Book Review - - 2001: A Space Odyssey
So, do you have to give spoiler warnings on a book this old?? I mean, if I read Hamlet, would people be upset if I gave away the ending?
Here's a cut just in case:
According to the introduction, this book was written after Arthur C Clarke and Stanley Kubrick wrote the screenplay. I thought that was interesting because although it has been a while since I've seen the movie, I thought the book really highlighted some things that the movie lacked.
For instance, the entire first section of the book describes the origins of civilization and is written from the perspective of the proto-humans as they encounter the monoliths. Very cool.
Hal is frightening, but mostly because of the suspense built from remembering the film. Hal has a fairly small role in the book and there is much more about Dave dealing with his isolation and potential madness.
I think it's hard to express those themes cinematically sometimes. :)
The final section is worth the entire book for me. I love the description of what Dave sees in the monolith and we actually get to experience his travel with him. I seem to remember that in the movie, there were many unconnected images and the insinuation of transcendence, but it was all very abstract...very Kubrick.
Anyway, I really liked the book and my plan, now that I've read it, is to sit down with theannexian and watch 2001 and 2010 back to back.
4 out of 5 Star-Children! :)
Here's a cut just in case:
According to the introduction, this book was written after Arthur C Clarke and Stanley Kubrick wrote the screenplay. I thought that was interesting because although it has been a while since I've seen the movie, I thought the book really highlighted some things that the movie lacked.
For instance, the entire first section of the book describes the origins of civilization and is written from the perspective of the proto-humans as they encounter the monoliths. Very cool.
Hal is frightening, but mostly because of the suspense built from remembering the film. Hal has a fairly small role in the book and there is much more about Dave dealing with his isolation and potential madness.
I think it's hard to express those themes cinematically sometimes. :)
The final section is worth the entire book for me. I love the description of what Dave sees in the monolith and we actually get to experience his travel with him. I seem to remember that in the movie, there were many unconnected images and the insinuation of transcendence, but it was all very abstract...very Kubrick.
Anyway, I really liked the book and my plan, now that I've read it, is to sit down with theannexian and watch 2001 and 2010 back to back.
4 out of 5 Star-Children! :)