Currently Reading

[Jaice]

This is a place where you can discuss the Clarke book (or relevant non-Clarke book) that you are currently reading.

[Jaice]

I am now about 60% done with 3001, which I have been reading while I am out waiting at various places. I read the first three books of the Space Odyssey series for the first time last year. I found I enjoyed them in descending order as I read them, with 2001 being the best and 2063 being the worst. 3001 is good so far. ***Spoiler Alert*** I just got to the place where Dave makes contact with Frank.

[Larry]

I loved 3001 when I first read it-the space elevator section was pretty awe inspiring-that sense of wonder is not dead!

[Jaice]

Larry wrote: "I loved 3001 when I first read it-the space elevator section was pretty awe inspiring-that sense of wonder is not dead!"

Yes, I love it whenever Clarke discusses space elevators (especially connected ones). I can't wait until Earth finally has one! It really will open up space like nothing before.

[Larry]

There was a program on TV recently where they demonstrated a tiny space elevator in action. They were like, nah, that can never work, but I think it can!

[Jaice]

Larry wrote: "There was a program on TV recently where they demonstrated a tiny space elevator in action. They were like, nah, that can never work, but I think it can!"

Yes, people tend to be so short-sighted and do not realize that (information-based) technology advances at an exponential rate. With math like that, if you wait long enough, then just about anything is possible!

[Larry]

Done with 3001 yet? Be good to see that as a movie!

[Jaice]

Larry wrote: "Done with 3001 yet? Be good to see that as a movie!"

Not yet, I am on part 5, page 201/246. I will likely finish it next week, when I go to a conference at Stanford University, near San Fransisco, California. I agree that it would make a good movie.

[Larry]

Well, its coming up to the second anniversary of his death, and I'm going to embark on a Clarke read-fest. Not sure which I'm going to start with yet tho...

[Jake]

Well it's THE year to reread 2010 for certain. But if you haven't tried it, I'd recommend giving The Hammer of God a go.

[Jaice]

Larry wrote: "Well, its coming up to the second anniversary of his death, and I'm going to embark on a Clarke read-fest. Not sure which I'm going to start with yet tho..."

Thanks for the reminder about the anniversary of his death. I would have likely forgotten about it otherwise. :-/ I am currently taking a break from Clarke for the first time in 9 years.

[Larry]

Jake wrote: "Well it's THE year to reread 2010 for certain. But if you haven't tried it, I'd recommend giving The Hammer of God a go."

Yea Hammer of God is a good un(wish I couuld find the ciopy of Time magazine which featured the original story!)

[Stephen]

Yeah, Larry, whatever you do, DON'T rent the movie of "2010" if you haven't seen it! It had to be one of THE most disappointing sequels I've ever seen, if NOT the most....!

Stephen H. Turner
The Last Voyage of the Cassiopeia
Almagest
3700
The Avedon Question

[Larry]

Stephen wrote: "Yeah, Larry, whatever you do, DON'T rent the movie of "2010" if you haven't seen it! It had to be one of THE most disappointing sequels I've ever seen, if NOT the most....!

[author:Stephen H. Tu..."
Well actually I have it on DVD and thoroughly enjoy it,its a great film! And my version has Clarke in it at the start,feeding the birds!

[Jaice]

I enjoyed the 2010 movie and also have it in DVD. It isn't perfect, but I didn't think it was that bad.

[Larry]

I'm goinng to read The Space Trilogy next I think(Islands in the Sky, Sands of Mars and Earthlight in one new volume)
I read Islands last year but I may as well re-read it,and Sands is one book I've always wanted to read but never found,till now!

[Jaice]

Larry wrote: "I'm goinng to read The Space Trilogy next I think(Islands in the Sky, Sands of Mars and Earthlight in one new volume)
I read Islands last year but I may as well re-read it,and Sands is one book I'v..."

I haven't read Sands yet.

[Larry]

Apparently Jimi Hendrix was inspired by that book!

[Stephen]

Larry wrote: "Stephen wrote: "Yeah, Larry, whatever you do, DON'T rent the movie of "2010" if you haven't seen it! It had to be one of THE most disappointing sequels I've ever seen, if NOT the most....!

[author..."

Seriously, compared to its predecessor,"2010" was a MASSIVE comedown in 1) Actor charisma, (I mean Bob Balaban??John LITHGOW?? And Roy Scheider was NO William Sylvester!) and 2) Just plain presentation! Keir Dullea popping up as the shade of David Bowman saying, in a wimpy voice, "Something wonderful is about to happen..." is NOT my idea of a good sequel to perhaps the single most impressive film ever made! "2010" did for Kubrick's masterpiece what "Return of the Jedi" and "Revenge of the Sith" did for the "Star Wars" series...took away from it SUBSTANTIALLY!

At least that's the way I feel!

Steve
[book:The Last Voyage of the Cassiopeia|1041538]

[Larry]

Ok so 2010 isn't near as good as 2001-no film could be(I wish Kubrick or Ridley Scott could have done it) but I still maintain its a good film,and those characters work,for me at least. Oh and those Star Wars films are fine too!

[Stephen]

Larry wrote: "Ok so 2010 isn't near as good as 2001-no film could be(I wish Kubrick or Ridley Scott could have done it) but I still maintain its a good film,and those characters work,for me at least. Oh and thos..."

It was mediocre at best, and compared to "2001", it just wasn't happening....! I wish I could say different, but it's SOOOO obvious, it's painful! If ONLY Ridley Scott or Stanley himself could have done, it....and Scott was in his visual heyday still back then...! Think of the possibilities!

How about Douglas Trumbull, for crying out loud....?? Nicholas Meyer? Fellini??

I mean, who the **** is Peter Hyams, anyway??(g)

Steve

[Jaice]

Stephen wrote: "...Think of the possibilities!..."

I agree that its potential was not fulfilled, but I enjoyed the film for what it was, regardless. It is probably best to not even attempt comparing it to 2001. ;-)

[Stephen]

Jason "plasborgma" wrote: "Stephen wrote: "...Think of the possibilities!..."

I agree that its potential was not fulfilled, but I enjoyed the film for what it was, regardless. It is probably best to not even attempt compari..."

True. "A New Hope" is maybe one of THREE films that come close to "2001" in quality and import to culture and philosophy.

D***ed if I can figure out what the other two are, though... (g)

Steve
The Last Voyage of the Cassiopeia

[Larry]

The Sands of Mars now-never read this one before. Mars has plants!

[Stephen]

Larry wrote: "The Sands of Mars now-never read this one before. Mars has plants!"

CLAMS GOT TAILS!!

The Last Voyage of the Cassiopeia

[Jaice]

I've decided to give up on reading Clarke. His work just doesn't hold my interest anymore.

[Stephen]

Jason "plasborgma" wrote: "I've decided to give up on reading Clarke. His work just doesn't hold my interest anymore."

GASP!! Whatever brought THIS about, Jason....?

Steve

[Jaice]

Stephen wrote: "GASP!! Whatever brought THIS about, Jason....?"

Just a little thing called April Fools Day. :-D

[Stephen]

Jason "plasborgma" wrote: "Stephen wrote: "GASP!! Whatever brought THIS about, Jason....?"

Just a little thing called April Fools Day. :-D"

Oh, har de har har!!

T'ain;t funny, McGee! ;-D

[Jaice]

Stephen wrote: "Oh, har de har har!! T'ain;t funny, McGee! ;-D"

At least I fooled 2 people today. :-)

[Larry]

Just finished The Sands of Mars, my reivew is on here.

Next up Earthlight-second time around.

[Larry]

Now reading Rendezvous with Rama, and this is from my blog:

Just began this last night-I've read it at least twice before but it remains a classic!
Basically a large body,presumed to be an asteroid, is discovered near Jupiter in 2131 and gven the designation 31/439 after the year of discovery and order of discovery.
However upon further probing by earth and space based telescopes it is discovered that the object is an unusal asteroid. For a start it is doesnt have a regular orbit, is about 40 kilometeres across and yet has a rotation period of about 4 days! The object is spinning very fast!
Soon it is given the name Rama after a Hindu god and an expedition is sent out to meet it and find out just what it is....


I first read this many years ago and although it was written in 1973 it remains compelling with good science and not bad characters.
There were 3 sequels to the book but really you don't need to bother (indeed some will say you shouldnt bother, as they're mostly written by Gentry Lee) but this fine book stands the test of time and deserves to be appreciated in its own right!
Enjoy!

[Mark]

I've heard that there has been an interest in making a film/movie adaptation of Rendezvous with Rama for many years. The last I heard, Morgan Freeman's company "Relevations Entertainment" was trying to do this (http://www.revelationsent.com/movie_p...) (?) Does anyone know what the status of this is?

[Larry]

I think its dead in the water Mark to be honest! There has been a mini film just made of it tho.

[Stephen]

Ae you sure? The site said it was "in development"...

And it's a story that BEGS to be done in present-day CGI!

[Larry]

Its been in development almost as long as Freeman's been in acting! But I heard of a new student film that's been made of it.

[Larry]

Check it out:
http://vimeo.com/9739256

[Jaice]

Larry wrote: "Check it out:
http://vimeo.com/9739256"

Thanks for sharing, Larry. I think it is a very well-made short film. I am still holding out hope for a feature length version. I also last heard about Freeman's company trying to do something with it. I have a new-found respect for Freeman since he began hosting Through the Wormwhole.

[Larry]

Jason,what's Through the Wormhole?

[Jaice]

Larry wrote: "Jason,what's Through the Wormhole?"

It is a new series on The Science Channel here in the U. S.. It focuses on cosmology, but not exclusively. Morgan Freeman is the host of the series and portrays a genuine curiosity about the topics, even inserting anecdotes from his own life (usually his childhood) to illustrate some of the concepts discussed in each episode. You might be able to find some of the episodes online.

[Larry]

Now I'm on a Reading Odyssey. I will read 2001 up to the point where something happens to Poole then I'll jump to 3001 to continue his story. Then I'll jump back to the rest of 2001. I will then finish with 2010,marking this year nicely!

[Jaice]

Larry wrote: "Now I'm on a Reading Odyssey. I will read 2001 up to the point where something happens to Poole then I'll jump to 3001 to continue his story. Then I'll jump back to the rest of 2001. I will then fi..."

Interesting plan. :-)

[Stephen]

Was "3001" written mostly by Clarke or one of his latter-day collaborators....?




The Last Voyage of the Cassiopeia

[Larry]

Stephen, 3001 is ALL Clarke,and it shows! Great thing too is it can be read as a standalone!

[Stephen]

Larry wrote: "Stephen, 3001 is ALL Clarke,and it shows! Great thing too is it can be read as a standalone!"

Far out! I'll have to get to it one of these days!

BTW, has anybody heard about the "Childhood's End" movie that was rumored to be in development a good while back...?

[Larry]

Childhood's End movie? That's news to me! Will have to check up on the sff chronicles!

[Jaice]

Stephen wrote: "...BTW, has anybody heard about the "Childhood's End" movie that was rumored to be in development a good while back...?"

Yes, I heard about that 2 or 3 years ago. I'm not holding my breathe, but I would be one very happy person to see it come to fruition. :-)

[Stephen]

Hope there's SOMETHING to it all! I remember when it was rumored Columbia/Tri-Star was working on a "Foundation" project about the time "Men In Black" was being released and nothing's been heard of about THAT for years!

The Last Voyage of the Cassiopeia

[Larry]

Probably to be filed along with Rendezvous with Rama! Typical! And yet we get endless re-makes!

[Stephen]

Larry wrote: "Probably to be filed along with Rendezvous with Rama! Typical! And yet we get endless re-makes!"

LOL! Just think though...little Columbia-TriStar taking on something as massive as the "Foundation" series? I could see maybe Warners or 20th pulling it off, but Sony....? Uh-uh!

Just remember, it was pretty much already done by George Lucas ANYWAY, with the Star Wars series...Obi Wan has to be the Second Speaker and Darth Vader GOTS ta be the Mule!!