2010: Odyssey Two Book Review

Finally, months after reading 2001: A Space Odyssey, I sat down and read 2010: Odyssey Two. I honestly didn’t know what to expect going in. I had a vague idea of the plot, and I had already been introduced to the principal characters. Anyway, let’s get into the review.

Written in 1982 and winning the Hugo Award in 1983, this book serves as a direct sequel to 2001: A Space Odyssey. Set in 2010, the book returns to the character of Heywood Floyd. He sets out with a crew on the Soviet spacecraft Alexei Leonov toward Jupiter, hoping to retrieve the Discovery One. He also plans to figure out what happened to David Bowman, who had disappeared at the end of the first book. The crew also notes the mysterious monolith located somewhere near Jupiter. While journeying to Jupiter, the crew becomes aware of a Chinese spacecraft named the Tsien, which plans to land on Europa.

To say that I like this story is an understatement. I enjoyed getting to know the characters again as well as meeting the new ones. To be honest, the plot almost moved at a better pace than in 2001. Some moments in 2001 were much slower than other parts, such as the beginning scenes with Moonwatcher (not that I didn’t enjoy them). This book moved at the perfect pace for me, and it serves as a perfect continuation of where 2001 left off. 2010 also crafted the perfect answer to all the burning questions I had when I finished reading the first book. I got my questions answered not only in due time, allowing me to engage with the plot, but also in the perfect way. It stands to reason that 2010 remains on equal footing with 2001.

I also enjoyed the mix of old and new characters. We get further development of characters from the first novel, as well as new characters who stand on their own. The best part for me was seeing Heywood Floyd fleshed out throughout the book. While he plays a vital part in 2001, his presence becomes crucial in the second book, and I enjoyed his character development overall. Honestly, 2010 improves on its characters in general, providing a balance between the plot and how the characters think and feel about the situation. The plot itself reveals this as the overall situation with the monoliths becomes more serious. Seeing the characters react to the growing tension acted as one of the highlights of the book for me.

I honestly can’t wait to read the following book, 2061: Odyssey Three. However, I need to tackle a couple of other books on my TBR first. See you all later this week for another Saturday post! Happy reading!

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