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!

14 of 15 people found this review helpful

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...

34 of 42 people found this review helpful

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.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

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

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Great story

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

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

not my favorite

2001 and 2010 were much better books in my opinion. I found this story line confusing at times and the story of Europa seemed to abruptly end.

My birthday is in 1961-which is 100yrs before

100 yrs prior to this novel. Feeling connected to this series. Even more to 3001.

Fantastic Sequel

This a great 3rd episode in 4 book series and keeps you in suspense the whole time.

Books 1 and 2 Are Better. Will Still Read 3001.

Narration is great but the story feels slow and not as engaging as the 1st 2 books of the saga. I was very impressed with book 2 and its ability to pull me back into such a rich and enjoyable saga. This 3rd book falls a little flat. I'm not as interested in the traveling whims of Haywood Floyd later in life, I'm not moved by the "ship of fools" plot device, I'm not as invested in the story via those "ship of fools" characters as I was with the intrepid explorers of the 2 space ships in Odyssey 2. The Afrikan scientists chasing down their theories about diamond cores in gas giants etc. was interesting and entertaining and pulled me back into the book whenever the narrative started to feel distracted by the ship of fools. learning about the ships, the business and scientific exploits behind establishing interplanetary travel within our own solar system, and the events on Europa were all big wins for the plot with this one! Worth reading all the way through for the sake of the last few chapters. This saga is far more interesting when it gives you clues about the monolith, who built them, who's interacting with them now, in what way, what is the monolith doing in response? Those are the meaty questions that really keep this narrative moving and there was far too little of that for this part of the saga to keep me on the edge of my seat like the last 2 books did. looking forward to how the next book unfolds as this one leaves some interesting hints and cliff hangers at the end.

great story

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

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

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.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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.

The Monolithic saga continues!

The story moves on but doesn't give much away. The intelligence behind the monolith remains enigmatic but it's purpose is finally revealed. .

A great book for SciFi enthusiasts

This is a book for the nerds who love science fiction and want to lap up the writing of Arthur C Clarke and live in his imaginary world for a while longer

interesting.

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

Clarke's magnificence shines like the stars.

Scott Brick does justice to a remarkable parallel continuation of the Odyssey series. 3001 beckons.

Some interesting ideas

Not as good as 2001 of course but just enough intrigue about the Europans to make me listen for a third time. As always, ACC provides a few interesting stories and ideas for future technology.

Not my favourite narrator but not the worst either