Yes, "The Sentinel" was the basis for "2001...". I read the paperback version of "2001..." way back in maybe 1968-1969...??. I was lucky to have read the book before seeing the movie because the movie made some huge leaps in time and I remember overhearing many people in the audience whispering that they didn't know what was going on. On several occasions ( I saw it 7 times...yea, I'm a Sci-Fi nut..especially Isaac Asimov; my all time favorite; Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke, Bradbury, and many others...), I would quietly explain to those around me what was happening and it helped them handle the 'jumps'.

Arthur C. Clarke made a very interesting documentary on Fractals...you could tell that Fractals was very exciting to him.

Yep...he was unique...so long.