2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke

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If there's one genre I'd never expect to get me out of a reading slump, it's sci-fi. Reading 2001: A Space Odyssey was more of a surprise pick than a genuine attempt to attack my growing TBR. After seeing the blurb, I thought, "Hmm, I don't know if reading about space will interest me, but let's see where we go."

I never expected this book to completely blow me away.

2001 takes you on a magnificent journey to the stars, propped up by such vivid descriptions of space travel that make you wonder whether the author himself has actually been to space (he hasn't!). Clarke's magic is igniting that spark of curiosity we all have within ourselves about the beauties and horrors of the universe, and one of my favourite bits: feeding off of our primordial fear of the unknown. It reminded me of playing Subnautica and plunging hundreds of metres into the vast ocean, enthralled by a search for what lies beneath the sea.

Exploring three different storylines did leave me feeling lost at times, especially with Clarke's obsession for space jargon making me reconsider reading on. This book rewards patience however, as the next chapter adopted an exhilarating twist reminiscent of an Agatha Christie novel, and from that point on, I was so engrossed that I forgot to eat dinner for four hours lol.

2001 isn't just sci-fi, it's also mystery and a fascinating piece of speculative fiction. With all of Clarke's depictions about the future of space exploration, AI, and the fate of humanity, it was a great pleasure to mix and match what predictions have come true in 2025.

For a book that was written in 1968, it is well and truly ahead of its time, and felt like a breath of fresh air despite its age. And it's a short read at 297 pages.