Space Odyssey: Stanley Kubrick, Arthur C. The resulting image this paints of Kubrick remains that of a genius, but one who is perhaps far more fragile and unsure of his own abilities than we may have previously known. But he was able to use his novel, and subsequent sequels, to write the story he perhaps wished the film could have been.ĭespite having had no immediate access to Kubrick, Benson strips away the typical image of a mysterious, aloof and almost mythical director to unearth a highly intelligent but sensitive auteur harbouring a perfectionism that seems driven, in part, by self-doubt. Clarke, for instance, always struggled to be at peace with the final cut of the movie, which removed his voice-over narration. Consequently, the book offers a much clearer view of Clarke's thoughts on the movie and corresponding novel than it does Kubrick's. While Benson never spoke to Kubrick directly, he did come to know Clarke toward the end of his life, before he died in 2008.

One touching anecdote sees Kubrick frying steaks for Clarke, with the director commenting 'Joe Levine doesn't do this for his writers.' Yet years later, Clarke would consider suing Kubrick for delaying the publication of the tie-in book.

Telling his story largely through the relationship between Kubrick and Clarke, Benson suggests their collaboration was often as strenuous and complicated as the movie itself, despite both individuals having great respect and admiration for each other. HAL didn't want to open the pod bay doors in 2001: A Space Odyssey, but Google Allo is much more accommodating.

Arthur clarke space odyssey