2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C Clarke - 3 stars

[ShazM]

After man arrives on the moon a discovery is made that makes it clear that there is other life in the universe. Man embarks on an exploration of the solar system which, unbeknown to the astronauts involved, has an ulterior motive - to find the creators of the evidence found on the moon.

I don't read a lot of science fiction but when I told my husband what this month's tag was he said I had to read this. I've never even seen the movie although I recognise the bit where HAL, the spaceship's computer, takes over and has to be disconnected. I think the book is probably better than the movie because it has a lot more depth than I think they would have been able to get into a screenplay and I doubt if I would have got HAL's motivations from the film. I also enjoyed the beginning section where prehistoric man is given a developmental boost by aliens as I've heard that there are people who believe this really did happen.

[Meli]

I would agree - probably get more out of the book. I haven't read the book but I base that on the fact that I never truly understood what was happening in any depth in the movie.

[Jgrace]

I never thought of this book for this month's tag! It's perfect. I was only 12 when I first saw this movie, but it made a lasting impression. The book did add a bit more depth, but try to see the movie, on a large screen if you can.

[Booknblues]

I loved the book when I read it years ago. This is one of those rare books which I have read more than once. I saw the movie more than once as well and actually saw it before, I read the book.

[Theresa]

I never realized there was a book! Although not rushing out to read it or adding to my TBR... given I just spent August reading quite a bit (for me) of SciFi of different subgenres and it did not convert me to a fan.

I am going on record also to saying that except for the genius of using the Strauss score for Also Sprach Zarathustra for the primordial sequence, 2001: A Space Odyssey was the single most boring movie I ever had the misfortune to sit through. Another reason the book is not going onto my TBR!