Rating: 
Summary: One of the Best
Review: It had been several years since I watched the film, when I listened to this audiobook, and I remember not really liking the film very much. This book; however, is great and is probably one of the best, if not the best, science fiction books I have ever read. The story is compelling and interesting all the way through, but the best part of the novel is that it makes you THINK.
Rating:
Summary: One of science fiction's major triumphs
Review: Arthur C. Clarke's monumental novel 2001: A Space Odyssey is top-notch science fiction that more than earns its spot among the greatest works published in the genre. Reading the novel is quite a different experience from watching Stanley Kubrick's wildly famous movie adaptation of the story. The movie is far too abstract and vague for my tastes, concentrating more on visual wonders than sound plot development. Many of the questions left unanswered in the movie (along with some questions and answers the movie never even addressed) can be found in the novel, and this made for a much more rewarding and satisfying 2001 experience for me. Moviegoers had to wait sixteen years to learn the real story of Hal's failure, but Clarke explains it (and in more detail) in the pages of his original 2001 novel. There are actually a surprising number of differences between the novel and the film, which strikes me as somewhat strange given the fact that the book was inspired by the idea of the film; as a matter of fact, much of the writing took place during the film's production, and Clarke has said that some movie shots led him to make changes to the novel as he was writing it. The story begins in the ancient past, providing much more detail about the appearance of a huge black monolith on earth and its deliberative interference with the man-apes of the area. The film fails to convey the overwhelming impact of the alien monolith on the evolution of life on earth, and that is one important reason why I find the film too vague. The events of Clarke's first few chapters are of great importance in one's understanding of the story, and all the facts become clear in this book. One will also find some major differences between the novel and the movie in terms of the setting of the final events. In the novel, the crucial mission goes to Saturn, whereas the movie takes us no farther than Jupiter; this doesn't change anything really, but Clarke has said that Kubrick made the right decision and saved him some embarrassment from making a visual representation of Saturn that later failed to hold up to more recent scientific discoveries about the ringed planet. Many of the crucial events onboard the Saturn-bound spaceship Discovery also differ significantly between book and movie. Clarke's exposition of the growing doubts expressed by Captains Poole and Bowman over the performance of the onboard supercomputer Hal works much better than Kubrick's lip reading explication, and there is a lot more information provided here about the whys and wherefores of Hal's troubling and duplicitous actions. The pivotal events of Hal's takeover of the ship play much better in the book as well, and the events as described here are actually much more exciting and convincing than the events you see in the film. The novel concludes with a much more revealing look at Bowman's journey beyond Saturn into infinity. Here, Clarke even goes into some detail about the creators of the monoliths, which is a topic the movie never really addresses at all. In the end, the novel is just much more compelling than the film, and for that reason I would recommend watching the movie before reading the book. Kubrick intentionally left his film rather vague and open-ended, and a reading of the much more compelling and informative novel may well rob you of whatever small joys you might otherwise find in the film. In the same vein, the paucity of answers in the movie does little to detract from one's enjoyment of and fascination with the novel.
Rating:
Summary: ... And the Infinite Beyond
Review: This view of the future, and our past, is not only frightening but exhilerating. As we travel through time and space, stopping at different locations and realizing our fatal mistakes that changed our worlds, we discover how we are only good at one thing: Destroying ourselves. In "2001," humans believe that with every step we take in technological advancements we evade death, but the reader finds that with each breakthrough, we become closer and closer to the impending apocalypse. Different characters with different problems. The man-apes with leapords and the Others. Dr. Floyd and the monolith on the moon. Dave and Frank with the evils of HAL 9000. Clarke's ways of expressing his true vision of things to come and things that have been are very interesting. This book makes you think more than any other I know of.
Rating: 
Summary: Towers Like A Monolith Above Current Sci-fi.
Review: After 30 plus years this book says more in its 200 pages than much of the 600 page TOR opuses that pass as current sci-fi and which are grossly in vogue today. Unlike much of current sci-fi it speculates on mans past as well as his future. It also has something intelligent to say within the action as opposed to the hack and slash of some of the contemporary sci-fi dreck being shilled out these days. Many people are more familiar with the classic movie than the equally classic book. "2001" the book is just as great as the movie and certainly less ambiguous. It is not just a movie adaptation. I think Hal is remembered too much. Maybe it's the movie's fault. He isn't the first threatening machine in sci-fi there was Robby the Robot from "Forbidden Planet" and that giant robot from "The Day The Earth Stood Still". And like those movies we remember the machine more. This is unfortunate for HAL has become this ingrained pop icon for malfunctioning computers that he overshadows the hero, Bowman. Bowman is one of the classic sci-fi heroes. He is on par with Rand's Roark, Heinlein's Valentine Michael Smith and Tolkien's Aragorn. He is Clarke's Ideal Man and an inspiration for our real lives. He has a lust for life that is unafraid, committed and with a thirst for knowledge. He takes control of his own destiny despite the deepening circumstances that surround him. He literally descends into the unknown without blinking. Like Bowman don't sit idly by depending on computers to do you're thinking take control of your own destiny. Hmm...sounds like something out of the "Matrix". Some people think Clarke wrote uninteresting and underdeveloped characters, I disagree, at least with Bowman. If you think sci-fi is for teenage boys this book will change your mind.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing journey
Review: This is an amazing journey phisically and spiritually for human being. Many surprising ideas that made me hold my breathe for a moment. I really enjoy the plot and also the richness of philosophy of human life position in the universe.
Rating:
Summary: good
Review: this book kicks... the beginning is awesome and richly detailed.It is the greatest sci-fi ever. read it and find its goodness for yourself
Rating:
Summary: Great book, but seems a companion to the film
Review: 2001 is a wonderful achievement. It's pace is much faster than 2001 the movie, yet still manages a slow feel, as a book should in the space environment. Yet, after watching the film, with its
Strauss and Kucrick aplenty, the literature seems dwarfed to a microscopical size. But read the book first so it wont be spoiled for you. When it comes to the style of Clarke's writing in this book, you'll find it so explicit that you expect the left in the air ending of the film to be answered just as Clarke explains the monolith directing the apes to perform simple tasks to test their intelligence and potential. But, alas, the ending is in ways more mysterious than the film. But Clarke adds a few more situations to the book, such as a comet fly-by and some looks into the minds of the characters (the infamous personality-drained characters that Clarke has created for your enjoyment). So, those who have already seen the film should see this as the best movie companion ever created in the history of time. So I would at least reccomend it.
Rating:
Summary: The Greatest Icon of Science Fiction
Review: This book made me become a sci-fi fan! Even if you found the film incomprehensible or boring, you must read the book, because it's hugely readable and not boring at all! The ideas involved by Clarke, such as the monolith, HAL and a civilization independent from matter are not only ingenious and creative, but it also goes deeper than sci-fi and makes us wonder about existence, God and the meaning of life.
If this book has a defect, it is the fact that it's hard to find a novel as good. Since it was the first Clarke book I read, it made me read 7 other Clarke's books since then(including the 3 Odyssey sequels) but none as brilliant and uncanny as this, even though Rendezvous with Rama and 2010 are almost as good!
Rating:
Summary: Great book, STRONGLY RECOMMENDED
Review: This novel is so enthralling and addicting, I read it in one day. I recommend this to anyone interested in expanding their own horizens. FIVE STARS.
Rating:
Summary: UNPARALLED LITERARY BRILLIANCE!
Review: This is probably the best story ever penned by the greatest of all sci-fi grandmasters. This book will take you on a mind-expanding rollercoaster ride until the very end. Just read it, soak it all in and enjoy one of the true literary classics! Make sure to read the short stories at the end too. I loved Encounter in the Dawn! It is the best short story of Clarke's I have read (and I have read many).
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