I understand your comparisons, but you're not exactly comparing apples to apples here, Sen.
2001 doesn't really match up with BSG for historical backstory. In
2001, the Monolith appears in the territory of a family group of proto-humans. There is a subtle influence on their mental processes, which develop the imagination so that they create tools - and weapons of survival. Granted, that first weapon of survival was a club, but it was a great leap for them. They could more easily acquire meat, and defend their territory (that's what the scene where he killed the leader of another group depicted). It was survival, and it was the start of the journey to homo sapiens.
That's far different from the BSG backstory (which was heavily influenced by von Daniken's theories but also contained clear influences of the major religions and other mythologies). Rather than influencing indigenous evolution, BSG had humankind rise on an entirely different world and
colonize Earth. It was never suggested that there was an indigenous population of intelligence on Earth to influence.
There really isn't a comparison between the two. The premises are entirely discrete.
The comparison between the destruction of Altair IV and Carillon is much more apt. Sources of energy were let loose unchecked and the planet could not contain that energy. Poof, no more planet.
But even there you find a fundamental difference in the proposed situation. Altair IV was honeycombed (on a planet-wide scope) with artifacts, energy-producing atomic reactors. (In fact, I wonder if the planet itself wasn't
constructed around those systems.) Those reactors going critical all at once would create an atomic-fueled explosion of sufficient magnitude that any mass around it would be vaporized, even the planet.
In Carillon, you have Tylium deposits honeycombing the planet. You have a fire. The fire spreads. Apparently really, really fast. Then you have an atomic-type planet-buster of an explosion.
The science behind the latter scenario is a whole lot weaker than in the former. Gravity, mass, and all those other factors will play a much larger role in the latter than in the former. I'm no physicist, so I can't tell you what that is, but it's the greater stretch when what amounts to a coal-mine fire vaporizes a planet.
Now comes the real question - the actual energy contained within a deposit of Tylium. Is it an atomic reaction, or is it actually oxidation? That was never addressed. I like to think it was an atomic reaction, it would explain its volatility
and provide sufficient energy to destroy a planet. But then, how would a simple laser blast trigger an atomic reaction, and have that reaction start as a simple fire? Could that rapid oxidation (without a whole lot of oxygen, mind you) provide enough energy to create that violent of an explosion? And did Tylium need oxygen to "oxidize", or was it actually a different form of reaction?
Tylium I put into that "science we don't understand" category - we just know that, in the BSG universe, they know how to use it and it works. And I think that's why premises like
Forbidden Planet's get more credence with some because it's based on a bit harder science than BSG's exploding planet was.
And, of course, you've got to consider the casino.....
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Laurette Spang Forums
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