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Rating: 
Summary: A Must for the obsessive film buff
Review: Everything you always wanted to know about the fantastic movie in one place. From the original Arthur C. Clarke short story that served as template for the final film to great commentary and inside stories on the "inventing as they went along" groundbreaking special effects. Very thorough, definitely for fans of Kubrick.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting Read but Inaccurately Titled
Review: If you're looking for a diary detailing the day-to-day, year-to-year production of Stanley Kubrick's magnificent film, this is not quite it. Which is not to say that this book is not a fascinating read. It is a compilation of articles, reviews, and commentaries that touch on the genesis of the project and its groundbreaking special effects, while devoting a few too many pages to the initial reviews. After four or five of these, it's clear that most film reviewers don't have a clue. The sections done by those directly involved with the film (Lightman, Trumbull, et al) are the most compelling; they often provide a better insight into Mr. Kubrick's approach than the lengthy and rambling Playboy interview that concludes the book. Excellent intro by Jay Cocks--would've liked more about his time spent with Kubrick. If this book seems occasionally disappointing, it's only because there are so many interesting anecdotes and observations.
Rating:
Summary: a good review for 2001 fanatics
Review: The book is chock full of great background information, reviews, Q&A with Kubrick and excellent "making of" info from Lightman, Clarke, et al...a wonderful read if you are obsessed with the movie (although judging from the other critics I am late to the 2001 book game). Especially enjoyed the inclusion of the film's initial reviews that panned the movie -- it conveys the idea that the general public, right down to the movie-gobbling critics were unable to grasp what the film meant, from the literal to the ideological. Book gives insights into the hungry intelligence and driven nature of the director, and the staggering amount of research and diligence that went into making the film a work of art. There's a hefty chapter on the technical aspects of the film, which frankly didn't interest me as much as the various interpretations of the plot, but I found a new appreciation for the film via this examination of the tech minutae. A great read.
Rating: 
Summary: Making of... an average book
Review: The Making of... book is like many others, written by a fan for a fan, in this case this tiny paperback book seems to be a scrapbook of pictures and articles from the original release of 2001 at the cinemas. Unfortunately the pages dedicated to two legends, Arthur C Clarke and Stanley Kubrik, are pretty much non existant. There are few diagrams and sketches made by the two that are fascinating, but this book is by an means a companion to the movie, it doesn't try to break down those great mysterious walls that surround this movie. For example, How did that monkey throw the bone when it is physically impossible for any moneky to do that kind of action? What happened to the monolith on the Moon? And so on. This book will not bring new conversation to the flogging 2001 fan who is desperate to learn every possible secret there was about this movie, instead, it works on a more basic level really being a Making of... book that goes through various trouble during production and how special effects were mastered. A book that obviously had no input from Arthur C Clarke. To be truely captivated by the movie, but you probably already have it, so buy the sequel, and the book sequels, then buy this one. It'll sit nicely next to the rest of the Making of... books that are around. Rather disappointing due to the lack of insight into the REAL making of 2001, which in my opinion is not in a studio but at desk writing a script, we never find out what Clarke was thinking whilst he making this masterpiece with pen and paper!
Rating:
Summary: Making of... an average book
Review: The Making of... book is like many others, written by a fan for a fan, in this case this tiny paperback book seems to be a scrapbook of pictures and articles from the original release of 2001 at the cinemas. Unfortunately the pages dedicated to two legends, Arthur C Clarke and Stanley Kubrik, are pretty much non existant. There are few diagrams and sketches made by the two that are fascinating, but this book is by an means a companion to the movie, it doesn't try to break down those great mysterious walls that surround this movie. For example, How did that monkey throw the bone when it is physically impossible for any moneky to do that kind of action? What happened to the monolith on the Moon? And so on. This book will not bring new conversation to the flogging 2001 fan who is desperate to learn every possible secret there was about this movie, instead, it works on a more basic level really being a Making of... book that goes through various trouble during production and how special effects were mastered. A book that obviously had no input from Arthur C Clarke. To be truely captivated by the movie, but you probably already have it, so buy the sequel, and the book sequels, then buy this one. It'll sit nicely next to the rest of the Making of... books that are around. Rather disappointing due to the lack of insight into the REAL making of 2001, which in my opinion is not in a studio but at desk writing a script, we never find out what Clarke was thinking whilst he making this masterpiece with pen and paper!
Rating:
Summary: the making of 2001: a space odyssey
Review: this book was a disappointment. there was very little information about the actual making of the movie. there were pages and pages of reviews of the movie, and general information about what the movie may mean. there was none of the "behind the scenes" stuff that can be so interesting. and no pictures!!
Rating: 
Summary: Not Bad - But Look For Better "Making of '2001' Books
Review: This isn't a bad book about the making of "2001: A Space Odyssey", one of the great films of the 20th century. But there are a couple of better books to look for on this subject. The first is Jerome Agel's original, "The Making of Kubrick's 2001", released in the late 60s, soon after from the film. The other is Piers Bizony's "2001: Filming The Future", released in 1995. Brozney's book is more conventional, Agel's is a very "McLuhan-esque" collage of reviews, interviews, and dozens of photographs. Stephanie Schwam has edited together articles and excerpts from both books for her "Making of" book. Dedicated Kubrick-ologists may find an interview or two with The Master that they haven't read before, but the Agel and Bizony's books both do a much more thorough job of telling the story of how this great film was made, and unlike Schwam's book include stills and production photos.
Rating: 
Summary: A Great Glimpse into the Past
Review: This small 300 page book offers an intriguing glimpse into the past in which 2001 was made. The title is a bit misleading as the focus here isn't on the actual production of the film and the nature of it's construct, but an examination of the period which developed it. It's quite facinating and offers intriguing new tidbits of information. The book presents the original Arthur C. Clarke short stroy on which the film is based, The Sentinal, in it's entirety giving insight as to how much had to be extrapolated from it to make a feature. Other highlights are; a production calander wich details not only script writings and screenings, but significant scientific developments as well (such as the first space walk, the launching of probes), essays on the building of the various ships, a discussion of the special effects, testimonies from various scientists, consultants, art directors and more on their experiences with the film, the full original press release, multiple reviews from 1968-69, and interviews with Arthur C. Clarke and Stanley Kubrick himself. What more could you ask for? It's breathtaking! I'm confounded by some the the harsher reviews. So much is presented, all in one book, that this is easily the most complete collection of information on 2001 : A Space Odyssey I've ever come across. The book succeeds in giving the reader a sense of time and placement in history for 2001 as well as revealing some of the production secrets and offering some film analyzation. The film reviews alone were incredible in their revelation of reactions to the film. If you want to more about the actual process of the 2001 production, Filming The Future by Piers Bizony is a better choice. Get this book for a clear understanding of where 2001 came from, how it came to be and what effect it had. If you come to it with this in mind, I'm sure any film fan, and certainly any 2001 fan, will be blown away by the amount of information and insight presented. Don't pass this up!
Rating:
Summary: A Great Glimpse into the Past
Review: This small 300 page book offers an intriguing glimpse into the past in which 2001 was made. The title is a bit misleading as the focus here isn't on the actual production of the film and the nature of it's construct, but an examination of the period which developed it. It's quite facinating and offers intriguing new tidbits of information. The book presents the original Arthur C. Clarke short stroy on which the film is based, The Sentinal, in it's entirety giving insight as to how much had to be extrapolated from it to make a feature. Other highlights are; a production calander wich details not only script writings and screenings, but significant scientific developments as well (such as the first space walk, the launching of probes), essays on the building of the various ships, a discussion of the special effects, testimonies from various scientists, consultants, art directors and more on their experiences with the film, the full original press release, multiple reviews from 1968-69, and interviews with Arthur C. Clarke and Stanley Kubrick himself. What more could you ask for? It's breathtaking! I'm confounded by some the the harsher reviews. So much is presented, all in one book, that this is easily the most complete collection of information on 2001 : A Space Odyssey I've ever come across. The book succeeds in giving the reader a sense of time and placement in history for 2001 as well as revealing some of the production secrets and offering some film analyzation. The film reviews alone were incredible in their revelation of reactions to the film. If you want to more about the actual process of the 2001 production, Filming The Future by Piers Bizony is a better choice. Get this book for a clear understanding of where 2001 came from, how it came to be and what effect it had. If you come to it with this in mind, I'm sure any film fan, and certainly any 2001 fan, will be blown away by the amount of information and insight presented. Don't pass this up!
Rating:
Summary: Great read for Kubrick and 2001 fans...
Review: Very insightful and intriguing for this fan of both the movie and director. There arent a whole lot of really great books out there on Kubrick and his films (i know, Ive read a lot of them) but this reallydigs in deep and gives you what you want. Its a fun read, and Ill be buying more of these Modern Library movie books after so thoroughly enjoying this one. Recommended
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