Comments on: The Chariot from Lost in Space: an appreciation http://boingboing.net/2013/01/19/the-chariot-from-lost-in-space.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 23 May 2013 13:54:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: David Fain http://boingboing.net/2013/01/19/the-chariot-from-lost-in-space.html#comment-1633194 David Fain Mon, 21 Jan 2013 19:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206650#comment-1633194 Yeah, but you're on a mission from God. Yeah, but you’re on a mission from God.

]]> By: Dan Hibiki http://boingboing.net/2013/01/19/the-chariot-from-lost-in-space.html#comment-1633009 Dan Hibiki Mon, 21 Jan 2013 14:36:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206650#comment-1633009  good point. All mega vehicles should come equipped with a monkey.  good point. All mega vehicles should come equipped with a monkey.

]]> By: FoolishOwl http://boingboing.net/2013/01/19/the-chariot-from-lost-in-space.html#comment-1632966 FoolishOwl Mon, 21 Jan 2013 09:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206650#comment-1632966 I watched the video and kept expecting a thresher maw to attack them. I watched the video and kept expecting a thresher maw to attack them.

]]> By: FoolishOwl http://boingboing.net/2013/01/19/the-chariot-from-lost-in-space.html#comment-1632964 FoolishOwl Mon, 21 Jan 2013 09:23:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206650#comment-1632964 I clicked on that, hoping it was a reference to a show I remember from childhood, in the late 1970s. It had a vehicle that looked vaguely like that. That wasn't it, though. Actually, I finally found a link to it just now (after looking, now and again, for years!): <a href="http://www.70slivekidvid.com/ark.htm" rel="nofollow">Ark II</a>. I clicked on that, hoping it was a reference to a show I remember from childhood, in the late 1970s. It had a vehicle that looked vaguely like that. That wasn’t it, though.

Actually, I finally found a link to it just now (after looking, now and again, for years!): Ark II.

]]> By: Dave MacLachlan http://boingboing.net/2013/01/19/the-chariot-from-lost-in-space.html#comment-1632810 Dave MacLachlan Sun, 20 Jan 2013 22:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206650#comment-1632810 "Never ever let the facts get in the way of telling a story," said many writers throughout the years. “Never ever let the facts get in the way of telling a story,” said many writers throughout the years.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/01/19/the-chariot-from-lost-in-space.html#comment-1632803 Antinous / Moderator Sun, 20 Jan 2013 22:16:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206650#comment-1632803 Whenever anyone involved tried to science it up, Irwin Allen slapped them around until they stopped. Whenever anyone involved tried to science it up, Irwin Allen slapped them around until they stopped.

]]> By: James Penrose http://boingboing.net/2013/01/19/the-chariot-from-lost-in-space.html#comment-1632747 James Penrose Sun, 20 Jan 2013 19:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206650#comment-1632747 The problem was the pilot.  He made Capt. "Wrong Way" Peachfuzz in Rocky & Bullwinkle look like a bloodhound on a fresh scent with his skills. This line burned itself into my tiny little mind when I watched this back in the 60's: "I'll get a navigation fix from Neptune and the Andromeda galaxy and see if I can determine where we are."  Rather ignoring the fact that if you can *see* Neptune but are still lost, you probably can't find the front door while on your own front porch. One hopes the writers were having a laugh at our expense but I fear those where the only names for things in space they could come up with. The problem was the pilot.  He made Capt. “Wrong Way” Peachfuzz in Rocky & Bullwinkle look like a bloodhound on a fresh scent with his skills.

This line burned itself into my tiny little mind when I watched this back in the 60′s:

“I’ll get a navigation fix from Neptune and the Andromeda galaxy and see if I can determine where we are.”  Rather ignoring the fact that if you can *see* Neptune but are still lost, you probably can’t find the front door while on your own front porch.

One hopes the writers were having a laugh at our expense but I fear those where the only names for things in space they could come up with.

]]> By: Robert Cruickshank http://boingboing.net/2013/01/19/the-chariot-from-lost-in-space.html#comment-1632716 Robert Cruickshank Sun, 20 Jan 2013 17:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206650#comment-1632716  Sure we are: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/index.html  Sure we are: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/index.html

]]> By: Scott Elyard http://boingboing.net/2013/01/19/the-chariot-from-lost-in-space.html#comment-1632639 Scott Elyard Sun, 20 Jan 2013 10:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206650#comment-1632639 Kind of reminds me of a baby Jawa Sandcrawler.  (Other than that, it would make a killer Microman vehicle.) Kind of reminds me of a baby Jawa Sandcrawler.  (Other than that, it would make a killer Microman vehicle.)

]]> By: Dimitrios Papagiannis http://boingboing.net/2013/01/19/the-chariot-from-lost-in-space.html#comment-1632611 Dimitrios Papagiannis Sun, 20 Jan 2013 07:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206650#comment-1632611 50 years later and we are still not even close. 50 years later and we are still not even close.

]]> By: Halloween_Jack http://boingboing.net/2013/01/19/the-chariot-from-lost-in-space.html#comment-1632608 Halloween_Jack Sun, 20 Jan 2013 06:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206650#comment-1632608 The story of <i>Damnation Alley</i> and the Landmaster was pretty fascinating; for one thing, it was supposed to be <i>the</i> big science fiction film of 1977. So much of the film's budget was blown on the Landmaster that the rest of the film ended up looking really cheesy. (If you haven't done so already, read Walter Jon Williams' <i>Hardwired</i>, which was written as a tribute to Zelazny's original book.) The story of Damnation Alley and the Landmaster was pretty fascinating; for one thing, it was supposed to be the big science fiction film of 1977. So much of the film’s budget was blown on the Landmaster that the rest of the film ended up looking really cheesy. (If you haven’t done so already, read Walter Jon Williams’ Hardwired, which was written as a tribute to Zelazny’s original book.)

]]> By: Bruce Arthurs http://boingboing.net/2013/01/19/the-chariot-from-lost-in-space.html#comment-1632604 Bruce Arthurs Sun, 20 Jan 2013 06:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206650#comment-1632604 Roger Zelazny's original novella doesn't give much detail about the overall shape or details of Hell Tanner's vehicle.  (List of weaponry and munitions, yes.)  But my mental image of the beast has always been that of Jack Gaughan's illustrations for the story's original appearance in GALAXY magazine.  As I recall (it's been a l-o-n-g-g-g time...) Gaughan drew Tanner's vehicle as a stretched-out half-domed shape, close to the ground, to help keep from being flipped over and around by the high-velocity crap-storms and tornadoes that were a frequent hazard in Zelazny's blasted landscape.  Shaped, come to think of it, kinda like (irony alert!) a cockroach. (Gaughan's work seems to be largely forgotten today.  A lot of his painted covers for paperbacks weren't that impressive, but I still remember a lot of the outstanding pen-and-ink illustrations he did for SF magazine stories.  "Damnation Alley", "The Last Castle", "The Dragon Masters", "Golden Quicksand", and many, many others.  A retrospective collection would be a nice thing to see someday.) Roger Zelazny’s original novella doesn’t give much detail about the overall shape or details of Hell Tanner’s vehicle.  (List of weaponry and munitions, yes.)  But my mental image of the beast has always been that of Jack Gaughan’s illustrations for the story’s original appearance in GALAXY magazine.  As I recall (it’s been a l-o-n-g-g-g time…) Gaughan drew Tanner’s vehicle as a stretched-out half-domed shape, close to the ground, to help keep from being flipped over and around by the high-velocity crap-storms and tornadoes that were a frequent hazard in Zelazny’s blasted landscape.  Shaped, come to think of it, kinda like (irony alert!) a cockroach.

(Gaughan’s work seems to be largely forgotten today.  A lot of his painted covers for paperbacks weren’t that impressive, but I still remember a lot of the outstanding pen-and-ink illustrations he did for SF magazine stories.  “Damnation Alley”, “The Last Castle”, “The Dragon Masters”, “Golden Quicksand”, and many, many others.  A retrospective collection would be a nice thing to see someday.)

]]> By: Dan Hibiki http://boingboing.net/2013/01/19/the-chariot-from-lost-in-space.html#comment-1632592 Dan Hibiki Sun, 20 Jan 2013 05:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206650#comment-1632592 modern movies are definitely missing out on giant scorpions and man eating cockroach swarms. modern movies are definitely missing out on giant scorpions and man eating cockroach swarms.

]]> By: Jake0748 http://boingboing.net/2013/01/19/the-chariot-from-lost-in-space.html#comment-1632586 Jake0748 Sun, 20 Jan 2013 05:26:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206650#comment-1632586  It's a hundred and six miles to Chicago, we have a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses.  It’s a hundred and six miles to Chicago, we have a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it’s dark, and we’re wearing sunglasses.

]]> By: Peter Green http://boingboing.net/2013/01/19/the-chariot-from-lost-in-space.html#comment-1632517 Peter Green Sun, 20 Jan 2013 02:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206650#comment-1632517 I have the Moebius plastic model kit of the Chariot. I keep putting off building it because I'd really like to motorise it with proper tracks and an RC system but that's somewhat outside my skill level. I have the Moebius plastic model kit of the Chariot. I keep putting off building it because I’d really like to motorise it with proper tracks and an RC system but that’s somewhat outside my skill level.

]]> By: gehringer http://boingboing.net/2013/01/19/the-chariot-from-lost-in-space.html#comment-1632513 gehringer Sun, 20 Jan 2013 02:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206650#comment-1632513  The Jupiter 2 was secretly an early prototype TARDIS.  Lost in Space is a documentary about the early history of the Time Lords.  The Jupiter 2 was secretly an early prototype TARDIS.  Lost in Space is a documentary about the early history of the Time Lords.

]]> By: mack http://boingboing.net/2013/01/19/the-chariot-from-lost-in-space.html#comment-1632511 mack Sun, 20 Jan 2013 02:02:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206650#comment-1632511 My mom (science fiction/"trans-genred" writer <a href="http://kitreed.net" rel="nofollow">Kit Reed</a>) sat me down in front of the premiere when I was 5, and it marked me for life in the best possible way.  I stayed out there with the Robinsons every single episode, thinking that someday they would be brought back home, and learned about what it is to be a sarcastic robot, an evil meddling stowaway, a wide-eyed kid, but most of all, a space traveler. Looking back, the show was cheesy, campy, childish, weak FX - but that's from the distance that almost 5 decades of genre and moviemaking evolution has given us. At the time, it was the most wondrous, marvelous world I had ever visited, and I never wanted to leave. I still keep two little toys of the Space Pod and the Chariot (issued in 1995 by Johnny Lightning) near my desk. I fucking loved the Chariot, and it was the biggest disappointment that the movie reboot - which had a thrilling first half - completely fell apart by act III. My mom (science fiction/”trans-genred” writer Kit Reed) sat me down in front of the premiere when I was 5, and it marked me for life in the best possible way. 

I stayed out there with the Robinsons every single episode, thinking that someday they would be brought back home, and learned about what it is to be a sarcastic robot, an evil meddling stowaway, a wide-eyed kid, but most of all, a space traveler.

Looking back, the show was cheesy, campy, childish, weak FX – but that’s from the distance that almost 5 decades of genre and moviemaking evolution has given us. At the time, it was the most wondrous, marvelous world I had ever visited, and I never wanted to leave.

I still keep two little toys of the Space Pod and the Chariot (issued in 1995 by Johnny Lightning) near my desk.

I fucking loved the Chariot, and it was the biggest disappointment that the movie reboot – which had a thrilling first half – completely fell apart by act III.

]]> By: Stefan Jones http://boingboing.net/2013/01/19/the-chariot-from-lost-in-space.html#comment-1632478 Stefan Jones Sun, 20 Jan 2013 00:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206650#comment-1632478 I'm going to really geek out on y'all. Now, I'm not really much of a Lost in Space fan. I watched it faithfully during its first run -- I'm that old -- but watching a few episodes on Hulu reminded me how juvenile it was. However, my rocketry club buddy Jack Hagerty did a great book at TV & movie flying saucers ("The Saucer Fleet"), and the chapter on Lost in Space was fascinating and comprehensive. He went into the whole "where did the store the Chariot?" question, and also the "where did they store the lander" question, and how the hell did they fit in an engine deck shown in one episode. (That bothered me as a kid . . .) The scenes with the "Chariot" never featured Doctor Smith or the robot. Why? Because the Chariot was only used in the B&W pilot episode that was made before the robot and Smith characters were conceived of! The pilot footage was eventually use in the show. When severe cold threatened the ship, the Robinsons headed off in the Chariot to warmer climes. Doctor Smith and the robot stayed behind. I’m going to really geek out on y’all.

Now, I’m not really much of a Lost in Space fan. I watched it faithfully during its first run — I’m that old — but watching a few episodes on Hulu reminded me how juvenile it was.

However, my rocketry club buddy Jack Hagerty did a great book at TV & movie flying saucers (“The Saucer Fleet”), and the chapter on Lost in Space was fascinating and comprehensive. He went into the whole “where did the store the Chariot?” question, and also the “where did they store the lander” question, and how the hell did they fit in an engine deck shown in one episode. (That bothered me as a kid . . .)

The scenes with the “Chariot” never featured Doctor Smith or the robot. Why? Because the Chariot was only used in the B&W pilot episode that was made before the robot and Smith characters were conceived of!

The pilot footage was eventually use in the show. When severe cold threatened the ship, the Robinsons headed off in the Chariot to warmer climes. Doctor Smith and the robot stayed behind.

]]> By: Michael Smith http://boingboing.net/2013/01/19/the-chariot-from-lost-in-space.html#comment-1632463 Michael Smith Sun, 20 Jan 2013 00:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206650#comment-1632463  Also they had a complete Apollo LM in there as well.  Also they had a complete Apollo LM in there as well.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/01/19/the-chariot-from-lost-in-space.html#comment-1632455 Antinous / Moderator Sat, 19 Jan 2013 23:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206650#comment-1632455 Are you daft?  Their navigation and propulsion systems were damaged, and they headed off in an unknown direction in some kind of hyperdrive state.  And even in the episodes where they had figured out where Earth was, they didn't have enough deutronium to get there because Dr. Smith had traded it for an all you can eat buffet. Are you daft?  Their navigation and propulsion systems were damaged, and they headed off in an unknown direction in some kind of hyperdrive state.  And even in the episodes where they had figured out where Earth was, they didn’t have enough deutronium to get there because Dr. Smith had traded it for an all you can eat buffet.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/01/19/the-chariot-from-lost-in-space.html#comment-1632447 Antinous / Moderator Sat, 19 Jan 2013 23:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206650#comment-1632447 The chariot did break down pretty much every week. The chariot did break down pretty much every week.

]]> By: eknirb http://boingboing.net/2013/01/19/the-chariot-from-lost-in-space.html#comment-1632407 eknirb Sat, 19 Jan 2013 22:36:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206650#comment-1632407 HOW did they get that inside the Jupiter 2. HOW did they get that inside the Jupiter 2.

]]> By: tyger11 http://boingboing.net/2013/01/19/the-chariot-from-lost-in-space.html#comment-1632383 tyger11 Sat, 19 Jan 2013 22:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206650#comment-1632383  It's definitely time for a remake of that. Or maybe The Transporter can drive it in the next movie (or in the cool new tv show).  It’s definitely time for a remake of that. Or maybe The Transporter can drive it in the next movie (or in the cool new tv show).

]]> By: Dave MacLachlan http://boingboing.net/2013/01/19/the-chariot-from-lost-in-space.html#comment-1632363 Dave MacLachlan Sat, 19 Jan 2013 21:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206650#comment-1632363 Which the Morton-Thiokol engineers specifically warned NASA officials about attempting to operate in below-freezing temperatures. Yes, the design had a flaw, but the accident was avoidable if the engineers had been listened to. Which the Morton-Thiokol engineers specifically warned NASA officials about attempting to operate in below-freezing temperatures. Yes, the design had a flaw, but the accident was avoidable if the engineers had been listened to.

]]> By: jaytkay http://boingboing.net/2013/01/19/the-chariot-from-lost-in-space.html#comment-1632360 jaytkay Sat, 19 Jan 2013 21:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206650#comment-1632360 I have life support, cheap telescope and a tank full of gas and we're wearing sunglasses at night. Hit it. I have life support, cheap telescope and a tank full of gas and we’re wearing sunglasses at night.

Hit it.

]]> By: Michael Smith http://boingboing.net/2013/01/19/the-chariot-from-lost-in-space.html#comment-1632359 Michael Smith Sat, 19 Jan 2013 21:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206650#comment-1632359 Thats because you can't see where you are going here in Earth. IIRC the Jupiter 2 was supposed to go to Alpha Centauri. That is the closest star to Earth and literally the easiest thing to find in the sky. There is nothing between here and there and no place to get lost. Thats because you can’t see where you are going here in Earth. IIRC the Jupiter 2 was supposed to go to Alpha Centauri. That is the closest star to Earth and literally the easiest thing to find in the sky. There is nothing between here and there and no place to get lost.

]]> By: Dan Hibiki http://boingboing.net/2013/01/19/the-chariot-from-lost-in-space.html#comment-1632358 Dan Hibiki Sat, 19 Jan 2013 21:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206650#comment-1632358 Eh... it's no Landmaster: http://sciencefictionruminations.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/damnation-alley-vehicle1.jpeg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landmaster Eh… it’s no Landmaster:
http://sciencefictionruminations.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/damnation-alley-vehicle1.jpeg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landmaster

]]> By: Punchcard http://boingboing.net/2013/01/19/the-chariot-from-lost-in-space.html#comment-1632355 Punchcard Sat, 19 Jan 2013 21:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206650#comment-1632355 I have life support, cheap telescope and a tank full of gas I find it pretty easy to get lost <i>here on earth.</i> I have life support, cheap telescope and a tank full of gas I find it pretty easy to get lost here on earth.

]]> By: Michael Smith http://boingboing.net/2013/01/19/the-chariot-from-lost-in-space.html#comment-1632335 Michael Smith Sat, 19 Jan 2013 21:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206650#comment-1632335 I suppose it is ironic that the one thing you can never be in space is lost. You can be stranded easily enough but given propulsion, life support and a cheap telescope you can always find your way home. I suppose it is ironic that the one thing you can never be in space is lost. You can be stranded easily enough but given propulsion, life support and a cheap telescope you can always find your way home.

]]> By: BDiamond http://boingboing.net/2013/01/19/the-chariot-from-lost-in-space.html#comment-1632320 BDiamond Sat, 19 Jan 2013 21:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=206650#comment-1632320  Well, aren't you a cheery kinda guy.  Well, aren’t you a cheery kinda guy.

]]>