2001: A Space Odyssey (Signet) [Paperback]

Arthur C. Clarke (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1968 | Series: Signet

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) is a science fiction novel by Arthur C. Clarke. It was developed concurrently with Stanley Kubrick's film version and published after the release of the film. The story is based in part on various short stories by Clarke, most notably "The Sentinel" (written in 1948 for a BBC competition but first published in 1951 under the title "Sentinel of Eternity"). For an elaboration of Clarke and Kubrick's collaborative work on this project, see The Lost Worlds of 2001, Arthur C. Clarke, Signet, 1972. The first part of the novel (in which aliens influence the primitive human ancestors) is similar to the plot of an earlier Clarke story, "Encounter in the Dawn".

Product Details

• Paperback: 221 pages
• Publisher: Roc (July 1, 1968)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451134699
• ISBN-13: 978-0451134691
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #587,185 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Similarities to "Contact", February 25, 2008

By 

C. Juliet (Redding, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 2001: A Space Odyssey (Signet) (Paperback)

**Some Spoilers!***

Love how Clarke uses factual science like the most obvious crater on the moon to house the monolith, the tycho crater, as well as the very strange Saturn moon that has an all white side, Iapetus. How more obious can an alien make it for us to make first contact by keeping monoliths in the center of these obvious places? Besides the changes from jupiter orbit to the Saturn moon as staging grounds for the stargate I found the book to be similar to the movie/ book "Contact" by Carl Sagan. Not sure if you've seen or read, but i think Carl has read 2001. A signal from deep space was sent to earth in Contact and from the moon monolith to deep space in 2001. His story involved his character going through a wormhole to end up in a familiar earth environment (the beach) so as to be comfortable. Very similar here going through a stargate although in 2001 feeling comfortable is achieved in a hotel room, from that point however the stories change.

I did know that Bowman became something more from watching the sequel 2010 but not from 2001. Wonder why Kubrik left all that out.

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars 2001 Arthur C Clarke, October 16, 2009

By 

K. Thomson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 2001: A Space Odyssey (Signet) (Paperback)

Over all, the book is in good shape, binding and actual cover. I was a little disappointed that the paper cover has some large tears in it. The book had been listed in "used, very good" condition. It doesn't rate quite that. But it finishes my collection of the Space Odyessey series and had a copyright date from around when the movie was released.