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2001: A Space Odyssey (Space Odyssey, #1)

Arthur C. Clarke

Start date: July 1, 2018

Finish date: July 31, 2018

Discussion: Science Fiction and Fantasy

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Science Fiction and Fantasy

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Dec 14, 2023 ForestGardenGal rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: classics-published-50-years-ago, genre-fiction, type-sci-fi, type-philosophy-metaphysics, genre-philosophical-fiction, location-space

I came to this book with a fairly blank slate; I knew it was a sci-fiction space opera type with a robot named HAL and that a movie of it also existed. Not much. These are my impressions after having read it for the first time in 2023. Some of my analysis may be misguided or even incorrect. Please let me know if you disagree with my conclusions.

I was blown away by the amount that was done to set up the main story. It is essentially a 140 page story with two 30-50 page prologues. I have no idea h I came to this book with a fairly blank slate; I knew it was a sci-fiction space opera type with a robot named HAL and that a movie of it also existed. Not much. These are my impressions after having read it for the first time in 2023. Some of my analysis may be misguided or even incorrect. Please let me know if you disagree with my conclusions.

I was blown away by the amount that was done to set up the main story. It is essentially a 140 page story with two 30-50 page prologues. I have no idea how the Author and Kubrick managed to turn this into a coherent movie, especially considering the dearth of dialogue in the last 80 pages of the story. I am curious enough about their technique that I will probably look for a copy of the movie now.

I was also amazed by the number of sci-fi concepts that are now commonplace, but which may have gotten their start here. For example, it seems overly cumbersome now to descriptively explain to a reader the look of entering into hyperspace, but the author does so because how else do you explain that immersive experience to readers who have never sat through a modern sci-fi movie? This is why he is considered a sci-fi master!

HAL, it turns out, is one of the least interesting aspects of the whole story. Yes, homicidal AI has new important meanings for us and the possibility foreshadows some modern AI fears, but in this story HAL is simply a plot driver. It is quite possible, in fact, that the story could have achieved the same end without HAL or without his, um, quirks- but it would have been a longer and more boring story.

The story, at its core and in addition to being a riotous good time, asks the reader to consider some serious but basic problems of human ethics, as well as some advanced philosophical metaphysics. As far as the ethical questions go, I'm sure your big brains can chew on that one without any help from me.

Metaphysics can be trickier, and there are a lot of threads to pull. Here are the essentials.

This earth is perfect for Earth life. We look around for life in the universe, and ask, "where is it?" while we look for ourselves out there in space where we know we need artificial life support to survive. That's like looking under the ocean surface and not seeing any life because what life we do see doesn't look like us or act like us. We know there is life that has evolved to live in the most (humanly) hostile terrestrial and oceanic environments, and some of it is quite intelligent. What we should be doing is looking at each environment and asking, "What kind of life may have evolved to live in this environment?"

The other major metaphysical thread in this story is the idea of the superiority of the mental over the physical, and (without getting into spoiler territory here) whether that mental stuff can be separated from and survive the death of the physical, and if so, what exactly is it made of? Are minds made up of the stuff of the earth, of the stars, or of something else?

I am reminded of a short story I read in one of my undergrad philosophy classes written by Terry Bisson called They're Made Out of Meat. It is easy to read, pertinent, entertaining, and a great supplement to this concept.

PG13 for non-graphic violence and complex themes, including tribal warfare, murder by AI, and abandonment by and of civilization. No sex, no language. ...more

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Aug 19, 2020 Shirley (stampartiste) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-classics, challenge-bingo-2020

Having watched the movie many moons ago and not really understanding the meaning of the story, I am so glad I read the book. The book delved into what the characters were thinking, which really helped to tie the story together (and somewhat exonerate HAL). My interpretation may be different from other readers, but I was left with the impression that Clarke was writing about the origins of man (and other races throughout the universe) by a single Creator. It was a fascinating story.

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Jul 26, 2015 Josh Caporale rated it really liked it

There are just so many fascinating concepts that come with reading this novel. I was amazed by these explorations. I had a few turn-offs, but I will discuss this and more of what I liked about this in a collaboration I am doing on my blog with a former BookTuber (though she may be creating a channel of her own) and my friend, Kathryn.

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