2061: Odyssey Three

In 2061, Heywood Floyd, now 103, is invited on the first human landing on Halley's Comet aboard the liner Universe. Meanwhile, geologist Rolf van der Berg suspects that Mount Zeus, on Europa, is a giant diamond. A flight attendant hijacks the ship Galaxy, carrying Floyd's grandson Chris, and crashes it into Europa's ocean. The Universe leaves the comet and races to the rescue. Chris and Van der Berg confirm the diamond and find the wreck of the Tsien and a black wall, the monolith. Everyone is rescued, and Mount Zeus sinks. A small monolith copies Floyd's mind, which goes on to live with Bowman and HAL. Bowman warns that humanity has about a thousand years.

1. ReferenceTimed for Halley's return

   Clarke picked 2061 because Halley's Comet comes back that year. Floyd's trip to the comet is where the book starts.

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2. Behind the scenesClarke didn't wait for Galileo

   The Galileo probe, meant to show Jupiter and its moons up close, was delayed. Clarke published in 1987 anyway; the probe reached Jupiter almost eight years later.

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