Isaac Asimov is, in many ways, the father of modern science fiction. He popularized concepts like “the robot” and even gave us the three laws of robotics. Asimov’s own works have also been adapted more than once. Will Smith directed an “I, Robot” project more than 20 years ago. Apple TV is also in the middle of its “Foundation” series. The last season was great, and season 4 is already greenlit.
Although his writing has had plenty of opportunities to make its way to film and streaming screens, Asimov has had some additional thoughts on other sci-fi projects, including the iconic “2001: A Space Odyssey.” In a 1977 issue of American Film magazine, Asimov shared his thoughts on Stanley Kubrick’s classic, released nine years earlier, in 1968. He praised, among other things, the film’s down-to-earth nature and the fact that it took space seriously, paving the way for adults to appreciate the genre. After comparing most early science fiction works to nothing more than a series of “youth-oriented” westerns, Asimov called “2001s” writer Arthur C. Clarke a key difference maker, saying that history and science were “in the hands of a crackerjack science fiction writer/scientist.” He added:
“This meant that we could rely on ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ to learn the basic facts of science. Spaceships would look like spaceships and the moon would look like our satellite.”
In other words, “2001: A Space Odyssey” was one of the first times we saw space stories evolve from children’s “cops and robbers” stories to an opportunity to tell serious stories that mesmerized audiences and stirred the soul.
Asimov called the 2001 special effects particularly impressive
Alongside the writing, Asimov highlighted director Stanley Kubrick’s ability to bring visuals to life in new, unique and exciting ways, saying:
Stanley Kubrick spared no expense when it came to special effects in 2001 and for this reason it went down in cinema history as the first successful adult science fiction film.
Asimov added that the film would not be surpassed in popularity until “Star Wars” arrived on the scene nearly a decade later, in 1977. (The author of “I, Robot” also had some thoughts on the world of George Lucas.) Coincidentally, this was the same year he wrote his “2001” review. Despite the turn toward popularity, Asimov’s commentary couldn’t stray far from the visuals. He returned to it saying:
“What is, obviously, the most remarkable thing about ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ is its visual effects. These are not of interest in the depiction of extraterrestrials, but in the depiction of these views of space that are there and can be seen in reality.”
The ability to show the awe-inspiring and sometimes chilling realities of space is one of the greatest strengths of “2001: A Space Odyssey.” It brings a new level of realism to the spatial experience that doesn’t feel like it’s copying another genre. It exploits the natural strengths of its own storytelling canvas.
Asimov considered Kubrick and Clarke’s vision prophetic
Asimov had such high praise for Kubrick and Clarke’s achievements that he even went so far as to say that the experience they created was prescient:
“’2001: A Space Odyssey’ shows a world that doesn’t yet exist and shows it not as it could be, but almost certainly as it will be, and that’s unique.
He didn’t stop there. The creator of countless sci-fi adventures concluded his praise by explaining that he believed the “2001” experiment would not only predict the realities of space, but would become an enduring point of comparison that would even surpass reality:
“In fact, when the time comes when we are comfortable enough in near space to take the kind of real-life movies that 2001 took on thanks to ingenious special effects, I’m sure the real will turn out to be just like the fictional, but inferior. People will turn to ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ to see space in its most beautiful form.”
For a man whose imagination has shaped much of the modern science fiction experience, it’s fun to see what value Asimov might see in other projects of the genre, whether the inspiring vision of Star Trekthe awesome stories of Star Wars, or anything in between.
