[extropy-chat] ODYSSEY 5

[Ody777 at comcast.net]

There’s a remarkable science fiction series being rebroadcast on Showtime right now.  It’s called ODYSSEY 5, and it’s about cutting-edge technologies that interest many transhumanists: in particular, genetic engineering, nanotech, and Artificial Intelligence.

The series starts with the end of the world!  The crew of an orbiting Space Shuttle watch in horror as, somehow, the planet Earth implodes and vanishes.  Then they are transported back in time to several years before the disaster.  They have to figure out why it is going to happen-- and stop it, if they can.

In each episode the five main characters encounter bizarre technological creations such as synthetic life-forms, nanobots, and rogue Artificial Intelligences wandering loose on the Internet.  Some of the AIs are deranged; one, for example, becomes a stalker, sending its victim threatening Instant Messages, interfering with his phone service, etc.  To me, such speculative concepts are a powerful, fun way of thinking about what the near future may hold.

The series originally consisted of 20 episodes, but for some reason Showtime aired only the first 14 before cancelling it in 2002.  Those episodes were rebroadcast this month; the remaining 6 will be shown for the first time in October.  For details, see the Showtime schedule: http://www.sho.com/site/homepage/index.do .  

The opening episodes are now available “On Demand” (if your cable provider offers that service).

For more information on ODYSSEY 5, go to http://www.sho.com/site/o5/home.do . 


Rob Masters