This series started as a one-off book released in conjunction with the Stanley Kubrick movie of the same name. The series consists of:
- 2001: A Space Odyssey
- 2010: Odyssey Two. (Also made into a film)
- 2061 Odyssey Three
- 3001: The Final Odyssey
The first and second books are enthralling. 2061 is more of the same, and thus decent but somewhat pointless as part of the arc. 3001 is an attempt at closing up all the loose threads, and does so in a satisfying way.
For a long time, these books frustrated me because I just didn’t get them. On the surface, they are hard SciFi, but there is quite a bit of existential pondering about the nature of life. When I finally just relaxed and accepted the fact that there are mystical things going on, I realized that this is the whole point. The reader is supposed to be in awe, and there are some things that mankind is not meant to know (yet). Just remember to accept the mystery and embrace the sense of wonder.
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