I feel the stories got successively smaller from 2010 and on. 2010's epilogue hints at the developments after 20,000 years, and 2061 and 3001 feel small in comparison.

2010 is a good follow on to the 2001 book, and answers some of the questions the first book left while expanding the mysteries and the sense of wonder.

My wife and I still quote it when answering questions such as what's for dinner.

"Something wonderful".

I remember 3001 mainly for the bit about deism vs theism, which is one of my favourite throwaway passages in all of sf.

8<-------------------

"You said that all the old religions have been discredited. So what do people believe nowadays?"

"As little as possible. We’re all either Deists or Theists."

"You’ve lost me. Definitions, please."

"They were slightly different in your time, but here are the latest versions. Theists believe there’s not more than one God; Deists that there is not less than one God."

"I’m afraid the distinction’s too subtle for me."

"Not for everyone; you’d be amazed at the bitter controversies it’s aroused. Five centuries ago, someone used what’s known as surreal mathematics to prove there’s an infinite number of grades between Theists and Deists. Of course, like most dabblers with infinity, he went insane."