2061: Odyssey Three by Arthur C. Clarke
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Book Reviews of 2061: Odyssey Three
Book Review: Very good transition
Summary: 4 Stars
Ok, for all of you reading all of the other reviews that says this book isn't worth reading don't follow their advice. This book may not be his best work, but to completly understand the universe the author is trying to create, this is a must read. Also, if you want to read 3001, you had better pick this one up first.Book Review: very good
Summary: 4 Stars
I believe that this book will be one of hisbest but feel that the last few chapterswere a little confusing as to when the time line took place. There was to much of a gapBook Review: He ran out of ideas
Summary: 3 Stars
This book is good. In the "Odyssey" series, the majority of it stands up as incredible as the rest of the series. Unfortunately, it's the least well-written (discluding 3001 because it was utter trash), and not solely because the author seemingly ran out of ideas.
Arthur C. Clarke does a splendid job of describing things like Halley's Comet, its surface, and even handles with the same level of shock, amazement, wonder, and awe the discoveries in "2001" or more accurately, in "2010" when Dr. Chinese Guy I mistakingly called "Tsien" in my other review reveals there is life on Europa. But things like finding vaguely maybe-organic matter beneath the surface of Halley's Comet is hardly the highest in this regard.
But first, the book itself. The story does well in extending the style and tradition of the Odyssey series, setting up several plotlines to be handled in a later sequel (which 3001 does not count because it goes off on its own story) involving an African terrorist group only revolving around the name "Shaka" (as in Shaka Zulu).
The story, though, is almost nonexistant. It involves two massive passenger spacecraft, Galaxy and Universe, with Universe carrying Heywood Floyd, a 100+ year old with the physical health of a 60 year old, and others to explore Halley's Comet, while Galaxy is across the Solar system probing Europa.
A terrorist attack by someone from this "Shaka" organization causes Galaxy to crashland on Europa. She (the terrorist) is conveniently killed in the crash, and now Galaxy calls for help, and Rohan will answer. I mean, "Universe".
So there's no real drama, as Galaxy is safe and has enough supplies to last the several months journey. Universe, meanwhile, discovers a method to cut the travel time down to a few weeks and undertakes it.
The big revelations made revolve chiefly around a Europan mountain called "Mount Zeus" which is not very cleverly disguised by Arthur C. Clarke under the title of an old Beatles song, which if you've read "2010" pretty much gives it away right then and there (Non-Spoiler alert is further ruined since he mentions it involving someone named Lucy. If you still don't get it: "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds")
So Mount Zeus is made entirely of diamond. In fact, it's part of Jupiter's original core that crashed onto the surface only recently.
This is of extreme interest to an Afrikaaner scientist Rolf van der Berg, who takes Heywood Floyd's grandson Chris Floyd out to study it.
In the process, they discover sentient life in Europa, life that has established a village around the black Monolith, and has stripped all the metal off the Tsien for some odd reason.
All of a sudden, the minimalist story is given a sudden push towards the ending, and events suddenly unfold rapidly, in a Harry Turtledove past-tense style where some big event is about to happen, then the next chapter takes place AFTER the event, with people talking about the event.
As well, there are some things which due apparently to a lack of a proper sequel, come off as massive Red Herrings:
- "Shaka". An entire small chapter is devoted solely to describing the mystery behind this terrorist group. After its operative on the Galaxy dies, it's never mentioned again save for passing remark involving her.
- van der Berg's uncle and his contacts he is so secretive in contacting regarding Mount Zeus.
- The potentially organic matter in Halley's Comet.
- The constant and, quite frankly, annoyingly repetitious talk and descriptions about Io
A lot of areas of this book show signs of what is to come in the poorly written sequel "3001"---there is copious description and detail that ventures into the realm of opaquity, and some repetition in the form of copied passages straight from 2010, though nowhere near as pointless or recycled as in the sequel.
Ultimately, though, while it was an interesting read and loads of fun for the discoveries on Europa, it contributed nothing overall except to set up a sequel which never came.
Book Review: 2061 A Strange Odyssey
Summary: 3 Stars
Non Spoiler Section:
This book is the third in the monolith series (2001/2010). It continues 50 years after the climactic and brilliant end of 2010. My problem with this book is that it is pointless and doesn't fit the series. The story isn't overly coherent or seemingly complete, almost as if A.C.C had a 300 page limit and had to quickly wrap things up. The writing style is very different, much shorter chapters, every one with a little cliffhanger or reveal. It has some great ideas, but that does not warrant this book. I have yet to read 3001, if it has good reviews then get this to complete the series, if not I'd stop at 2010.
Spoilers:
Ok, so what's wrong with it? Hal and Bowman turn up for approx 2 pages. Heywood has no real relation to the story, in fact his trip to the comet never recieves a pay off later on. His becoming immortal made little sense in terms of the how, the why or the when. The plot involving Europa, while more interesting, is closer to a thriller than an adventure. There's little climax to it all, the rescue is glossed over in a few words, the 'diamond' revelation appears early on in the script. The USSA 'intrigue' is not resolved. It's poor storytelling. In regards to moving on the series plot, the cliffhanger is AWFUL, it's a sloppy one line at the end that has no reference to events before or it's ramifacations. The monoliths don't actually do anything at all in this book.
This story, to me, would make far more sense as a stand alone book than a "2010" sequal.
Book Review: I didn't feel cheated, but...
Summary: 3 Stars
Earlier this year I made a vow to read all of the Space Odyssey books before 2010. I was warned that I would be let down by 2061 : odyssey three. It took me two days to read and while I still consider 2010 to be my favorite I didn't feel cheated.
The story feels rushed, however and most of the chapters are a mere three pages long. If you are used to that kind of scattered Harry Turtledoveian kaleidoscopic focus shift then it will be merely a mild annoyance. I really suspect Clarke's heart was not in this one. In fact, the best parts of 2061 were inported whole cloth from 2010. He was hoping the Galileo program would give him more cause to return to the Space Odyssey but it was delayed by the Challenger disaster. The pleasure trip to land on Halley's Comet seems a bit of a swindle or a compromise. I liked having Floyd return however, though most of the other characters failed to move me. I won't gripe about the ending as it seems to be well tilled ground at this point.
I'm a big sucker for stories featuring colonization of near space and the Galaxy and Universe felt like real ships with personality and provable physics; as the Millennium Falcon and Serenity are in the "soft" science fiction genre.