Still, though i found it very entertaining, i did not really get it. Space odyssey series of scifi novels written by an english author of fantasy, science and science fiction novels arthur c. A space odyssey chronicles the creation of the epic scifi movie. But its thrown in there for the same reason the novel is called a space odyssey to reference other old, important, impressive stories and make the. One of his short stories inspired the world wide web, while another was expanded into 2001. The dinosaurs are gone, and the manapes are surviving on the equator in what will one day be africa.
A space odyssey when i was a teenager and knew it was a very influential work of fiction because of the film and all the attention it had received. The film is a sequel to the first film and is based on clarkes space odyssey series second book. A space odyssey opens with a ten millionyearolddrought. Clarke and the making of a masterpiece is a masterpiece about a masterpiecea passionately written, impeccably researched book about a great directors pushing himself, his cast and crew beyond safety or sanity in a relentless quest for a nonverbal vision of the transcendent.
So although the book can be considered the original. Out of the dozens of books and memoirs i have read, this is by far the best book for taking the reader onto the set and inside making a movie. To that end, it gives you bignessbig, vast sweeps of time, big vast sweeps of space, big vast fiery suns coming at you. Its hard to imagine that anyone would actually say something like this. This collection comprises the science fiction novels 2001. The novel is based on a short story published by clarke entitled sentinel of eternity published in 1951. A space odyssey is a 1968 science fiction novel by british writer arthur c. The year we make contact with screenplay by peter hyams 2061. A space odyssey book online at the folio society from the worlds most extensive selection of beautifully illustrated books. Clarke, and the making of a masterpiece by michael benson, a book which reveals the making of the classic kubrick film. In 2001, a space station orbiting mars is doomed to destruction by a meteor strike.
Clarke, and the making of a masterpiece, the actual relation between clarke and kubrick was more complex, involving an extended interaction of kubricks multiple requests for clarke to write new plot lines for various segments of the film, which clarke was expected to withhold from publication until after the release of the film while. With keir dullea, gary lockwood, william sylvester, daniel richter. The space odyssey series is a series of science fiction novels by the writer arthur c. First, hal presents the problems that can arise when man creates machines, whose inner workings he does not fully understand. Kubrick liked to work from books, and since a suitable one did not yet exist they would write it. It was developed concurrently with stanley kubricks film version and published after the release of the film. A true masterpiece for anyone who loves old science fiction. Mar 31, 2018 michael bensons new book, space odyssey, is a detailed and often thrilling account of one intense, unforgettable collaboration. See the complete space odyssey series book list in order, box sets or omnibus editions, and companion titles. A space odyssey, but continues the story of stanley kubrick s film adaptation with the same title rather than clarkes original novel, which differed from the film in.
A rare and never before seen alien race uses a tool with the appearance of a large crystalline monolith to. It returns to one of the lead characters of the previous novels, heywood floyd, and his adventures from. They represent one of the few books on space written by a person whose descriptions of spaceships and solar system exploration keeps fairly closely to the reality of physics. Two of the novels have been made into feature films, released in 1968 and 1984 respectively. The book is all about progressing beyond meat and flesh and worries about death and turning into super star people who know all and see all and are, as a result, really boring. Well explore the events in the book, discuss and analyze its main themes, and finish with a short quiz. Serialized from 1918 to 1920, it was published in full in 1922. He was one of the most authoritative figures in the 20thcentury scifi and spent most of his life in england where he worked as wwii radar operator before relocating to ceylon in 1956. A space odyssey many years ago and being blown away by how powerful it was, and also a bit scared by it. The book goes hand in hand with the 2001 space odyssey movie. Clarke, and the making of a masterpiece 9781501163937. Much of the dialogue exists only to show people talking to one another, without much regard to content this is true of the conference on the space station. A space odyssey was a visual effects pioneer 2001 casts an enormous shadow on the last halfcentury of pop culture, let alone the sciencefiction genre. A space odyssey is about progress, evolution, and manapes leaping off the planet and turning into cosmic babies who spread peace and blow up nuclear bombs yeah, that escalated quickly.
A space odyssey community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. A space odyssey appeared in the year 1968 and the novel was written at the same time when the movie was filmed. Space odyssey book by michael benson official publisher. A space odyssey but i had enjoyed other books on making movies and gave it a shot. It is the third book in clarkes space odyssey series. Clarke and the making of a masterpiece is a masterpiece about a masterpiecea passionately written, impeccably researched book about a great directors pushing himself, his cast and crew beyond safety or sanity in a relentless quest for a nonverbal vision of the transcendent future of both space and film itself. It entails the nature between man and the unknown while giving life to the universe around the main cast of characters. A space odyssey, had its premieres across the country. Clarke and kubrick worked on the book together, but eventually only clarke ended up as the official author. A space odyssey cannot help but make reference to the stanley kubrick film made in collaboration and concert with the book. Odyssey two 1982 novel, adapted as the 1984 film 2010.
Some books want you to laugh, some books want you to cry. It will be a wonderful addition to anyone who loved the movie and rightly sees it as a masterpiece that changed cinema. Fifty years ago this spring, stanley kubricks confounding scifi masterpiece, 2001. Clarke and kubrick worked on the book together, but eventually only clarke. Born in somerset, england, clarke was educated at kings college, london. The story was modified and fused with other ideas and it developed into the novel 2001. Let us explain if 2001 is a nutshell, its a nutshell that splits open and grows nut tree so big that its nut branches reach way out to the nut stars, where it. It will be the greatest adventure that humans have ever embarked on. This new york timesbestselling chapter in the hugo awardwinning space odyssey series is intriguing and satisfying.
Science writer and space historian piers bizony offers an extraordinarily detailed catalog. Sparknotes is here for you with everything you need to ace or teach. The novel was written concurrently with kubricks film version and published shortly after the film. Clarke collaborated with stanley kubrick to produce the novel version of 2001. I especially enjoyed the many allusions to other works and found the re classic. What i like about this book is how the author fit a lpt of scifi space. Hal, the discoverys computer, is easily the most entertaining character in the book. While many think its one of the greatest films ever made and was the first of what would prove to be many bigbudget hollywood science fiction films, the films slow build and heady subject matter make this best for inquisitive tweens and older. Here, actor keir dullea poses in the equipment storage corridor to one. 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. However, where 2001 is a must, 2061 is seen more as just a pleasant journey through the world of arthur c. One of the conventional wisdoms of adapting novels in to film is that the book is always better.
The odyssey is a long greek poem by homer about a dude named odysseus who goes on a long voyage. Among his bestselling novels are childhoods end, 2001. Continuity is also maintained by using the black monoliths as a thread in the series, as well as by using characters from the previous two novels. In a neverending quest for books that will challenge middle school readers who read above gradelevel, theres a difficult balancing act to. A space odyssey produced concurrently with the film and released in 1968 2010. The third book in clarkes beloved space odyssey continues the story of heywood floyd, survivor of two previous encounters with the mysterious monoliths and the alien intelligences behind them. A colorful nonfiction narrative packed with memorable characters and remarkable incidents, space odyssey provides a 360degree view of this extraordinary work, tracking the film from kubrick and clarkes first meeting in new york in 1964 through its uk production from 19651968, during which some of the most complex sets ever made were merged with visual effects so innovative that they scarcely. A space odyssey, in which the islands of the southeastern mediterranean became the solar systems planets and moons, and the winedark sea the airless void of interplanetary, interstellar, and even intergalactic space. The perfect collaboration between book and film originally posted at fantasy literature arthur c. It begins with the genesis of kubricks masterpiece, starting with his partnership with author arthur c. A space odyssey is the debut book in space odyssey series written by bestselling british author arthur c.
This book has inspired the likes of george lucas and christopher nolan in their scifi epics. There are few conversations that could not be handled with title cards. A space odyssey quizzes about important details and events in every section of the book. A space odyssey community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and. A space odyssey, but continues the story of stanley kubricks film adaptation with the same title rather than clarkes original novel, which differed from the film in some respects. The first arrives in the wordless dawn of man episode, in which kubrick dramatizes a crucial moment in human. Dec 18, 2018 stanley kubrick redefined the limits of filmmaking in his classic science fiction masterpiece, a contemplation on the nature of humanity, 2001. A space odyssey, which he cowrote with stanley kubrick. Two particular dangers of technology are explored in great detail. A space odyssey quiz that tests what you know about important details and events in the book. A space odyssey creation and legacy probed in 50th.
A space odyssey is based on the final version of the script for the 1968 motion picture, but, even so, in some regards they. A space odyssey theme is from also sprach zarathustra thus spake zarathustra, the symphonic poem by richard strauss, based on a book by friedrich nietzsche, which contained his famous declaration god is dead. A space odyssey and all of the effort that went into the final version of the genredefining science fiction film. This book shamelessly dives deep into the marrow of the creation of 2001. Second, the book explores the dangers associated with the. The best book regarding film making, studios, etc i have yet to see 2001. A space odyssey by arthur c clarke and its three sequels 2010. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by. Clarke and stanley kubricks unsettling space voyage turns 50, cnet editors look back at seeing the film for the first time. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis. In 1945, he proposed global broadcasting via communication satellites in geostationary orbit. This book goes into great detail about the making of 2001. A space odyssey 1976 oversized marvel singleissue comic book adaptation based upon the 1968.
A space odyssey explores technological innovation, its possibilities and its perils. Apr 02, 2018 the following is an excerpt from space odyssey. Supposedly hes an unfeeling hunk of metal, but in reality, hes the only one in the novel who really seems to feel much of anything, or to act as if he feels much of anything. His other works include childhoods end, rendezvous with rama, the garden of rama, the snows of olympus, 2010. Odysseyseries is an interesting, exciting romp through time and the solar system, and i certainly recommend them. A space odyssey, which was later turned into a highly successful and controversial film under the direction of stanley kubrick. I found the beginning sections to be quite fascinating in the depictions of clarke and kubrick and the formation of their partnership. The paperback of the 2001 a space odyssey by arthur c. Dawn comes and moonwatcher, one of the manapes, notices that his father died during the night. 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. The space odyssey book series began in 1968 with 2001. The hal 9000 computer puts forward the troubles that can crop up when man builds machines, the inner workings of. Clarkes space odyssey novels in order of when they were originally published and in chronological order.
A space odyssey 1968 in order to provide the basis for the brilliant film of the same name. Space odyssey series 4 primary works 9 total works 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. Sparknotes is here for you with everything you need to ace. Clarke and stanley kubrick teamed up on the mindblowing 1968 film 2001. Jun 17, 2015 before the first strains of richard strauss also sprach zarathustra echoed in movie theaters and the public consciousness for decades to come, 2001. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the behindthescenes details, and the thorough examination of kubricks and clarkes personalities. The monolith rescues herb marik and transpors him to an area similar to jalessas kingdom. A space odyssey and indepth analyses of hal and david bowman. Odyssey two is a 1982 science fiction novel by british writer arthur c. Hal feels backwardsand backwards, in this book, is the only way to feel human at all. So great are the implications of this discovery that for the first time men are sent out. A space odyssey may be more of a series of landmark sequences than a fully coherent or satisfying experience.