themushroomalien's review against another edition
5.0
Finished! This was a perfect sequel to 2001: A Space Odyssey. It held my attention the whole way through.
The way Clarke explains the still unknown secrets of the Universe, is pure magic. His words touched the deepest parts of my psyche, and made me think in ways I hadn't before.
The way Clarke explains the still unknown secrets of the Universe, is pure magic. His words touched the deepest parts of my psyche, and made me think in ways I hadn't before.
cr0wley25's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
lilyreading's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
this book has one of the craziest good read:bad title ratios i’ve ever experienced (seriously what was he thinking? 2010: lucifer rising would have been an amazing title)
enbypirate's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't enjoy most of the book. It was a real slog. The ending was really good though, enough to tempt me to reading the third book....
thewritelucas's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
dreadandsolace's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Solace: The second story in the 2001: Space Odyssey series - who knew? This was surprisingly really good. I love that we pick up after the first one, which eases you into the new story with reminders of the first one. Clarke does another great job with this story's space scenery and character interactions.
The Dread: It's not as good as the first, but such is the woe of most sequels. Also, similar to the first, there are some lulls between the plot points, but I understand Clarke is using this space to describe, well, space. I just wish it had been done a bit more succinctly so as not to take away from the experience.
Overall, this is, so far, a great Sci-Fi series - and one I'll continue to travel.
The Dread: It's not as good as the first, but such is the woe of most sequels. Also, similar to the first, there are some lulls between the plot points, but I understand Clarke is using this space to describe, well, space. I just wish it had been done a bit more succinctly so as not to take away from the experience.
Overall, this is, so far, a great Sci-Fi series - and one I'll continue to travel.
mitis's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Que esto sea una secuela a 2001 es como si el último samurai fuese secuela de harakiri
nickdleblanc's review against another edition
4.0
I first read 2001 in 2001 when I was in the 7th grade, never having seen the movie. I didn't see the film until three years later. Having read and loved the book at an early age, I never had the experience of being confounded by what was happening onscreen. It had already been explained to me. Though, when I had first read the book I was confused. Why was it talking about early humans, dangerous AI, and star children? I thought it was supposed to be sci-fi, which in my head at the time was Star Wars Star Trek, and movies like Ridley Scott's Alien. It felt more like a weird movie my father had shown me when I was in 6th grade, Silent Running. Now, I realize that Silent Running was a classic and that 2001 was closer to hard sci-fi and that my other reference points were just other genres wearing a sci-fi cloak.
That's all to say that 2010 is much more like the book I imagined 2001 would be before reading it. There are more explanations, you actually stay with Heywood Floyd, there are more characters, little dashes of romance, and even actual terrestrial aliens--something which never quite happens in 2001. I tend to like Arthur C. Clarke. A friend of mine called his writing cold, and said he almost was like the TS Eliot of sci-fi which is why he didn't prefer him over other writers in the genre. Unlike my friend, it is because of this very reason that I like his work so much. He is a very clear writer, never flashy, always dramatic, but never melodramatic. His characters react like I would expect scientists to react, and he never falls too deep into over-explanation. You always end up walking away knowing just enough, but having the room to think about whatever big ideas he might be throwing our way. It's very clear that Clarke loved space and spent an awful lot of time thinking about it and studying it. This comes across in his prose and it's a pleasure to read.
2001 is transcendent, a great allegory about life, the universe, and everything. 2010 is just a solid sci-fi story that lands somewhere on the outside of 2001's orbit. I gave it a four because I enjoy reading Clarke, but really it is more like a 3.5. Eh, maybe a 3.75. It was fun and worth a read if you are a lover of 2001 like I am. Also, it's important to note that this book is a sequel to some combination of both the film and the book, taking place near Jupiter rather than Saturn and some other little changes that don't really impact the story massively. It was probably done for people who had only seen the movie to be able to pick up this book and read it.
It didn't convince me to read the sequels which supposedly only get worse, but it didn't not convince me either, so that remains to be seen.
That's all to say that 2010 is much more like the book I imagined 2001 would be before reading it. There are more explanations, you actually stay with Heywood Floyd, there are more characters, little dashes of romance, and even actual terrestrial aliens--something which never quite happens in 2001. I tend to like Arthur C. Clarke. A friend of mine called his writing cold, and said he almost was like the TS Eliot of sci-fi which is why he didn't prefer him over other writers in the genre. Unlike my friend, it is because of this very reason that I like his work so much. He is a very clear writer, never flashy, always dramatic, but never melodramatic. His characters react like I would expect scientists to react, and he never falls too deep into over-explanation. You always end up walking away knowing just enough, but having the room to think about whatever big ideas he might be throwing our way. It's very clear that Clarke loved space and spent an awful lot of time thinking about it and studying it. This comes across in his prose and it's a pleasure to read.
2001 is transcendent, a great allegory about life, the universe, and everything. 2010 is just a solid sci-fi story that lands somewhere on the outside of 2001's orbit. I gave it a four because I enjoy reading Clarke, but really it is more like a 3.5. Eh, maybe a 3.75. It was fun and worth a read if you are a lover of 2001 like I am. Also, it's important to note that this book is a sequel to some combination of both the film and the book, taking place near Jupiter rather than Saturn and some other little changes that don't really impact the story massively. It was probably done for people who had only seen the movie to be able to pick up this book and read it.
It didn't convince me to read the sequels which supposedly only get worse, but it didn't not convince me either, so that remains to be seen.
heydreamer09's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
Didn't enjoy it as much as the first one, but I could explore Clarke's world building for hours.
I really enjoyed the description of the comradery on the ship also.
I really enjoyed the description of the comradery on the ship also.
rafternorth's review against another edition
4.0
“They knew that he was coming. Down there on that crowded globe, the alarms would be flashing across the radar screens, the great tracking telescopes would be searching the skies - and history as men had known it would be drawing to a close.”
Nine years after the events of 2001, Heywood Floyd & friends are on their way back to the Discovery to find out just what really happened to HAL, Frank and most importantly Dave.
This book had some very big shoes to fill and I understood going into it that because I loved 2001 so much, reading the next one was going to be tricky. Do I think it’s a good as the first one? No. Did I expect it to be? Also no. I think while it doesn’t reach the heights for me as it did in the first book, it’s still good. The story was solid and I didn’t at any point lose interest. I loved the redemption arc for HAL and Dave’s/The Starchild’s parts were thrilling to read.
Overall a good sequel, on to 2061!
Rating: 4 Stars
Nine years after the events of 2001, Heywood Floyd & friends are on their way back to the Discovery to find out just what really happened to HAL, Frank and most importantly Dave.
This book had some very big shoes to fill and I understood going into it that because I loved 2001 so much, reading the next one was going to be tricky. Do I think it’s a good as the first one? No. Did I expect it to be? Also no. I think while it doesn’t reach the heights for me as it did in the first book, it’s still good. The story was solid and I didn’t at any point lose interest. I loved the redemption arc for HAL and Dave’s/The Starchild’s parts were thrilling to read.
Overall a good sequel, on to 2061!
Rating: 4 Stars