Rating: 
Summary: Classic . One of the best sci-fi books ever written .
Review:
2001 is simply awesome . It might well be one of the best books of the genre ever written .
The concept is great , the compilation even better . Only Clarke could have written this book . His style oozes all over it . It raises many philosophical questions , as all good science fiction should. The cold narrative style of ACC in this book grips you .
If you haven't read 2001 , you haven't really read science fiction .
Rating: 
Summary: Expected better
Review: ...at times far too poetic for a casual reader like me. The plot was very hard to grasp, it left me with many unanswered questions...although the writing was magnificent and descriptive, it was slow paced and often "boring." There were some very enticing moments but were followed by lagging scenerios .,..
Rating:
Summary: 2001
Review: 2001: A space Odyssey by Aurthur C Clarke.Sadly not having read any previous literature by Arthur C. Clarke I will not be able to tell you if 2001 is one of his better works or not but as far as science fiction it is definitely high on my list. The book starts off with the main character being Moon watcher, an ape man in pre historic times. It follows a story line depicting how it was possible for this creature and his tribe to evolve into humans. You as the reader are only made to see the very beginnings of this and are promptly whizzed away to the future (approximately 1999 A.D.) where the rest of the story of man continues. The dialogue in this book I found to be somewhat few and far between, which I happen to like. The author does not have his characters drone on and on towards each other but rather carries the story on a narrative. The descriptions in this novel are wondrous to the point that no movie could possibly portray. Overall I would strongly recommend this book to nearly anyone I could get to read it. I also would like to point out that those of you who have seen the movie should definitely read this book, I myself saw the movie first and was surprised to se how differently this story was originally intended.
Rating:
Summary: Open the pod bay doors HAL!
Review: 2001: A Space Odyssey is the first book in the four part series written by the visionary Arthur C. Clarke. The other three books in the series being 2010, 2061, and 3001. This book of imaginative ideas paints word pictures inside the readers' head.
The book begins in late B.C. with the journey of a band of apes. The apes encounter a strange rectangular "box". The box, which will later be referred to as the Monolith, always shows up to change the world's way of thing. The Monolith is the alpha and the omega, it created the world and it can rebuild the world as it wishes. The main character and his crew search for the Monolith and find much more then they ever bargained for.
2001 really was ahead of its time when it was written (Clarke was writing about space and its travels before the first NASA space shuttle was ever launched.) The book really makes the reader think about creation and what happened to create the world and why the world changes like it does. It tests the boundaries of which normal people think. It may change the readers mind on many subjects including the way people are born, grow, age and die.
By reading this book, the reader will gain new knowledge about life. The reader will be compelled to read it again, as I was. Nothing could stop me from reading the other three books, all as imaginative (but not really as good) as 2001. I did see the movie directed by the late Stanley Kubrick before I read the book, but I feel that the book has more impact. (Though the movie is one of the best I have ever seen.) I strongly recommend watching the movie after reading the book; it will connect many things that may not have been as clear.
I loved this book, and if the reader enjoyed it as much as I did, the reader will want to read again and again.
This book will blow your mind.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful science fiction novel
Review: A strange object is found on the moon, strange waves travel through space towards Saturn, a computer tries to take over the mission... These are just a few of the events that occur in Arthur Clark's "2001: A Space Odessey. A large piece of alien material is found buried deep inside the body of the moon. Scientists believed that it's age is around three million years. Its finding is kept very secret and governments from around the world try to keep it that way. A group of scientists is sent to study why the big, black object on the Moon sent waves towards Saturn. On the way, they run into many obstacles leading to an incredible climax. In "2001: A Space Odyssey," setting is a very important part of Clark's book. Since it is set in the future, a lot of description is needed to establish an atmosphere that the reader has never seen. Clark describes the Discovery spaceship, it's shape, it's contents, it's feel; he writes about the space stations, and the planets using vivid metaphors and details. When the main character is describing the planet Saturn, you feel like you are there with him, looking out the space craft window. Although his writing is very rich and almost vibrant, his visions are so complex that it can be difficult to grasp his ideas and to really picture them in your mind. If you enjoy exciting science fiction, this is the book for you!
Rating:
Summary: Majestic, just like the movie
Review: A word to anyone who said the movie was more awe-inspiring; not only the book DID come out first, but sometimes I'm starting to think it's because it was in the end of the 60's and people were um... on some stuff, that's they were "awed". Hippies. ;P Seriously, the movie was great, but so was the book. Arthur C. Clarke is simply a genius, he gave us a great insight about possible explanations for the origins of mankind and so forth. He truly is the greatest author of science-fiction! HAL was pure genius, Bowman freaked me out when he took his last trip (no pun intended..^^;;;) through the stars, and Moonwatcher (or whatever the ape leader was named in the beginning... I can't be sure as I remember the translated and/or butchered version most, unfortunately) was a great idea. I liked how you could view the world through his eyes. Anyway, there are mighty good reasons as to why the 2001 saga will forever be remembered, and by all means read the sequels!
Rating:
Summary: Standout sci-fi
Review: An excellent book, which really had an impact on me when I first read it. I had of course seen the movie and loved it. Reading the book though, was a completely different experience - much less frustrating than the film.
The ideas raised by Clarke concerning our own evolution are fascinating and brilliantly presented. The way he mixes these big questions with an eery yet tense sci-fi plot is truly expert. I can't understand how anyone could find this boring.
Another reviewer stated the book came after the film. Not entirely true. The story was actually based on a number of short stories by Arthur C. Clarke, the most notable being 'The Sentinel' written in 1951. Kubrick approached Clarke to collaborate on a screenplay for the film out of which came this novel.
Rating:
Summary: Important and engrossing novel!
Review: Arthur C. Clarke's sensation, 2001, is a classic of our long century of books. This classic is very entertaining, and will keep the reader engrossed for a matter of hours. A very important book for everyone to discover. Each reader will close the book with a new understanding of space and humans. The sequels following this novel are inferior, (exception 2010), and do not have the Clarke touch and creative wit of the original.
So, the story starts with the dawn of humankind, when man apes discover a black monolith one morning. Eventually as we see, this started us on the road to technology. Millions of years later, Heywood Floyd discovers the same type of monolith on the moon. This one is known as the "Tycho" monolith. A mission to Saturn is eventually sent, to investigate strange noises coming down from Saturn to the monolith. The "Discovery" spacecraft carries Commander Dave Bawman, Frank Poole, and the infamous HAL 9000 supercomputor. The computor malfunctions and disaster strikes when an enormous monolith floating adjacent to Jupiter is discovered. I cannot tell you the ending. It is fantastic and will blow you away.
This novel is re released in a brand new, updated paperback with a foreward by the author. Discover the triumph of technology in this revolutionary piece.
Rating: 
Summary: Horrible Book
Review: I am a literature major, so please know that I am not giving a biased and uncalled for opinion. I've read many books, and I have even liked those books that most people detest. However, I must say 2001: A Space Odyssey is not all that great. It's boring, takes forever to get to the point, and truly pointless. The movie is even worse. In reality, the movie came first and then the book---it is usually the other way around. Both are horrific.
Rating:
Summary: Inspirational
Review: I remember being captivated by the film when I saw it on cable. I'm too young to have seen it in original release. I remember also being completely baffled by it. I stayed up all night trying to figure the movie out. I wished there were a class I could take so that someone could explain the darn thing to me. That summer after seeing the film, I read the book. It explained a great deal. It works well with the movie as Clarke and Kubrick collaborated. I think 2001 is Kubrick's best film. Flash forward about 3 years. I enrolled in college as a Film Studies Major. My very first class showed a film print in the correct aspect ratio of 2001. And we got a lecture about it (not my last one either). So, if ever a book/movie inspired me or shaped my life, it has to be this book.
| 
