Interplanetary Flight
by Arthur C. Clarke
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The Non-Fiction Works of Arthur C. Clarke
27 works; 2 members
Author Information
860+ Works 130,133 Members
Arthur C. Clarke was born in Minehead, Somerset, England, on December 16, 1917. During World War II, he served as a radar specialist in the RAF. His first published piece of fiction was Rescue Party and appeared in Astounding Science, May 1946. He graduated from King's College in London with honors in physics and mathematics, and worked in show more scientific research before turning his attention to writing fiction. His first book, Prelude to Space, was published in 1951. He is best known for his book 2001: A Space Odyssey, which was later turned into a highly successful and controversial film under the direction of Stanley Kubrick. His other works include Childhood's End, Rendezvous with Rama, The Garden of Rama, The Snows of Olympus, 2010: A Space Odyssey II, 2062: Odyssey III, and 3001: The Final Odyssey. During his lifetime, he received at least three Hugo Awards and two Nebula Awards. He died of heart failure on March 19, 2008 at the age of 90. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Interplanetary Flight
- Original title
- Interplanetary Flight
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)The dream of flight was one of the noblest, and one of the most disinterested, of all man’s aspirations. Yet it led in the end to that silver Superfortress driving in passionless beauty through August skies toward the city whose name it was to sear into the conscience of the world. Already there has been half-serious talk in the United States concerning the use of the Moon for military bases and launching sites. The crossing of space may thus bring, not a new Renaissance, but the final catastrophe that haunts our generation.
That is the danger, the dark thundercloud that threatens the promise of the dawn. The rocket has already been the instrument of evil, and may be so again. But there is no way back into the past: the choice, as Wells once said, is the Universe – or nothing. Though men and civilizations may yearn for rest, for Elysian dream of the Lotus Eaters, that is a desire that merges imperceptibly into death. The challenge of the great spaces between the worlds is a stupendous one; but if we fail to meet it, the story of our race will be drawing to its close. Humanity will have turned its back upon the still untrodden heights and will be descending again the long slope that stretches, across a thousand million years of time, down to the shores of the primeval sea. - Original language
- English
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, General Nonfiction, Science & Nature
- DDC/MDS
- 629.4501 — Applied science & technology Engineering Transportation Vehicles Spacecraft & Vehicles Manned space flight General & Biography
- LCC
- TL790 .C6 — Technology Motor vehicles. Aeronautics. Astronautics Motor vehicles. Aeronautics. Astronautics Astronautics. Space travel
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 86
- Popularity
- 370,482
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- (4.20)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 1
- ASINs
- 6
