Early in the 21st Century, the Tyrell Corporation advanced Robot evolution into the Nexus phase - a being virtually identical to a human - known as a Replicant. Replicants were used Off-world as slave labor, in the hazardous exploration and colonization of other planets. Now, on Earth, the Nexus 4 Replicants have been adapted for societal elites to own for industry and service work. But, Tyrell continues to experiment with further enhancements. Because progress stops for no man. After the apparent suicide of Dr. Lydia Kine, a Tyrell Corporation bioengineer, was determined to be a murder committed by a Replicant, LAPD Detective Cal Moreaux is tracking the presumed killer: a Nexus 5 prototype. Cal's investigation has brought him back to the Slums, an under-resourced and forgotten part of Los Angeles - his home...
The 1992 release of the "Director's Cut" only confirmed what the international film cognoscenti have know all along: Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, based on Philip K. Dick's brilliant and troubling SF novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, still rules as the most visually dense, thematically challenging, and influential SF film ever made. Future Noir is the story of that triumph. The making of Blade Runner was a seven-year odyssey that would test the stamina and the imagination of writers, producers, special effects wizards, and the most innovative art directors and set designers in the industry. A fascinating look at the ever-shifting interface between commerce and the art that is modern Hollywood, Future Noir is the intense, intimate, anything-but-glamerous inside account of how the work of SF's most uncompromising author was transformed into a critical sensation, a commercial success, and a cult classic.
Early in the 21 Century, the Tyrell Corporation advanced Robot evolution into the Nexus phase – a being virtually identical to a human – known as a replicant. Superior in strength and agility, the Replicants were created to be used as Off-world slave labor or in the hazardous, high-collateral combat situations or colonization of other planets. Replicants who escaped and returned to Earth were hunted by special police squads – Blade Runner units – with order to kill any trespassing Replicant upon detection. This is the story of the first Blade Runner… Los Angeles, 2009
In 1982 the brilliant science fiction movie Blade Runner was released, and a phenomenon was born. Set in the steel-and-microchip jungle of twenty-first century Los Angeles, this masterpiece re-created our vision of the future, telling the story of Rick Deckard, a ‘blade runner’ who tracks down and executes renegade androids. Now, for the millions of fans of the movie, as well as those coming to the saga for the first time, K. W. Jeter’s stylish and sophisticated new novel reenters that seedy, high-tech world and opens a new chapter of thrilling, nonstop, futuristic suspense. This time Deckard himself becomes both hunter and hunted in a race to prove his own humanity by tracking down the most elusive and dangerous android of all . . .
Early in the 21st century, the Tyrell Corporation advanced Robot evolution into the Nexus phase – a being virtually identical to a human – known as a Replicant. Replicants were used Off-world as slave labor, in the hazardous exploration and colonization of other planets. Now, on Earth, the Nexus 4 Replicants have been adapted for societal elites to own for industry and service work. But, Tyrell continues to experiment with further enhancements – because progress stops for no man. After the apparent suicide of Dr. Lydia Kine – a Tyrell Corporation bioengineer – was determined to be a murder committed by a Replicant, LAPD Detective Cal Moreaux tracked the presumed killer: a Nexus 5 prototype. However, Cal later discovered that Kine had successfully transferred her psyche into the body of a Replicant called Asa. The Nexus 5 has been “awakening” some Replicants, causing them to leave their positions of servitude in pursuit of autonomy. Cal has followed this trail of rebellion to Sector-6b, the slums of Los Angeles, once his home, where he learned the true identity of the escaped Nexus 5… his sister: Nia Moreaux. Desperate to atone for the wrongs he committed as Dr. Kine, Asa has followed one of these “awakened” Replicants, a murderous Nexus 4, to the slums in order to dispatch it. In his search for Nia, who is also looking for the deranged Nexus 4, Cal has arrived here too. Unfortunately for them all, Ilora Stahl is right on their tail…
Updated edition: The ultimate guide to Ridley Scott’s transformative sci-fi classic Blade Runner, with photos, new cast interviews, and more. Based on Philip K. Dick’s brilliant and troubling science fiction masterpiece Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Blade Runner is among the most visually dense, thematically challenging, and influential science fiction films ever made. Future Noir offers a deeper understanding of this cinematic phenomenon that is storytelling and visual filmmaking at its best. In an intensive, intimate, and anything-but-glamorous behind-the-scenes account, Paul M. Sammon explores how Ridley Scott purposefully used his creative genius to transform the work of science fiction’s most uncompromising author into a critical sensation and cult classic that would reinvent the genre. Sammon reveals how the making of the original Blade Runner was a seven-year odyssey that would test the stamina and the imagination of writers, producers, special effects wizards, and the most innovative art directors and set designers in the industry at the time it was made. This revised and expanded edition of Future Noir includes: An overview of Blade Runner’s impact on moviemaking and popular culture An exploration of the history of Blade Runner: The Final Cut and its theatrical release in 2007 A look at its long-awaited sequel, Blade Runner 2049 The longest interview Harrison Ford has ever granted about Blade Runner Exclusive new interviews with Rutger Hauer and Sean Young A fascinating look at the ever-shifting interface between commerce and art, illustrated with production photos and stills, Future Noir provides an eye-opening and enduring look at modern moviemaking, the business of Hollywood, and one of the greatest films of all time.
Early in the 21st Century, the Tyrell Corporation advanced Robot evolution into the Nexus phase – a being virtually identical to a human – known as a Replicant. Replicants were used Off-world as slave labor. Those who escaped to Earth were hunted by Blade Runner units ordered to kill any trespassing Replicant upon detection. In 2022, a Replicant attack on the Tyrell Corporation forced the company into bankruptcy and erased all records of existing Replicants. The surviving Nexus 8 models disappeared with the help of the Replicant underground. Many Replicants remained in servitude. In 2027, Aahna “Ash” Ahsina, a former Blade Runner, rejoined the department to hunt down fugitive Replicants. Her superiors are unaware that her loyalties are divided. Her lover, Freysa, is a leader in the Replicant Underground. While investigating a report of a rogue Replicant, Ash discovered that a Nexus 6 Replicant, Yotun, whom she had failed to retire 12 years previously, had somehow outlived his expiration date and had become the leader of a Replicant guerrilla army. After capturing Ash, Yotun ordered his army to launch an all-out terrorist attack upon Los Angeles, destroying the newly constructed seawall, killing the city’s political and corporate elite, and ordering all Replicants in the city to revolt against their masters, before taking over the LAPD Tower and setting it ablaze. Freysa seemingly joined Yotun’s crusade in an effort to stop him, however, he blinded her in one eye and left her to die when he discovered her subterfuge. Escaping from Yotun’s clutches, Ash raced to rescue her lover from the burning building. Now reunited, Ash and Freysa have set off to find Yotun and bring him down. Meanwhile, Yotun, having incredibly outlived his initial inception date, has started to succumb to the ravages of time and is using the blood of his loyal supporters to stave off his impending demise…
Replicants are bioengineered humans, once designed by the Tyrell Corporation for use Off-world. After a series of violent rebellions, their manufacture was prohibited, and Tyrell Corp went bankrupt. Niander Wallace acquired the remains of Tyrell Corp and created a new line of Replicants who obey. A Replicant Underground survives, led by the former combat model Freysa and her human partner Aahna Ashina, known as Ash, formerly a Blade Runner. Twenty years ago, in 2019, Ash spared the Replicant Isobel Selwyn, a replica of industrialist Alexander Selwyn’s wife. Together with Alexander’s human daughter Cleo, Isobel escaped to the Off-world colonies. Searching for the late Alexander Selwyn’s research into Replicant physiology, Niander Wallace sent his creation Luv, the first Replicant Blade Runner, to hunt down both Cleo and Isobel. Believing that Isobel holds the secret to Replicant fertility, Wallace ordered Luv to capture the girl at any cost and to kill anyone who comes into contact with her. Ash discovered that a computer disc given to her by Alexander’s former Replicant bodyguard Hythe contained the information Wallace is looking for. Luv tracked them down, however Ash and Cleo managed to escape and set out to find Freysa, hoping she could help them locate Isobel. Luv returned to Wallace who introduced her to a new Replicant created from Ash’s DNA, codenamed ‘Rash’, and the two of them resumed the hunt for Ash and Cleo. Together with the runaway Replicant, Lexi, Ash and Cleo set off for San Francisco in an old pickup truck, but were attacked en route by a biker gang who shot and gravely injured Cleo…
Dagnino debuts his stunning story about a rogue android who has become self-aware and discovers what it means to be alive. In the near future, tech giant Gorgona holds a monopoly on computer-human interfaces known as Schemata. These androids have become ubiquitous with everyday life across the world. Yuki, un-affectionately called ‘scrappy’ by her owner, is a Smart Girl – an android servant used for everything from security and domestics to carnal pleasure. When she starts to malfunction, she is soon to be replaced and destroyed. But something in her changes, and Yuki doesn’t accept her end, instead, she becomes self-aware… Taking a stand against her abusive master, Yuki goes on the run. Believed to be defective and hostile, she is hunted by Gorgona, and plans to fight back for the only thing that truly matters – her right to life and freedom.
