Interocitor

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The interocitor is a fictitious multi-functional device featured in the 1955 science fiction film This Island Earth (and later, Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie which contained This Island Earth). In the film, the device arrives in kit form as an intelligence test for scientists who might prove helpful to an alien race.

[edit] This Island Earth

The Interocitor is an alien communications device with unusual and strange properties. The concept was invented by science fiction writer Raymond F. Jones, who wrote the original novel This Island Earth beginning as a series of three sci-fi short stories now known as “The Peace Engineers Trilogy” appearing in the sci-fi pulp magazine Thrilling Wonder Stories from 1949 to 1951. Raymond F. Jones then did a novelization of the complete story into full book form and it was first published in 1952 by Shasta Press. Universal Studios purchased the screen rights to the novel in 1953, since the novel was a popular sci-fi best seller, and made it into a Technicolor movie in 1954, which was then released on June 1, 1955. The film was a modest success and has somewhat impressive visual effects. The first third of the trilogy of stories was titled “The Alien Machine”, referring to the Interocitor, with original graphic artwork penned by famous sci-fi artist Virgil Finlay. The story was sold to the press with the help of literary agent Forrest J. Ackerman.

The term interocitor itself, rather than referring to a specific device, likely refers to a general class of devices that share a common set of operating principles (similar to the term computer). This is inferred from the fact an interocitor is observed or described in many different roles:

• Telecommunications device
• Aircraft autopilot
• Surveillance and security controller
• Directed energy weapon

In the film, advanced physicist Cal Meacham first becomes aware of an interocitor when a book arrives at his lab entitled, Electronic Service, Unit #16. Inside is contained a bill of materials for the interocitor, describing it as, "incorporating greater advances than hitherto known in the field of electronics". From the specifications, Meacham opines, "There's no limit to what it could do. Laying a four lane highway at the rate of a mile a minute would be a cinch."

Of the 2486 components comprising an interocitor, only three are named:

• Bead condenser (model #: AB-619)
• Cathermin tube with inindium complex of +4
• Intensifier disk

The instructions accompanying the components also caution that no interocitor part can be replaced, and to bear this in mind while assembling. ("Use only Genuine Interocitor Parts."-Tom Servo)

Once assembled and powered, Meacham places the intensifier disk into the right-hand control and rotates it 18 degrees counter-clockwise. Upon doing so, the telecommunication function of the interocitor is activated, and Meacham establishes contact with Exeter, the party responsible for sending him the device.

During their conversation, Meacham's lab assistant, Joe Wilson attempts to photograph the device, but is informed by Exeter that "Your camera will pick up nothing but black fog. Images on the interocitor don't register on film."

Later, Meacham boards a light aircraft autopiloted by an interocitor to join Exeter at his research facility. Exeter is also seen using an interocitor to remotely surveil a private conversation between Meacham and two other scientists at the facility, Ruth Adams and Steve Carlson. Later, Exeter's assistant, Brack, uses the weapons capability of the device to thwart the attempted escape of Meacham, Adams, and Carlson from the facility.

[edit] Mystery Science Theater 3000

In Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie, one of the robots, Tom Servo, announces that he has a personal interocitor in his room. The lead character, Mike Nelson, suggests that they attempt to use it in order to escape from the Satellite of Love. Servo was apparently unaware of its properties and had been using it to make hot chocolate. When Mike and the robots contact a Metalunan, who happens to be showering, he reveals that he is unable to help them. At that point Dr. Clayton Forrester breaks into the communication, using his own interocitor (claiming that everybody has one) and uses the interocitor's directed energy weapon to coerce Mike and the robots back into the theater.

[edit] Other appearances

• An interocitor appeared in the "Weird Al" Yankovic video for "Dare to Be Stupid" and in his movie UHF.

• An interocitor is visible in a dumpster in the July 2, 2005 episode of the webcomic Freefall by Mark Stanley.

• In the computer-generated television show ReBoot, the interocitor was a component which frequently broke on the car of the main protagonist, Bob.

• In the movie Looney Tunes: Back in Action, the mad scientist found in the California desert is looking for an interocitor that she misplaced.

• The Interocitor is also the name of the program developed by Todd Rundgren for his PatroNet subscription service. The PatroNet server itself is named "Metaluna".

• An Interocitor is referenced in the setup of the Kelly LeBrock creation in Weird Science.

• An Interocitor is listed as a component of the containment unit by Egon on an episode of The Real Ghostbusters.

• Interociter is the name of a device in Doctor Who, involving quantum telecommunication across time and space. It is named specifically as a reference to this movie, and this is mentioned by the Doctor (Peter Davison) during the story. This in Renaissance of the Daleks by Big Finish.

• In the video game Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude, an Interociter can be seen in the science lab below the library. when examined Larry will remark "I wonder where the candy comes out".