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The Road to the Sea  By  cover art

The Road to the Sea

By: Arthur C. Clarke
Narrated by: Jonathan Davis
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Publisher's summary

"The Road to the Sea" was first published in the spring 1951 issue of Two Complete Science-Adventure Books.

Sir Arthur C. Clarke (1917-2008) is regarded as one of the most-influential science fiction writers of all time. He was named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and was inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.

©2000 Arthur C. Clarke (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about The Road to the Sea

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classic science fiction

I wish they would record more classic science fiction like this. I am SO annoyed that they do not have Heinlein’s Space Cadet. If you share the sentiment, email them and ask for Space Cadet. content-requests@audible.com

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10 people found this helpful

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Good Perfomrance, Mediocre Story

On Earth in the distant future, centuries after the most adventurous of the human race has taken to the stars and their meeker cousins have inherited the earth, a young artist trying to impress a girl he fancies makes a pilgrimage to the nearby ruins of an ancient city to find her something unique to present her and win her favor. Once there, he makes discoveries that will not only shake his artistic soul, but will also shape the fate of the entire planet.

This seems to be a contemplation of art, science and history but isn't very memorable and the ending scenario kind of comes out of nowhere. Jonathan Davis is a narrator I am very familiar as a veteran of several Star Wars audiobooks. Ultimately, though, I find this a mediocre story offering in the face of better short fiction from Clarke like A Meeting with Medusa.

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2 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Diverging futures

Arthur C Clarke's The Road to the Sea is a short novella that looks to the far, far future. The story opens with a discussion of leaving Earth for the stars or staying behind. The bulk of the population have chosen to leave. Those who remain maintain a low tech lifestyle. One man becomes curious and travels to one of the abandoned cities and while there encounters humans, from space, who have returned to Earth.

Clarke suggests that future technology will eventually exceed the capacity of the Earth to support and will push humanity to the stars. Those who elect to stay on Earth will adopt a more low-tech, pastoral lifestyle necessary to maintain ecologic balance and sustainability.

The narration is excellent with solid character distinction and smooth pacing.

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Not bad, but very dated

Clarke is an excellent writer. but the sci part of this sci-fi classic is so far out sync, and his earthly timelines are so distorted, that it takes a hard suspension of scepticism to stick with it.

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not for everyone

Arthur C Clark unmistakeably but it ends ubruptly and without much resolution. not for everyone

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Teaser

It was a good set up for a sci-fi novel, but didn’t resolve anything in the plot

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A Pearl from 1951

As another reviewer suggested, tales this creative are not told by authors living today.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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I want more

The story is so we’ll written and engaging that I didn’t want it to end!!!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Should have been longer

This could have been a great novel. However, it's current form as short story falls flat

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    3 out of 5 stars

seems like an unfinished work

the story sets up dramatic tension, then just ends. the reader is left wanting more. at least, this reader was.

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