Clarke's 2001: A Space Odyssey

I can imagine the surprise at the effects. With the technology available at the time I wonder how they made some of the special effects with the color and lighting. In 1967, I don't think there were any graphics capable computers around that were accessible to Hollywood.Also, the lack of dialogue for a good part of the movie probably was something new that people hadn't seen before. The only thing close to this is the 1989 movie 'The Bear', where they filmed the movie mostly from the bear cub's perspective.

I first saw it in the CineDome in Orange, CA. Back when it had first opened and was only the two big theaters. Excellent sound system. Whenever someone spoke, the voice seemed to come from that part of the screen. And when HAL spoke, it seemed to come from everywhere.

Except for one thing. The idea of a thousand year old astronaut floating around in space being reanimated is a little... far fetched.

I too enjoyed the movie when it first came out. I remember trying, with friends, to figure out how they created some of the special affects.If I remember correctly Clarke wrote the book after the movie was finished.

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What if Eleanor Roosevelt had wings? -- Monty PythonYou can't build a Time Machine without Weird Optics -- S. Valley

But the book was definitely better than the movie, which is odd if what you're saying about him writing the book after the movie is true..

Bringing back memories, Grizz.I first saw 2001 in KC, Missouri, in 1971. I was . uh . well . in an altered frame of mind at the time. I didn’t remember much except that it was beautiful with really neat music (I’ve been a Strauss fan ever since . both of them). Again in about 76 or 77, again in an enhanced mental condition, I , again, saw the pretty pictures and reveled in the pretty music. It wasn’t until 82 that I finally saw the film in the way Kubrick intended, but it was too late. Whenever I hear “Also Sprach Zarathustra” or “Blue Danube” my mind reaches back and whacks my consciousness silly. I must have seen this film a dozen times by now and all I can do is stare at it and sort of giggle.I’ve been a SciFi fan since seeing Robby the Robot in Forbidden Planet on one of those late, late night TV re-runs a hundred years ago. I must have been 10 or so.I have Asimov’s Complete Anthology and 7 of his books (First Editions of Foundation and Empire and Second Foundation, and a Second Edition I, Robot), 8 works of Jules Verne (with a First Edition of Mysterious Island) and 5 Ray Bradburys (First Editions of Fahrenheit 451 and The Vintage Bradbury story collection), and, piecemeal anyway, most of Crichton, except Sphere I’m still looking for a First Edition of Sphere. And, yes I have a First Edition 2001: A Space Odyssey and a First Edition of one of Clarke’s short story anthologies The Nine Billion Names of God.[rant]The problem with SciFi these days is they are more Monster-of-the-Swamp things with little or no Sci in their Fi. SciFi Channel might as well be the Horror Picture Show Channel. The only thing good there is “Stargate SG-1.” I don’t even like the latest “Dr. Who,” and that recent repro of “The Hitchhiker’s Guide” really sucked.[/rant]Time to go home.

Anybody read "The Last Question" by Asimov? It's the best short story I've ever read. If you like science fiction and philosophy, and especially if you like both at the same time, this is a must read.

The book definitely came second, it tries to give a bit of exposition for the events of the film, especially the weird bits at the end.
I also quite liked the first Rama book. I don't rate Clarke very highly as a writer/storyteller, but his ideas are just amazing and they carry the books along admirably.
Worth seeking out is "Report on Planet Three". It is a collectionof essays by Clarke. The title work is a short fiction, the conceit of which is that it is a document, found by space-faring explorers in the ruins of an extinct Martian civilisation. The document is written by Martian scientist and it is a scathing attack on the ridiculous theory that life might exist on the third planet, which is obviously insane; how could life exist in a volatile oxygen-rich atmosphere? Very funny.
Another article contains the memorable quote;

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Mutate and Survive

Seconded.--Percy

I have around 150 or so of his books. A large number of them bought as they came out. A few are autographed special editions.I've got to downsize them someday but I hate to part with them.

Actually, the screenplay for 2001 was based on 'The Sentinel' and a few other of Clarke's earlier works. They were put together for a screenplay adaptation. The Book 2001 was written alongside the screenplay for publication. Essentially it contains the same ideas as in the earlier novels with additions and alterations.2001 strung together all the major themes in the earlier works - man's relation to technology, ET intervention in the rate of man's evolution, and the idea of the 'Hive Group'/Universal Consciousness.Clarke's ideas kind of fit into some of the ideas present in exogensis. A popular theme in a few works is that the evolution of our species was influenced by outside 'natural' intelligent forces that have or had an interest in the going's on here. Other works were also heavy on the idea of a universal hive conscioussness that transcends personal identity.Ned...If you want to part with some, I will buy.Edited by Grizz, : No reason given.

I was never big on Asimov. Wht was it about?My two favorite SciFi novels are Heinlein's 'Stranger in a Strange Land' and Clarke's Childhood's End - very thought provoking and they play into a lot of contemporary issues on religion, science, and technology.

I can't tell you what it's all about besides the fact that it has to do with a hyperdimensional superconciousness and that it has the best plot twist I've ever seen in a story.

Yeah, Today's SCFi is all about sensationalism and it lacks the scope and complexity of earlier works. Moden SciFi kind of appeals to those who like watching things blow up or people get their heads lopped off.Edited by Adminnemooseus, : Fix quote box. Pseudo-code was messing with the function of the real code. Hand to change "[/rant]" to "[endrant]".

Perhaps you should try Iain M. Banks then. His "Culture" novels never stray too far from believable science and manage to combine enough flash-bang to make it exciting with intelligent plots and great characterisation. "Excession" is probably my favourite, but I recommend you start with the first, "Consider Phlebas", which provides some much-needed exposition.

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Mutate and Survive