The book is about how a peaceful alien invasion of a race only known as the overlords takes place. Lifelong fan michael benson has written an excellent book about 2001 a space odyssey, the ground breaking science fiction movie by stanley kubrick and. Sparknotes is here for you weve got everything you need to ace or teach. Kubrick liked to work from books, and since a suitable one did not yet exist they would write it. It has been celebrated for its beauty and mystery, its realistic depiction of space travel and dazzling display of visual effects, the breathtaking scope of its story, which reaches across millions of years, and the thoughtprovoking depth of its meditation on evolution, technology and. A space odyssey is based on the final version of the script for the 1968 motion picture, but, even so, in some regards they differ due to late changes made by director stanley kubrick to that picture after the novel had largely been completed. I had wanted to read it for a long time, and kept trying to. A space odyssey has a fairly straightforward plot, the elements of cosmic mystery keep it from ever being dull or predictable. The story is based in part on various short stories by. After discovering a mysterious artifact buried beneath the lunar surface, mankind sets off on a quest to find its origins with help from intelligent supercomputer h.
Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. Clarkes first book was prelude to space in 1951, but he is best known for his book 2001. A space odyssey and its film adaptation were written and produced concurrently by clarke and film director stanley kubrick. He has over twenty million books in print and won every imaginable science fiction award, including the science fiction writers of america grand master award for life achievement in 1986. You neednt be a scifi junkie to appreciate this book.
A space odyssey, detailing the lengthy production, is a work befitting its subject. Kubrick was a true artist in putting this magnificient story on film. A space odyssey wasnt so much a movie based upon a book as much as it was a collaboration between kubrick and clarke. The odyssey is a long greek poem by homer about a dude named odysseus who goes on a long voyage. Interestingly, the first novel of the series, 2001. Clarke and kubrick worked on the book together, but eventually only clarke ended up as the official author. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures.
Human or manape, all that matters is that youre going to. Book the making of kubricks space odyssey tu delta tu delft. I found the beginning sections to be quite fascinating in the depictions of clarke and kubrick and the formation of their partnership. It has been 40 years since the publication of this classic sciencefiction novel that changed the way we look at the stars and ourselves.
Part i africa 3,000,000 years ago views of african drylands drought the remorseless drought had lasted now for ten million years, and would not end for another million. He was a british science fiction author, futurist, inventor, undersea explorer and a television series host. So, ive recently started collecting odyssey series books and the one thats giving more trouble is the first book of the series 2001 a space odyssey. This free synopsis covers all the crucial plot points of 2001. In the novel, you first see the manape moonwatcher disposing of the body of his dad, and feeling very little about it. Clarke is a good first contact book, and i enjoyed it far more than 2001. With regard to its philosophical, dramatic and technological aspects, i felt that the content of 2001 did not transcend the canon of priorart as exemplified by the likes of star trek andor many other examples from the likes of the twilight zone, the outer limits, etc. A space odyssey and all of the effort that went into the final version of the genredefining science fiction film. Clarke studied at kings college in london, and worked in scientific research before turning his attention to writing fiction.
This site is dedicated to the science fiction work 2001. Clarke collaborated with stanley kubrick to produce the novel version of 2001. A space odyssey is a 1968 science fiction novel by british writer arthur c. After david bowman discovers the jovian monolith, he travels through a star gate of unknown space and time. Among his bestselling novels are childhoods end, 2001. The single finest scene in science fiction history. Yet, despite that, the plot actually isnt all that complicated. The classic science fiction novel that captures and expands on the vision of stanley kubricks immortal filmand changed the way we. Clarke, and was inspired by clarkes short story the sentinel and other short stories by clarke. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Odyssey two would also be adapted to film by peter hyams in 1984. Illustrated children book id like to share the brightest project of this outgoing year with you all, and hope that its still not late. In 1945, he proposed global broadcasting via communication satellites in geostationary orbit.
The classic science fiction novel that captures and expands on the vision of stanley kubricks immortal filmand changed. A novelisation of the film released after the films premiere was in part written concurrently with the screenplay. Other notable works include his rama series of novels and the hugo awardwinning short story the star. Clarke 19172008 wrote a hundred books and more than a thousand short stories and essays covering science fiction and science fact in a career spanning more than six decades.
This book shamelessly dives deep into the marrow of the creation of 2001. His eyes are set on the stars, and those eyes set on the stars are about all that the book cares about. Kubrick and clarke, the finest minds possible, the exquisite gayane ballet suite to reinforce the loneliness and vastness of space, perfect. Which is maybe why many of the characters in the book are so bland. Drawing upon exhaustive research, author michael benson. Every book on your english syllabus summed up in a quote. This allegory about humanitys exploration of the universe, and the. This instalment is in two parts and is slightly different. And piers bizonys 550page the making of stanley kubricks 2001.
Drawing upon exhaustive research, author michael benson takes the reader behind the scenes of arguably the greatest science fiction movie of all time. The book makes moonwatcher the hero, but the real protagonist could be seen as the human race itself. Im aware of difference between trade and bce editions. Well explore the events in the book, discuss and analyze its main themes, and finish with a short quiz. It depicts the differences between the written work and the movie production, and analyzes possible alternate meanings to certain themes and motifs. From the savannas of africa at the dawn of mankind to the rings of saturn as man adventures to the outer rim of our solar system, 2001. With keir dullea, gary lockwood, william sylvester, daniel richter. The cinefix team are back once again with their series on movies based on books. A space odyssey book is telling about a special new introduction by the author highlights this reissue of a classic science fiction novel that changed the way people looked at the starsand themselves. A space odyssey is a 1968 epic science fiction film produced and directed by stanley kubrick.
A space odyssey, which was later turned into a highly successful and controversial film under the direction of stanley kubrick. Set of 4 space odyssey books 2001 a space odyssey, 2010 odyssey two, 2061 odyssey three, 3001. So whats up with the title is that clarke is saying, that old greek dude went on a long voyage and had adventures way back when, and so heres a story about the future of 2001, when some other dude is going to go on an awesome voyage also. I wont say for sure if its the best one in regards to recency bias, ill let a little time pass before making that judgement call, but however it turns out, it will for sure always be a favorite. Each book in the series is a whole story with a beginning and an ending, however the plot of each book relies on prior books in the series. Two of clarkes early short stories may also be considered part of the series. Clarke 19172008 was one of the supreme science fiction writers of the century and achieved vast popularity with 2001. On april 2, 1968, a scifi epic premiered in washington d. A space odyssey 1976 oversized marvel singleissue comic book adaptation based upon the 1968.
Just finished reading the book, 2001 space odyssey. The star child is what david bowman becomes after his experience through the star gate, in the jovian system, in arthur c. Ive searched online on various rare book collecting sites to look. The screenplay was written by kubrick and arthur c. A space odyssey creation and legacy probed in 50th. A space odyssey then this book is required reading. Its all here, from first concepts to finished film and its aftermath. The space odyssey series is a series of science fiction novels by the writer arthur c. This allegory about humanitys exploration of the universeand the universes reaction to humanityis a hallmark achievement in storytelling that follows the crew of the spacecraft discovery as they embark on a mission to saturn. A space odyssey is the quintessential science fiction book, filled with both inspired visions of the future and startling philosophical questions about humanitys place in the cosmos. Two of the novels have been made into feature films, released in 1968 and 1984 respectively. A space odyssey 1968 in order to provide the basis for the brilliant film of the same name. The perfect collaboration between book and film originally posted at fantasy literature arthur c. A space odyssey is the most intellectually satisfying book i have ever read, and possibly even the best one in general.
Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. Set of 4 space odyssey books 2001 a space odyssey, 2010 odyssey two, 2061 odyssey three, 3001 the final odyssey clarke, arthur c. New york, 1999, hardcover, first thus, full number line, with a new introduction by the author. Find great deals on ebay for 2001 a space odyssey book and 2001 a space odyssey comic book. The monoliths, the mysterious creators of them, the signals sent towards the stars, the transformations clarke doesnt overexplain anything, instead allowing the strange, almost mystical aspects of the story to link together organically.
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