Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

The Best Fictional Doomsday Devices

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the doom-proof dept.

Ostracus writes to tell us that Wired has an interesting summary of some of the best fictional doomsday devices. These devices have featured heavily in movies, television, and fiction; their list includes favorites from Dr. Strangelove to Futurama. What devices have they missed? "By the time Futurama's sci-fi satire hit the scene, creator Matt Groening had the doomsday-device shtick down. Case in point: the Spheroboom. This highly explosive space/time-bending device isn't just the prized jewel of the show's mad scientist, Professor Farnsworth. It also destroys anyone/anything not wearing a 'Doom-proof Platinum Vest.'"

8 of 340 comments (clear)

  1. ICE-9 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ice-9: Maybe not intended to be a doomsday device, but it sure turned out to be one!

    1. Re:ICE-9 by 3p1ph4ny · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Yeah, but who can honestly say they haven't read Cat's Cradle? I think that's an automatic revocation of geekness.

  2. knew it had to happen by lambent · · Score: 5, Insightful

    /. had for long been one of the last holdouts against this type of "journalistic" garbage.

    glad to see you lasted so long, guys. sad to see you give in and publicize this useless junk.

    articles like this with absolutely no substance at all don't belong here. i may as well just go look at reddit or fark for this type of stuff.

    1. Re:knew it had to happen by elrous0 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I half-expected to see a "Digg this" button in the summary.

      --
      SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
  3. Skynet? by elrous0 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    If you're going to post these silly lists, at least point out the glaring omission of Skynet.

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
  4. HHGTTG by cbiltcliffe · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The Ultimate Weapon, designed by Hactar, the computer built by the Silastic Armorfiends of Striterax.

    How could you forget the Krikkit Wars?

    --
    "City hall" in German is "Rathaus" Kinda explains a few things......
  5. The best doomsday weapon is....GUILE, bitches. by LibertineR · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Re: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Corbomite_Maneuver

    The best doomsday device, is not necessarily the one you have, but the one your enemy THINKS you have.

  6. Best fictional doomsday theories by Orion+Blastar · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Peak Oil, Global Warming, New World Order, 9/11 Conspiracy Theories. :)

    --
    Remember, Slashdot does not have a -1 disagree moderation, and no, troll, flamebait, and overrated are not substitutes.