2001

2001 did not hit me with its full force the first time I read it. Probably, as befitted my relative youth, my seven-years younger self read it too hastily. It did happen when I reread it recently however.

In 1964, maverick director Stanley Kubrick was looking for ideas to make the 'proverbial good science fiction movie'. His collaboration with Arthur Clark, building upon the latter's short story 'The Sentinel' gave us 2001, the movie which has become a legend. But before they wrote the screenplay, they decided to let their imaginations soar freely by writing a novel first. And that gave us 2001, the novel which has become legend too. I can quite unhesitatingly say that if you have time for only one science fiction novel, make it this one.

Now that I am done with the book, I plan to watch the movie over the weekend, so expect a report soon. I must warn you though, it will most likely tend to sound fanboyish.

The book of Nothing

The book of Nothing dedicates itself to exploring the various guises under which Nothing has appeared in human minds and affairs over the millenia. Be it the mathematical zero or the physical vacuum, the metaphysical nothingness or the void that the theologies tell us the world came from, the story is interesting and eloquently told. 

Darwin's Armada

Darwin's Armada tells the stories of four great voyages of discovery undertaken in the nineteenth century. Each carried a novice naturalist who later emerged as a major force of theory of evolution. Charles Darwin circumnavigated the globe aboard the Beagle and the first inklings of natural selection were planted in his mind there. Joseph Hooker travelled with the famous Ross expedition to the antarctic, and though they couldn't reach the south pole as intended, his studies of the southern flora later provided crucial evidence for evolution. Thomas Huxley travelled to Australia and nearby lands aboard the Rattlesnake studying sea slugs and other marine creatures. And Alfred Wallace travelled first to Amazon and later to the Malay Archipelago, collecting specimens, and came upon the principle of natural selection independently of Darwin. Later all four became close friends and allies in the war to establish evolution as a credible scientific theory, against the opposition of religion and established science.

The book captures the element of adventure in these long drawn, perilous journeys well, along with the elation felt by the voyagers when greeted with unforeseen, unimagined vistas. The Ross expedition made the deepest impression on me in this regard. There is also inspiration; while Darwin and Hooker came from well to do families, Huxley and Wallace didn't. Wallace's story is particularly fascinating on this count; after four years of backbreaking work in the Amazon basin, while he was returning with his prized collection of specimens the ship caught fire and sunk. Not losing his nerve, he spent further eight years in the Malay Archipelago and emerged as a co-discoverer of natural selection. There are many interesting nuggets like that. Overall it was a good first read of the year. Additionally, it brought back the memories of adventure stories read in the younger days.