Science Fiction Book Club discussion

This little book is one of the first science-fiction books I ever read and I have read it at least a dozen times. It remains one of my all-time favorites. Clarke manages to combine realistic science fiction (see the News Reader described in the book; Clarke foresaw the tablets of today) with a fantastic theory of how the human race developed and where it might go next. It is unfortunate that the vision of orbiting space stations and moon bases have not developed as Clarke predicted, for we certainly have the technological expertise to do those things, just not the political will.

A great book and a timeless classic.

Agreed with Bob. An absolut classic. Pity I´ve read it so many years ago. If you have not read this book yet, just do it. It´s wonderful.

And when you´ll have finished, it could be interesting to watch the film. I think Clarke wrote the film and help with the script of the film more or less at the same time

Agreed 2001 is a classic in all senses of the word. I find that Clarkes writing can be a bit old fashioned sometimes but it does not detract from a very clever story. I find the film a little disturbing to be honest and prefer the book.

Clarke's forte has always been his ability to use straightforward language to describe the most incredible of events as easily as describing a train ride to Dover; nothing sounds impossible when he puts it on paper, and nothing sounds overly melodramatic (and thereby strains the reader's suspension of disbelief).

That storytelling ability is absolutely necessary for 2001, which has some pretty heavy concepts and plenty of credibility-straining potential. But Clarke's Law ("Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic") serves as a hint at Clarke's writing style: It's very advanced, just accept it.

I like the book and the movie equally; I thought Kubrick captured many of the most fascinating and unique aspects of spaceflight beautifully and effectively; showing us the visual spectacle where Clarke gave us the nuts and bolts.

Steven wrote: "Clarke's forte has always been his ability to use straightforward language to describe the most incredible of events as easily as describing a train ride to Dover; nothing sounds impossible when he..."

I think Clarke and Kubrick wrote the screenplay of the film together, so the film works