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2001, L'odyssée De L'espace (Space Odyssey #1)

by Piers Bizoni

4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 · rating details · 73,778 ratings · 1,433 reviews

The dramatic novel of one of the most spectacular films ever produced

Published (first published 1968)

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Mar 23, 2008 Jack Beltane rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The book is always better than the film, but I'd never read 2001 before. What I didn't know, until reading the foreword, is that this novel was literally written in tandem with the film, with Clarke and Kubrick feeding each other ideas. At some points, however, filming overtook writing, or vice versa, and the two stories, though similar, split along two different paths.

After reading the book, the film becomes little more than a very well crafted container: It's pretty and neat to look at it, bu...more

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Feb 20, 2013 Henry Avila rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The opening scene , a tribe of ape- men ,in Africa,finding a strange gyrating monolith .Another rock to these few primitives, at first.But after the light show,the tribe is fascinated.It teaches them how to make and use tools.Kill animals and prevent their own extinction. With an unlimited supply of food and not be dependent on plants and fruit ,for survival.Very rare during the long drought conditions(millions of years long).The human race might reach its destiny ,for better or worse ,after all...more

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Jun 17, 2011 Kelli rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Dave Bowman: Hello, HAL. Do you read me, HAL?
HAL: Affirmative, Dave. I read you.
Dave Bowman: Open the pod bay doors, HAL.
HAL: I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that.
Dave Bowman: What's the problem?
HAL: I think you know what the problem is just as well as I do.
Dave Bowman: What are you talking about, HAL?
HAL: This mission is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it.
Dave Bowman: I don't know what you're talking about, HAL.
HAL: I know that you and Frank were planning to disc...more

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Aug 16, 2007 Eric Althoff rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Sci-Fi goons

Subversive, mysterious, incredible, mind-boggling, and ultimately hopeful, Arthur C. Clarke's "proverbial good science-fiction" novel--written concurrently with his and Stanley Kubrick's screenplay--is the ultimate trip into the universe and mankind's cycle of evolution. The apes of the first section evolve into spacefaring humankind, and then the protagonist, David Bowman, morphs into the Star Child, showcasing hope that from the darkness and the slime, this fragile human species might see beyo...more

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Sep 01, 2009 Steve rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Real quick, the author co-wrote the screenplay with Stanley Kubrick and wrote the novel at the same time. As they were filming Clarke would see what was being shot and make changes to the novel and screenplay. I am unaware of other books being written like this. It's pretty interesting.

I try not to compare books and movies. In this case they complement each other. I believe both are needed. I last saw the movie in high school and look forward to re-watching it, because:

The book makes sense...mos...more

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Mar 18, 2013 Elena rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm not a wide reader of science fiction, having just read the major classics, however this book is without a doubt my favourite of them all.

Written in 1968, A. Clarke writes with a knowleageable confidence about a future world of space travel that has only just dawned on him in the light of the first moon landings; he does so as skillfully and imaginatively as Orwell did when writing 1984.

Clarke succeeds in capturing the magnificence of our solar system which he makes accessible to any reader,...more I'm not a wide reader of science fiction, having just read the major classics, however this book is without a doubt my favourite of them all.

Written in 1968, A. Clarke writes with a knowleageable confidence about a future world of space travel that has only just dawned on him in the light of the first moon landings; he does so as skillfully and imaginatively as Orwell did when writing 1984.

Clarke succeeds in capturing the magnificence of our solar system which he makes accessible to any reader, even one who only has a basic knowledge of the planets! Unlike other science fiction books I have read, I didn't get bored or distracted by the pages devoted to the mechanics of space-ships - I far from glossed over them and was engaged with every aspect of Floyd and Bowman's respective journey's.

Another reason I adored this book was it's scale - the plot is gigantic! Clarke begins with the 'dawn of man' and the ascension of the ape, following through to his penultimate vision when men transcends his mortal body - yet he takes us on this journey from man's beginning to a (far from definitive) end without leaving us behind at a way station.

There is both time and timelessness in this novel; Clarke manages to encapsulate both of these in his writing. I found that I'd read 70 pages without realising it, then read 3 truly mind-boggling pages and feel that I'd need to put the book down and rest my head for 5 minutes!

Human flaws are far from overlooked; yet the book presents favourable attributes in both characters Floyd and Bowman. Both protagonists (plus Moon-watcher in the book's opening)are engaging, thoughtful and epitomise the strengths and faults of humanity in their respective eras / travels. It is remarkable as well to note the transition from Moon-watcher to Bowman; Clarke leaves the evolution of man both recogniseable and unrecognisable...the balance he writes here permeates all aspects of the novel which is not one that simply speaks to the reader, but forces the reader to ask questions -

The book presents some piercing questions about humanity and what it means to be human, was man meant to evolve the way he has and have we really evolved much at all? Can machines be human? Are humans still human if they exist within a machine? The book answers a lot of questions, yet leaves so much unanswered for the reader to interpret for themselves. Fierce debates will rage! (Discussion in my english seminars proved)

I deifnately recommend this book to anyone who is a lover of science fiction or are freshly acquainting themselves with this exciting genre. (less)

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Jan 18, 2011 Alexander Arsov rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arthur-clarke, favorites

Arthur C. Clarke

2001: A Space Odyssey

Roc, Mass Market Paperback, 2000.
12mo. xx, 297 pp. To Stanley - In Memoriam [v-vi] and Foreword to the Millennial Edition [vii-xviii] by Arthur C. Clarke, 1999. Original Foreword, 1969 [xix-xx].

First published in 1969.

Contents

To Stanley - In Memoriam
Foreword to the Millennial Edition

Foreword

Part One: Primeval Night
Chapter 1: The Road to Extinction
Chapter 2: The New Rock
Chapter 3: Academy
Chapter 4: The Leopard
Chapter 5: Encounter in the Dawn
Chapter 6: Ascent o...more

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Nov 30, 2007 Curt rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I could not put this down. Of course I am a fan of the movie. What smart guy isn’t? But after repeated watchings I still walk away scratching my head. The book tells a very similar story with more detail. The monkeys are still at the beginning and the travel sequence is at the end. The parallel between HAL and the intelligence that left the monolith is more obvious. HAL's actions are more humanly desperate. There is more story around Dave Bowman. But the ambiguous ending of the book seems to be...more

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Sep 25, 2007 Amber McAlister rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: dorky poet-types

my father used to read beautiful selections from this book to me before bed as a child. "they became farmers in the fields of stars."
in ninth grade, i read it in it's entirety and enjoyed it so much that i read it under the big lab tables in physical science instead of paying attention to my misogynistic science teacher, "coach rutledge". ugh. coaches should not be allowed to teach science. i learned more from arthur c clarke under the table.
a beautiful book of remarkably poetic nature for it's...more

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Jul 03, 2010 Bryan added it · review of another edition

A Wonderful Classic: 2001: a Space Odyssey by Arthor C. Clarke is a must read for all Science Fiction lovers. It is such a classic and yet revolutionary for its time. In fact, this book was so revolutionary that it set a trend for Science Fiction books to come. It is filled with many captivating thoughts that really get you thinking. It shows you an interesting idea of the rise of man and another look into its future. The book also has several plots that link and merge together throughout the co...more

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Mar 17, 2009 C.S. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was listening to the radio a few weeks back, and I came across an interview with a film critic and historian who'd recently published a book of 1000 movies everyone should see before they die. The host of the program asked about this film and that, how the book was compiled, what the author's favorite movies were, things of that nature. And then he asked him what he thought the most overrated film of all time was, to which the author immediately replied "Citizen Kane."

And of course he is quite...more I was listening to the radio a few weeks back, and I came across an interview with a film critic and historian who'd recently published a book of 1000 movies everyone should see before they die. The host of the program asked about this film and that, how the book was compiled, what the author's favorite movies were, things of that nature. And then he asked him what he thought the most overrated film of all time was, to which the author immediately replied "Citizen Kane."

And of course he is quite correct. Citizen Kane is unquestionably the most overrated movie ever made. It may also be the best film ever made; the two are not mutually exclusive. The author explained that the problem with a movie like that-- with anything that has been universally accepted as a masterpiece-- is that you reach a point where you're not seeing the work itself, you're seeing the legend of the work, the reputation of it. Citizen Kane has been at the top of every list of great films (most notably the decennial Sight & Sound poll) since the 1960s. At this point, it almost wins automatically. His suggestion, which I wholeheartedly agree with, was that both the film and the medium as a whole might benefit if it were removed from consideration for a few decades. Give it more of an emeritus position and allow some other work to shine. And who knows, maybe in 30 or 40 years it can be "rediscovered" and seen for what it really is again.

I bring all this up, because I feel that in its own way, in its own field, 2001: A Space Odyssey has reached a similar status. The book (which was neither the source material nor an adaptation of the equally great movie, but was instead written in concert with it) is sort of universally hailed as a landmark of science fiction, a work that redefined the genre (or perhaps just opened up a whole new realm of possibilities). It's hard to see past the myth and appreciate it on its own merits.

I hadn't actually read 2001 since high school. I would like to say that it was for the aforementioned reason, but laziness and disinterest are more plausible culprits. It was strange, coming back to it, older, better-read, more educated. I saw things that I didn't remember seeing, and I was able to appreciate it in a way that I didn't at first, and wouldn't have been able to if I'd read it again and again the way I have some novels (perhaps I should retire Catch-22 for a few years). How refreshing to find that it absolutely lived up to its reputation and to my memories of it. Clarke's masterpiece is every bit as good as people say, and every bit as innovative and mind-expanding.

If you haven't read it (and really, this is advice for any classic work), please do. And if you have, may I suggest that you return to it, but not right away. Let it fade a bit in your memory, so that when you read it again, it will have some of the force of a new experience. (less)

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Mar 09, 2009 Kirk rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. 2001: A Book Review
By, Kirk Brown

I did not think that the ending was effective. It was weird and had nothing to do with the next book. 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clark ended after Dave, the last survivor of the Discovery, was transformed into a mass of energy by alien technology. After he was transformed he went back to Earth and cleaned the atmosphere.
In 2001 I think that the HAL 9000 was the most opinionated character about situations. At one point he overheard Dave saying that he wa...more

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Apr 21, 2013 Ajay rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-reads, mind-twist, sci-fi

This book just has to stand out there as one of the books to be revered as a wonderful mind blowing sci-fi brought forth by this great human mind- Arthur C Clarke.
The very conception of such a brilliant idea to equate our progress or evolution as pre-ordained as an experiment by super intelligent aliens, itself has both my arms up in praise for this genius. (I guess this very idea was actually extrapolated to make plots for movies like Prometheus- by Ridley Scott)
I always tried to watch Stanle...more

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Apr 21, 2013 Brian rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

2001 is an adaptation of the famous screenplay by the same name. While being fleshed out as a novel allows more detail to be added to the story, especially the beginning and end, it suffers from the same problems the movie does. It is boring. Attempts to increase the tension by foreshadowing fall flat. The most interesting character, the HAL 9000 AI, gets essentially the same treatment the alien monolith does: it's an unknowable alien thing, but the implications and parallels between the alien a...more

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Apr 04, 2013 Sage rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Science Fiction Fans

2001: A Timeless Odyssey

What makes a book memorable? In my opinion, it is the book ability to change your perspective on a matter, and the book, 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke, does just that. This classic sci-fi novel brings engrossing themes to the table including human evolution, the dangers of technology, and the magnitude of the universe. As the reader progresses through the three very different, but equally compelling, stories in the book, he or she will be continually amazed

...more 2001: A Timeless Odyssey

One of the most remarkable parts of the story is the complex and thought provoking messages it brings. From early on in the book, when man-apes are visited by an alien lifeform that gives them a “jumpstart” through subconscious mind control to become an intelligent life form suggesting evolution of humans came through unconscious actions and sheer luck, you can tell that Clarke has an abstract way of looking at things. He does a very good job of conveying his ideas through the text of his stories and the development of his characters. A prime example of this is the character HAL, a computer with artificial intelligence. HAL is made to control a spacecraft, Discovery , on a mission to Saturn. However, on the mission, HAL starts developing emotions and malfunctioning, demonstrating how technology can be harmful as well as helpful. This also plays into the theme of evolution, bringing forth an idea that our next step is to evolve into machines and artificial intelligence, similar to that of what came to visit that man-apes.

The thing I found most interesting about this book was how scientifically it was written. Not only did it have a technical tone, but it was also very scientifically accurate. It seemed as though everything that happened in the story, could potentially happen in the future, and still comply with the rules of science. Every innovation created in the novel was backed by a short, very convincing, scientific description. Just enough to make everything seem realistic without going overboard on details. This being the trademark of all great science fiction, Clarke did an excellent job of achieving that. Clarke’s prediction of the future from his point of view in 1968 even included an item called a “newspad” which has striking similarity to an iPad from today.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys science fiction, or would like to try the genre. It is considered a great and timeless work of the genre, and for many reasons. 2001: A Space Odyssey is a great book with great complex themes and a strong atmosphere.

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Apr 01, 2013 Emre rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Bence kitabın baştan sona anlatmak istediği Tanrının insanlara yol gösterişi ve onlara yeni ufuklar açmasıdır.Bu yüzden de kitapta anlatılan o siyah taş tanrısal bir nesne olarak görülebilir.
O taş farklı zamanlarda ki insanlara ilham kaynağı olmuştur maymun adamları alet yapması için,uzay cağında ise yeni keşiflere gezegenleri bulmak için.
En önemli kısım ise insanın yaratılışını anlatan bir kitap biraz insan oluşumundan ele alırsak örneğin kitaptada bahsedildiği gibi bircok bilim adamının içi...more

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Mar 20, 2013 Jenny Stanfield rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction

Unlike many other reviewers, I will treat my impressions of 2001: A Space Odyssey independently to that of the Kubrick film.

For a novel written in the 1960s aimed at predicting the technology of a decade ago and marrying it with a fantastical, dream-like narrative, it's pretty accurate.

Clarke even predicts the iPad - I mean, he come so close, even calling it a Newspad! The video-phone reconnaissance was pretty spot on too! HAL, the intelligent computer for the Discovery that takes on human-lik...more

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Mar 13, 2013 Holmes rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I haven't seen the movie (now I fully intend to!) and I don't read that much sci-fi, so I'm really impressed with Clarke's intriguing notion that modern humans came to dominate the world because of an extraterrestrial spark that "inspired" their evolution from ape-man to man. I really like this premise because I often wonder why, after billions of years, humans are the only species that have evolved the ability to control nature to any appreciable extent.

Clarke's attention to detail is also fas...more

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Mar 12, 2013 Michael rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: classics

For those of you who know me to be a Christian who supports the authority of God's Word and his biblical account of His creation of the Earth, my support of this book may come as a surprise. But let me say that I gave this book 5 stars not for its content, but its presentation of its message. I had an epiphany when I finished this book, an enlightenment of the Theory of Evolution that I as a homeschooler (with minimal exposure to said heresy...I mean scientific hypocrisy...no wait, the word is h...more For those of you who know me to be a Christian who supports the authority of God's Word and his biblical account of His creation of the Earth, my support of this book may come as a surprise. But let me say that I gave this book 5 stars not for its content, but its presentation of its message. I had an epiphany when I finished this book, an enlightenment of the Theory of Evolution that I as a homeschooler (with minimal exposure to said heresy...I mean scientific hypocrisy...no wait, the word is hypothoses) would not have had otherwise. The logical conclusion of evolution is that humans can become God (or gods, depending on your beliefs), or a scientifically plausible god. And then it hit me: what are the alien-hunters and UFOlogists searching for? A scientifically plausible god. If you do not read this book, at least walk away knowing that that is its message: humanists and secularists want a god that came from somewhere, can be defined, and that humans could potentially become. Bionics applied to healthy humans is the robotic and technological 'next step' in the logical evolutionary process of progress. Once we've reached our biological limit, we'll jump over to technology, and keep going until we reach our mechanical limits. Then where does that leave us? Voila! Next stop: godhood. Well worth stopping and considering, even if you disagree with the message. As a side note, HAL is more intimidating in the movie, and Dave's travel through the 'higher dimensions' is visually stunning in the movie, but the book? Eh, so-so. Also, for you sci-fi nerds, in case you didn't notice, Isaac Asimov's i,Robot has a robot named "Dave" in his novel, which was published in 1950, eighteen years before the release of 2001 in theaters, which was in 1968. Could this Dave be an allusion to Isaac Asimov's work (which seems highly probable when we compare how HAL seems to embody all the negative aspects of the ideas explored in i,Robot)? That remains to be seen, but let us just rest with the fact that HAL is one of the most disturbing parts of the novel (or movie). Cheers, philosophers, and long live the Son of the Emperor-beyond-the-Sea, Aslan!(less)

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Jan 08, 2013 Dave marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: calibre, fiction

EDITORIAL REVIEW: A deluxe hardcover edition of the science fiction classic...now with a new introduction by Arthur C. Clarke!It has been over thirty years since the publication of *2001: A Space Odyssey*, the science fiction classic that changed the way we looked at the stars--and ourselves. From the savannas of Africa at the dawn of mankind to the rings of Saturn as man ventures to the outer rim of our solar system, Arthur C. Clarke takes us on a journey unlike any other.This allegory about hu...more

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Jan 06, 2013 Nick rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

2001 A Space Odyssey
Arthur C. Clarke

The precursor to the classic science-fiction movie, this book was exceptionally interesting, bringing to mind our own ignorance of the planet we call home and the possible existence of extraterrestrials. Arthur C. Clarke clearly put thought into this story of a scientific expedition in 2001 to explain the origins of the strange monolith TMA-1.

The story begins with the story of the Man-Apes, the emotionally and intellectually ignorant relatives of the modern hu...more 2001 A Space Odyssey
Arthur C. Clarke

The precursor to the classic science-fiction movie, this book was exceptionally interesting, bringing to mind our own ignorance of the planet we call home and the possible existence of extraterrestrials. Arthur C. Clarke clearly put thought into this story of a scientific expedition in 2001 to explain the origins of the strange monolith TMA-1.

The story begins with the story of the Man-Apes, the emotionally and intellectually ignorant relatives of the modern human. Arthur C. Clarke goes into great depth to describe the sheer lack of human intelligence in these ancient animals and often repeats how stupid they are. I was immediately engrossed in this part of the story, and though it seems trivial at first, it becomes clear as to why it was included later.

The plot then jumps about three million years, and follows the path of Dr. Heywood Floyd, an American scientist who was sent to research TMA-1 which was discovered thirty feet underground on the Moon. When dated, the black slab dates back three million years, about the time when man’s earliest relatives started to appear, sparking questions and theories about the significance of the find.

The next part of the book explains the story of David Bowman, an astronaut on the Saturn-bound spaceship called Discovery, and Frank Poole his assistant. The journey to observe the planet is going smoothly until the equipment is damaged, as explained by HAL 9000, the ship’s extremely advanced computer brain.

The three extremely different plots seemed unconnected, but as the end of the book approached everything was suddenly brought together into an amazing conclusion. The different feelings surrounding each piece of the story evokes a different emotion, and could almost function as independent stories. The story is slow-paced, but builds up tension and curiosity until the last part of the story, where the three unrelated stories are drawn together and the puzzle is finally concluded.

Obviously well-researched and very intriguing, this tale is a page turner and fit for any ninth-grader or above or just about anyone looking for a great book. The lesson of this story is a powerful one, and though not tailored around the moral like a children’s tale, it is clear enough to be heard without being overbearing. Overall, this was an amazing story which I will not soon forget.
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Oct 30, 2012 Megan Holtan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

2001: A Space Odyssey is a book about a spaceship traveling to Saturn. The book starts off with a group of man-apes who are struggling to survive. Then, on their way back from a daily hunting, they stop at a mysterious rock and are instantly hypnotized by it. This strange “rock” causes them to slowly evolve into what man is today. The book then goes into future where astronauts are preparing to go off into space. This is a unique trip because this is the first time the spaceship used the compute...more

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Oct 30, 2012 Karina Hernandez rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

2001: A Space Odyssey is a book about a mission to Saturn gone wrong. The story begins when man-apes living in harsh conditions, struggling to survive come across a monolith that brainwashes them so they are able to adapt and evolve. Over hundreds of thousands of years, what once were man-apes have grown into men and went from creating tools out of natural matter to building nuclear weapons. The story then picks up in 2001 when a group of men are sent to Saturn on a secret mission, that they the...more

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Sep 28, 2012 Raúl rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: divulgación-científica, ensayo, filosofía-y-pensamiento, narrativa, novela, literatura-fantástica

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 28, 2012 Manda rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012

I really enjoyed this book. It was written from 1964-1968 about moon colonies and space travel in 2001, and the most interesting thing was noticing the things that Clarke predicted that have occured, and those that haven't. Moon colonies and trvel to Saturn and Jupiter has not happened - the device that displays the world news sounds just like an iPad. Phones have the ability to show video - but are not mobile. A businessman opens a briefcase (whoow! remember them?) and takes out all his papers...more

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Jun 29, 2012 Arwen56 rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

E’ morto da non molto Arthur Charles Clarke, appena 9 mesi, ma il suo nome non verrà di certo dimenticato, non foss’altro perché è indissolubilmente legato a quel cult movie che oramai è 2001 Odissea nello spazio.

La genesi di questo romanzo è un po’ anomala. In realtà, l’idea di base per il film di Kubrik nasce da un racconto di Clarke, “La sentinella”, nel quale gli uomini scoprono una piramide di cristallo sulla Luna, che emette un segnale verso lo spazio una volta infrantane la barriera prot...more

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Arwen56 From aNobii: commento di Procyon Lotor (Feb 5, 2009)

Sacrosanto e inscalfibile.

All'epoca capii tutto ma per me fu facile, allora ero un bambino.

Dopo -...more
Jun 29, 2012 12:04pm

Arwen56 From aNobii: commento di Lutezio492 (Aug 2, 2009)

Non per contraddire Arwen56, ma la leggenda, ritrita, secondo cui 2001 nascerebbe dal racconto "La se...more
updated Jun 29, 2012 12:06pm

Arwen56 From aNobii: commento di Arwen56 (Feb 6, 2010)

No, no ... contraddici pure, Lutezio. Va benissimo.

Comunque non mi pare "leggenda" che l'origine stia n...more
Jun 29, 2012 12:07pm

Jun 21, 2012 Jeffrey Hite rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: scifi

This is one of those books that I read again every few years, and I have just read it again. You would think on a book that I read over and over again I would give it a higher rating but.

The story is written in three parts, the beginning of man, the current time, and then a time out of time.

This is a great story on it's own but taken with the movie I think it serves as a wonderful companion. I am not here to rate the Movie but it is by far one of the most scientifically accurate Scifi movies an...more

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May 03, 2012 Gabriel C. rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: among-others, 2012

-Arthur C. Clark is obsessed with exposition.
-He loves the idea of first contact with aliens to the point of sickness.
-He thinks that humans (who matter) are essentially rational technocrats, making their behavior both boring and puppet-like.
-The only female characters in this book were ape-men [sic] and two stewardesses.
-There were several pretty problematic passages, like the following:

"Yet already...the warmth and frequency of the conversations with their girls on Earth had begun to diminish...more

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Mar 26, 2012 Josh rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: aliens, first-contact, sci-fi

There is no need to recap the story of 2001, as it has become a staple of science fiction in both its novel and film forms. Unfortunately, in the film, much of the story is left untold, and the viewer either loves it or hates it. I was one of those who hated it. I found it pretentious, annoying, ambiguous, and wholly boring. The novel is quite different, not because the story itself is different, but because it is unmarred by Kubrick's tendancy toward artistic austerity.

Clarke is the exact oppo...more There is no need to recap the story of 2001, as it has become a staple of science fiction in both its novel and film forms. Unfortunately, in the film, much of the story is left untold, and the viewer either loves it or hates it. I was one of those who hated it. I found it pretentious, annoying, ambiguous, and wholly boring. The novel is quite different, not because the story itself is different, but because it is unmarred by Kubrick's tendancy toward artistic austerity.

Clarke is the exact opposite of Kubrick in this regard. Where Kubrick wanted to leave viewers confused, Clarke wants to explain. Thus, the novel is far more educational in its scope while being no less entertaining. In the movie, the point of the monolith in the beginning of the story barely connects with the rest of the tale yet, in the novel, it is crucial.

Unfortunately, for 2001, Clarke uses his heavy narratitive writing style, similar to *Rendezvous With Rama* as opposed to his more cinematic style as in *A Fall of Moondust*. Instead of characters performing actions, Clarke narrates the entire story from a detatched, God-like third-person perspective. In some cases, there are strings of chapters in which not a single thing actually happens. Sure, things are said to have happened, but we as readers never actually experience them. Instead, we just read about them as if we were reading a poorly written history text.

Like the movie, much of the novel is just plain boring. The story of the early humans in the beginning of the novel is completely without context, and it leaves us feeling as if we've been duped. Dr. Floyd's journey to Clavius Base on the Moon -- by itself without context and rather boring -- completely stops as the novel them jumps forward in time to Dr. Bowman on Discovery One, where the novel meets its most interesting character, the computer HAL.

Despite its many terrible flaws, the story is intriguing, and the foresight and creativity shown in the creation of the tale are spectacular. Its scope is massive, far more inclusive than many modern science fiction tales, and its many themes have become the bedrock for science fiction. For these reasons -- and because it is quite short -- I think it's worth reading.(less)

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Jan 18, 2012 Navi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, sci-fi, supernatural

Let me preface this review by saying I've never seen the movies. Ever. I knew about Hal, sure, but who doesn't know that at this point? He's like the grandaddy of all our favorite evil AIs (SHODAN, GLaDOS, etc).

Anyway, this book was okay. I was scratching my head at points - the ending almost made me bang my head against the wall in frustration - but I sort of... kind of... get it. Maybe?

Well, what I liked about this book was that it didn't go out of its way to lecture me. It didn't scream that...more

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Quotes from 2001 Odyssee im Weltraum

“Behind every man now alive stand thirty ghosts, for that is the ratio by which the dead outnumber the living. Since the dawn of time, roughly a hundred billion human beings have walked the planet Earth.

Now this is an interesting number, for by a curious coincidence there are approximately a hundred billion stars in our local universe, the Milky Way. So for every man who has ever lived, in this Universe there shines a star.

But every one of those stars is a sun, often far more brilliant and glorious than the small, nearby star we call the Sun. And many--perhaps most--of those alien suns have planets circling them. So almost certainly there is enough land in the sky to give every member of the human species, back to the first ape-man, his own private, world-sized heaven--or hell.

How many of those potential heavens and hells are now inhabited, and by what manner of creatures, we have no way of guessing; the very nearest is a million times farther away than Mars or Venus, those still remote goals of the next generation. But the barriers of distance are crumbling; one day we shall meet our equals, or our masters, among the stars.

Men have been slow to face this prospect; some still hope that it may never become reality. Increasing numbers, however are asking; 'Why have such meetings not occurred already, since we ourselves are about to venture into space?'

Why not, indeed? Here is one possible answer to that very reasonable question. But please remember: this is only a work of fiction.

The truth, as always, will be far stranger.” — 59 people liked it

“The more wonderful the means of communication, the more trivial, tawdry, or depressing its contents seemed to be.” — 29 people liked it

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2001, L'odyssée De L'espace (Space Odyssey #1)

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