"2001: A Space Odyssey" is a science fiction novel written by Arthur C. Clarke, published in 1968. The story follows a voyage to Jupiter after the discovery of a mysterious monolith on the Moon, which is believed to be a signal from an advanced extraterrestrial civilization. The novel explores themes of evolution, technology, and the unknown. The narrative is closely linked to the film directed by Stanley Kubrick, which was released the same year. Both the book and the film delve into the relationship between humans and artificial intelligence, particularly through the character of HAL 9000, a sentient computer that plays a crucial role in the mission.