Hello, HAL. On the set of 2001: A Space Odyssey

Part visual majesty, part meticulous science, part limitless imagination. Previously available as part of the multi-volume and instant sell-out Collector's Edition, this exhaustive compendium of photographs, pre-production paintings, and conceptual designs explores the genius behind 2001: A Space Odyssey, the sci-fi classic that remains the benchmark for all cinema space epics.

Get closer than ever to the movie that changed the movies. This behind-the-scenes spectacular of 2001: A Space Odyssey sheds light on the lead actors, senior production designers, special-effects experts and masterminds of Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke, who together revolutionized science fiction and the art of cinema.

Previously available as part of the multi-volume and instant sell-out Collector's Edition, this comprehensive visual record includes on and off set photographs, pre-production paintings, and conceptual designs from the Kubrick archives. These dazzling images offer insight both into Kubrick's meticulous directorial methods and into the mysteries and magnetism of a film at once vast in scope and intricate in its exploration of our relationship to technology.

Written and researched over several years by the outer space, special effects, and technology journalist Piers Bizony, this compendium is both an exhaustive labour of love and a monument to a masterpiece of 20th-century culture.

The author:

Piers Bizony is a science and technology writer. His publications include Atom, The Man Who Ran the Moon, Starman, and The Making of Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey.

The Kubrick files. From the archives of cinematic genius

From the opening sequence of Killer’s Kiss to the final frames of Eyes Wide Shut, this dazzling collection includes some of Kubrick’s most unforgettable shots and revealing interviews, as well as abundant material from his own archives, such as set designs, screenplays, notes, correspondence, and shooting schedules.

In 1968, when Stanley Kubrick was asked to comment on the metaphysical significance of 2001: A Space Odyssey, he replied: “It’s not a message I ever intended to convey in words. 2001 is a nonverbal experience… I tried to create a visual experience, one that directly penetrates the subconscious with an emotional and philosophic content.”

Now available as part of our Bibliotheca Universalis series, The Stanley Kubrick Archives borrows from the director’s philosophy. From the opening sequence of Killer’s Kiss to the final frames of Eyes Wide Shut, it allows the masterful visuals of Kubrick’s films to impress through a sequence of compelling, mesmerizing stills. We uncover Kubrick’s creative process through fascinating archival material, including set designs, sketches, correspondence, documents, screenplays, drafts, notes, and shooting schedules.

Accompanying the visual and archival material are essays by noted Kubrick scholars, articles written by and about Kubrick, and a selection of Kubrick’s best interviews. The result is a visual, archival, and scholarly journey through masterworks of 20th-century cinema and the meticulous mind of the director behind them.

The editor:

Alison Castle received a BA in philosophy from Columbia University and an MA in photography and film from NYU/International Center of Photography. She is editor of photography, film, and design titles, including Some Like It Hot, The Stanley Kubrick Archives, Linda McCartney. Life in Photographs, and Marc Newson. Works.

About the series:

Bibliotheca Universalis — Compact cultural companions celebrating the eclectic TASCHEN universe at an unbeatable, democratic price!

Since we started our work as cultural archaeologists in 1980, TASCHEN has become synonymous with accessible, open-minded publishing. Bibliotheca Universalis brings together more than 100 of our all-time favourite titles in a neat new format so you can curate your own affordable library of art, anthropology, and aphrodisia.

Bookworm’s delight — never bore, always excite!

Past, present, future: the world through Kubrick's eyes

The incomparable career of a cinematic genius

One of the most esteemed filmmakers of all time, Stanley Kubrick (1928-1999) was also one of the most enigmatic. He broke into the film scene at the age of 26 with the ambitious, independently produced Killer’s Kiss and within a few years was working with the likes of Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, and Peter Sellers on seminal movies such as Lolita and Spartacus. Having gained the support of actors, producers, and movie studios with his early efforts, Kubrick garnered the creative control he needed to produce uncompromising masterpieces such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, Clockwork Orange, and Barry Lyndon. Polishing off 1999’s Eyes Wide Shut just before his untimely death, Stanley Kubrick left behind a puzzling and positively brilliant body of work.

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Стенли Кубрик (1928–1999), один из самых почитаемых режиссеров в истории кинематографа, является и самой большой его загадкой. В киноиндустрии Кубрик заявил о себе уже в 26 лет, сняв свою первую картину «Поцелуй убийцы», а затем на протяжении нескольких лет работал с такими знаменитостями как Кирк Дуглас, Лоуренс Оливье и Питер Селлерс над фильмами «Лолита» и «Спартак», вызвавшими немало споров и разногласий. Получив поддержку от актеров, продюсеров и киностудий, Кубрик сумел объединить в своих руках все составляющие творческого процесса, которые были необходимы ему для создания таких киношедевров, как «Космическая одиссея 2001 года», «Заводной апельсин» и «Барри Линдон». Последняя работа «С широко закрытыми глазами», которую в 1999 году мастер едва успел довести до конца, прежде чем его жизнь внезапно оборвалась, венчает выдающееся творческое наследие одного из самых ярких и загадочных режиссеров XX столетия.

One of the most esteemed filmmakers of all time, Stanley Kubrick (1928–1999) was also one of the most enigmatic. He broke into the film scene at the age of 26 with the ambitious, independently produced Killer's Kiss and within a few years was working with the likes of Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, and Peter Sellers on such seminal films as Lolita and Spartacus. Having gained the support of the actors, producers, and movie studios with his early efforts, Kubrick garnered the creative control he needed to produce uncompromising masterpieces such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, and Barry Lyndon. Polishing off 1999's Eyes Wide Shut just before his untimely death, Kubrick left behind a puzzling and positively brilliant body of work.

About the Series:
Every book in TASCHEN's Basic Film series features:

* an introduction to the director and coverage of every film he or she directed
* over 100 scenes from the movies, shots of the director at work, and film posters, with explanatory captions
* rare images from around the world
* informative text by acknowledged experts
* a chronology, filmography, and bibliography

Absolute Kubrick. An intimate look through the archives of a cinematic genius

“The Stanley Kubrick Archives showed up one morning in our offices, where my editor and I circled it like curious apes.” —Time Out, New York

This is the first book to explore Stanley Kubrick’s archives and the most comprehensive study of the filmmaker to date. In 1968, when Stanley Kubrick was asked to comment on the metaphysical significance of 2001: A Space Odyssey, he replied: “It’s not a message I ever intended to convey in words. 2001 is a nonverbal experience…. I tried to create a visual experience, one that bypasses verbalized pigeonholing and directly penetrates the subconscious with emotional and philosophic content.” The philosophy behind Part 1 of The Stanley Kubrick Archives borrows from this line of thinking: from the opening sequence of Killer’s Kiss to the final frames of Eyes Wide Shut, Kubrick’s complete films are presented chronologically and wordlessly via frame enlargements. A completely nonverbal experience.

The second part of the book brings to life the creative process of Kubrick’s filmmaking by presenting a remarkable collection of mostly unseen material from his archives, including photographs, props, posters, artwork, set designs, sketches, correspondence, documents, screenplays, drafts, notes, and shooting schedules.

Accompanying the visual material are essays by noted Kubrick scholars, articles written by and about Kubrick, and a selection of Kubrick’s best interviews.

The editor:

Alison Castle received a BA in philosophy from Columbia University and an MA in photography and film from NYU/International Center of Photography. She is editor of photography, film, and design titles, including Some Like It Hot, The Stanley Kubrick Archives, Linda McCartney. Life in Photographs, and Marc Newson. Works.