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Originally Posted by steve12553  I saw the movie many years ago and didn't get it, although I was fascinated. I read the book and had a firm grasp of it. Then I saw the movie again and didn't get it again. So I read the book again. |
As mentioned before, the short story "The Sentinal" was the genesis for "2001". To get to the other side of the concept, i.e., what happens after Bowman evolves, You need to read Clarke's "Childhood's End". Not the same story, but goes a long way into the idea of humanity becoming something much more than just tool-using, hairless apes.
Clarke dwelt on the theme of the sometimes benevolent, always omnipotent and occasionally indifferent super beings and how they interact (or choose not to) with us puny hominids. The "Rama" series is maybe the best example.
Regards,
Jim