Renata adler, in the times, described the movie as somewhere between. A space odyssey, in which astronaut david bowman keir dullea, after. Last week, i happen to read a quick post about the end of the movie that also explained the parallel development of the book and movie. After seeing space odyssey, i read arthur clarkes book. From the savannas of africa at the dawn of mankind to the rings of saturn as man ventures to the outer rim of our solar system, 2001. Stars were rushing past bowmans field of vision as if he were moving incredibly quickly, but the end of the star gate never seemed closer. This instalment is in two parts and is slightly different. A novel that proposes an idea about how the human race might have begun and where it might be headed. A space odyssey is a true classic in how films look on the screen and the artistic sensibility behind it. In terms of its themes and symbolism, 2001 was con. Since the dawn of time, roughly a hundred billion human beings have walked the planet earth. Clarke, and was inspired by clarkes short story the sentinel and other short stories by clarke. So whats up with the title is that clarke is saying, that old greek dude went on a long voyage and had adventures way back when, and so heres a story about the future of 2001, when some other dude is going to go on an awesome voyage also. This site is dedicated to the science fiction work 2001.
A space odyssey is a 1968 science fiction novel by british writer arthur c. A space odyssey was a film aboutwell, what is about. The book goes hand in hand with the 2001 space odyssey movie. Understanding the film 2001 is best done through the lens of homers the odyssey. A space odyssey remains a mystery kubrick may have set out to make a sciencefiction film, but 2001. Vimeo is an amazing video service for original creative work, but its also a company with real. It was developed concurrently with stanley kubricks film version and published after the release of the film. New york, 1999, hardcover, first thus, full number line, with a new introduction by the author. How could we possibly appreciate the mona lisa if leonardo le. A space odyssey predicted the future50 years ago wired. A space odyssey is wait, what the hell happened exactly. Get a full month of mubi, a handpicked selection of cult, classic and award winning films, for free. A space odyssey is a 1968 epic science fiction film produced and directed by stanley kubrick. A space odyssey is one of the most cryptic films ever made, having spawned high brow critiques and debates that have endured for decades.
The book explains the monolith much more specifically than the. Expanded versions of some of these chapters, plus a lot of new information, can be found in my assorted videos on the topic of 2001. As near i can tell its just some nebulous poorly explained concept thats far too often used as a crutch in scifi as the ultimate trump card for feigning depth where there wouldnt normally be any. Clarke and kubrick worked on the book together, but eventually only clarke ended up as the official author. In a 1969 interview with joseph gelmis, kubrick explained the plot in a very straightforward manner.
The two soon met at trader vics in new york and started hashing out a story that became 2001. I will say that the god concept is at the heart of 2001 but not any traditional, anthropomorphic image of god. Forty minutes of ape grunts, bone flinging, the otherworldly monolith, spaceship waltzesand the first words of dialog are an empty greeting, a prelude to actual conversation that never happens. But those two hours in 1968 watching 2001 defined an image of what the computational future could be. Summary of 2001 a space odyssey and personal response essay. A space odyssey is based on the final version of the script for the 1968 motion picture, but, even so, in some regards they differ due to late changes made by director stanley kubrick to that picture after the novel had largely been completed. A space probe with a landing and exploration of the moon and mars. The novel starts millions of years in the past, with a bunch of manapes. Weve always defined ourselves by the ability to overcome the impossible.
What do you think about the cinematography in 2001. Early in its making, clarke had said, if this film can be completely understood, then we have failed, and his third law of science fiction states, any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. I found the book gripping and intellectually satisfying, full of the tension and clarity which the movie lacks. The odyssey is a long greek poem by homer about a dude named odysseus who goes on a long voyage. When asked by eric nordern in kubricks interview with playboy if 2001. An important thing to understand is that on the one hand there is nothing to understand about this movie, its express purpose is to make you think. Clarke foreword behind every man now alive stand thirty ghosts, for that is the ratio by which the dead outnumber the living. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. A collaboration of ideas with director stanley kubrick in the late 1960s it begins at the dawn of man and then leaps to the year 2001 where a mission to saturn jupiter in the film is mounted to try and answer questions raised by the discovery of an.
The principle of waiting is crucial to all elements of 2001through short story, script, and soundtrack. Among his bestselling novels are childhoods end, 2001. A space odyssey concludes as a visual poem which tells a story about human evolution and steps taken to get there. This book also shows a realistic interpretation of how ai and man react to each other. The dawn of man is a testament to the genius of kubrick, and cleverly sets up the films forthcoming narrative, to produce one of the greatest science fiction films ever. Clarke, and how it changed our vision of the future forever.
In 1969, kubrick told joseph gelmis you begin with an artifact left on earth four million years ago by extraterrestrial explorers who observed the behavior of the manapes of the time and decided to influence their evolutionary progression. In a 1969 interview with joseph gelmis, kubrick explained the plot in a very straightforwar. And the first answer to this great question has to do with. He is brought to what appears to be a hotel room, where his mind and memories are drained from his body, and he becomes an immortal star child, that can live and travel in space. A space odyssey featured numerous fictional future technologies, which have proven prescient in light of subsequent developments around the world. A space odyssey, the great work on film by jay weidner. There are many people who think 2001 is about the afterlife, or how nothing really matters.
A space odyssey and assume at least some of the orbiting satellites are space weapons. It took many years to figure out the meaning of the ending alone. Clarke has also written a lot of books, like the space odyssey series, childhoods end, and many more. As bensons book suggests, in a way the release of 2001 was its least important milestone. The classic science fiction novel that captures and expands on the vision of stanley kubricks immortal filmand changed the way we look at the stars and ourselves. A space odyssey film, cowritten by stanley kubrick and arthur c. It actually was my favorite film until i began to unravel the truth that stanley kubrick embedded into his masterpiece 2001. I always found this a pretty disappointing end to the film because it seemed to make no sense.
A space odyssey from ultimately becoming one of the most revered films of the 20th century. The acclaimed director then goes on to explain the final scene of 2001. A space odyssey, which he cowrote with stanley kubrick. Id like to hear some interpretations from others and see if i cant grasp what kubrick was going for. Clarke has many degrees that allow him to give depth to the plot. Sep 22, 2015 weve always defined ourselves by the ability to overcome the impossible. A space odyssey for the first time, and although the ending sequence was really cool, i didnt quite understand what was going on. A space odyssey explained were now 18 years past 2001, weve never been to jupiter, and the enigmatic ending of the movie still haunts the generations who watch it. Dec 08, 20 this site is dedicated to the science fiction work 2001.
The outlines of a simple plot were already in place. A space odyssey was a religious film, kubrick elaborated. Clarke 19172008 wrote a hundred books and more than a thousand short stories and essays covering science fiction and science fact in a career spanning more than six decades. The novel, for example, attempts to explain things much more. A space odyssey spoilers i just finished watching 2001. Find great deals on ebay for 2001 a space odyssey book and 2001 a space odyssey book hardcover. A space odyssey wasnt so much a movie based upon a book as much as it was a collaboration between kubrick and clarke. Citizen kane is also one of the greatest films ever made.
The result is that 2001 manages to cover a lot of ground without much plot. So whats up with the title is that clarke is saying, that old greek dude went on a long voyage and had adventures way back when, and so heres a story about the future of 2001, when some. Unfollow 2001 a space odyssey book to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. A big part of that is because theres no real character development to speak of. An alternative treatment of the films plot where more is explained and the discovery finished up at saturn instead of jupiter more specifically iapetus was, as noted above, one of the first books i remember buying. We look back at the landmark scifi masterpiece 2001. Clarkes novel 2001 a space odyssey, his short story the sentinel, and kubricks famous film, 2001. A few published works by scientists on the subject of space exploration or space weapons tangentially discuss 2001. A giant monolith appeared on earth one day and began to experiment with many of them, probing and developing their minds. One of its most enduring qualities is how open to interpretation it isover the years, the enigmatic film has. So in the case of 2001, the book isnt a reliable source for determining the films. I decided to pass that information along to you with this explanation and analysis of the book. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers.
Thats right, stanley kubrick himself allegedly explains the ending of 2001 in a resurfaced. A space odyssey see my film analysis page for details. The manapes of the world, who lived by gathering berries and nuts, were facing a lack of food. Rob agers analysis of stanley kubricks scifi masterpiece 2001.
Someone please explain the ending to me like im a 5 year old. A space odyssey, which turns 50 this week, is closer to home than we think, writes. One of the more common reactions to stanley kubricks 2001. In 1945, he proposed global broadcasting via communication satellites in geostationary orbit. The screenplay was written by kubrick and arthur c. In case the amazing visuals in the trailers for interstellar didnt give it away, christopher nolans upcoming movie is intended to be a 2001. However, the following quotes indicate a different story. Made before the days of digital scifi effects, 2001 was nothing. Clarkes novel 2001 a space odyssey, his short story the sentinel.
Before the films production began, director stanley kubrick sought technical advice from over fifty organizations, and a number of them submitted their ideas to kubrick of what kind of products might be seen in a. Yet, despite that, the plot actually isnt all that complicated. It entails the nature between man and the unknown while giving life to the universe around the main cast of characters. As a fan of stanley kubrick and cinema in general, i find that the cinematography of 2001. A space odyssey movie features bizarre colours and the main character appearing in a bed, then becoming an old man and finally a fetus. Over the course of the next four years, kubrick and clarke talked and corresponded frequently. A space odyssey and you loved it but you kinda dont. Now this is an interesting number, for by a curious coincidence there are. The following content is mainly based off of arthur c. The digital clock onboard had slowed down and eventually come to a halt. The widely held belief is that arthur c clarke wrote the book and kubrick then.
Another part is that a lot of the book is just description of astronomical niftiness. A space odyssey, this amazing book was written by arthur c. It was also then that i realized that stanley kubrick had made the greatest film ever. Well explore the events in the book, discuss and analyze its main themes, and finish with a short quiz. It depicts the differences between the written work and the movie production, and analyzes possible alternate meanings to certain themes and motifs. The widely held belief is that arthur c clarke wrote the book and kubrick then adapted the book into a film. Its a totally different kind of experience, of course, and there are a number of differences between the book and the movie. Oct 16, 2014 in case the amazing visuals in the trailers for interstellar didnt give it away, christopher nolans upcoming movie is intended to be a 2001. One of his short stories inspired the world wide web, while another was expanded into 2001. Did stanley kubrick finally explain the films ending.