
Colossus
by Dennis Feltham Jones · first published 1966
6mentions
4recommended by
5HN commenters
2014–2026first – last mentioned
80% recommend20% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Early, prescient science fiction about a superintelligent computer that takes over the world, often called a forerunner of modern AI-takeover stories. Suits readers who enjoy classic sci-fi.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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A book with a vaguely similar idea, I recommend over the movie. Colossus by Dennis Feltham Jones ( don't read the wikipedia entry as it contains spoilers ( whole plot ) )
on “2048 AI” ↗"Colossus: The Forbin Project" by DF Jones. https://www.amazon.com/Colossus-The-Forbin-Project/dp/B0018S... Made into a fine movie of the same name. "The Two Faces of Tomorrow" by Hogan. https://www.amazon.com/The-Two-Faces-of-Tomorrow/dp/B00BC0P5...
on “Hard comp-fi reading list” ↗…due to short memories and withholding of information, and unintentionally hints at the modern day disquiet of man as we race toward whatever Singularity we have accidentally or intentionally created. Colossus by D. F. Jones - a bit like Wargames but more swanky, the US and Russia each create artificial super-intelligence then let them talk to each other, which goes about as well as you can imagine. The story…
on “My favorite cult sci-fi and fantasy books you may not have heard of before” ↗Might I also point out another great book.. a classic from 1974, Colossus by Dennis Feltham Jones. The grand-daddy to most of the modern "AI taking over the world" films.
on “Why 'Her' will dominate UI design even more than 'Minority Report'” ↗> The first time I came across this phenomenon was when someone posted years ago how two AIs developed their own language to talk to each other. Colossus the Forbin Project https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064177 https://www.amazon.com/Colossus-D-F-Jones/dp/1473228212
on “I spent two days gigging at RentAHuman and didn't make a single cent” ↗Having read "Colossus" by DF Jones as a teen, I know how this will end. It doesn't end well for humans.
on “Will Democracy Survive Big Data and Artificial Intelligence?” ↗