Like a significant amount of science fiction, the initial half of the novel progressed at a somewhat leisurely pace and was overly concentrated on a mysterious technology.

It managed to pique your curiosity, which is excellent because if you have a passion for sci-fi, it is likely due to your penchant for mystery intertwined with a touch of technology.

However, following that were the descriptions of the aforementioned technology, which occupied a substantial portion of the central half of the novel. This is a crude approximation of my expression while reading it

The film is WAY better than the book.

Sometimes, in the reading community, there seems to be a pressure to side with the written word and defend it over cinema, as if it is our preferred medium for storytelling. However, this isn't always the case. To be honest, I prefer theatre over anything. More importantly, the phrase "the book is always better" is simply incorrect.

Film comparisons aside, 2001 was not the book I was expecting. It is divided into three narratives, with the first two setting up the third. The third is the main part and what the book is really about, but it took far too long to get there. I was bored. The book is dull and overly descriptive, yet also remarkably brilliant in its scope and conclusion. Ultimately, it's a book with a great idea, but one that takes a very long time to convey its meaning and demonstrate the connectedness of the narratives.

In some ways, it's like a long journey. The destination is worthwhile, but getting there can be a little bit tedious. And this book was extremely tedious in places. So much superfluous material could have been edited out. It desperately needed more plot and a bit more excitement with engaging characters. Sure, it discussed some interesting ideas, but the first two-thirds of the novel were completely flat.

The strongest element of this book is its depiction of evolution as an ever-moving, ever-developing phenomenon. This, alongside considerations of the danger of technology (which also has the power to evolve), made the book engaging and even tense in parts, but this energy was never consistent. It just needed more life.

As such, a two-star rating seems fair for a book that is intellectually challenging but hindered by its dry tone and lack of action.

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