hotsake's review against another edition
4.0
3.5/5.
The first half of the book was a 5-star read but the second half falters quite badly and the story never regained its footing, at least for me.
The first half of the book was a 5-star read but the second half falters quite badly and the story never regained its footing, at least for me.
jackyobrien6's review
4.0
I enjoyed the suspense that this book evoked, but it fell short near the end, when everything worked out find. Regardless, it was a fast read that I thoroughly enjoyed
ainsleym's review
5.0
Seamlessly blends space adventure with cosmic horror. Masterful incorporation of new scientific discoveries with existing world established in 2001. Immersive language. Large cast characterized as much as necessary to distinguish individuals and no more. Would have liked more exploration into how/why HAL made certain decisions. Much smaller in scope than 2001 but I think this was a benefit since the story was able to stand on its own (for the most part) as a self-contained narrative within a much richer universe, whereas 2001 book suffered from limited page count for what it was trying to do, especially when compared to the movie which captured the massive scope. Also interesting reading experience since this was continuation of 2001 movie canon rather than book: would likely be confusing if you had only read the book, but who hasn’t seen the movie? Ultimately liked that choice.
shawnwhy's review
5.0
the Ideas about machine learning and conciusness if super fun, as well as the Jupiter turning to a sun thing.
clumsypenguin's review against another edition
5.0
This was my favorite book in the Space Odyssey series. While these books are usually more interested in introducing and discussing various concepts regarding space travel and technology, than telling a story with fleshed-out characters, I think this one actually did the best at doing both. I really enjoyed reading about the Leonov crew and found their journey to and from Jupiter incredibly fun. I'm not at all scientifically inclined, but Clarke did a great job at ensuring that even I could follow along with whatever broad concept he was talking about. Additionally, it was a great follow-up to the events of the first book showing us Bowman's fate and giving more insight into the monoliths themselves.
thatbookisonfiyah's review against another edition
5.0
Classic Science Fiction at its best!!
I was a bit disappointed that this second Odyssey abandoned one of the basic premises of the first book to instead follow the story from the movie 2001, but it works because Arthur C. Clarke is a brilliant storyteller with a great imagination.
Clarke predicted so many aspects of future space exploration, much of it at a time when we hadn’t even been to the Moon yet, that I am always amazed by his thought processes and his creativity. He was truly a Sci-Fi Master and it is always a pleasure to read his work.
This was my first time reading 2010 and I am pleased that I took the time to read it. I highly recommend it to all sci-fi fans and most everyone else. Take a few days and read this grand story of man’s exploration of the Solar System and introduction to an alien species.
I was a bit disappointed that this second Odyssey abandoned one of the basic premises of the first book to instead follow the story from the movie 2001, but it works because Arthur C. Clarke is a brilliant storyteller with a great imagination.
Clarke predicted so many aspects of future space exploration, much of it at a time when we hadn’t even been to the Moon yet, that I am always amazed by his thought processes and his creativity. He was truly a Sci-Fi Master and it is always a pleasure to read his work.
This was my first time reading 2010 and I am pleased that I took the time to read it. I highly recommend it to all sci-fi fans and most everyone else. Take a few days and read this grand story of man’s exploration of the Solar System and introduction to an alien species.
david611's review against another edition
5.0
5-Scintillating Stars*
* Star rating is independent, and not in comparison to the first book in the series.
Being a sequel to [b:2001: A Space Odyssey|70535|2001 A Space Odyssey (Space Odyssey, #1)|Arthur C. Clarke|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1432468943s/70535.jpg|208362], I felt the story is progressed very well. It takes place nine years after the events of Book One. A Soviet-American scientific team is sent on a mission aboard the Leonov to recover information from the Discovery and investigate the TMA-2, the monolith (also called as "Big Brother", and Zagadka by the Russians) that orbits Jupiter (which was originally a moon of Saturn in the first book).
The author has decided to follow the movie, wherever differences occur between the first book and the movie.
Having not developed the characters, I felt I may have missed out on some personal touches, but I still prefer it this way, otherwise it might have become an unnecessarily stretched book.
To me, the book started off very well, but just while I had started to feel that nothing really was happening, 'things' took off. I liked the way the book was moving into a mystical direction.
I also loved the idea of how the monoliths in their relatively smaller sizes, like a von Neuman machine, devours Jupiter and transforms it into a star.
At least two thoughts to grasp from this book:
1. Any evolved life-form that may have come to be, ...will be destroyed, ...or has to be weeded out, at some point in time.
2. Not everything can be fathomed by the human mind. Some things can only be speculated. Others can just be somehow perceived/experienced, but never fully understood or in other words they have to be left out unreasoned.
Although the later two books in the series have a low rating, am much looking forward to reading them. Hopefully they should turn out good, looking at the brighter side of nearly everything. :D
* Star rating is independent, and not in comparison to the first book in the series.
Being a sequel to [b:2001: A Space Odyssey|70535|2001 A Space Odyssey (Space Odyssey, #1)|Arthur C. Clarke|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1432468943s/70535.jpg|208362], I felt the story is progressed very well. It takes place nine years after the events of Book One. A Soviet-American scientific team is sent on a mission aboard the Leonov to recover information from the Discovery and investigate the TMA-2, the monolith (also called as "Big Brother", and Zagadka by the Russians) that orbits Jupiter (which was originally a moon of Saturn in the first book).
The author has decided to follow the movie, wherever differences occur between the first book and the movie.
Having not developed the characters, I felt I may have missed out on some personal touches, but I still prefer it this way, otherwise it might have become an unnecessarily stretched book.
To me, the book started off very well, but just while I had started to feel that nothing really was happening, 'things' took off. I liked the way the book was moving into a mystical direction.
Spoiler
Loved the re-entry of David Bowman, and that he was void of his physical being. Loved all those gorgeous aerial life-forms Bowman perceives in the Jovian atmosphere, and within the ice-covered oceans of Europa !I also loved the idea of how the monoliths in their relatively smaller sizes, like a von Neuman machine, devours Jupiter and transforms it into a star.
At least two thoughts to grasp from this book:
1. Any evolved life-form that may have come to be, ...will be destroyed, ...or has to be weeded out, at some point in time.
2. Not everything can be fathomed by the human mind. Some things can only be speculated. Others can just be somehow perceived/experienced, but never fully understood or in other words they have to be left out unreasoned.
Although the later two books in the series have a low rating, am much looking forward to reading them. Hopefully they should turn out good, looking at the brighter side of nearly everything. :D
davidfosco's review against another edition
5.0
A phenomenal continuation of the storyline, and a worthy successor.