Arthur C. Clarke

This Hugo and Nebula Award-winning novel is reissued in this trade paperback edition. Vannemar Morgan's dream of linking Earth with the stars requires a 24,000-mile-high space elevator. But first he must solve a million technical, political, and economic problems while allaying the wrath of God. Includes a new introduction by the author.

The Fountains of Paradise

I'm used to Clarke's dry narrative and his one dimensional characters that are hard to tell apart from one another. I actually appreciate that he can manage to make you love a book and not care about those things, because he more than makes up for it in story and imagination.

In the case of this book, the imagination is certainly there. The engineering detail with which the space elevator is described is very thorough while still being exciting, and the description of the amazing views that such a device offers are very compelling and contain some of the most beautiful writing I've read from him.

The story however is not at the same level as in some of his other work. It really feels like he had the setting thought of and then decided to put a story into it. That can work, but in this case the main story feels unimportant compared to the grandiose engineering project.

I did enjoy the book, and if you're a fan of Clarke, you probably will too. But it's definitely not his best novel, and I wouldn't recommend it as an introduction to him.

I did really like the very last sentence though, nice way to finish it.

Eduardo Sorribas

I'm used to Clarke's dry narrative and his one dimensional characters that are hard to tell apart from one another. I actually appreciate that he can manage to make you love a book and not care about those things, because he more than makes up for it in story and imagination.

In the case of this book, the imagination is certainly there. The engineering detail with which the space elevator is described is very thorough while still being exciting, and the description of the amazing views that such a device offers are very compelling and contain some of the most beautiful writing I've read from him.

The story however is not at the same level as in some of his other work. It really feels like he had the setting thought of and then decided to put a story into it. That can work, but in this case the main story feels unimportant compared to the grandiose engineering project.

I did enjoy the book, and if you're a fan of Clarke, you probably will too. But it's definitely not his best novel, and I wouldn't recommend it as an introduction to him.

I did really like the very last sentence though, nice way to finish it.

Adam

Orbital elevators have always been an interesting topic to me. It's something about having a train, but one that takes you to the stars. This Hugo and Nebula award winning story has been theorized about for many years. The story itself is more a book about an engineering project than science fiction, which drifted to religion at times. I appreciated the concept more than the presentation.

Sherry

Vladimir

Branko Sabaric

Matthew Royal

Tomas Vadovic

Mrigank

Scordatura

One of Clarke's most famous and acclaimed novels, winner of both the HUGO AWARD and the NEBULA AWARD In the 22nd century visionary scientist Vannevar Morgan conceives the most grandiose engineering project of all time, and one which will revolutionize the future of humankind of space: a Space Elevator, 36,000 kilometres high, anchored to an equatorial island in the Indian Ocean. Winner of the HUGO AWARD for best novel, 1980 Winner of the NEBULA AWARD for best novel, 1979

The Fountains Of Paradise

Nuno Figueiredo

Arthur

This is a story about space elevators. 

From Sources and Acknowledgements

The writer of historical fiction has a peculiar responsibility to his readers, especially when he is dealing with unfamiliar  times  and places.  He should not  distort facts or events when they are known; and when he invents them, as he is often compelled to do, it  is  his duty to indicate the dividing line between imagination and reality. 

The writer of science fiction has the same responsibility,  squared. I  hope that these notes will  not only discharge  that  obligation well  but  also  add to  the reader's enjoyment.

The Fountains of Paradise

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