar, which works as a standalone and is best read that way. The second and third are connected, but the plot loses a little something. Though the concepts and worldbuilding are interesting (if not dated), it felt as if Jones took something rooted in the very real world and cerebral (in the first novel), and then turned it into pulpy style mystery. Reader mileage may vary.
July 4, 2017
A decent read
When I first saw this book series I was reminded of an early 70's movie of the first book. The second and third books extended, or rather continued, the story of how man dealt with machine. It was a decent read and I enjoyed it.
When I first saw this book series I was reminded of an early 70's movie of the first book. The second and third books extended, or rather continued, the story of how man dealt with machine. It was a decent read and I enjoyed it.
November 2, 2017
The ultimate computer dominated future ?
I was very impressed when this came out and don't think it has many flaws. The third book does have a disappearing character named Billy,he only appears as beach scenery. Still a good if somewhat overblown tale.
I was very impressed when this came out and don't think it has many flaws. The third book does have a disappearing character named Billy,he only appears as beach scenery. Still a good if somewhat overblown tale.
January 6, 2017
The Forbin Project
A true classic of science fiction! I enjoyed reading it again. Rethinking the growth of artificial intelligence in our near future.
A true classic of science fiction! I enjoyed reading it again. Rethinking the growth of artificial intelligence in our near future.
April 1, 2016
Loved them all. Brilliantl written and completely riveting. Unputdownable.
December 30, 2018
Interesting concept!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews