The Space Odyssey series
Encyclopedia
The Space Odyssey series is a science fiction
series of four novels and two films created from 1968 to 1997, primarily by the writer Arthur C. Clarke
. Two early short stories by Clarke may also be considered part of the series.
Motives:
Features:
The 2001 screenplay was written by Clarke and Stanley Kubrick
jointly, based on the seed idea in "The Sentinel" that an alien civilization has left an object on the Moon to alert them to mankind's attainment of space travel. In addition, the 1953 short story contains elements of the first section of the film, in which the ancestors of humans are apparently given an evolutionary
"nudge" by extraterrestrials. The opening part of another Clarke story, "Transience", has plot elements set in about the same time in human history, but is otherwise unrelated.
The 1972 book The Lost Worlds of 2001
contains material that did not make it into the book or film.
Clarke's first attempt to write the sequel to 2001 was a film screenplay. Clarke was not directly involved in the production of the second film, although he did appear in a cameo
. Kubrick had no involvement in the 2010 novel or film, or any of the later projects. As of 2010, there are no plans for a third or fourth film.
The Space Odyssey series combines several science-fiction narrative conventions with a metaphysical
tone. Since the stories and settings in the books and films all diverge, Clarke suggested that the "continuity" of the series represents happenings in a set of parallel universes
. One notable example is that in the original book, the voyage was to the planet Saturn. In production, it was decided that the FX for Saturn's rings would be too expensive, so the film's voyage is to Jupiter, instead. The second book "2010" retcons the whole storyline to match with the film's specified Jovian destination.
Clarke stated that the Time Odyssey
novels are an "orthoquel" to the Space Odyssey series.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
series of four novels and two films created from 1968 to 1997, primarily by the writer Arthur C. Clarke
Arthur C. Clarke
Sir Arthur Charles Clarke, CBE, FRAS was a British science fiction author, inventor, and futurist, famous for his short stories and novels, among them 2001: A Space Odyssey, and as a host and commentator in the British television series Mysterious World. For many years, Robert A. Heinlein,...
. Two early short stories by Clarke may also be considered part of the series.
Motives:
- "The SentinelThe Sentinel (short story)"The Sentinel" is a short story by Arthur C. Clarke, which was expanded and modified into the novel and movie 2001: A Space Odyssey. Clarke expressed impatience with the common description of it as "the story on which 2001 is based." He was quoted as saying, it is like comparing "an acorn to...
" — short story written in 1948 and first published in 1951 as "Sentinel of Eternity" - "Encounter in the DawnEncounter in the Dawn"Encounter in the Dawn" is a short story by Arthur C. Clarke published in 1953 in the magazine Amazing Stories. It was originally collected in the anthology Expedition to Earth, and, in one edition of the book, is titled "Expedition to Earth". In a later collection the title "Encounter at...
" — short story first published in 1953 ( re-titled "Encounter at Dawn" or "Expedition to Earth" in some later collections).
Features:
- 2001: A Space Odyssey — film2001: A Space Odyssey (film)2001: A Space Odyssey is a 1968 epic science fiction film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick, and co-written by Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke, partially inspired by Clarke's short story The Sentinel...
and novel2001: A Space Odyssey (novel)2001: A Space Odyssey is a science fiction novel by Arthur C. Clarke. It was developed concurrently with Stanley Kubrick's film version and published after the release of the film...
— produced concurrently and released in 1968 - 2010: Odyssey Two2010: Odyssey Two2010: Odyssey Two is a 1982 best-selling science fiction novel by Arthur C. Clarke. It is the sequel to the 1968 novel 2001: A Space Odyssey, but continues the story of Stanley Kubrick's film adaptation with the same title and not Clarke's original novel. The book is a part of Clarke's...
— 1982 novel, adapted as the 1984 film 2010 with screenplay by Peter HyamsPeter HyamsPeter Hyams is an American screenwriter, director and cinematographer, probably best known for directing the 1984 science fiction adventure 2010 , Capricorn One, the comic book adaptation Timecop and the Arnold Schwarzenegger horror/action film End of Days.-Family:Hyams was born in New York... - 2061: Odyssey Three2061: Odyssey Three2061: Odyssey Three is a science fiction novel by Arthur C. Clarke that was published in 1987. It is the third book in Clarke's Space Odyssey series...
— 1987 novel - 3001: The Final Odyssey3001: The Final Odyssey3001: The Final Odyssey is a science fiction novel by Sir Arthur C. Clarke. It is the fourth and final book in Clarke's Space Odyssey series.-Plot summary:...
— 1997 novel
The 2001 screenplay was written by Clarke and Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick was an American film director, writer, producer, and photographer who lived in England during most of the last four decades of his career...
jointly, based on the seed idea in "The Sentinel" that an alien civilization has left an object on the Moon to alert them to mankind's attainment of space travel. In addition, the 1953 short story contains elements of the first section of the film, in which the ancestors of humans are apparently given an evolutionary
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
"nudge" by extraterrestrials. The opening part of another Clarke story, "Transience", has plot elements set in about the same time in human history, but is otherwise unrelated.
The 1972 book The Lost Worlds of 2001
The Lost Worlds of 2001
The Lost Worlds of 2001 by Arthur C. Clarke was published in 1972 by Signet as an accompaniment to the novel 2001: A Space Odyssey.The book itself consists in part of behind-the-scenes notes from Clarke concerning scriptwriting , as well as production issues...
contains material that did not make it into the book or film.
Clarke's first attempt to write the sequel to 2001 was a film screenplay. Clarke was not directly involved in the production of the second film, although he did appear in a cameo
Cameo appearance
A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
. Kubrick had no involvement in the 2010 novel or film, or any of the later projects. As of 2010, there are no plans for a third or fourth film.
The Space Odyssey series combines several science-fiction narrative conventions with a metaphysical
Metaphysics
Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world, although the term is not easily defined. Traditionally, metaphysics attempts to answer two basic questions in the broadest possible terms:...
tone. Since the stories and settings in the books and films all diverge, Clarke suggested that the "continuity" of the series represents happenings in a set of parallel universes
Parallel universe (fiction)
A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
. One notable example is that in the original book, the voyage was to the planet Saturn. In production, it was decided that the FX for Saturn's rings would be too expensive, so the film's voyage is to Jupiter, instead. The second book "2010" retcons the whole storyline to match with the film's specified Jovian destination.
Clarke stated that the Time Odyssey
A Time Odyssey
A Time Odyssey is a series of novels co-written by Arthur C. Clarke and Stephen Baxter. , the series consists of:*Vol. 1 – Time's Eye *Vol. 2 – Sunstorm *Vol...
novels are an "orthoquel" to the Space Odyssey series.