2061: Odyssey Three

Introduction
"2061: Odyssey Three" is a 1987 science fiction novel written by Arthur C. Clarke. It is the third installment of the Space Odyssey collection, preceded by "2001: A Space Odyssey" as well as "2010: Odyssey Two". The story is established 51 years after the occasions of "2010: Odyssey Two" as well as remains to discover the enigmas of deep space as well as extraterrestrial life. It concentrates on a brand-new goal to Halley's Comet as well as the Europa-Jupiter system while addressing the repercussions of the previous goals entailing the monoliths and also an alien race called the Firstborn.

Story Overview
The unique starts in 2061 when Halley's Comet go back to the internal planetary system. The story adheres to Dr. Heywood Floyd, a retired astronaut and survivor of the 2001 as well as 2010 objectives, who is invited to sign up with the staff of the spacecraft Universe on an excursion to explore Halley's Comet. Though 103 years of ages, Floyd's age is not an issue, as clinical developments have actually rendered life span nearly indefinite.

The introduction of the story likewise reveals that the protective screen put around Europa at the end of "2010: Odyssey Two" is still essentially, stopping any type of human goals to the moon. In spite of the restriction, there is proof of biological activity on Europa, including a rapidly growing black area on the icy surface area.

At the same time, the crew of an additional spacecraf, Galaxy, discovers an anomalous hill on Europa, which they nickname "Mount Zeus", as a result of its resemblance in size to the Olympus Mons volcano on Mars. Though they are aware of the non-interference directive, the crew intends a flyby to record images of Mount Zeus from a range.

Throughout the flyby, the vessel runs into a sudden and also effective gravity disturbance that cripples the spacecraft and compels an emergency landing on Europa. The Galaxy's team recognizes that their rescue depends completely on the staff of deep space, which is still orbiting Halley's Comet.

Back on Earth, the governments need to make a decision whether to accredit a rescue objective, which would breach the non-interference regulation as well as risk triggering unknown effects. Despite the intrinsic threat, the joint federal government body at some point accepts send out deep space on a high-speed journey to Europa to attempt a rescue.

As deep space reaches Europa, its crew observes an ongoing battle in between the alien monoliths and also the native Europans. The aliens have actually been trying to improve the moon for their own ends, but the Europans have actually started fighting back by secreting a black material that prevents the pillars' functions. The black compound shows to be the same material that develops the black spot observed earlier.

The tale caps as deep space accomplishes the rescue mission. Dr. Floyd has the ability to communicate with and also befriend an intelligent and also effective European lifeform called the "Sea Lions". The Universe team does well in saving the Galaxy staff, yet their activities additionally set off the complete disintegration of Mount Zeus, launching a cloud of humane monolith-like gas entities that dissipate into room.

Final thought
"2061: Odyssey Three" checks out motifs of cosmic fate, human evolution, and also the intersection of both. Via the characters' experiences with the Firstborn's modern technology and the Europans' initiatives to make it through, Clarke recommends that despite the large unknowns of deep space, mankind is not completely helpless in the planetary struggle permanently and also existence.

The unique ends with the Earth as well as Europa getting to an understanding, while the Universe team is permitted to leave the Europa-Jupiter system, carrying knowledge concerning the alien lifeforms they came across. This establishes the stage for the final story in the collection, "3001: The Final Odyssey", which better checks out mankind's location within the cosmic order.