Monolith (Space Odyssey)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Monoliths are advanced machines built by an unseen extraterrestrial species that appear in Arthur C. Clarke's Space Odyssey series of novels and films.
During the series, four monoliths are discovered in the solar system by humans and it is revealed that thousands if not more were created throughout the solar system, although none are seen. The subsequent response of the characters to their discovery drives the plot of the series. It also influences the fictional history of the series, particularly by encouraging humankind to progress with technological development and space travel.
The first monolith appears in the beginning of the story, set in prehistoric times. It is discovered by a group of hominids, and somehow triggers a considerable shift in evolution, starting with the ability to use tools.
Contents |
[edit] Nomenclature
The first monolith to be discovered in the modern age was unearthed on the moon near Tycho Crater due to it emitting a powerful magnetic field which was detected and investigated. It was called Tycho Magnetic Anomaly 1 (TMA-1) even before the monolith was discovered. The name stuck even after it was discovered to be an obvious alien artifact. Subsequent to this, a second monolith was soon discovered and called TMA-2. A few centuries in the future, a third monolith was discovered buried on Earth in rocks that were clearly millions of years old and surrounded by primitive human artifacts. This was retro-actively named TMA-0 (as opposed to TMA-3) in reference of the fact it was obviously the first monolith discovered by human ancestors in prehistoric times.
The term Tycho magnetic anomaly is something of a misnomer when referring to TMA-0 and TMA-2, as neither were found on the moon and neither emitted a significant magnetic field. This critique was mentioned in the novel 2010: Odyssey Two. In the same novel, the Russian Crew of the spacecraft Cosmonaut Alexei Leonov affectionately and somewhat respectfully refer to TMA-2 as Zagadka (Russian for Enigma).
[edit] Origins
The extraterrestrial species that built the monoliths are never described in much detail but some knowledge of their existence is granted to Dave Bowman after he is transported by the stargate to the 'cosmic zoo', as detailed in the novel versions of 2001: A Space Odyssey and 2010: Odyssey Two. The existence of this species is only hypothesized by the rest of humanity but is obvious because the monolith is immediately identified as an artifact of non-human origin.
The extraterrestrial species that built the monoliths achieved Intergalactic travel millions or perhaps billions of years before the present. They eventually discovered how to convert their physical forms into a non-corporeal form - omniscient, immortal and capable of traveling at great speed. They explored the galaxy with the intent of acquiring knowledge, especially of other intelligent life.
While they discovered that life was very common, they observed that intelligent life was often stunted in its development or died out prematurely and so they set about promoting it. When they encountered a living world that was favourable for the evolution of intelligence, they left behind monoliths as remote observers that were also capable of taking a variety of actions according to the wishes of their creators. The monoliths are possibly the last remaining (and ultimate) technology they ever devised. One such planet, encountered when it was still quite young, was the Earth, as well as (later) Jupiter and Europa. The aliens left behind three monoliths to observe and enact a very intricate plan to promote the human race (and later the nascent Europans) to pursue technology and space travel.
[edit] Appearance and capabilities
All the monoliths are black, extremely flat, non-reflective cuboids whose dimensions are in the precise ratio 1:4:9 (the squares of the first three integers). These dimensions are the main source of debate regarding the monoliths' simple external design. It is suggested that this number series does not stop at three dimensions, presumably also extending into the fourth and fifth dimensions. What is meant by this is not clear.
The monoliths are observed in two different sizes - TMA-0 and TMA-1 are both exactly (and somewhat coincidentally) 11 feet long and TMA-2 is many kilometres long on the longest axis. They may be able to assume any size, for in 2010: Odyssey Two, the starchild, David Bowman, cryptically notes that the monolith is actually one size - as large as necessary. Whether this means that monoliths appear in other sizes or can change size is not clear.
They appear to be extremely long lived and reliable machines, being able to survive for millions of years buried in the ground or resisting meteorite impacts and radiation in space, with no apparent damage. The two monoliths recovered and examined by humans reveals them to be virtually indestructible and impenetrable, resisting all attempts to analyze their composition or internal structure right up to the end of the series. It is suggested by Dr. Heywood Floyd that they possess some sort of force field, an impression he gets from touching it and much later accepted as most probable because the monoliths resist destructive testing beyond the theoretical limits of material strength. However, they are not completely indestructible - TMA-2 suffers damage from a blast caused by a giant meteorite of solid diamond impacting Europa in 2061: Odyssey Three. In 3001: Final Odyssey, all three monoliths known to mankind are destroyed simply by giving them a computer virus.
While it is unclear what the composition of the monoliths are, they clearly have mass, about the only observation that can be made. In 2010, the Leonov mission measured the mass of TMA-2 and reported a density slightly higher than air (presumably at a standard temperature and pressure). This leads to loose speculation that it may be hollow. The masses of TMA-0 and TMA-1 are never revealed.
Among the more dramatic functions of the monoliths are the ability to teleport and self replicate. In 2001, TMA-2 opens a stargate which permits Dave Bowman to travel across the galaxy at faster-than-light speeds and with tremendous accelerations. Since Bowman did not actually choose to enter the stargate, TMA-2 presumably also possesses some ability to remotely manipulate objects or matter (see tractor beam).
In 2010 and again in 3001, TMA-2 is observed to teleport itself (disappear and reappear elsewhere). TMA-0 may also have suddenly appeared in this manner shortly before being discovered by human ancestors for the first time.
TMA-2 is observed to self-replicate by a form of symmetrical binary fission and grow exponentially to thousands or millions of units in just a matter of days. In 2010, the many units act to increase the density of the planet Jupiter until stellar ignition is achieved, converting it into a miniature star. The exact mechanism with which it achieves this is not revealed, but is speculated to be fusion of lighter elements into heavier ones. The monolith may thus be capable of nucleosynthesis, as well as obviously being a tool in stellar engineering. In 3001, millions of copies ofTMA-2 are observed to assemble themselves into two megastructure disks that attempt to block the sun from Earth and its human colonies in the Jovian system in an attempt to cause the extinction of humanity.
The monoliths are clearly described in the novels as being controlled by some sort of computer. While this is presumably very advanced, the monoliths are clearly not sentient artificial intelligences. They are not capable of decision-making and only follow instructions or programming fed to them by their creators. In 2061, the non-corporeal entities of Dave Bowman, Hal, and the newly-created entity of Heywood Floyd, are essentially downloaded and stored as programs in the 'matrix' of TMA-2, currently observing and shielding the Europans from human interference.
TMA-1 and TMA-2 are observed to produce powerful, directional radio transmissions. TMA-2 is observed, in the 2100s, to direct a radio transmission towards a star system about 450 light years distant. It is thus likely to be an interstellar transmitter, possibly part of a network of such nodes scattered throughout the galaxy by which the creators of the monoliths send and receive information. Only TMA-1 demonstrates the ability to generate a strong magnetic field around itself, for which the three artefacts are named.
In general, the monoliths are efficient general purpose tools at the disposal of their creators who use them in pursuit of their agenda to promote intelligent life.
[edit] Tycho Magnetic Anomaly-1
Tycho Magnetic Anomaly-1 (also known as TMA-1) refers to the apparent magnetic irregularity found at the Tycho crater on the Moon's surface by American astronauts. The anomaly is caused by another monolith buried 40 feet under the lunar surface; when exposed, it was found to be a black cuboid whose sides measured in the precise ratio 1:4:9 (1²:2²:3²). In the book it is indicated that this ratio extends past the three spatial dimensions we are familiar with.
[edit] Tycho Magnetic Anomaly-2
An identical (except in size) object was found later, orbiting Jupiter (on a moon of Saturn in the book, although this was changed to Jupiter in the sequel book, 2010: Odyssey Two). This object was dubbed "TMA-2", a term that the book calls "doubly inappropriate": it had no magnetic field and was millions of miles from Tycho (TMA-2 was often referred to as "big brother" due to David Bowman's comments on its immense size). In 3001: The Final Odyssey, HAL and Bowman destroy TMA-2 with a computer virus after it is learned that its superiors are sending an order to kill humanity.
[edit] Tycho Magnetic Anomaly-0
By the year 3001, the first Monolith to be encountered by mankind's prehistoric evolutionary predecessors was found in Africa buried in ancient rock, and was retroactively dubbed "TMA-0".
[edit] References in popular culture
The Monolith was a prominent feature in the Marvel Comics universe for a short time, appearing in the 2001: A Space Odyssey comics and then in Machine Man's latest series in issues #11-12. There it is revealed that The Monolith had a direct connection to The Celestials, as it was created by them. The Monolith also appeared in Marvel's Reality X Sagas as both a transport device and the catalyst for Machine Man's transformation.
A monolith (with a circular hole near the top) performs the same function - stimulating sapience in a species - in Will Wright's video game Sim Earth, and later used also in Spore. Wright stated explicitly it was inspired by 2001: A Space Odyssey in numerous conferences.
A series of animated segments in The Electric Company featured a white Monolith that crumbled into a sculpture of a form of pronunciation such as "oo", "alk", or "ea" whenever it got provoked by characters such as apes, cavemen, astronauts, or extraterrestrials making the same sounds and its presence was always preceded by a powerful and fearful version of the iconic Also Sprach Zarathustra anthem.
In the series finale of the Comedy Central run of Mystery Science Theater 3000, Dr. Clayton Forrester re-enacts one of the final scenes of 2001 when he dies in bed of old age as a monolith sits at the foot of his bed - a giant VHS video tape marked "Worst Movie Ever Made".
In the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Willie Wonka transmits a giant bar of chocolate into a television set. When displayed on screen, the bar is shown standing up, in the exact same African setting from 2001: surrounded by ape-men pounding about as a replica of TMA-0. Then, its wrapper fades into view, after which it is pulled out of the scene by Charlie Bucket.
In Destroy All Humans! 2, something like it appears in a cave in Solaris.
In The Simpsons episode Lisa's Pony, an ape resembling Homer Simpson snoozes against the Monolith, as the other apes discover tool-making in a parody of "The Dawn of Man" sequence in 2001.
In the Futurama episode Put Your Head On My Shoulder there is an "Out Of Order" Monolith orbiting Jupiter in one scene.
In the third episode of Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi, Sashi encounters a small monolith and briefly parodies the beginning scene involving prehistoric man.
In the game Duke Nukem 3D episode 2 and level 8 (The Dark Side) near the end of the level stands a Monolith in a room with creepy music similar to that in the movie, and is used to teleport you.
In the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, the members of the organization Seele are represented by holographic black monoliths that can appear as though out of nowhere, like the true Monolith.
In the webcomic Real Life, the strip regulars (at that time) find the "Tahoe Magnetic Anomaly" while skiing. [1] After finding it, they decide to turn it into a coffee table, which then shows up many times later in the strip. [2][3]
In an episode of Sam & Max: Freelance Police, the "Dawn of Man" sequence is parodied as a group of apes are menaced by the high-pitched sound effect used during the first monolith scene. Sam & Max arrive and open a panel on the monolith, revealing a volume control dial which one of them promptly turns down. The apes rejoice.
On Ogel Island, in Lego Island 2, a lego monolith can be seen.
In the popular Nickelodeon television show, "Jimmy Neutron", episode "The Junkman Cometh", the monolith can be seen when Jimmy and his friends first arrive at the moon.
In the same show's movie, "Jimmy's Win, Lose, and Kaboom!" A Monolith rises from the ground in an obstacle course, which they must climb like a rock wall. Meldar, the announcer, explains at the beginning of said course, "Scale the Mysterious Monolith..."
In the video game Monster Rancher, one of the monster types is nammed Monol, which resembles a Monolith.
Second Life HTTP 404 shows a gorilla with bone in front of a Monolith with the Second Life title on it.
In The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Black Dossier, when Lucian and Orlando travel to the moon, the Monolith can be seen in the background.
In the Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson movie, Zoolander, Derek Zoolander (Stiller) and Hansel (Wilson) parody the ape scene, wherein the two attempt to acquire some files from within a Mac computer, trying to pry it open, banging on it, etc., until Hansel grabs a bone off of a desk and almost uses it to break the computer. Zoolander stops him saying, "Let's not lose our cool. Then we're no better than the machine."
In the LHX Attack Chopper game in the East-German setting, there is a monolith floating in the air next to a mountain. Player can fly a helicopter inside the monolith at which point the aircraft is instantly transported to another part of the map and a message "It is full of stars!" is displayed .
In the cartoon movie, Tom and Jerry visit Mars, a Monolith appears between Tom and Jerry, with a brief glimpse of it shown from below under a yellow moon, or Venus in space like the beginning of 2001, the latter of whom then topples it to crush Tom with a snap of his fingers.
In the opening cut scene of a Humongous Entertainment game, Spy Fox 3: Operation Ozone, a monkey on top of a hydroelectric dam is seen standing next to a fruit stall in the way of 2 vehicles speeding by, ruining the area as both land in the water, then said monkey is enraged, and recreates a "Birth of Man" scene by tossing a banana into the sky, then through space, morphing into a hair spray can as it rises, the cap returns to Earth, then said spray can's nozzle rotates quickly, and begins to emit an aerosol that is revealed after the tile screen to destroy the Earth's ozone layer.
In the futuristic game Battle Chess 4000, in the process of capturing a knight, the knight is confronted with a Monolith that rises out of the chess board. As the opening theme to 2001 plays in the background, the knight strokes the Monolith much like the primitives in the movie, only to have the Monolith suddenly fall and squash him flat.
In the Movie "History of the World part 1" with Mel Brooks, prehistoric man finds the Monolith. Soon after that, man learns many new things.
In the game Big Red Racing the Moon circuit (Lunar Loops) has a Monolith at the center of what appears to be either a crater or an excavation on the outskirts of the race track.
In the game Xenogears, the Zohar is based on the Monolith from 2001. When it is first discovered, it is given the name MAM, short for Magnetic Abnormality Matter, a reference to the TMA codename for the Monoliths.
In the game Startopia, the introduction video shows a prehistoric man walking across the desert when he stumbles upon a Monolith. As he approaches, a small door opens and replicates a doughnut for him.
[edit] Namesake
In the late 1980s, Apple Inc. bought a Cray supercomputer to model experimental processor designs. The machine was installed and set up. A company-wide contest was held to choose a name for the machine: the winning suggestion was TMA-1.[citation needed]
[edit] Seattle Monolith
On New Years Day 2001, a replica of the Monolith made out of welded steel appeared on a hill in Seattle's Magnuson Park, apparently having been placed there during the night before. It disappeared overnight three days later.[4]
