A Meeting with Medusa

By: Arthur C. Clarke

Narrated by: Jonathan Davis

"A Meeting with Medusa" was first published in the December 1971 issue of Playboy.

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.

bland

You could read the summary on Wikipedia and get as much out of it. Nothing mind-blowing.

The Author who started me on SF

I started in the AF reading a book called “Across The Sea of Stars”. It was a collection of short stories. Clark’s writing for

Entertaining

Nice story, but a bit predictable...except for the very end. Narration was excellent; easy to understand even while driving.

Classic Golden Age Story

Rip roaring adventure, fantastic creatures, and just enough hard science. Great fun and thought provoking.

Two Different Stories

The ending of this story, while an interesting and lightly hinted at twist, bears no thematic relationship with the rest of the story, as far as I could discern. It's like the ending of a different story altogether. If I really stretch, I can see the future Clarke was alluding to from the protagonist's view, but this is far from sufficiently elucidated. After listening I assumed that this was an early work, but not so. In fact, it won awards. All hail Clarke.

The writing is enjoyable, the phenomena interesting and even fascinating, the forecast thought provoking. However, as a whole, it just doesn't gel.

Straight-up scifi by a master of the craft

I picked this up as a precursor to reading the "sequel" by Stephen Baxter and Alastair Reynolds. It was a fine example of a straight-up scifi short story written by a master of the craft. There simply was no one like Arthur C Clarke when it came to describing the technology of the future. He could pack more ideas into one sentence than many writers get into a whole chapter.

[I listened to this as an audio book read by Jonathan Davis, who did an excellent job]

Exciting tale of exploration, soothing voice

This is a tale of adventure, exploration, discovery set I the most strange and bizarre of environments. It is a story of the sublime, of the wonderous, and the unusual. some have commented that the narration is monotonous, I disagree. The narrators voice is calm, clear, soothing, but still full of expression. In some ways at the end of the story it matches best of all the perspective of the main character. While something harsher and faster may have emphasized the excitement and adventure of the tale, I would argue it would be more enjoyable. As it is the reading is pleasing to the ears and let's you take it all in. I highly suggest this story, you wint be disappointed.

Low key twist and I loved it!

I liked the pacing. The beginning introduction was awaken and ending was unexpected
So awesome!

Arthur

Is an amazing storyteller and scientist. I bet most of his numbers are correct. Recommended is also space oddicy (whole) and Rama (if him, i think so)

Excellent Writing. Minor Spoiler.

Precursor to the Bobiverse? Super. Great story. Will listen to more A. C. Clark.