Odyssey Three (2061) and Final Odyssey (3001)

Winding up the tetralogy (?) which began with 2001 and followed up with 2010.   All were written by Arthur C. Clarke.  The first is obviously the most famous, due to the Stanley Kubrick film which came out at roughly the same time (“Summer ‘68”).  The second is less well known but also has a movie, fortunately NOT done by Stanley Kubrick, which actually makes sense.

 

2061.  Obviously takes place 50 years after 2010.  Two separate plotlines converge: a celebrity mission onboard the spaceship Universe lands on Halley’s Comet – with Heywood Floyd aboard – and a spaceship Galaxy crashlands on Europa, a former moon of Jupiter, now a planet of Lucifer, the Jupiter-turned-into-a-star.   There’s a spectacular theory about a diamond-shaped object on Europa.  Dave Bowman returns – in spirit.  Lots of fun stuff going on and very much worthwhile reading, especially if you enjoyed the prior two stories.  It was NOT made into a movie.

3001. Finishing up.   Recall on the Discovery, the original spaceship in 2001, two astronauts were awake when HAL went apes**t and killed the sleeping ones.  Poole was lost into space, while Bowman ventured to the monolith and said “It’s full of stars”.  As noted earlier, Bowman has some pretty weird experiences in the subsequent books and is indeed back again here.  But remarkably, Poole did NOT die.  In fact, he was recovered and revived, although in 3001 – and brought back to Earth.   Everyone he knew is dead, and he has to adjust to a life which is much different.  Due to his intimate familiarity not only with the Discovery mission but also life in the twentieth century, he’s actually sought out as a celebrity and valuable source of knowledge.  Even so, he’s not really happy on future Earth.  

Finally – out of frustration and boredom – he goes to Ganymede and decides to disobey the aliens and land on Europa.  He has a hunch – correct, as it is – that “Dave Bowman” will protect him.   Unfortunately, there’s some big bad news about the aliens who made those monoliths and turned Jupiter (gas giant planet) into Lucifer (mini-sun).   How do they resolve it?  Stay tuned.

I’m going to speculate that while the general population is generally aware of 2001, very few people actually read that book itself - probably put off by Kubrick’s inane treatment thereof, which is a shame, because the book itself MAKES SENSE.  Moreover, 2010 is also excellent – and its movie MAKES SENSE (Kubrick did not handle it) – as are these two novels.  Naturally 2001 is the starting point.  If you can bring yourself to read and enjoy that one, chances are you’ll enjoy the following three.  Do yourself a favor and use your brain.