<b>The definitive story of the making of <i>2001: A Space Odyssey</i>, acclaimed today as one of the greatest films ever made, and of director Stanley Kubrick and writer Arthur C. Clarke—</b><b>“a tremendous explication of a tremendous film….Breathtaking” (<i>The</i><i>Washington Post</i>).</b><BR><BR>Fifty years ago a strikingly original film had its premiere. Still acclaimed as one of the most remarkable and important motion pictures ever made, <i>2001: A Space Odyssey </i>depicted the first contacts between humanity and extraterrestrial intelligence. The movie was the product of a singular collaboration between Stanley Kubrick and science fiction visionary Arthur C. Clarke. Fresh off the success of his cold war satire <i>Dr. Strangelove, </i>Kubrick wanted to make the first truly first-rate science fiction film. Drawing from Clarke’s ideas and with one of the author’s short stories as the initial inspiration, their bold vision benefited from pion