2001: A Space Podyssey

We know Stanley Kubrick was a chess player and logic puzzle fanatic. What conscious and subconscious meanings did he bury in his later films through numbers and patterns? What is the role of model theory?

Who better to lead us through the various bridges of this numbers maze tha...

For July's first Patreon Bonus episode, we continue our conversation with Virginia Smith and try to determine if HAL gets to become "a real boy." 

The differences in how Kubrick and Hyams treat HAL and Discovery. How both directors deal with space and Space, and somehow create that Odyssey sense of wonder.

We discuss the broad range of science fiction and look at the differences between mystery vs. action, suspense vs. horror.

From...

We're kicking off a summer of guests with our pal Virginia Smith, here to take on a very special subject: the father and son duo of Dr. Chandra and HAL!

How Dr. Chandra's relationship with SAL prefaces her brother's return and sets him up bibically & mythologically as both the chosen one and the prodigal son. Falling in love with the redeemed HAL 9000 before ever watching his original fall from grace. 

Comparing the relationshi...

Looking intimately at the scenes of HAL's death and rebirth, one theme stands out above all others: purpose. We all need a purpose in life and so do Heuristic Algorithmic Learning machines. 

The more sentient we are, the more complex that purpose becomes. So it's no wonder our red-eyed amnesiac is eager to get back with his besties, Dave and Frank, and complete the mission. 

But what are the dangers to giving him a directive? Is HA...

The sequel is written, the crew is hired, the red light is plugged in. To bring HAL back to life, they'll need that secret sauce: the Canadian theatre superstar that is Douglas Rain! But first, they have to find him.

Reshaping HAL's character and choices from the book to script of 2010, the differences between drama on the page vs. the screen, and the evolution of Dr. Chandra's change of heart.

The intimate highs and lows, inner co...

In anticipation of Dr. Chandra reactivating everyone's favorite psychotic processing unit, we're reevaluating the story so far. Since we last saw HAL, we've read more Clarke, researched more on '2001' and '2010,' talked to more guests, and, of course, we've gotten to know SAL.

What we've learned has dramatically changed our perspective on his intentions onboard Discovery, his circumstances with Dave & Frank, and his eventual de...

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We're trying to keep it together on the solar system's most extreme theme park ride: the spaceship-coupling triangle Zip Line!

As we get set to board DISCOVERY, we're looking into LEONOV's mission directive and the humanitarian cooperation between Russian and American crews.

Bak on Earth, Victor Milson faces a dilemma, how to navigate the NCA around a hostile political landscape in order to advance science.

The beauty of synchroniz...

This week in 2001 History!

Wondering what kind of goodies are available on Patreon? There's already an hour and a half of bonus audio up there, and here's a bonus fun-size freebie!

Check out a free taste of our occasional Patreon closeup on specific days when movie history was being made. 57 years ago today people in select cities were witnessing the monolith for the very first time. How would they react?

Stay tuned next wee...

It's not an April Fool's Joke! We're on PATREON...seriously!

Check out the Luxury Pod to Clavius with nonstop service to the lunar base at two convenient subscription levels!

Find us at Patreon.com/spacepodyssey

HOT FRIES tier ($2 a month)

-bonus episodes

-access to the ship's commissary

-membership to the Clavius Discord server

KURITSA tier ($5 a month)

-bonus episodes

-access to the ship's commissary

-membership to the Clavius Di...

Flash back 40 years to the Spring of 1985, when "2010" fever went worldwide and everyone was making contact!

Follow the pictures on the episode page for a few surprises!

From cereal to Crunch 'N Munch, from mail-in clothing to calendars, international posters and stickers!

From Ford concept cars to Domino's pizzas, and stickers!

Games, games, games! At the arcade at Aladdin's Castle or at home with Adam, Apple, and Coleco. And stic...

Virginia Smith is taking us back to 1984 to explore the official “2010” studio marketing guide! Budweiser, Apple, J .C. Penney, Target, Walmart, Kinko’s, Sheraton, and B. Dalton are just a few of the many familiar brands clamoring for a piece of MGM/UA’s massive “Space Odyssey” campaign.

Follow the pictures on the episode page for a few surprises!

Books, magazines and games! T-shirts, jackets, hats, buttons, patches, posters and sh...

For optimum silliness, follow along with the images!

When Dr. Kovalev threw his phone at us, we thought he was just sick and tired of following Brad around the ship translating all the Russian signage. Turns out, he installed Google Lens so we can finally figure it out for ourselves.

Learn Cyrillic for "pitching" and "rocking," and the difference between "striking" and "stroking" when it comes to spacecraft maneuvering.

Dave Bowman...

An inspiring, surprising, and occasionally silly hour with four of the finest actors in film history.

Thanks to the Peter Hyams - Penny Perry secret sauce of perfect casting, we’re exploring the legacy and creative lives of four acting legends: Helen Mirren, Bob Balaban, James McEachin, and John Lithgow. What they each brought to 2010 and how they epitomize their roles of Captain Kirbuk, Dr. Chandra, NCA Chair Victor Milson, and ...

SEE: Walter & Max, The Amazing Floating Chicken Tightrope Act!

LEONOV has reached DISCOVERY and is docked a safe distance away. Strap on your helmets as we join Drs. Curnow and Brailovsky outside the hatch on the ultimate thousand-yard trip through the void...

The similarities to real-life EVAs, the probability of vertigo for astronauts, and the dangers of hyperventilation and nausea in space.

The overall differences in tone an...

“All these worlds are yours, except Europa…”

The Europa Clipper successfully launched in October, its mission: determine the habitability of Jupiter’s ice moon and the potential for drinkable water underneath that ice. 

With that comes the almost certainty of some form of life under the icy surface. Will it be tentacled seaweed flower whales or something more…elemental?

It’s the closest we’ve ever come to discovering life elsewhe...

After orbiting Jupiter's violent volcanic moon, we've seen IO from both sides now.  Back in range and resuming regular transmissions, we present by popular demand another slice of Odyssey aficionado and world famous comic book publisher, Eli Schwab!

Digging into Jack Kirby's dynamic, sometimes polarizing style, exploring the metaphysical in the Space Odyssey comics, and the spiritual dimension of his superheroes, from "Thor" to "Fa...

Marvel Comics legend and trailblazer Jack Kirby is known for his work with Joe Simon and Stan Lee, creating Captain America, The Fantastic Four, Thor, The Hulk, The Silver Surfer, and countless other unforgettable superheroes. But in the 1970s, he also created a comic book adaptation (and continuing series!) based on 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Who better to cover this mysterious and little-seen dimension of the Odyssey series than comi...

We've got the Need for Mead...

IT'S the return of the Captain of Concept Design, Syd Mead!

There are so many fabulous illustrations in the "Art of 2010" book and no way we could fit them all in one episode.

This time, we're checking out designs for the aerobraking sequence, from detachable shields to sleeping compartments. The evolving look of the pod and the probe, the command console and main deck (with plenty of paneling and cir...