DNF: 35%

This book was truly and utterly so fucking BORING! It's astonishing how an author could take the amazing wonders of space, the thrilling uncertainty of life existing away from our beloved earth, and the dangerous yet fascinating premises of extraterrestrial beings and manage to make it less interesting than the mundane task of counting the paint dimples in your ceiling!? Arthur C. Clarke, it seems, is that very author. One would expect a work centered around such captivating themes to be a page-turner, filled with excitement and intrigue. However, this book fails miserably in that regard. The story lacks the necessary pacing and depth to engage the reader. The descriptions are dull, and the characters lack the charm and vitality to make them relatable. It's a real disappointment, especially considering the potential that this subject matter holds.

5 Stars for 2001: A Space Odyssey (audiobook) by Arthur C. Clark read by Dick Hill.

This is without a doubt a classic. What makes this audiobook truly special is that at the beginning of the book, Arthur C. Clark shares his experience of collaborating with Stanley Kubrick on creating the movie. He reveals how they desperately needed a novel to be written in order to have a better understanding of what would work for the screenplay.

It's fascinating to note that this book isn't a mere novelization or an earlier work that was adapted into a movie. Instead, it was specifically crafted to provide a unique perspective on the story. Listening to Clark explain the background and thought process behind the creation of this iconic work is truly a great experience.

The audiobook, with Dick Hill's excellent narration, brings the story to life in a whole new way. It allows listeners to immerse themselves in the world of 2001: A Space Odyssey and gain a deeper appreciation for the genius of Arthur C. Clark.

Overall, this audiobook is a must-listen for fans of science fiction and anyone interested in the creative process behind one of the greatest movies of all time.

Please don't be deterred by this book simply because it belongs to the Science-Fiction genre and you have the impression that you might not fully understand it. You don't necessarily have to have a complete understanding of something to be able to perceive its beauty.

I must admit that the only aspect that slightly detracted from this book was the lack of character development or character connection. I firmly believe that if the author had dedicated a bit more attention to the characters, this could have easily been a 5-star read.

HAL was undoubtedly my favorite character. What makes this book truly stand out is the beauty it manages to create within the desolation of space. I won't pretend that I always knew precisely what was going on, but that really didn't matter because it was simply beautiful. It not only makes me eager to learn more about the mysteries of the universe but also gives me a bit of a scare.

When you consider the era in which this book was written, it is truly astonishing how much the author knew and how many things they seemingly predicted. This book could have been written just yesterday and it would still be highly impressive. I would definitely consider re-reading it, perhaps after I have acquired a bit more knowledge, and I believe it could have an even greater impact on me then.

4.0 Stars

I am truly delighted to pen down my thoughts on this classic science fiction story. As I had never watched the movie adaptation, I approached this reading with a completely open mind and no prior expectations. The very first section of the story was, without a doubt, the most captivating part. It all began with that incredibly powerful and engaging first line, which immediately hooked me and made me eager to explore further.

However, as the story progressed into the second part, there was a significant shift in the narrative. But to my pleasant surprise, it still managed to maintain a high level of compellingness. The author's ability to take the story in a new direction while keeping the reader's interest piqued is truly remarkable.

Overall, I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this reading experience. It has not only entertained me but also left me with a strong desire to read more works by this talented author. I am excited to see what other imaginative and thought-provoking stories this author has in store for us.

Would it be strange to say that HAL is my favorite character from 2001: A Space Odyssey? I work in the AI & Software industry, and it's truly captivating to study people's bold yet realistic imaginations about technology, especially in the supercomputer field, AI, and other intricate programming concepts. When I read this book, I always anticipate Chapter 27. It's a short chapter written from HAL's perspective, where Arthur C. Clarke discloses to us exciting ideas about this high-performance artificial mind. HAL has an artificial thought process similar to ours, and sometimes, it's even a million times better. Therefore, it's reasonable to assume that the supercomputer is very much alive and aware of its surroundings, a creation designed for a crucial mission, programmed to safeguard the mission's secrets from astronauts Poole and Bowman.

More on HAL

Lying to HAL's crewmates has made the AI imperfect, giving it a sense of wrongness, similar to guilt. In chapter 27, HAL often ponders about keeping the mission's secrets from Poole and Bowman.

It has the effect that HAL contemplates killing the other members since the crew sleeping in the hibernaculum knows the mission secrets. Because David wants to wake up a crew member (Whitehead) from hibernation, the AI sees it as a direct threat to the mission. The conflict between truth and the concealment of fact alters his directive.

In case of the ultimate emergency, he is ready to take control of the mission, unhindered and alone. If I'm not mistaken, the movie fails to effectively convey what is happening with HAL's programming.

Humanity may not have advanced as much in the space industry. However, we have indeed come a long way in technology, and we still have a long path to traverse if one day we hope to develop a conscious computer like HAL. That is, if we manage to do it without fearing that a conscious computer might one day overthrow humanity's rule. I'll leave now.

Based on its algorithmic coding, we can have countless discussions about why HAL is not the story's antagonist but is simply conflicted with its responsibilities.

The second time around, I enjoyed it even more ☺️

An enchanting First Contact.

If you are new to science fiction, this is likely one of those novels that you should begin with. You will not be disappointed, and perhaps you will uncover a literary genre that has been unjustly overlooked. Clarke truly shows himself to be a reliable author, presenting excellent ideas and themes that both fascinate and astonish the reader. By the conclusion of the reading, you will find yourself posing numerous questions regarding the meaning of the text and the profundity of its message. Just as in "The guide of the sunset", in this novel too, the writer centers his story on humanity, its evolution, and its future. Do not anticipate action-packed scenes or lightsabers. This is a different kind of science fiction, similar to that of Asimov, Lem, and Herbert. In short, it is the kind with a capital F. It is an unmissable read that will surely capture your imagination and leave you pondering long after you have turned the final page.

Although technically belonging to the Sci-Fi genre, Clarke's vision holds far more significance than anything similar. It is imbued with deep spiritual and philosophical undertones that truly expand one's mind, not only to the vast outer reaches of space and beyond but also to our civilization and its place in the universe. From the dawn of humanity to our encounter with HAL, we are ultimately propelled at light speed through a kaleidoscopic torrent of perpetual motion towards a rebirth and an answer to a question that nearly everyone ponders at some point in their lives: Are we alone? And what exactly lies out there? Stanley Kubrick deserves credit for both the success of the book and his astonishing, mind-blowing film. If he had never written to Arthur C. Clarke in 1964 seeking ideas for a film, nothing would have come to fruition. The rest, of course, is history.

In intervals, I always read through this Space Odyssey again and again. And even now, I can only say that Arthur C. Clarke is a god in the sci-fi sky for me

I vividly remember watching the film version of this book a few years ago. However, I simply couldn't manage to finish it.
The long sequences of music, light, and chitchat bored me to death.
A little while later, I made an attempt to watch it again. This time, I began to appreciate the film more as a work of art, in terms of cinematography, special effects, and so on, rather than just as a storytelling device.

This book, on the other hand, is quite different.
It has an amazing storytelling that was largely absent from the film.
I firmly believe that the film and the book together form a great piece of art.
They supplement each other. After all, both Arthur C. Clarke and Stanley Kubrick wrote the screenplay based on two short stories by Clarke (included in this edition): The Sentinel and Encounter in the Dawn.
The book was being written simultaneously with the development of the film.

This was initially going to be a 5/5 star book. But to me, the ending felt a bit confusing, surreal, and ambiguous.
I sincerely hope that the sequel will answer at least some of my questions.

Rating: 8/10

Classic.

I read 2001: A Space Odyssey during my teenage years. I was aware that it was an extremely influential work of fiction due to the film adaptation and all the attention it had garnered. Nevertheless, although I found it highly entertaining at that time, I didn't truly understand its depth.

Thirty years later, I have revisited this masterpiece. And while I may not fully comprehend it even on this second reading, as a more mature reader, I can better appreciate the vision and the profound message of the genius author. I was particularly captivated by the numerous allusions to other works, and the reference to Melville's Ahab was especially engaging.

Clarke’s prose is lucid and descriptive, and his storyline is linear yet thought-provoking. This is not merely an outstanding science fiction novel; it is a work of literature par excellence.

*** 2023 reread -

I knew back then that this was a true science fiction classic and a remarkable work of speculative fiction. However, I now have an even greater appreciation for it and firmly believe that it is one of the greatest SF books ever written.

One aspect that I failed to notice before is the influence of Clarke’s own earlier work, Childhood’s End. Published in 1953, 15 years prior to 2001: A Space Odyssey, this novel presents many of Clarke’s most compelling ideas about extraterrestrial life, and these themes were revisited in 2001.

I have read quite a number of his books, and I can also observe that this particular work was a literary leap for him. He expanded the philosophical approach that was characteristic of most of his body of work while simultaneously crafting a story with some truly fascinating elements. Readers will not only pick up on the horrific aspects of the book but also gain different perspectives on his typical SF themes. His writing in this book is superior to that of most of his other works, which are all excellent in their own right. I also pondered about his collaboration with Stanley Kubrick.

This was not a novelization of the film, nor was the film based solely on the book. Clarke and Kubrick worked on the novel and the screenplay simultaneously, and I believe that the synergy of their efforts has given us one of the finest stories, presented both in prose and on film, that we have ever witnessed.

Highly recommended.

There are two possibilities: that we are alone in the universe or that we are not. Both are equally terrifying.

This is a brilliant book. With its own vision, the author opens Pandora's box and unfolds some of the eternal questions of humanity. Where do we come from and where are we going? Why are we here? What is in all the unexplored immensity? Are we good or bad by nature?

And it makes us think. Are we evolving or devolving in many aspects?

*If someone dares to read the work for the first time, or by chance is not familiar with Kubrick's cinematic version, be patient during the first few pages. Because without a doubt, it is a journey that is worth taking, and it even has moments of extreme tension, like few others.

I was listening to the radio a few weeks ago.

I chanced upon an interview with a film critic and historian who had recently published a book of 1000 movies everyone should see before they die.

The program host asked various questions about different films, how the book was compiled, and what the author's favorite movies were.

Then, he asked what the author thought was the most overrated film of all time. The author immediately replied "Citizen Kane."

And indeed, he is quite right. Citizen Kane is undoubtedly 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, or anything universally regarded as a masterpiece, is that at a certain point, you're not seeing the work itself but rather the legend and reputation surrounding it.

Citizen Kane has been at the top of every list of great films (most notably the decennial Sight & Sound poll) since the 1960s. By now, it almost wins automatically.

His suggestion, with which I wholeheartedly agree, 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 an emeritus position and let some other work shine.

Who knows, maybe in 30 or 40 years it can be "rediscovered" and seen for what it truly 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 difficult to look beyond the myth and appreciate it on its own merits.

I hadn't actually read 2001 since high school. I'd like to say it was for the aforementioned reason, but laziness and disinterest are more likely culprits.

It was strange coming back to it, older, better-read, and more educated. I saw things I didn't remember seeing and was able to appreciate it in a way I didn't initially and wouldn't have been able to if I'd read it again and again like 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.