Rating: 
Summary: Cosmic Conclusion!
Review: A wonderful conclusion to one of sci-fi's cosmic chapters. Less sweeping than "2001," but classic Clarke
Rating: 
Summary: Science - 10, fiction - 2
Review: Arthur Clarke is a genius, and when he tells me what the future is going to be like in a thousand years or so, I pay attention. His future is minutely detailed, and will probably prove true in many respects. Where this novel fails is in a failure to couple the technological change with humanity. These people don't breathe and spit and snore; these are illustrations, not characters. The plot isn't really worth mentioning: there was only enough of it for a short story
Rating:
Summary: A defense not , but a suggestion.
Review: At the outset, I must say that I am a keen reader , first and last (a reviewer last). Arthur.C Clarke lives as they say in our general area of the pond (The Indian Ocean) and has no doubt been a witness to the fracticious and often unqualified opinions affected by one and all, on all and sundry. This should aclimitize him and by inference the many potential readers of the book the quagmire that any well-known author or any well-read book lover faces. Its a simple problem that has been with us a long long time, it is called prejudice. A new tale is judged often by our expectations from/of the writers tale-telling ability/plotting style and very little from the story itself. Clarke is writer who probably in an attempt not to be bogged down in his own highly respected style of narrative, legitimizable SF, upset the apple-cart of many's expectations. 3001 may by many, not be considered the perfect sequel, if one goes by the negative critical acclaim that it has provoked.
But is not that the essence of a good book!
A book that makes one react is more relevant than one that does not, at least in terms of its impact on our collective conscience. Clarke (by the time tested wisdom called hind-sight) been an oracle of sorts in reporting mankinds technological and other tendencies, I for one trust him to be accurate (within some degree) in his anticipations. With due respect to a genuine visonary, I have never been a great admirer of his linguistic style, often sparse and somtimes forced. BUT and this is the most important 'BUT' what he conceives and projects in his tales are signposts, guiding beacons in the uncertain future and that too in very humanistic terms.
I would reccommend Mr.A.Clarke to any one, any time, any where, any work, just for the insight. 2001 was and is an icon, Kubrick insured that, can we not make room in our minds for more?
Rating: 
Summary: Not a great end to a great series
Review: Lots of possibilities for the future but it is sort of flat. Never get any real action. The virus that was locked in a cave for hundreds of years seems a bit naive. Any good hacker could do that. One thousand year old men could be made more exciting. No more sequels please.
Rating:
Summary: A highly palatable mess
Review: The ideas and technology were way cool; unfortunately, the plot was not
Rating: 
Summary: pretty good
Review: Clarke writes science fiction, not science fantasy, I thought his vision of the future was very plausible, including the possible sociological evolution of humanity. Admittedly the plot was kind of weak, and it was kind of short, but overall I enjoyed the book very much
Rating:
Summary: A must read for all Odyssey series followers
Review: It's an excellent book and a moving final to the Odyssey series; It represents the bright future that awaits to the human race: Its expansion through the solar system. Together with the stirring representation of the equatorial ring, the colonization of the jovian-luciferian satellites and the enhancement of the human mind with the "cap", it does a very good story and work, as a one of the best sci-fi pieces I've ever read. With all due respect to all those fellows that didn't like the book, quoting Mr Clarke, quoting to an american president: "It's fiction stupid!"
¡Bravo Mr. Clarke!
Rating: 
Summary: Where's the story?
Review: "Arthur C. Clarke is considered the greatest science fiction writer of all time," says the publisher's blurb. By who? _3001_ contains maybe 25 pages' worth of story (though "story" is putting it too strongly), padded out to ten times that length by self-indulgent prophesying and preaching, in amateurish prose that makes you cringe several times per page. And when, after 150 pages of this padding, we finally get to the actual story, Clarke fails to provide us with the most important and potentially interesting part of it, the actual message whose warning of impending disaster finally sets the real plot in motion. Ironically, the best writing and reading come in the nonfictional source notes and valediction at the end of the book. For addicts only, and they might want to wait for the cheaper paperback edition, which surely won't be long in coming
Rating:
Summary: Conditional Recommendation
Review: In the latest book, in what has become the "2001"series, we find not only an uninspiring, but implausible plot. Sure,there were some interesting ideas and Clarke's linear extrapolation of the future is fine, but as a novel, it just doesn't ever "take off". When I read the "2063" book, I felt that Clarke had produced a novel only to commercially exploit an original and brilliant idea (that is, the 2001 book). In "3001: The Final Odyssey," I felt that while a good read (have you ever anything that doesn't read well from Clarke?), it lacked the well defined imaginative classic qualities (like the "2001: A Space Odyssey"). In fact, while reading the novel, I was disturbed by the narrow historical references (only back to the late 20th and early 21st centuries). This is where Clarke could have painted a highly imaginative picture of the future and provided linkage between the "now and then". There were also a series terrific storylines that could have been developed that would have
Rating:
Summary: Full of good points for further thinking and analysis
Review: Unveils mysteries so well spread in the other Odyssey books. I rate the book 8 because I have to rate 2001 with a ten. Many may dislike that Clarke unveils all the mysteries and answers almost all questions set in the previews sequel books. Others may dislike the absence of hard action. But the book is full of good points for further thinking and analysis
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