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The Fountains of Paradise

by Arthur C. Clarke

Other authors: See the other authors section.

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3,502523,623 (3.76)71
Fiction. Science Fiction. HTML:

A Hugo and Nebula Awardwinning novel from the legendary "colossus of science fiction" and creator of 2001: A Space Odyssey (The New Yorker).

Renowned structural engineer Dr. Vannevar Morgan seeks to link Earth to the stars by constructing a space elevator that will connect to an orbiting satellite 22,300 miles from the planet's surface. The elevator would lift interstellar spaceships into orbit without the need of rockets to blast through the Earth's atmospheremaking space travel easier and more cost-effective.

Unfortunately, the only appropriate surface base for the elevator is located at the top of a mountain already occupied by an ancient order of Buddhist monks who strongly oppose the project. Morgan must face down their oppositionas well as enormous technical, political, and economic challengesif he is to create his beanstalk to the heavens.

An epic novel of daring dreams spanning twenty decades, this award-winning drama combines believable science with heart-stopping suspense.

"A beautifully mounted story about the human need to reachliterallyfor the stars, and the fine line between genius and megalomania." SFReviews.net

.… (more)
  1. 94
    The Web Between The Worlds by Charles Sheffield (lorax)
    lorax: The two classic space elevator novels, written nearly simultaneously. Clarke's is a better book, but they're both good engineering SF, and if you like space elevators you definitely should read them both.
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» See also 71 mentions

English (48)  Danish (2)  Spanish (1)  Italian (1)  All languages (52)
Showing 1-5 of 48 (next | show all)
I was not actually looking forward to reading this book when I got it. I had just finished The Forever War by Joe Haldeman which I had so been looking forward to, but didn't end up enjoying very much. So when I went to pick out the next book to read, I didn't go with one I particularly was excited to read, but just whatever happened to be the cheapest one on my list. I am glad The Fountains of Paradise ended up being what I purchased. Clarke's tale of two men's ambitions - both fantastical, both in the same revered place, but 2 millennia apart - is exactly what science fiction can really be all about. Clarke set out to give a realistic, but still highly engaging, portrayal of the obstacles and challenges presented to people with bold visions, far ahead of their time.

The book is really a contrast between two types of ambitions and ambitious people. On the one hand is Kalidasa, the ancient, cruel king of Taprobane, whose vision was for a paradise on Earth, and a palace in the heavens, just to prove to the Gods that he could. His vision cost many men their lives, including his own father, and severed his relationship to his brother. His greed kept him from sharing his project with anyone, and it went lost and forgotten for centuries after his death.

Compared to him is the book's protagonist, Vannevar Morgan, a brillitant structural engineer, perhaps the greatest of his lifetime. While Kalidasa was motivated by greed and a pursuit of aesthetic perfection not to be shared, Morgan is motivated by being the person to bring humanity to its next stage of evolution. He wants to be the one to accomplish great things, and in a way does make him as egotistical as Kalidasa at times, but his pursuits are ones to be shared with the world, accessible to everyone. His elevator to the stars is not made as fanciful adventure for the rich and influential; it is made to be a economical way for every man, woman, and child to have the ability to be among the stars and colonize worlds far away from current human abilities.

The book deals with all the mountains, both figurative and literal, of obstacles one must overcome in such grand pursuits, and gives the book the feeling that it is real, human. Going up against budgets, bureaucracies, technical challenges, and PR problems are all very real facets of projects, and seeing Morgan overcome them feels like real victory. But even Morgan, with all his brilliance and careful planning, has to rely on a bit of luck and superstition, things he personally does not seem to believe in, in order to reach the end of his goals. “There is something very strange about a universe where a few dead butterflies can balance a billion-ton tower.” ( )
  James_Knupp | Jan 20, 2023 |
Entertaining sci-fi story about a man's daring engineering project. Many of the characters were interesting, & I really enjoyed the setting. The subplot involving the Starholmer was especially fun, though I wish that was incorporated into the main story more. I thought it was a shame that some of (what I thought were) the most interesting plot elements were nearly completely dropped partway through. I also found some parts of the story difficult to believe. But overall, I did enjoy reading this book. ( )
  brp6kk | Jan 17, 2023 |
I felt that I learned a bit about how a space elevator would work, but overall, I think the story was lacking, and incomplete. I'm not even sure why some things were even added. There was a visit from far away, that didn't really seem to fit in. The space elevator story kind of fizzled out and never went anywhere (literally). I just felt the book never went anywhere. ( )
  MartyFried | Oct 9, 2022 |
História da construção do primeiro elevador espacial, ponte vertical de engenharia futura, a transportar pessoas e materiais de modo prático e ágil, da Terra até a órbita, facilitando a expansão espacial. Escrita muito bem balanceada, embora previsível, evocando uma história antiga de conquista do céu, um precedente recente de engenharia (uma enorme ponte), dificuldades políticas, técnicas e éticas, e eventuais contratempos imprevistos. Intercala também a passagem de uma sonda espacial alienígena, que desconstrói a ideia de religião dos humanos, ao permitir alguma teologia comparada. A ligação aqui é tênue, mas relevante, a história social e técnica se alimentam, e até os monges devem admitir sua própria impermanência.

Vencedor do prêmio Hugo 1980. ( )
  henrique_iwao | Aug 30, 2022 |
This was the 1st Clarke novel I'd read after a long hiatus of decades. It's got the usual dominant-male-pursues-impossible-dream type plot. I actually like that sort of thing sometimes - esp if the "impossible dream" is compelling. In this case, it's a giant 'elevator' from a sacred mountain to off-planet. This, of course, brings in philisophical-religious conflict of cultures - w/ ye olde white guy as the aggressor that I suppose most of us are expected to root for. Another in-one-side-of-the-brain-&-out-the-other type of reading experience. In other words, it didn't make much of an impression on me. ( )
  tENTATIVELY | Apr 3, 2022 |
Showing 1-5 of 48 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors (17 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Clarke, Arthur C.primary authorall editionsconfirmed
Alexandria, Susana L. deTradutorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Göncz, ÁrpádTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Mahn, KlausTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Moore, ChrisCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Nagy, Piroska, F.Translatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Németh, AttilaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Oakes, TerryCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Vietor, MarcNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Ziegenfeuter, DieterCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Zilli, EdithTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Epigraph
“Politics and religion are obsolete; the time has come for science and spirituality”.

Sri Jawaharlal Nehru
To the Ceylon Association for the
Advancement of Science
Colombo, 15 October 1962
Dedication
To the still-unfolding memory
of
LESLIE EKANAYAKE
(13 July 1974-4 July 1977)

only perfect friend of a lifetime,
in whom were uniquely combined
Loyalty, Intelligence and Compassion.
When you radiant and living spirit
vanished from this world
the light went our of many lives.

NIRVANA PRĀPTO BHŪYĀT
First words
The crown grew heavier with each passing year.
Quotations
Last words
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
Disambiguation notice
ISBN 0671572180 is for Fountains of Paradise by Elizabeth Hunter.
Publisher's editors
Information from the German Common Knowledge. Edit to localize it to your language.
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Fiction. Science Fiction. HTML:

A Hugo and Nebula Awardwinning novel from the legendary "colossus of science fiction" and creator of 2001: A Space Odyssey (The New Yorker).

Renowned structural engineer Dr. Vannevar Morgan seeks to link Earth to the stars by constructing a space elevator that will connect to an orbiting satellite 22,300 miles from the planet's surface. The elevator would lift interstellar spaceships into orbit without the need of rockets to blast through the Earth's atmospheremaking space travel easier and more cost-effective.

Unfortunately, the only appropriate surface base for the elevator is located at the top of a mountain already occupied by an ancient order of Buddhist monks who strongly oppose the project. Morgan must face down their oppositionas well as enormous technical, political, and economic challengesif he is to create his beanstalk to the heavens.

An epic novel of daring dreams spanning twenty decades, this award-winning drama combines believable science with heart-stopping suspense.

"A beautifully mounted story about the human need to reachliterallyfor the stars, and the fine line between genius and megalomania." SFReviews.net

.

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Book description
Sri Kanda, the Sacred Mountain rising majestically above the equatorial island of Taprobane, bears silent witness to the hazardous lives of two obsessed men.
King Kalidasa, tyrant of the second century, murderous usurper of an ancient kingdom, sought to reach heaven by creating his lofty Pleasure Garden, with their towering fountains and the panorama of beautiful maidens. Two thousand years later, Vannervar Morgan, brilliant engineer of the twenty-second century, seeks to approach the stars through technological daring that will open a new era in space travel.
Each of these interweaving narratives is charged with surprise and suspense, laced with excitement and wry humor. Each of the protagonists comes within reach of his ambition - and pays for his triumph in a starling, compelling finale.
This saga, the most accomplished writing of an internationally famed storyteller, captures two worlds - one long past, based on the history and legend of Ceylon, the other a brilliant extension of scientific possibility and a luxury of imagination. Beneath the sweeping drama that dominates this tale lies a commentary on the human condition, with its yearnings and strivings, its fears and follies, its ultimate courage.
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