29 November 2016
While there have been numerous books on the great sci-fi classic, 2001 a Space Odyssey, one of the best must surely be “The 2001 file” by Christopher Frayling. Published two years ago this large volume contains the rediscovered artwork by concept designer Harry Lange who was responsible for much of the “look” of this film. From early drawings and concepts the book shows the development of Lange and Kubrik’s ideas, up to their final fruition on the screen.
It covers the evolution all the spacecraft, satellites and spacesuits in minute detail and is a beautifully produced volume.
Looking at the early sketches and models for the Discovery, before it took on its final familiar form, I was reminded of my post from 23 July 2015 entitled “Hawke’s spaceship – The Aristarchus” in which I pointed out the basic similarities between Hawke’s Jupiter ship and the Discovery . The early concept models of Discovery in “ The 2001 file” before it evolved into its final elongated shape look even closer in appearance to the Aristarchus. Sydney comments that he himself was inspired by the work of Chesley Bonestell, the pioneer of sci-fi art who worked with such luminaries as Willy Ley and Werner von Braun, and his influence can be seen in both the Aristarchus and the seminal drawings of the Discovery by Lange. Skipper Prossitt
