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wafer's review against another edition
2.0
It's such a shame that a series that's started off so strong has gotten so weak. There are far too many characters for such a short book with many of them acting more as one-note gags than people to care about. In a way, I feel like this book acts as the bridge between the second and 3001.
I feel so bad for giving a Clarke novel such a low score, because he really was a tremendously talented writer. I'm hoping that the last book ends the series with a bang rather than a fizzle.
I feel so bad for giving a Clarke novel such a low score, because he really was a tremendously talented writer. I'm hoping that the last book ends the series with a bang rather than a fizzle.
essinink's review against another edition
4.0
It's hard to explain why I like this book as much as I do.
The specter of David Bowman and the iconic HAL don't make a direct appearance until nearly the end of the book, but their shadow--and those of previous events--weigh heavily on Heywood Floyd's mind.
Speaking of good old Heywood, whose character I have reluctantly come to not-dislike, his grandson is also in this book. He also goes by "Floyd." And, when I'm reading in the later hours of the evening, it's occasionally a tad confusing.
That's on me, though. Clarke gives plenty of cues.
But I do like it; I like it a great deal, even. It's a very smooth read, with some of Clarke's best descriptive writing, and--despite the slow pace and lack of forward plot movement for the series as a whole--is leaps and bounds ahead of [b:2010: Odyssey Two|117841|2010 Odyssey Two (Space Odyssey #2)|Arthur C. Clarke|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1337455371s/117841.jpg|615175].
The sly humor he sneaks in--turns out Spaceship insurance is risky business--only added to my enjoyment.
And that ending, where everything finally came together. It took the post-reading notes I'd planned on writing and tossed them out the window.
As an interquel, it's just about perfect, setting the stage for what I expect will be an amazing finish in [b:3001: The Final Odyssey|63432|3001 The Final Odyssey (Space Odyssey, #4)|Arthur C. Clarke|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388271918s/63432.jpg|2118902].
The specter of David Bowman and the iconic HAL don't make a direct appearance until nearly the end of the book, but their shadow--and those of previous events--weigh heavily on Heywood Floyd's mind.
Speaking of good old Heywood, whose character I have reluctantly come to not-dislike, his grandson is also in this book. He also goes by "Floyd." And, when I'm reading in the later hours of the evening, it's occasionally a tad confusing.
That's on me, though. Clarke gives plenty of cues.
But I do like it; I like it a great deal, even. It's a very smooth read, with some of Clarke's best descriptive writing, and--despite the slow pace and lack of forward plot movement for the series as a whole--is leaps and bounds ahead of [b:2010: Odyssey Two|117841|2010 Odyssey Two (Space Odyssey #2)|Arthur C. Clarke|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1337455371s/117841.jpg|615175].
The sly humor he sneaks in--turns out Spaceship insurance is risky business--only added to my enjoyment.
And that ending, where everything finally came together. It took the post-reading notes I'd planned on writing and tossed them out the window.
As an interquel, it's just about perfect, setting the stage for what I expect will be an amazing finish in [b:3001: The Final Odyssey|63432|3001 The Final Odyssey (Space Odyssey, #4)|Arthur C. Clarke|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388271918s/63432.jpg|2118902].
czerwony's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
sharpness's review against another edition
3.0
Though I do love the rantings of Arthur C. Clarke, this one seems to be the beginning of the beating of a dead horse. 2010; Odyssey 2 is one of my very favorite Clarke works, with 2001: A Space Odyssey a close second, but this one just seems to stroke out existing characters for the sake of selling a squeal.
Don't even get me started on 3001: The Final Odyssey.
It's very worth the time, though. For Clarke's sake.
Don't even get me started on 3001: The Final Odyssey.
It's very worth the time, though. For Clarke's sake.
eightwaysanta's review against another edition
2.0
I have no idea why this was even published, it really didn't add to the narrative of the first two books. If it wasn't for the audiobook I don't think I would have made it, pretty boring and meandering.