This is one of my favorite books. I don't remember how old I was when I first read it. Maybe high school. But to this day I still remember my heart skipping a beat during that climactic part where the character says, "My God, it's [spoiler]". I hope you know what I mean. It's the part depicted by your background. That blew my mind! The first time I watched the movie, I just... wanted to die. The first part, especially, went on and on and on and on. And since there's no dialogue, it drove me crazy. Especially because in the book, you get all the background of this tribe, & you get to know them a bit as characters. But through the years, I have come to like the movie as well. The scenes with HAL are incredible. Don't know who the voice artist was, he was perfect. I just had to adjust my brain into seeing it as visual/audio type of thing, not a narrative like the book. I'm not sure if I've expressed that very well. It's visually beautiful at times, and of course that yes, iconic music. But if you haven't read the book, I wonder if it would very hard to follow. Or even "boring", since there's not much dialogue in parts & there's not much real action. In fact, this is one of the few cases where maybe watching the movie first would be better? You'd get the strong parts of the movie, but then get the detail/understanding from the book. The thing with HAL is a perfect example of that. The ending of both... I remember being confused on my first reading. The movie helped somewhat, just because it's visual. (Though I didn't see the movie until years & years after.) I'd have to reread & watch to see what I think of it now. I don't particularly like the ambiguity but I guess at this point, I've made my peace with it. I'm really wanting to reread this now! I took it off my shelf and dusted it. Maybe as my first read of 2022. Something familiar, beloved, and short to get going. Thank you for helping me revisit this. Even though as you said, his character writing is lacking as usual, and there are some slow parts, the ideas & all of the space-y things are always incredible.
I watched the film first, probably around 10 years ago. I had the benefit of knowing the history and went into to it expecting it to be experimental and psychedelic. I think the original audience that might have been expecting a space adventure would probably have been very confused indeed haha I love the scene that you mentioned as well. It was one of those mind blowing moments that are one of the reasons I love sci-fi. Let me know your thoughts if you decided to do a re-read and thanks for the comment!
If you're looking for great character development, you're looking in the wrong direction if you're looking at Arthur C. Clarke. Science and ideas are what drives an Arthur C. Clarke book. Not characters and their development. I loved 2001: A Space Odyssey years ago, Right after the movie was released in 1969, I saw that movie in the theater upon it's release. Great movie, too. After watching it I found and got the book. The book does explain things a lot more than the movie. Knew lots of people who really didn't understand the movie and didn't like it for that reason. 2001 is definitely the best book of the series. 2061 and 3001 are others, all with the Space Odyssey in the title.
I totally agree Ron! I haven’t read the other books in the series after 2001. I’m more interested in some other Clarke books like The City and the Stars, but I might make my way around to them eventually.
Just started this, but thanks for explaining the book/movie thing. It always confused me. But if they were written at the same time, how are they SO different? Do you know if the book & movie were meant to be experienced kind of at the same time? Honestly, if you did not read the book & just went into the movie cold, I'm not sure you'd quite understand what's going on.
You’re welcome! Apparently the book was supposed to be released first but the film ended up coming out first. Some of the differences were due to what was feasible to film and some were last minute decisions by Kubrick.
This is one of my favorite books. I don't remember how old I was when I first read it. Maybe high school. But to this day I still remember my heart skipping a beat during that climactic part where the character says, "My God, it's [spoiler]". I hope you know what I mean. It's the part depicted by your background. That blew my mind!
The first time I watched the movie, I just... wanted to die. The first part, especially, went on and on and on and on. And since there's no dialogue, it drove me crazy. Especially because in the book, you get all the background of this tribe, & you get to know them a bit as characters.
But through the years, I have come to like the movie as well. The scenes with HAL are incredible. Don't know who the voice artist was, he was perfect. I just had to adjust my brain into seeing it as visual/audio type of thing, not a narrative like the book. I'm not sure if I've expressed that very well. It's visually beautiful at times, and of course that yes, iconic music.
But if you haven't read the book, I wonder if it would very hard to follow. Or even "boring", since there's not much dialogue in parts & there's not much real action. In fact, this is one of the few cases where maybe watching the movie first would be better? You'd get the strong parts of the movie, but then get the detail/understanding from the book. The thing with HAL is a perfect example of that.
The ending of both... I remember being confused on my first reading. The movie helped somewhat, just because it's visual. (Though I didn't see the movie until years & years after.) I'd have to reread & watch to see what I think of it now. I don't particularly like the ambiguity but I guess at this point, I've made my peace with it.
I'm really wanting to reread this now! I took it off my shelf and dusted it. Maybe as my first read of 2022. Something familiar, beloved, and short to get going.
Thank you for helping me revisit this. Even though as you said, his character writing is lacking as usual, and there are some slow parts, the ideas & all of the space-y things are always incredible.
I watched the film first, probably around 10 years ago. I had the benefit of knowing the history and went into to it expecting it to be experimental and psychedelic. I think the original audience that might have been expecting a space adventure would probably have been very confused indeed haha
I love the scene that you mentioned as well. It was one of those mind blowing moments that are one of the reasons I love sci-fi.
Let me know your thoughts if you decided to do a re-read and thanks for the comment!
If you're looking for great character development, you're looking in the wrong direction if you're looking at Arthur C. Clarke. Science and ideas are what drives an Arthur C. Clarke book. Not characters and their development.
I loved 2001: A Space Odyssey years ago, Right after the movie was released in 1969, I saw that movie in the theater upon it's release. Great movie, too. After watching it I found and got the book. The book does explain things a lot more than the movie. Knew lots of people who really didn't understand the movie and didn't like it for that reason.
2001 is definitely the best book of the series. 2061 and 3001 are others, all with the Space Odyssey in the title.
I totally agree Ron! I haven’t read the other books in the series after 2001. I’m more interested in some other Clarke books like The City and the Stars, but I might make my way around to them eventually.
Just started this, but thanks for explaining the book/movie thing. It always confused me. But if they were written at the same time, how are they SO different?
Do you know if the book & movie were meant to be experienced kind of at the same time? Honestly, if you did not read the book & just went into the movie cold, I'm not sure you'd quite understand what's going on.
You’re welcome! Apparently the book was supposed to be released first but the film ended up coming out first. Some of the differences were due to what was feasible to film and some were last minute decisions by Kubrick.
@@WordsinTime Makes sense, thanks.
Space Jam - Michael Jordan (Shoe Design) & Buggs Bunny (Animation)
Titans of industry indeed!
Thunderball 007 - the film / the novel written by I.Fleming !
I haven’t read any Bond novels, maybe one day I’ll check them out!