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The Fountains of Paradise
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- Length: 8 hrs and 28 mins
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Publisher's summary
Critic reviews
- Hugo Award, Best Novel, 1980
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Moth was a beautiful planet, the only one with wings - two great golden clouds suspended in space around it. Here was a wide-open world for any venture a man might scheme. The planet attracted unwary travelers, hardened space-sailors, and merchant buccaneers - a teeming, constantly shifting horde that provided a comfortable income for certain quick-witted fellows like Flinx and his pet flying snake Pip.
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The First of the Flinx and Pip Novels AT LAST!
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Fear the Sky
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From the Audie-nominated narrator of The Martian. In eleven years' time, a million members of an alien race will arrive at Earth. Years before they enter orbit, their approach will be announced by the flare of a thousand flames in the sky, their ships' huge engines burning hard to slow them from the vast speeds needed to cross interstellar space. These foreboding lights will shine in our night sky like new stars, getting ever brighter until they outshine even the sun, casting ominous shadows and banishing the night until they suddenly blink out.
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Audible Where Are The Rest?!
- By ByEqualMeasure - julie on 09-14-15
By: Stephen Moss
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Veiled Alliances
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- By: Kevin J. Anderson
- Narrated by: David Colacci
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This audiobook shows the origin of the green priests on Theroc, the first Roamer skymining operations on a gas-giant planet, the discovery of the Klikiss robots entombed in an abandoned alien city, the initial Ildiran expedition to Earth, the rescue of the generation ship Burton and the tragedy that leads to sinister breeding experiments. Veiled Alliances is an excellent starting point for readers new to the Saga, as well as an unforgettable adventure for fans of the series.
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Start with Book One
- By Jim "The Impatient" on 06-05-14
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The Star Diaries
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Ijon Tichy, Lem's Candide of the Cosmos, encounters bizarre civilizations and creatures in space that serve to satirize science, the rational mind, theology, and other icons of human pride.
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Gulliver in Space
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Man Plus
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Roger Torraway watched in horror as the monster lurched, toppled over and died. Project Man Plus had gone suddenly and drastically wrong. The race to colonize Mars was too important, too costly, and America was already too committed, for plans to be scrapped. They would have to make a new Martian. And Roger Torraway was it, candidate for the endless surgery, operation after painful operation, that would enable him to survive on that faraway planet.
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More timely now than ever
- By Sandy R on 06-28-10
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The Reality Dysfunction
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In AD 2600, the human race is finally beginning to realize its full potential. Hundreds of colonized planets scattered across the galaxy host a multitude of prosperous and wildly diverse cultures. Genetic engineering has pushed evolution far beyond nature's boundaries, defeating disease and producing extraordinary spaceborn creatures. Huge fleets of sentient trader starships thrive on the wealth created by the industrialization of entire star systems, and throughout inhabited space the Confederation Navy keeps the peace.
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Finally on Audible!! My favorite Hamilton series!
- By Patrick on 04-05-16
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List of stories from
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Only a few know the terrifying truth - an outcast Earth scientist, a rebellious alien inhabitant of a dying planet, a lunar-born human intuitionist who senses the imminent annihilation of the Sun... They know the truth - but who will listen? They have foreseen the cost of abundant energy - but who will believe?These few beings, human and alien, hold the key to the Earth's survival.
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Asimov's Best Stand Alone Novel
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Islands in the Sky
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Fun early novel, aimed perhaps at teens
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I expected better from these two
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For nearly a billion years, every known sentient species in the universe has been the result of genetic and cultural guidance - or "uplifting" - by a previously uplifted patron race. Then humans are discovered. Having already uplifted chimps and dolphins, humanity clearly qualifies as an intelligent species, but did they actually evolve their own intelligence, or did some mysterious patron race begin the process, then suddenly abandon Earth?
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good, but flawed
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"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.
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Prelude for the Reynolds / Baxter collaboration
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It is the 21st century and humans have finally conquered the sea. Professionals now harvest plankton to feed the world. However, the sea has not given up all its secrets...and men like Walter Franklin are determined to find them out.
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nice Clarke at sea this time
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2001
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It has been 40 years since the publication of this classic science-fiction novel that changed the way we look at the stars and ourselves. From the savannas of Africa at the dawn of mankind to the rings of Saturn as man adventures to the outer rim of our solar system, 2001: A Space Odyssey is a journey unlike any other.
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The Movie Makes More Sense Now
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By: Arthur C. Clarke
What listeners say about The Fountains of Paradise
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall
- Jim "The Impatient"
- 04-30-11
Hard
This is hard Sci Fi. It was written in 1978, but is still very topical today. Just last year I listened to a lecture on the building of a Space Elevator which is what this book is all about. In the lecture this book was mentioned along with Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson. Both books are hard Sci Fi. If you are wanting a good character driven story, then this is not the book for you. If you want facts, figures and like reading manuals on how to build things, then you will love this book.
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117 people found this helpful
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Overall
- David Citron
- 09-07-09
Human-focused science fiction
The Fountains of Paradise is a beautifully written account of one man's quest to achieve lifelong satisfaction through his works. The primary story is artfully juxtaposed with a parallel quasi-historical storyline. Perhaps Clarke's most underrated talent was his ability to get inside the minds of long-dead characters (see also: the first section of "2001").
Though technically "hard" science fiction, the primary focus of the narrative is on the characters, both future and ancient. The storytelling is deeply satisfying and, in a genre where endings are often pseudo-mystical cop-outs, this book leaves the listener content, with imagination sparked.
Marc Vietor's narration only enhances the experience. He reads thoughtfully and clearly, giving each character enough distinction to make the storytelling easy to follow.
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37 people found this helpful
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- David
- 11-16-11
A magical poem for geeks
If plot is your passion, don't read this book. The characters are cardboard and it has very little sense of conventional drama or progression. Instead, it's a beautifully-written description of the gradual construction of a space elevator, from the germ of the idea, to its ultimate fruition. Maybe Clarke should have just written a non-fiction book on the subject, but in practice his majestic descriptions are more thrilling within the context of a narrative, however clunky.
I like to think of this book as a prose poem, rather than a novel. Clarke uses the central idea as an opportunity to wax lyrical about human ambition and the urge for progress. He spins into the mix a tale of an ancient Sri Lankan king and an amazing description of humanity's encounter with a knowledge-disseminating alien spacecraft that passes through the solar system on its own mission of discovery.
The lack of drama in the plotting doesn't bother me, as I love Clarke's exploratory, thought-provoking ideas. The only awkward bit is the final third, which spends too much time on a tension-free, slow motion rescue mission on the tower.
The reader does a competent job although I was irritated by the indefinable accent that he gave to the main character.
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28 people found this helpful
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- Katherine
- 03-28-12
It???s a great time to revisit this classic
he latest scheme dreamed up by Dr. Vannevar Morgan, a materials engineer, is either pure genius or pure crackpot: He wants to build an elevator to space. He???s discovered a new material that he thinks is strong enough to withstand the gravitational and climatic forces that would act on such a structure and he???s found the only place on Earth where it???s possible to achieve his dream: the top of the mountain Sri Kanda on the equatorial island of Taprobane (pronounced ???top-ROB-oh-knee???). Unfortunately, this mountain is the sacred home of a sect of Buddhist monks who are not willing to budge unless one of their prophecies is fulfilled.
Dr. Morgan is not the first ambitious man to have grandiose plans for this particular summit. Hundreds of years before, King Kalidasa struggled with the same sect of monks when he built his pleasure gardens. His crowning achievement was the construction of ???The Fountains of Paradise,??? which utilized a pump system and slave labor to propel jets of water high into the sky. King Kalidasa???s pursuits and achievements foreshadow Dr. Morgan???s own desires for the same mountaintop. Both men have ostentatious goals that are ahead of their times, both are revered by some and ridiculed by others, both are plagued by the knowledge that they may die before seeing their dreams come true, and both must consider the possibility that there exists a higher power who may not look kindly upon such brazen displays of human pride and ambition.
The Fountains of Paradise was published in 1979 and won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards that year. The fictional setting is an alternative Sri Lanka, where Arthur C. Clarke lived the second half of his life, and King Kalidasa is based on a real Sri Lankan king.
The Fountains of Paradise is an exciting story that still feels fresh more than 30 years later. The clever juxtaposition of Morgan???s dreams with King Kalidasa???s similar pursuits adds much beauty and poignancy to the tale. Dr. Morgan doesn???t know about Kalidasa until he reaches Sri Kanda, but on the mountain, the grand king comes alive for him and, with Morgan, we experience the beauty of that ancient civilization.
In glorious contrast, we see Dr. Morgan???s stunning vision of Earth???s future ??? people quickly and inexpensively traveling back and forth to multiple space stations that orbit the Earth and are connected to the planet by Morgan???s elevators. This spectacular vision is especially plausible coming from Sir Arthur C. Clarke, whose contributions to the history of geostationary satellite communications is well-known and makes the reader wonder whether this implausible image may someday become reality, just like the fantastic dreams of Morgan and Kalidasa.
Thank you to Brilliance Audio for putting The Fountains of Paradise on audio. Marc Vietor???s narration is flawless and I enjoyed every moment of this production. It???s a great time to revisit this classic visionary novel.
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26 people found this helpful
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- Wayne
- 06-10-16
Science fiction by Author C Clarke
This is the first Author C Clarke novel I have read in almost 60 years. Released in 1979 is is supposed to be his best novel. It is really not very good, but then from my perspective his novels never were very good.
During my first childhood science fiction was my genre of choice especially in my early teens during the mid to late1950's. That period was the time of the famous three: Author C Clarke, Robert Heinlein, and Isaac Asimov. I tried reading Clarke and Asimov, but always went back to Heinlein who to this day remains my favorite science fiction writer. I especially liked Heinlein's juveniles series, but I loved all of Heinlein's works. As I have enjoyed sharing my second childhood with my grandchildren during the last decade, some of them became interested in science fiction and I have read books at the same time as them so we can discuss the novels. During this time I have become reacquainted with the genre. They also much prefer Heinlein but have added Orson Scott Card who began writing science fiction around 1980. The Ender's Game series and all of its spinoffs are their favorites.
The Foundations of Paradise reminds me again that Clarke and Asimov, for all of their fame, pale into insignificance compared to Robert Heinlein who even almost 2 decades after his death remains the king of the genre. Card is second.
This book disappointed just as Clarke's novels written prior to 1960 disappointed me. Clarke did not get better with age and experience.
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16 people found this helpful
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- Joel D Offenberg
- 12-29-10
Both Great and Good
Arthur C. Clarke has written many great works, and this numbers among them.
Clarke's sci-fi is always based on reasonable extrapolations from the current science and research of the day. In this case, the idea of a space elevator has moved from pure sci-fi into the realm of the possible. This story primarily dwells on the geo-political issues associated with building the tower, without neglecting the technical issues surrounding the construction and is very believable.
In addition, the story is enjoyable. Well-written, well-paced, and the plot is well-designed. The characters are interesting and multi-dimensional.
Marc Vietor's narration is pretty good without being fantastic. He manages to portray the multiple voices and accents well without sounding like a cartoon and paces the narration well.
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15 people found this helpful
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- Brett
- 10-29-12
Truly engaging
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Arthur Clark is so adept at bringing complex science to the masses and the concepts in Fountains of Paradise is no exception. The idea seems so audacious and futuristic that a space elevator could be created that it boggles the mind yet he describes it in such detail and loving attention that I kept thinking "why hasn't this already been done!" I love Clark's fascination with India and how he weaves his own passion for that regions culture and ideals into his books. It brings a depth of flavor to the story that other writers miss telling them with more traditional Anglo-Saxon backdrops. I can feel the spray of cool water and see the splendor of the gardens through his narrative and long to see this beautiful country. Space elevators are now almost common place in science fiction and hopefully someday the idea will have become a scientific reality to bring man to orbit and then to the stars. The narrator was engaging and I loved the flow of his performance, worth listening to again and again.
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8 people found this helpful
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- Ronald
- 12-10-09
Intriguing Technology, Uninteresting Characters
I'm a fan of Arthur C. Clark, but this book was disappointing. The major character in this book was a piece of technology. The human characters were one dimensional at best. Of all of Clark's books that I've read or listened to, this one is in last place.
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6 people found this helpful
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- George
- 06-18-13
Human Obstacles
Technical, political and social obstacles obstruct a dream. These are overcome and the dream becomes reality...and a basis for further Arthur C. Clarke novels. This book is more about the obstacles and human foibles than the sci-fi. If you like that, you'll like the book.
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
- Robert
- 01-09-12
The Listen is better than the original read.
If you could sum up The Fountains of Paradise in three words, what would they be?
Fascinating future predictions.
What was one of the most memorable moments of The Fountains of Paradise?
The ending
Which scene was your favorite?
Scenes, interactions among the characters.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
How long before this prediction becomes a reality.
Any additional comments?
I'm older now and have worked with some of the technical concepts that AC
Clark predicts in this novel. There are still some details to be worked out but some day this could happen.
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