A great continuation of the series. ( )

The story that was started in 2001 Space Odyssey continues. Jupiter is now a minor star, and there is a plant with life around it. What happens after that? This is good speculative science fiction, and some of the most imaginative there is, without going wild. ( )

Earlier this year I made a vow to read all of the Space Odyssey books before 2010. I'm very glad I could revisit this particular book which I read halfway as s teenager, as the movie version is one of my favorite science fiction films of all time. 2010 has more action and dramatic tension than its predecessor. Clarke really got it right this time. Contrasted with the characters from 2001 Floyd, Curnow, and the other Russian and American characters seem more like real people with real feelings. There is a scene involving a Chinese astronaut stranded on the Jovian moon Europa that is particularly heartbreaking. There is also a payout where we learn more about Bowman's transformation and he too seems a more complex feeling creature in Odyssey Two. I'm a big fan of hard science fiction, where all of the futuristic content can be backed up by solid science or speculation on future technologies. Here we are presented with a story where orbital physics, propellant use and launch windows are major plot points. You won’t get that in Star Wars or Trek. It is also interesting to me that this is a sequel to the movie version of 2001 : a space odyssey rather than the print version, as the location of the second Monolith is Jupiter orbit rather than on a Saturnian moon. It is interesting to compare 2010 to its own movie version. The movie revs up the plot more by making the Monolith more sinister (it takes the life of a cosmonaut) which always kind of bothered me because it didn't jive with the relatively benevolent motives of the finale. Also, the book amps up the Russian-American political tensions back on Earth with a steadily escalating blockade and nuclear war. Politics just doesn't interest Clarke too much beyond some subtle needling that you would expect from a cosmopolitan man of science who is used to working with experts from all nations. As with 2001 it really helps to read the book to get a clearer glimpse of the alien intelligences involved. I highly recommend Odyssey Two. ( )

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this. It slows down about half way through but picks up again towards the end. Amazing how much Arthur Clark got right about modern technology all those years ago. ( )

2010 is a great sequel to 2001. What happened to Dave Bowman. Why did HAL go crazy. What was 2001 all about. What does the future hold. This book answers all these questions and raises so many others. 2010 expands the Odyssey storyline and prepares it for even more sequels in the future. ( )