2061: Odyssey Three

By: Arthur C. Clarke

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 7 hrs

Publisher's Summary

Arthur C. Clarke’s 2061: Odyssey Three is truly a masterful elaboration on one man’s epic vision of the universe. 

Only rarely does a novelist weave a tapestry so compelling that it captures the imagination of the entire world. But that is precisely what Arthur C. Clarke accomplished with 2001: A Space Odyssey. 

It is even more unusual that an author is able to complement so well-received an invention with an equally successful sequel. But Arthur C. Clarke’s 2010: Odyssey Two enthralled a huge audience worldwide. 

Now, in 2061: Odyssey Three, Arthur C. Clarke revisits the most famous future ever imagined, as two expeditions into space are inextricably tangled by human necessity and the immutable laws of physics. And Heywood Floyd, survivor of two previous encounters with the mysterious monoliths, must once again confront Dave Bowman - or whatever Bowman has become - a newly independent HAL, and the power of an alien race that has decided Mankind is to play a part in the evolution of the galaxy whether it wishes to or not.

©2012 Arthur C. Clarke (P)2012 Random House Audio

This guy is just phenomenal!

I read this book out of sequence - the last - because I didn't have it.
And it stands on its own.

Imaginative but based on real science. It takes it beyond into science fiction,
but the planetary and physical science of "what if" is what you see on Discovery and Science channels every day.

Superb!

Great Story with one BIG Problem

If you could sum up 2061: Odyssey Three in three words, what would they be?

Where is 2010?

Any additional comments?

It is a great Series, but it really leaves a great big Gaping hole when you leave out the second book of the series! I find that to be a shame. It leaves so many un-answered questions when you go on to the third book in series! How can you do that?This makes for a very big disappointment...

Perfectly OK

"2061" is a perfectly decent space thriller. The trouble is, one expects more than that. After all, it's a sequel to "2001" and "2010", two of the most brilliant and mind-expanding classics of epic sci-fi ever written. As a result, it feels a lot flatter and more disappointing than it should. The best way to experience it is to forget about its illustrious forbears and just enjoy it as a mildly diverting space thriller.

It has the usual Clarke failings: cardboard characters and clunky exposition. And this is an old man's novel; it's mostly about amiable old codgers puttering around and dispensing wry comments. Even when the action starts, every character responds to terrifying situations with wry humour, which gets a bit irksome after a while. Everyone's. So. Damn. Wry.

But the journey to Halley's Comet is interesting (and if you've seen the real-life photographs of comet 67P from the Rosetta probe you'll find Clarke's descriptions of a cometary surface remarkably accurate). The exploration of the revitalized Jovian moons, springing to life beneath their new sun, is fascinating. The mystery of Mt Zeus is intriguing and has a great payoff. And the last few chapters suddenly acquire the level of magisterial profundity that the Odyssey series ought to have, and might even bring a tingle to the spine.

Scott Brick is a solid narrator. I'm not convinced by his handling of the South African characters. But he captures the wryness perfectly.

My favorite Odyssey

If you could sum up 2061: Odyssey Three in three words, what would they be?

I really enjoyed Odyssey three, with Heywood Floyd being one of my favorite characters from 2010. Having a chance to follow him on another adventure was a real pleasure.

Did Scott Brick do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Scott Brick is a hard narrator for me to follow. His reading style, in all the books he has read, always have this beaten-down-give-up-on-life tone to them.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Hmm. It is such a good story that even Scott Brick's depressive, sigh infused tone, can't bring it down.

Great story

I will certainly be listening to this book again it flows a little funny however he builds to a great finale.

Amazing story and performance

This was an amazing story, and was an outstanding performance by Scott Brick, as usual. this helps to explain so much about 2001 and 2010. I look forward to 3001 next.

Each one keeps getting better!

Where does 2061: Odyssey Three rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Not the best, but certainly high up there.

What did you like best about this story?

The ending.

What about Scott Brick’s performance did you like?

Steady flow and passionate reading.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Europa Rising

Any additional comments?

Dick Hill would have been a better reader for this, based on 2001: A Space Odyssey

Another flop.

Thumbs down here, story must have been made up in a couple of weeks on the fly. Another wasted credit.

Get the narrator from 2001 to record 2010

I much preferred the narrator from 2001. If he's still alive, get him to record the missing audiobook of 2010.
This narrator, for 2061, had the fatal flaw of "cutting" S sounds — the kind that jab right into your brain every time the narrator says any word with a snake-like S sound. Beyond that, his voice was ok. Though fluctuations in his voice did sometimes trick me into thinking he was playing a character in some new dialogue, which was annoying.

Bland and un-inspiring.

The story is too long and does not have a grand theme only continuous ramblings.

great story

loved it wish 2010 was available needed that too complete the series, of Odyssey not available on Audible

can't wait to start 3001, pity 2010 not available

really enjoyed this audio book, pity 2010 not available for purchase. love the interplay of science and believable sci fi

A true man of science writing sci-fi, awesome!

Loved it, doesn't matter if you've read (or listened) 2001 & 2010 this book works as a story on its own or the 3rd book of the four book odysseys.

interesting.

Good to listen to. Makes you wonder how much thats been written has come true

poor

I felt a bit of a let down, just never got going, very drab

Not ACCs best work by a long stretch

Ponderous, slow-moving, just not what you'd expect from such a brilliant author. Well read, though and the narrator managed to keep his enthusiasm through the book which must have been difficult. When the key action takes place you've already had 75% of the book so the action-situation-resolution feels rushed and almost an afterthought. Not really worth the time investment, my opinion.

Chapter fest

His books a so long but it's worth hanging in there 😊 it's great to listen to in the dark.

Not as gripping as 2001, and 2010

Nrrative a bit too fragmented, rather slow-paced, with many digressions, and excerpts from previous volumes.

Not bad

I enjoyed the first two books in the series but this one didn’t have the same hold as the first two. This could be down to the narrator. I bought The Quest by Nelson Demille and it was narrated by Scott Brick. I wouldn’t even finish that one. Found it boring.

I’ll still read 3001 to finish the series so hopefully it’s better.

A fitting end to the odyssey

An enjoyable and fitting end to the series however the story ambled along much slower than the other 2 in the series.

Although including some of the original characters in one way or another, the plot was not as enthralling as I found the previous 2 episodes.

For those who have seen the movie adaptations of 2001 and 2010 you will likely enjoy this end to a trilogy however I don’t see this becoming a movie as epic as the the prequels.

A good read nonetheless and I was satisfied with the conclusion however no real pace to the plot made it tedious in its arrival.