Xenomorph666
New Member
OK I see the debate in the junkyard about the dimensions of the monolith from 2001. And it is my belief that Kubrick made up his own size deviating from the book as he did in many ways. But for the record heres everything I know about the monoliths as taken from all 5 books (Including the short story the Sentinal)
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 intergers. These dimensions are the main source of debate regarding the monoliths' simple external design. It is suggested in the novel 2010 that this number series does not stop at three dimensions.
The monoliths are observed in several different sizes - TMA-0 (2001 Prehistoric) and TMA-1 (Moon monolith) are both 11 feet long and TMA-2 is two kilometres long on the longest axis, while the monolith that appears on Europa is considerably larger. 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.
They appear to be extremely long lived and reliable machines, essentially an incredibly advanced form of multifunctionrobot , being able to survive for millions of years buried in the ground or resisting impact from meterites and radiation in space, with no apparent damage. The two monoliths recovered and examined by humans reveal themselves 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. 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 tests such as nuclear detonations which are beyond the theoretical limits of material strength. However, they are not completely indestructible - TMA-4 (Monolith left to protect Europa 2063) suffers damage from a blast caused by a giant meteorite of solid diamond impacting Europa in.In the final book, 3001, all three monoliths known to humankind are destroyed simply by giving them a computer virus.
While it is unclear what the composition of the monoliths is, 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 thanair probably at a standatd temp and pressure. The masses of TMA-0 and TMA-1 are never revealed, though it can be assumed that the densities are the same.
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 Bowman to travel across the galaxy at faster than light speeds and with tremendous accelerations. In 2010 and again in 3001, TMA-2 is observed to teleport itself (disappear and reappear elsewhere).
TMA-2 is observed to self-replicate by a form of symmetrical fission and exponetionaly 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 jupiter into a miniature star. In 3001, millions of copies of TMA-2 are observed to assemble themselves into two mega structures 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. In 2061, the non-corporeal entities of 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 toward a star system about 450 LY away. Only TMA-1 demonstrates the ability to generate a strong magnetic field around itself, for which the three artifacts are named.
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 intergers. These dimensions are the main source of debate regarding the monoliths' simple external design. It is suggested in the novel 2010 that this number series does not stop at three dimensions.
The monoliths are observed in several different sizes - TMA-0 (2001 Prehistoric) and TMA-1 (Moon monolith) are both 11 feet long and TMA-2 is two kilometres long on the longest axis, while the monolith that appears on Europa is considerably larger. 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.
They appear to be extremely long lived and reliable machines, essentially an incredibly advanced form of multifunctionrobot , being able to survive for millions of years buried in the ground or resisting impact from meterites and radiation in space, with no apparent damage. The two monoliths recovered and examined by humans reveal themselves 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. 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 tests such as nuclear detonations which are beyond the theoretical limits of material strength. However, they are not completely indestructible - TMA-4 (Monolith left to protect Europa 2063) suffers damage from a blast caused by a giant meteorite of solid diamond impacting Europa in.In the final book, 3001, all three monoliths known to humankind are destroyed simply by giving them a computer virus.
While it is unclear what the composition of the monoliths is, 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 thanair probably at a standatd temp and pressure. The masses of TMA-0 and TMA-1 are never revealed, though it can be assumed that the densities are the same.
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 Bowman to travel across the galaxy at faster than light speeds and with tremendous accelerations. In 2010 and again in 3001, TMA-2 is observed to teleport itself (disappear and reappear elsewhere).
TMA-2 is observed to self-replicate by a form of symmetrical fission and exponetionaly 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 jupiter into a miniature star. In 3001, millions of copies of TMA-2 are observed to assemble themselves into two mega structures 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. In 2061, the non-corporeal entities of 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 toward a star system about 450 LY away. Only TMA-1 demonstrates the ability to generate a strong magnetic field around itself, for which the three artifacts are named.
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