2061 Odyssey Three by Arthur C. Clarke

2061 Odyssey Three by Arthur C. Clarke picks up where 2001 A Space Odyssey and 2010 Odyssey Two left off. Arthur C. Clarke continues to explore humanity’s desire to explore and understand the universe around them. The story is divided between two different spaceships. One of the spaceships is called Universe, which attempts to land and explore Halley’s Comet as it crosses through our solar system. The other spaceship, called Galaxy, crash lands on Europa, which revolves around Lucifer, a sun that once used to be the planet Jupiter (the transition of Jupiter to a second sun is the plot for 2010 Odyssey Two). Humankind has been warned by an alien race not to land on Europa. In order to help the crashed ship Galaxy, Universe is dispatched to help. What will happen to the crew of the Galaxy crash landing on an unfriendly and unexplored planet and will spaceship Universe arrive in time to save the crew of the Galaxy? These questions are second to how we, as humans, have a desire to learn and survive despite obstacles that are beyond our control.

Although this is the third novel in the series, the novel is a standalone story. It would help to have read 2001 and 2010 prior to this to understand the references to the alien race, which takes the shape of a Black Monolith and other references to characters. Like many of Arthur C. Clarke’s books, the events are created to provide a backdrop to discuss the important sociological and ethical issues that individuals and mankind as a whole must deal with in order to progress as a society. Clarke includes an accurate account of science in astrophysics and biology. Despite this novel being written in 1987, the science holds up today and is not so much science fiction as science fact now. Overall, a solid read for science fiction.

Reviewed by Mr. Jourden