Genesis II (1973) Film Locations

Prepare to visit the Tyranians and their double-navels in the 23rd century. The Subshuttle will not get you there, but driving out to University of California, Riverside will. Bone up on Gene Roddenberry’s non-Star Trek science fiction and complete your Dylan Hunt adventure through Southern California.

I first discovered Gene Roddenberry’s post-Star Trek science fiction attempts while reading his biography. I was impressed with his attempt to get another science fiction show done and all the iterations his idea went through. I tracked these movies down and purchased them from Warner Archive.

I’m impressed with Warner Archive. I’ve talked with some of their staff at local conventions and always come away with a good feeling, not to mention some nice loot.

In Genesis II, Dylan Hunt, a NASA researcher, and all-around bad boy, tests suspended animation on himself. The goal for suspended animation is to assist deep space travel. Well, we all know what happens when you test suspended animation on yourself. You are ‘frozen’ for way too long. In fact, he awakes 154 years later after a nuclear world war. Luckily, the test was done deep in Carlsbad Cavern. In this future post-apocalyptic world, the NASA personnel and scientists in Carlsbad Cavern have morphed into the peaceful PAX society. PAX hopes to rebuild the world.

The Subshuttle system, which extends around the word, is still operable, so PAX can explore all the new civilizations that have arose since “The Great Conflict”. After PAX revives Dylan, he agrees to assist the Tyranians with their nuclear power reactor. No doubt swayed by their beautiful double-navel ruler Lyra – r (Mariette Hartley). I don’t blame him. Of course, he realizes that the Tyranians are a fascist society up to no good. Did the name which is so close to “tyrant” tip him off. Anyway, of course our hero saves the day and returns to PAX.

Gene Roddenberry’s idea was tried several times. Dylan Hunt showed up again in Planet Earth (played by John Saxon) and used University of California, Irvine as a location. John Saxon showed up again in Strange New World (Roddenberry not involved). Finally, in honor, Kevin Sorbo’s character in Andromeda was named Dylan Hunt.

University of California, Riverside’s Carillion Mall area from Olmstead Hall to Rivera Arches to the Carillion Bell Tower provided the futuristic architecture landscape needed for Tyrania. If you visit check out the Eaton collection in the Rivera Library – a must-do for sci-fi fans.