Free (Kindle) Colossus: The Boxset [Vintage Sci-Fi Rogue Computer AI Technothriller]

[ATDrake]

Colossus: The Boxset: Books 1-3 by the late British author D. F. Jones (ISFDB, Wikipedia, SFE), is an omnibus edition of his Colossus trilogy of vintage science fiction technothrillers about a man who invents the eponymous supercomputer that goes dangerously rogue and must resort to increasing lengths to shut it down, this volume comprising all three tales, which apparently involve a Cold War competition and an alien invasion at various points, free courtesy of publisher Endeavour Press' Venture imprint, who are e-printing it from the original 1966, 1974, and 1977 editions out from Hart-Davis and Berkley's Medallion imprint.

This was adapted into a film with Canadian actor Gordon Pinsent (Fraser's father on Due South) in it: Colossus: The Forbin Project (Wikipedia). It's relatively rare for sfnal novels to get filmed, and I'm kind of morbidly curious as to how faithful it stayed. Apparently they were going to remake it recently, but that seems to have stalled.

Currently free @ Amazon (available to Canadians & in the UK and pretty much everywhere else that Amazon sells worldwide, since this is being done via their KDP Select exclusive-or-else program)

Description
For the first time ever, Colossus: The Boxset collects D F Jones’ bestselling trilogy of technothrillers.

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.

[Dr. Drib]

Got it.

Thank you.

[ZodWallop]

Thanks man!

On these digital 'box sets', I wish they wouldn't use that 'three-quarter, multi-spine' view as the book cover. I get using it as the cover on the website. But they don't look good on my e-reader.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Thanks man!

On these digital 'box sets', I wish they wouldn't use that 'three-quarter, multi-spine' view as the book cover. I get using it as the cover on the website. But they don't look good on my e-reader.

Use epub split and separate the three books and put new covers on them.

[Catlady]

Thanks! Colossus: The Forbin Project is one of my favorite movies; I didn't know it was based on a book, let alone that there was a trilogy. I also wouldn't have classified it as SF--not a Martian in sight.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Use epub split and separate the three books and put new covers on them.

I don't mind the books being in an omnibus. I just wish that they would give them a proper cover. Most 'box sets' have a custom-created cover that would work just fine, if they had just included it in the file. That cover is usually not otherwise available. For example, this image below:

I understand why you would use something like that on the Amazon listing. But when you purchase the actual book, just include a proper front cover, rather than that 'three-quarter, multi-spine' view thing.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I also wouldn't have classified it as SF--not a Martian in sight.

I think you need to expand your horizons a bit

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I think you need to expand your horizons a bit

???

I was referring to the Martians in the quoted description of one of the latter books in the trilogy, not suggesting that SF is all about Martians, if that's how you read my comment.

The movie version is basically a Cold War thriller, realistic but for the ability of the computer.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Catlady

???

I was referring to the Martians in the quoted description of one of the latter books in the trilogy, not suggesting that SF is all about Martians, if that's how you read my comment.

The movie version is basically a Cold War thriller, realistic but for the ability of the computer.

Whoops!

Like you, I'm familiar with Colossus mainly from the movie.

I didn't even read through all the descriptions. I figured it was a case where the author had a standalone book, it was turned into a movie and voila! the author suddenly had the inspiration to knock out a couple of B grade sequels.

And now that I've actually read through the synopsis of those sequels... well, maybe they're so bad they're good!