Astounding Days: A Science Fictional Autobiography (A Bantam spectra book)
by Arthur C. Clarke
On This Page
Description
"Scientist and grand master of the genre (2001: A Space Odyssey) Clarke has given us a memoir of his youth. It centers on three editors, Harry Bates, F. Orlin Tremaine, and John W. Campbell, who created the magazine now known as Analog (until 1960 it was called Astounding Science Fiction). Clarke gives his reaction to the writers and illustrators who first aroused his interest in science fiction. The scientific ferment of the 1930s and the 1940s is related to the ideas of the period and to show more the author's work in rocketry and radar. A sweeping view of popular science and popular fiction." -- Goodreads.com. show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
My reaction upon reading this in 1990.
A very entertaining, chatty memoir of a portion of Clarke’s sf career. Reading this book is like hearing Clarke on his tv shows Mysterious World and World of Strange Powers. Clarke warmly recalls his early life, his introduction to sf (particularly Astounding, the central subject and touchstone of this book), and his days promoting rocketry with the British Interplanetary Society. Until I read this book, I didn’t realize how involved Clarke was in real science, not only with the BIS but early radar and (I always took it to be an exagerrated, somewhat apocryphal story) the development of communication satellites. Clarke knew an amazing number of famous people -- scientists, actors, newsmen, show more writers, directors -- many before they became famous. show less
A very entertaining, chatty memoir of a portion of Clarke’s sf career. Reading this book is like hearing Clarke on his tv shows Mysterious World and World of Strange Powers. Clarke warmly recalls his early life, his introduction to sf (particularly Astounding, the central subject and touchstone of this book), and his days promoting rocketry with the British Interplanetary Society. Until I read this book, I didn’t realize how involved Clarke was in real science, not only with the BIS but early radar and (I always took it to be an exagerrated, somewhat apocryphal story) the development of communication satellites. Clarke knew an amazing number of famous people -- scientists, actors, newsmen, show more writers, directors -- many before they became famous. show less
Ratings
Members
- Recently Added By
Lists
Science Fiction and Fantasy Autobiographies
38 works; 3 members
The Non-Fiction Works of Arthur C. Clarke
27 works; 2 members
Author Information
861+ Works 130,262 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
Awards and Honors
Awards
Work Relationships
Is contained in
Common Knowledge
- Original title
- Astounding Days: A Science Fictional Autobiography
- Original publication date
- 1989
- People/Characters
- Arthur C. Clarke; John Campbell (SF editor/author)
- Dedication
- Gratefully and affectionately dedicate to the memories of
Harry Bates
F. Orlin Tremaine
John W. Campbell - First words
- Sometime towards the end of 1930, in my thirteenth year, I acquired my first science fiction magazine - and my life was irrevocably changed.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)But there is nowhere else on Earth that I wish to live, while I wait to see what really happens in 2001.
- Blurbers
- Asimov, Isaac
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 170
- Popularity
- 192,646
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (3.85)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 3
- ASINs
- 1
