by Arthur C. Clarke

The first thing that really struck me when reading Clarke’s novel was the sheer depth of his description, which is even more amazing given the time at which it was written. The very precise details presented constantly and consistently throughout the story are truly a testament of the author’s knowledge and vision regarding space and space travel.

The story also surprised me greatly, especially as it approached its end, as I didn’t expect the plot to travel the extreme lengths that it did––although, hindsight being what it is, I can’t really say what possessed me to think that it wouldn’t approach the unknown in such a fashion. Clarke had some interesting insights on evolution––both how we evolved, and possibilities of our future––and also with regards to consciousness––encompassing Mankind, the infamous HAL, and the largely unknown extraterrestrials.

Overall, I felt that the story was great and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys an interesting sci-fi jaunt.