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alexdaum's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
itheory's review against another edition
2.0
Surprisingly dull. Nothing much happens in this book. Really is just a placeholder between 2010 and 3001.
verkisto's review against another edition
3.0
It was informative to read this immediately following 2010, since three of the chapters here were remarkably similar to content from the previous book. This isn't anything one won't learn from the author's note, but considering it had been over ten years between reading these two books when I first read 2061, it was a weird kind of deja-vu to run across it again a mere week later....
Clarke is a great writer; he keeps you reading. It's weird, though, how he doesn't really focus on character, so much as telling you more and more about the science and the travel. He's more interested in sharing what he knows, so it's more akin to reading a scientific paper than an actual novel (which has been my biggest complaint about Rendezvous with Rama), but it doesn't make it any less readable. It's quite the achievement.
Probably my biggest complaint about 2061 is that this doesn't really feel like a Space Odyssey book. There's certainly a connection, but the point of the novel doesn't seem to be the advancement of life in the solar system like it does in the other two books. Most of the book is about travel through space, and the advancements that make that possible, and how it allows for space rescue. What connection there is to the monoliths only comes in at the end, like it's an afterthought. In retrospect, this story wouldn't be possibly without that connection, but the story feels less substantial for not being something as groundbreaking as the first two books in the series.
Clarke is a great writer; he keeps you reading. It's weird, though, how he doesn't really focus on character, so much as telling you more and more about the science and the travel. He's more interested in sharing what he knows, so it's more akin to reading a scientific paper than an actual novel (which has been my biggest complaint about Rendezvous with Rama), but it doesn't make it any less readable. It's quite the achievement.
Probably my biggest complaint about 2061 is that this doesn't really feel like a Space Odyssey book. There's certainly a connection, but the point of the novel doesn't seem to be the advancement of life in the solar system like it does in the other two books. Most of the book is about travel through space, and the advancements that make that possible, and how it allows for space rescue. What connection there is to the monoliths only comes in at the end, like it's an afterthought. In retrospect, this story wouldn't be possibly without that connection, but the story feels less substantial for not being something as groundbreaking as the first two books in the series.
radina's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Arthur C. Clarke must be growing on me, because I really enjoyed this book, even though it shares the same characteristic that made me dislike 2001 - which is that nothing really happens. I mean, things do happen - there are mysteries, and adventures, and even peril - but everything is resolved fairly quickly and with very little drama or trouble in the end. And yet, I found this book enjoyable rather than dull, albeit in a peaceful, calm way.
I think the main difference here is that I really like Heywood Floyd as a character. And much like in 2010, the rest of the cast of characters also shines. They're each delightful in their own way, and the interpersonal relations between them is charming.
The ending of this book was a bit odd -I'm really not sure what to make of Clarke's passion for turning all his characters into energy beings - but it did intrigue me and make me interested in picking up 3001, so that's a good sign!
Overall, this book was enjoyable in a sort of tame way. I was never on the edge of my seat, but I liked it!
I think the main difference here is that I really like Heywood Floyd as a character. And much like in 2010, the rest of the cast of characters also shines. They're each delightful in their own way, and the interpersonal relations between them is charming.
The ending of this book was a bit odd -
Overall, this book was enjoyable in a sort of tame way. I was never on the edge of my seat, but I liked it!
agnesceciliajuliane's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
nodogsonthemoon's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
frakalot's review against another edition
4.0
The third Odyssey is where the story really gets going for me. Despite Clarke's note, in which he claims that these books are not direct sequels to each other, I began to feel like this was all one big book before finishing the second Odyssey. At the end of the third, I'm thinking the publisher could wrap all four of these up in an omnibus edition and it would be the perfect way to consume the story.
Arthur enjoys his cryptic delivery, but also seems to like explaining the last story in the next one. This time, rather than simply recap the second Odyssey, Clarke has quite literally lifted passages from the earlier book. I'm wondering whether knowing that book four is the final Odyssey will force him to write less mysteriously, or if he'll just explain it all by the end of the same book. Or I suppose more dramatically he could leave us with unanswered questions, heavens forbid.
Clarke adds a few future-tech projections and that's always fun. He envisions an indefinitely reusable material called multifax which replaces paper and as he notes "has done so much to reduce the load on the humble wastepaper basket". I was thinking about this reducing the burden on trees, but yeah, ok.
I suppose I haven't said very much about this particular book. I thought it was the best so far. Characters were better but still not great. The plot feels like it has finally reached a meaningful section and it's probably a "me thing", but I'd prefer to follow all of the loose ends from the first books rather than leave it to my imagination.
So, it has been worth reading this far and now let's get cracking with The Final Odyssey.
Arthur enjoys his cryptic delivery, but also seems to like explaining the last story in the next one. This time, rather than simply recap the second Odyssey, Clarke has quite literally lifted passages from the earlier book. I'm wondering whether knowing that book four is the final Odyssey will force him to write less mysteriously, or if he'll just explain it all by the end of the same book. Or I suppose more dramatically he could leave us with unanswered questions, heavens forbid.
Clarke adds a few future-tech projections and that's always fun. He envisions an indefinitely reusable material called multifax which replaces paper and as he notes "has done so much to reduce the load on the humble wastepaper basket". I was thinking about this reducing the burden on trees, but yeah, ok.
I suppose I haven't said very much about this particular book. I thought it was the best so far. Characters were better but still not great. The plot feels like it has finally reached a meaningful section and it's probably a "me thing", but I'd prefer to follow all of the loose ends from the first books rather than leave it to my imagination.
So, it has been worth reading this far and now let's get cracking with The Final Odyssey.
skitch41's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
shlokbum's review against another edition
5.0
I am speechless, but I have to say that Arthur C Clarke was a genius!