Get a free audiobook
-
Space Odyssey
- Stanley Kubrick, Arthur C. Clarke, and the Making of a Masterpiece
- Narrated by: Todd McLaren
- Length: 17 hrs and 55 mins
- Categories: Biographies & Memoirs, Entertainment & Celebrities
People who bought this also bought...
-
The Science of Interstellar
- Written by: Kip Thorne
- Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer
- Length: 6 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Interstellar, from acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan, takes us on a fantastic voyage far beyond our solar system. Yet in The Science of Interstellar, Kip Thorne, the physicist who assisted Nolan on the scientific aspects of Interstellar, shows us that the movie's jaw-dropping events and stunning, never-before-attempted visuals are grounded in real science. Thorne shares his experiences working as the science adviser on the film and then moves on to the science itself.
-
-
Cela explique le comment
- By Omaruis on 2018-09-13
-
First Man
- The Life of Neil A. Armstrong
- Written by: James R. Hansen
- Narrated by: Jeremy Bobb
- Length: 16 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Apollo 11 touched down on the Moon’s surface in 1969, the first man on the Moon became a legend. In First Man, author James R. Hansen explores the life of Neil Armstrong. Based on over 50 hours of interviews with the intensely private Armstrong, who also gave Hansen exclusive access to private documents and family sources, this "magnificent panorama of the second half of the American twentieth century" (Publishers Weekly, starred review) is an unparalleled biography of an American icon.
-
-
Good Biography
- By Langer on 2019-03-22
-
George Lucas
- A Life
- Written by: Brian Jay Jones
- Narrated by: Jay Snyder
- Length: 18 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On May 25, 1977, a problem-plagued, budget-straining, independent science-fiction film opened in a mere 32 American movie theatres. Conceived, written, and directed by a little-known filmmaker named George Lucas, Star Wars reinvented the cinematic landscape, ushering in a new way for movies to be made, marketed, and merchandised. Simply put, George Lucas is one of the most influential filmmakers of the past 50 years.
-
-
one of the greatest movie makers
- By Bruno M. on 2020-07-12
-
Screenwriting 101: Mastering the Art of Story
- Written by: Angus Fletcher, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Angus Fletcher
- Length: 12 hrs and 44 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Whether you want to write your own scripts or simply gain a deeper appreciation for the great stories you see unfold on the screen, Professor Angus Fletcher is here to show you the way in Screenwriting 101: Mastering the Art of Story. Professor Fletcher, Professor of English and Film at The Ohio State University, brings both a personal and scholarly perspective to this craft. As a screenwriter himself, he has experienced the ins and outs of the process first-hand.
-
-
Not practical
- By Marie-Louise on 2019-01-03
-
2001
- A Space Odyssey
- Written by: Arthur C. Clarke
- Narrated by: Dick Hill
- Length: 6 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It has been 40 years since the publication of this classic science-fiction novel that changed the way we look at the stars and ourselves. From the savannas of Africa at the dawn of mankind to the rings of Saturn as man adventures to the outer rim of our solar system, 2001: A Space Odyssey is a journey unlike any other.
-
-
Wow!
- By Sean Mullen on 2020-03-05
-
We Don't Need Roads
- The Making of the Back to the Future Trilogy
- Written by: Caseen Gaines
- Narrated by: Ron Butler
- Length: 8 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Long before Marty McFly and Doc Brown traveled through time in a flying DeLorean, director Robert Zemeckis and his friend and writing partner Bob Gale worked tirelessly to break into the industry with a hit. For the first time ever, the story of how these two young filmmakers struck lightning is being told by those who witnessed it. We Don't Need Roads includes original interviews with Zemeckis, Gale, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Huey Lewis, and over 50 others who contributed to one of the most popular and profitable film trilogies of all time.
-
The Science of Interstellar
- Written by: Kip Thorne
- Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer
- Length: 6 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Interstellar, from acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan, takes us on a fantastic voyage far beyond our solar system. Yet in The Science of Interstellar, Kip Thorne, the physicist who assisted Nolan on the scientific aspects of Interstellar, shows us that the movie's jaw-dropping events and stunning, never-before-attempted visuals are grounded in real science. Thorne shares his experiences working as the science adviser on the film and then moves on to the science itself.
-
-
Cela explique le comment
- By Omaruis on 2018-09-13
-
First Man
- The Life of Neil A. Armstrong
- Written by: James R. Hansen
- Narrated by: Jeremy Bobb
- Length: 16 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Apollo 11 touched down on the Moon’s surface in 1969, the first man on the Moon became a legend. In First Man, author James R. Hansen explores the life of Neil Armstrong. Based on over 50 hours of interviews with the intensely private Armstrong, who also gave Hansen exclusive access to private documents and family sources, this "magnificent panorama of the second half of the American twentieth century" (Publishers Weekly, starred review) is an unparalleled biography of an American icon.
-
-
Good Biography
- By Langer on 2019-03-22
-
George Lucas
- A Life
- Written by: Brian Jay Jones
- Narrated by: Jay Snyder
- Length: 18 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On May 25, 1977, a problem-plagued, budget-straining, independent science-fiction film opened in a mere 32 American movie theatres. Conceived, written, and directed by a little-known filmmaker named George Lucas, Star Wars reinvented the cinematic landscape, ushering in a new way for movies to be made, marketed, and merchandised. Simply put, George Lucas is one of the most influential filmmakers of the past 50 years.
-
-
one of the greatest movie makers
- By Bruno M. on 2020-07-12
-
Screenwriting 101: Mastering the Art of Story
- Written by: Angus Fletcher, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Angus Fletcher
- Length: 12 hrs and 44 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Whether you want to write your own scripts or simply gain a deeper appreciation for the great stories you see unfold on the screen, Professor Angus Fletcher is here to show you the way in Screenwriting 101: Mastering the Art of Story. Professor Fletcher, Professor of English and Film at The Ohio State University, brings both a personal and scholarly perspective to this craft. As a screenwriter himself, he has experienced the ins and outs of the process first-hand.
-
-
Not practical
- By Marie-Louise on 2019-01-03
-
2001
- A Space Odyssey
- Written by: Arthur C. Clarke
- Narrated by: Dick Hill
- Length: 6 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It has been 40 years since the publication of this classic science-fiction novel that changed the way we look at the stars and ourselves. From the savannas of Africa at the dawn of mankind to the rings of Saturn as man adventures to the outer rim of our solar system, 2001: A Space Odyssey is a journey unlike any other.
-
-
Wow!
- By Sean Mullen on 2020-03-05
-
We Don't Need Roads
- The Making of the Back to the Future Trilogy
- Written by: Caseen Gaines
- Narrated by: Ron Butler
- Length: 8 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Long before Marty McFly and Doc Brown traveled through time in a flying DeLorean, director Robert Zemeckis and his friend and writing partner Bob Gale worked tirelessly to break into the industry with a hit. For the first time ever, the story of how these two young filmmakers struck lightning is being told by those who witnessed it. We Don't Need Roads includes original interviews with Zemeckis, Gale, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Huey Lewis, and over 50 others who contributed to one of the most popular and profitable film trilogies of all time.
-
The Science of Rick and Morty
- The Unofficial Guide to Earth's Stupidest Show
- Written by: Matt Brady
- Narrated by: Joe Hempel
- Length: 10 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Blending biology, chemistry, and physics basics with accessible - and witty-prose, The Science of Rick and Morty equips you with the scientific foundation to thoroughly understand Rick's experiments from the show, such as how we can use dark matter and energy, just what is intelligence hacking, and whether or not you can really control a cockroach's nervous system with your tongue. Perfect for longtime and new fans of the show, this is the ultimate segue into discovering more about our complicated and fascinating universe.
-
-
Might be ok for your kids
- By Danyyil Babenko on 2020-06-23
-
I Am Spock
- Written by: Leonard Nimoy
- Narrated by: Leonard Nimoy
- Length: 4 hrs and 8 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Best known to the world as the actor who created the legendary Mr. Spock in the cult television series that launched the Star Trek phenomenon, Leonard Nimoy has written the definitive Star Trek memoir. In this long-awaited autobiography, Nimoy opens up to his fans in ways the Vulcan never could.
-
-
Essential for trek fans
- By Sergeminator on 2020-09-21
-
The Godfather
- Written by: Mario Puzo, Francis Ford Coppola - introduction, Anthony Puzo - note, and others
- Narrated by: Joe Mantegna, Anthony Puzo, Angelo Di Loreto
- Length: 18 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
With its brilliant and brutal portrayal of the Corleone family, The Godfather burned its way into our national consciousness. This unforgettable saga of crime and corruption, passion and loyalty continues to stand the test of time, as the definitive novel of the Mafia underworld. A #1 New York Times bestseller in 1969, Mario Puzo's epic was turned into the incomparable film of the same name, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture. It is the original classic that has been often imitated, but never matched.
-
-
Great Book That Is Difficult To Put Down
- By Josh D on 2017-09-18
-
The Caine Mutiny
- Written by: Herman Wouk
- Narrated by: Kevin Pariseau
- Length: 26 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Having inspired a classic film and Broadway play, The Caine Mutiny is Herman Wouk's boldly dramatic, brilliantly entertaining novel of life—and mutiny—on a Navy warship in the Pacific theater. It was immediately embraced upon its original publication as one of the first serious works of American fiction to grapple with the moral complexities and the human consequences of the Second World War. In the intervening half century, this gripping story has become a perennial favorite, selling millions throughout the world, and claiming the Pulitzer Prize for fiction.
-
-
Fantastic
- By Robert Lofstedt on 2018-05-23
-
Espionage and Covert Operations: A Global History
- Written by: Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius
- Length: 12 hrs and 19 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Step into the real world of the spy with this detailed and unforgettable tour of the millennia-long history and enduring legacy of espionage and covert operations. While most of us associate this top-secret subject with popular fiction and film, its true story is more fascinating, surprising, and important than you could possibly imagine. These 24 thrilling lectures survey how world powers have attempted to work in the shadows to gain secret information or subvert enemies behind the scenes.
-
-
Pretty sketchy
- By Diana M on 2018-09-09
-
A Clockwork Orange
- Written by: Anthony Burgess
- Narrated by: Tom Hollander
- Length: 7 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A vicious 15-year-old droog is the central character of this 1963 classic, a frightening fable about good and evil, and the meaning of human freedom. In Anthony Burgess' nightmare vision of the future, where the criminals take over after dark, the story is told by the central character, Alex, who talks in a brutal invented slang that brilliantly renders his and his friends' social pathology.
-
-
Absolute masterpiece
- By Chris Rasmussen on 2018-09-04
-
Enemy at the Gates
- The Battle for Stalingrad
- Written by: William Craig
- Narrated by: David Baker
- Length: 13 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On August 5, 1942, giant pillars of dust rose over the Russian steppe, marking the advance of the 6th Army, an elite German combat unit dispatched by Hitler to capture the industrial city of Stalingrad and press on to the oil fields of Azerbaijan. The Germans were supremely confident; in three years, they had not suffered a single defeat. The Luftwaffe had already bombed the city into ruins. German soldiers hoped to complete their mission and be home in time for Christmas.
-
-
Entertaining. Historically accurate
- By Langer on 2020-09-05
-
American Psycho
- Written by: Bret Easton Ellis
- Narrated by: Pablo Schreiber
- Length: 16 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Patrick Bateman moves among the young and trendy in 1980s Manhattan. Young, handsome, and well educated, Bateman earns his fortune on Wall Street by day while spending his nights in ways we cannot begin to fathom. Expressing his true self through torture and murder, Bateman prefigures an apocalyptic horror that no society could bear to confront.
-
-
Did not like the book at first. Now I can’t stop thinking about it.
- By Philip on 2020-02-23
-
Carrying the Fire
- An Astronaut's Journeys
- Written by: Michael Collins, Charles A. Lindbergh - foreword
- Narrated by: David Colacci
- Length: 20 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Carrying the Fire, Michael Collins conveys, in a very personal way, the drama, beauty, and humor of the adventure of reaching the moon. He also traces his development from his first flight experiences in the air force, through his days as a test pilot, to his Apollo 11 spacewalk, presenting an evocative description of the joys of flight as well as a new perspective on time, light, and movement from someone who has seen the fragile Earth from the other side of the moon.
-
-
Very good listen and humorous.
- By Anonymous User on 2020-08-24
-
Endurance
- A Year in Space, a Lifetime of Discovery
- Written by: Scott Kelly
- Narrated by: Scott Kelly
- Length: 13 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A stunning memoir from the astronaut who spent a record-breaking year aboard the International Space Station - a candid account of his remarkable voyage, of the journeys off the planet that preceded it, and of his colorful formative years. A natural storyteller and modern-day hero, Kelly has a message of hope for the future that will inspire for generations to come. Here, in his personal story, we see the triumph of the human imagination, the strength of the human will, and the boundless wonder of the galaxy.
-
-
Love space-listen to this book.
- By Amazon Customer on 2018-09-18
-
The Right Stuff
- Written by: Tom Wolfe
- Narrated by: Dennis Quaid
- Length: 15 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Millions of words have poured forth about man's trip to the moon, but until now few people have had a sense of the most engrossing side of the adventure; namely, what went on in the minds of the astronauts themselves - in space, on the moon, and even during certain odysseys on earth. It is this, the inner life of the astronauts, that Tom Wolfe describes with his almost uncanny empathetic powers that made The Right Stuff a classic.
-
-
Great History, Mediocre Reading
- By Austin Fusilier on 2018-09-13
-
Why We Love Star Wars
- The Great Moments That Built a Galaxy Far, Far Away
- Written by: Ken Napzok, Joseph Scrimshaw - foreword
- Narrated by: Ken Napzok
- Length: 9 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Celebrate the greatest saga ever told: All of us who are deeply influenced by the epic saga of Star Wars have our favorite moments. Each time the screen goes black and you see those words - "a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away" - the music blasts through you, and you're a kid again. Ken Napzok, expert appreciator of Star Wars, counts down each one of those special moments that makes this series not just the best movies of all time, but the greatest saga ever told.
-
-
brilliant book !! it put a smile on my face
- By Nicolas on 2019-09-12
Publisher's Summary
Regarded as a masterpiece today, 2001: A Space Odyssey received mixed reviews on its 1968 release. Despite the success of Dr. Strangelove, director Stanley Kubrick wasn't yet recognized as a great filmmaker, and 2001 was radically innovative, with little dialogue and no strong central character. Although some leading critics slammed the film as incomprehensible and self-indulgent, the public lined up to see it. 2001's resounding commercial success launched the genre of big-budget science fiction spectaculars. Such directors as George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Ridley Scott, and James Cameron have acknowledged its profound influence.
Author Michael Benson explains how 2001 was made, telling the story primarily through the two people most responsible for the film, Kubrick and science fiction legend Arthur C. Clarke. Benson interviewed Clarke many times, and has also spoken at length with Kubrick's widow, Christiane; with visual effects supervisor Doug Trumbull; with Dan Richter, who played 2001's leading man-ape; and many others.
What the critics say
"A fascinating, detail-rich account of the long slog to make the science-fiction masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey." (Kirkus)
More from the same
What listeners say about Space Odyssey
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 2020-09-21
Not advertised properly
More of a behind the scenes book than the novelization of the film, which is what I was hoping for.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Reggie
- 2019-04-17
A Book Wholly Equal to its Subject
I thought about demeriting this book one full star for committing the discourtesy of ending. I still may.
6 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- E. Olsen
- 2018-08-17
A thorough and deeply enjoyable story about the making of an epic film
Younger people have little idea how impactful the film 2001: A Space Odyssey was when it first came out. It inspired a whole generation of filmmakers, including major names like Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and James Cameron. The film is visually sumptuous, employing cutting edge special effects, many of which were pioneered by Stanley Kubrick and his team. This book is a wonderful romp through the making of the epic, revolutionary film. It provides so much wonderful detail about Kubrick's obsessiveness, his attention to factual detail and his often-times tyrannical style of directing. I loved every second of it, and went back right after finishing it to watch the film again. Doing so right after reading the book opened my eyes to many details I had missed the first (and second and third) time around watching it. I confess I even learned a lot more about the plot, which was very confusing to me at times. It's an excellent summer read.
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Oblio
- 2018-10-04
Epic achievement!
My appreciation for the film 2001 A Space Odyssey has only grown over the years. This book has actually increased that appreciation immensely. I had no idea of the extremes, expenses and innovations that went into filming even short sequences, many of which were discarded as being sub par. Watching this movie now blows my mind on a whole new level.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- G. Collins
- 2019-02-02
Book written on Stanley Kubrick's film 2001 a space Odyssey
Very informative book containing tons of details not found in other works on this subject.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Glenn Sanders
- 2019-01-08
fascinating journey through the creation of a masterpiece
for any cinefile let alone a fan of Kubrick and this movie, this is an exceptionally well told tale of the epic journey to create one of the great films of all time. it is such a compelling story filled with endless “wow” moments that I found myself compelled to listen any moment I could get. can’t wait to see the film again now that I know the true story of how it was made.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jay Quintana
- 2018-08-20
Tells you everything you want to know about...
... the making of 2001. It's not my favorite movie (confession: I've never been able to watch it in its entirety), so it was, for me, too much information. But if you loved 2001, this is probably a must listen. It should answer every question you have about the movie. I had a huge problem with the narrator doing dialects. Even if they were good, which they are not (his Carl Sagan sounds nothing like him and I have no idea what his accent for Kubrick's German wife sounded like), it was unnecessary. The narrator should never call attention to himself and by doing accents, he does exactly that. Had he not done so, I'd have given his performance 5 stars.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Milford Cubicle
- 2019-04-28
narrator’s accents are offensive and distracting
Over the top accents have no place in a non-fiction book. I cant even get through this.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Kevin
- 2018-11-11
An extensive, sometimes hard to follow 'Making Of'
#celebrity #film #london A 'making of' focusing mainly on Arthur C Clarke (roughly 20%) and Stanley Kubrick (~80%). Some of the lengthy technical descriptions about how shots were achieved did not translate well to audio as it was too difficult to picture in my mind, I expect this will be different for different readers. Despite this problem there was enough fascinating insight into both of these men to keep the story interesting. #tagsgiving #sweepstakes
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- photoguy100
- 2020-10-29
Wonderful movie creation details
As one of many inspired by this groundbreaking movie I enjoyed hearing so many details of it’s creation. My career in science and technology, absolutely influenced by the movie, surely has been duplicated by the thousands. It’s time to view 2001 once again with this new knowledge.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- David
- 2020-06-15
Wonderful
I thought I knew everything about 2001: A Space Odyssey, having read books about it before, but this is an incredible work of scholarship that brings an amazing level of new detail to every aspect of the film. From the first glimmerings of an idea to the final vindication of Kubrick's vision after disastrous press screenings, Benson succeeds in making everything fascinating. Kubrick comes across as unexpectedly loveable despite his manic single-mindedness, and Arthur C. Clarke's romantic and financial trainwrecks are another surprise. I especially enjoyed the material about the creation of the man-apes, which turns out to be an amazingly complex collaboration between director, actors, and make-up artists. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in film.