The Space Odyssey series

The Space Odyssey series is a science fiction series of novels and films created from 1953 to 1997 primarily by the science-fiction writer, Arthur C. Clarke and by the film director, Stanley Kubrick. The series consists of two films and four novels. The two films were directed by Kubrick and by Peter Hyams, respectively. The first film screenplay was written by Kubrick and Clarke jointly, based on the seed idea in an earlier short story by Clarke (which bears little relation to the film other than the idea of an alien civilization having left something to alert them to mankind's attaining the ability of space travel). The second film had a screenplay by Hyams based on the novel by Clarke, who was not directly involved in its production as he had been with the first film. Kubrick had no involvement in any of the later projects. The four novels were written exclusively by Clarke, but with the following caveat: to demonstrate the the interrelated nature of the novel and the film of 2001: A Space Odyssey, Clarke and Kubrick arrived at this solution. The novel says that it is "based on the screenplay for 2001: A Space Odyssey; and the film's credits say that is is based on the novel 2001: A Space Odyssey. Thus, they fed upon each other.

The series combines several science-fiction narrative conventions with a metaphysical tone. Since the stories and settings in the various book and film entries all diverge, Clarke has stated that the continuity of the series represents happenings in a set of parallel universes.

Series listing

• 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968 novel and film)
• 2010: Odyssey Two (1982 novel and 1984 film, 2010: The Year We Make Contact)
• 2061: Odyssey Three (1987 novel)
• 3001: The Final Odyssey (1997 novel)
• "The Sentinel" (1948 short story, not published until 1951)
• The Lost Worlds of 2001 (book, 1972 Signet)