Customer Reviews
The book that started it all 
2008-09-01
The most realistic depiction of space travel I have ever seen or read (if you don't count the NASA documentaries). The incredible meets the mundane every day. It isn't better than the movie, but neither is it worse. Personally, I prefer it to the movie because Clarke can actually explain to you what is happening during Bowman's transformation, whereas in the film you are stuck with some crazy surrealism and a guess as to what has become of Bowman.
space nerds unite 2008-08-29
This is a long lost classic for the true scifi fan. For having been written 40 decades ago the book is surprisingly accurate in terms of technology. Other then Hal's brain taking up an entire room Arthur C was very close to current trends in technology. I loved it and right away read 2010. I have 2065 and 3001 on order.
Much Better Than the Movie 2008-08-24
I found 2001: Space Odyssey the Movie to be confusing, boring at times, and vastly overrated. The book, however, is fantastic. Plot details that I feel you couldn't possibly glean from the movie are clear in the book. The story actually makes sense. Questions like, "Why did HAL go crazy?", "What exactly happened at the end?", and "What was the significance of the ape-men at the beginning?" all become clear.
Besides the plot, the book was quite satisfying for me on a technical level. Clarke describes many technical aspects of spaceflight in prophetically accurate detail.
Arthur C. Clark: Travelogues of the Mind 
2008-05-15
I don't know that I would classify Clark as a creator of great fiction; as mentioned in other reviews, the "human equation" in his works is largely missing. Clark excels and creating vivid descriptions of technology and alien grandeur, but his books are a bit lifeless at they have almost no character developement or interesting dialog.
I've read most of his books, and find he is a great alternative in those times I would find myself reaching for an atlas or a National Geographic. Honestly, I think AC Clarke is one of those sacred cow authors--praised by those who think it raises their intellectual profile, and read mainly when bored by those who can see that the emperor, while not entirely naked, could do with more than a loincloth.
Where Did We Come From? Where Are We Going? 2008-04-20
Because Arthur C. Clarke recently died I decided to reread his classic novel, 2001: A Space Odyssey. Some people say that the major knock against science fiction is that it's necessarily dated soon after written because of the progress of society and technology. While this may be true of many stories, 2001 is timeless. It's hopeful, it's beautiful and it's filled with themes that speak to what we are as humanity.
Evolution is probably the most important element of the story. From the beginning when primitive man finds a black obelisk and it teaches the concept of tool use and subtly changes these creature's minds the idea that our improbable evolution was guided by alien intervention. Then, just as humanity gained the power to destroy its own planet those same aliens had planned to help the descendants of those early creatures jump to the next step, as equal in advancement as using stones for tools were to starving primitives. The message I took from the story was that we are limited in how forward we can think and until we break through another evolutionary barrier we'll be butting our heads against an invisible barrier on creativity. It's profound and humbling to consider the possibility that there are beings who look at our restrictions as simplistic as we view the idea of making a fire for survival.
Invariably this novel gets compared with the Stanley Kubrick film and rightly so. Unlike any pair I've encountered, both the novel and screenplay were developed simultaneously and in conjunction. With slight differences the stories are complementary and equally brilliant. What makes me favor the book more than the movie is the ending, which is explained better revealing the true scope of the evolutionary step man is about to make.
- CV Rick, April 2008
A Fitting Monument to the Vision of Arthur C. Clarke 2008-03-19
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 humanity's exploration of the universe, and the universe's reaction to humanity, was the basis for Stanley Kubrick's immortal film, and lives on as a hallmark achievement in storytelling.
* Special hardcover edition for the new millennium
* New introduction by Arthur C. Clarke
* Winner of the Science Fiction Writers' Grand Master Award for Life Achievement
* Basis of Stanley Kubrick's 1968 movie--chosen by American Film Institute as one of the 100 best films of all time
*
2001's unforgettable character, HAL the computer, has been revived in Macintosh's TV spots
"Full of poetry, scientific imagination, and typical Clarke wit."--
The New Yorker"Breathtaking."--
Saturday Review"Brain-boggling."--
Life"A mind-bender."--
TimeSpecial Millennial Edition
R.I.P. Arthur C. Clarke 2008-03-19
Goodbye! Your legend will endure as long as their is a mankind alive to read your words.
One of the great sci-fi books. Does anyone need to say more?
Similarities to "Contact" 
2008-02-26
**Some Spoilers!***
Love how Clarke uses factual science like the most obvious crater on the moon to house the monolith, the tycho crater, as well as the very strange Saturn moon that has an all white side, Iapetus. How more obious can an alien make it for us to make first contact by keeping monoliths in the center of these obvious places? Besides the changes from jupiter orbit to the Saturn moon as staging grounds for the stargate I found the book to be similar to the movie/ book "Contact" by Carl Sagan. Not sure if you've seen or read, but i think Carl has read 2001. His story involved his character going through a wormhole to end up in a familiar earth environment (the beach) as well so as to be comfortable. Very similar here although in 2001 it is a hotel room, from that point however the stories change. A signal from deep space was sent to earth in Contact and from the moon monolith to deep space in 2001.
I did know that Bowman became something more from watching the sequel 2010 but not from 2001. Wonder why Kubrik left all that out.
Some powerful moments, some that DRAGGED 2008-02-01
When the book worked, it was impossible to put down. Mind-expanding, fun, riveting - and creative. I loved the first half especially. But when it wasn't working, it was slow and I had to skim. Too much technical stuff, too much weirdness. It drifted away from the story and characters and turned into a dull astronomy textbook.
I found it interesting that the book was written more or less after the screenplay. For a book based on a screenplay, it outpaced my expectations, and was worth the read. What I also found interesting was that this book was quite a different beast from the movie. Yes, the "Hal" parts overlapped - and were disturbing in both - but the rest struck me as pretty different.
My overall assessment: fairly good junk food. Not too deep, but engaging enough to help waste a few hours of free time...
One of the Classic Sci-Fi Tales 2008-01-21
Science fiction is the genre of literature I enjoy reading the most. I've read Asimov, I've read Heinlein, and I've read Clarke before. 2001 is, without a shadow of a doubt, is one of the best sci-fi novels I've ever read. Clarke brings the characters to life, showing the problems, the needs, their dilemmas. A perfect example of this is Bowman near the end of the novel, living alone of the Discovery, slowly losing his sanity.
2001 is a great book for all kinds of readers.
PARTY ON, DUDES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
