2001: A Space Odyssey (novel)

2001: A Space Odyssey is a science fiction novel written by Arthur C. Clarke and first published in hardcover edition in June, 1968 by New American Library. The paperback edition was published in July of that year. The novel was written to coincide with the release of the 1968 2001: A Space Odyssey film directed by Stanley Kubrick. Although the concept behind the novel was first envisioned for a film, Clarke and Kubrick decided that in order to better realize their respective visions, it would be prudent to write out the early drafts of the novel first. Clarke based many of the novel's key plot points on his own earlier works, which included the 1948 short story "The Sentinel" and the 1953 story "Encounter in the Dawn".