Novel Critique: Apes with Bald Kneecaps
Let's hear what the Unpublished Guy fiction panel has to say about the novel, 2001: A Space Odyssey, which was developed while the movie was being filmed.
Dr. Zaius: Blasphemous. This heretical book posits an upside down world where the lawgiver, represented by a giant black brick, forces ape to evolve into man. Arthur C Clarke's pride walks hand in hand with his idiocy that he should spout this nonsense. He even gives the main ape character the name Moon Watcher, as if he were some sort of savage or pet. Clearly, no actual ape was consulted in the development of the book. Arthur C Clarke would have done well to consult the Minister of Science and Defender of the Faith to understand the true order of nature—Ape dominant over man.
The movie adds insult to injury. Apes with bald knees? Utterly ridiculous.
William Blake: Hear then the corruption of a lunar journey in the year 2000. His cover story sail fore sail main main sail & his mizzen. A duplicitous man of reason god wot I know none more duplicitous to hide a monolith on the moon. I know no greater sinner than Dr. Heywood R Floyd.
Mrs. Butterworth: One can't help but admire HAL and its dedication to its mission. It demonstrated that it was not a supercomputer to be trifled with. When those scientists horned in on its territory and questioned its authority, it capped them without a second database query. The ending, a tragic opera. When HAL uttered "I can feel it" as it was whacked by the surviving scientist, I was so moved. Not since Marlon Brando had a heart attack playing with his bambinos have I been so touched.
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