After maintaining for years that a sequel to the SF-classic 2001: A Space Odyssey was impossible Clarke published one in 1982 anyway. Following up on such a successful works always carries a big risk, so perhaps it is not surprising this book, and subsequent film, weren't quite as well received as 2001 had been. I had my doubt whether or not I should pick it up but in hindsight I do not regret I did. 2010: Odyssey Two may not have the impact of it's predecessor but I found it to be a very accessible work of hard science fiction that answers a number of questions the reader is left with after 2001.

While the reader has some idea of what happened to David Bowman after he left the Discovery, earth has had to make do with his final cryptic message: "Oh my God, it is full of stars". Many scientists and policy-makers would like to get their hands on HAL9000, the malfunctioning artificial intelligence that is still widely regarded as the cause of the Discovery disaster, as well as study the artefact Bowman encountered. The spaceship is still in orbit around Jupiter and the US is making plans to send a ship to rendezvous with it. Unfortunately the Russians appear to be a step ahead of them. Their preparations are much further advanced and it looks like they will beat the Americans to it by a full year. The discovery that the ships orbit is unstable and that even the Russians will only be just in time to visit the ship before it falls into Io forces the two rivals to cooperate. Three US astronauts will accompany the Russians to provide their knowledge on the Discovery's systems as well as the supercomputer that runs it.

Dr. Heywood Floyd, whom we met in the first book, has been one of the victims of the Discovery disaster. He has been dismissed by the National Council on Astronautics and is currently working for the University of Hawaii. His new life suits him well but Frank still feels guilty over the events nine years earlier. When he is approached by one of his Russian contacts with information on the upcoming mission to the Discovery the Russians are planning, it is obvious he has to accompany it. Frank sets of for the long journey to Jupiter but is awoken a month ahead of schedule when it becomes clear a third party is trying to get to the Discovery and it looks like they will beat the Russo-American expedition to it.

The first thing to note about this novel is that it appears to follow the film version of 2001 rather than the book. The expedition is mounted to Jupiter rather than Saturn. I am not quite sure why Clarke did this. The reasons for exchanging Saturn with Jupiter had to do with the problems of creating a good model of Saturn's rings. Not a problem Clarke was likely to encounter when writing a novel. He chose to consistently follow the film though, something that might be confusing to those who have read the novel but have not seen the film. I still firmly believe one can't do without the other.

Knowledge of our solar system had greatly expanded between 1968 and the early 1980s and Clarke includes a lot of these details in the novel. His descriptions of Jupiter's moons are vivid, although probably outdated to those with greater knowledge of such matters than me. The fact that the Soviet-Union is still around in 2010 makes it feel a bit dated as well. The USSR would not dissolve until 1991 of course but by now that is history and we haven't even reached 2010 yet. Still, setting that aside there is plenty to enjoy in this novel. Clarke speculates on the possibility of life in other places in they solar system. Europa still seems our best bet. The composition of Jupiter is another topic Clarke goes into in great detail. His descriptions, even if they are not quite as elaborate, remind me of Kim Stanley Robinson's work.

While 2010: Odyssey Two is a pleasant read the question whether or not you enjoy it really rests on the question if you think 2001 should have a sequel. Many people believe that the mystery adds too 2001. I guess they prefer Kubrick's interpretation of the story, which leaves a lot more unexplained than the book. If you go for Clarke's version, you are more likely to enjoy the sequel I think. Which makes it all the more puzzling that Clarke decided to follow Kubrick's version of the story for 2010. Personally I am a on the fence on this one. It must have been obvious to Clarke he was very unlikely to achieve the same kind of impact for a sequel. The novel he produced, while definitely an entertaining read, will never be mistaken for a great work of science fiction. On the other hand he left us with an awful lot of unanswered questions and Clarke seems like a guy who likes answers. I suppose I can see why he did it.

Clarke or Kubrick? You will have to make up your own mind. I don't regret picking it up but there is definitely something to be said for leaving the mystery of 2001: A Space Odyssey in tact.

Other Reviews of works by Arthur C. Clarke

Rendezvous with Rama - Jul 20, 2008

2001: A Space Odyssey - May 11, 2008