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sidharthvardhan's review against another edition
4.0
“They became farmers in the fields of stars; they sowed and sometimes they reaped.
And sometimes, dispassionately, they had to weed.”
Written a year before Neil Armstrong became first man to step on moon, the science fiction story is really well written. Clark mixes his speculative predictions with true events from past (like the panic caused by broadcastings of Wells’ ‘War of the Worlds’) and once he quoted Niels Bohr (““Your theory is crazy-but not crazy enough to be true.”) I loved his descriptions of lives of astronauts – the long, lonely, boring journeys interrupted by occasional wonderful sights and destinations. Both the beginning and the conclusion were simply incredible.
“In an empty room floating amid the fires of double star twenty thousand light-years from Earth, a baby opened its eyes and began to cry.”
““Where there is light, there still could be life.”
“It was the mark of a barbarian to destroy something one could not understand.”
"We can design a system that's proof against accident and stupidity; but we can't design one that's proof against deliberate malice
“Someone had once said that you could be terrified in space, but you could not be worried there.”
“The word "rescue" was carefully avoided in all the Astronautics Agency's statements and documents; it implied some failure of planning, and the approved jargon was "re-acquisition”.
“Again he began to wonder if he was suffering from amnesia, Paradoxically, that very thought reassured him, if he could remember the word "amnesia" his brain must be in fairly good shape.”
“They had learned to speak, and so had won their first great victory over Time. Now the knowledge of one generation could be handed on to the next, so that each age could profit from those that had gone before.
Unlike the animals, who knew only the present, Man had acquired a past; and he was beginning to grope toward a future.”
And sometimes, dispassionately, they had to weed.”
Written a year before Neil Armstrong became first man to step on moon, the science fiction story is really well written. Clark mixes his speculative predictions with true events from past (like the panic caused by broadcastings of Wells’ ‘War of the Worlds’) and once he quoted Niels Bohr (““Your theory is crazy-but not crazy enough to be true.”) I loved his descriptions of lives of astronauts – the long, lonely, boring journeys interrupted by occasional wonderful sights and destinations. Both the beginning and the conclusion were simply incredible.
“In an empty room floating amid the fires of double star twenty thousand light-years from Earth, a baby opened its eyes and began to cry.”
““Where there is light, there still could be life.”
“It was the mark of a barbarian to destroy something one could not understand.”
"We can design a system that's proof against accident and stupidity; but we can't design one that's proof against deliberate malice
“Someone had once said that you could be terrified in space, but you could not be worried there.”
“The word "rescue" was carefully avoided in all the Astronautics Agency's statements and documents; it implied some failure of planning, and the approved jargon was "re-acquisition”.
“Again he began to wonder if he was suffering from amnesia, Paradoxically, that very thought reassured him, if he could remember the word "amnesia" his brain must be in fairly good shape.”
“They had learned to speak, and so had won their first great victory over Time. Now the knowledge of one generation could be handed on to the next, so that each age could profit from those that had gone before.
Unlike the animals, who knew only the present, Man had acquired a past; and he was beginning to grope toward a future.”
seagul's review against another edition
5.0
A brilliant read, one I would highly recommend. Clarke weaves together a beautiful story, stretching from the moon to the infinite cosmos, and beyond. Wielding an impressive knowledge of astronomy and physics, Clarke takes us on a tale that explores the idea of man as a race, an idea, and as a part of the cosmos.
saturns_blues's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
gradybell's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
pelle_stoker's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
danijoy's review against another edition
2.0
This book was just not my jam. Only the last few chapters had me completely engaged. I also liked the first two chapters. The rest of the book certainly could’ve benefitted from some major cuts or alterations. Could we also have some more insight into the heart and soul of the characters? The main characters (white male) were so incredibly dull and indistinguishable from each other. The book did, however, bring up some interesting questions about humanity and intelligence.
Side note (not considered as part of my rating): I only just now started getting into sci-fi as a genre. But…. misogyny is showing up consistently. For this specific book, the misogyny reached a new level. While I realize the book was written in the 60s, it was hard for me to believe a far future 2001 setting (from Clark’s POV) to be both miraculously advanced in STEM, yet, also horrendously sexist. The “girl assistants” reference in particular made me cringe. Again, I realize this book was written decades ago. However, this is not a book set in the decade it was written in. I think the futuristic sci-fi genre might just be more prone to clashing with a present day lens.
Side note (not considered as part of my rating): I only just now started getting into sci-fi as a genre. But…. misogyny is showing up consistently. For this specific book, the misogyny reached a new level. While I realize the book was written in the 60s, it was hard for me to believe a far future 2001 setting (from Clark’s POV) to be both miraculously advanced in STEM, yet, also horrendously sexist. The “girl assistants” reference in particular made me cringe. Again, I realize this book was written decades ago. However, this is not a book set in the decade it was written in. I think the futuristic sci-fi genre might just be more prone to clashing with a present day lens.
stephibabes's review against another edition
4.0
Never seen the film. So let's get that out of the way. Also, I have an odd aversion to space type things. (Mainly due to breakfast style news pieces where faux fascination with superblood moons seems to crowd out critique and holding to account anti-democratic government actions)
However, I found this novel captivating. I was utterly immersed in this wide spanning fiction that took us from the dawn of mankind to the outer most limits of what life and creation could be. And slap bang in the middle a cautionary tale of AI.
I listened to this audiobook on Audible as part of the free trial. I will not be keeping it after the trial period. Support your local library. Many have a huge stock of ebooks and audiobooks.
However, I found this novel captivating. I was utterly immersed in this wide spanning fiction that took us from the dawn of mankind to the outer most limits of what life and creation could be. And slap bang in the middle a cautionary tale of AI.
I listened to this audiobook on Audible as part of the free trial. I will not be keeping it after the trial period. Support your local library. Many have a huge stock of ebooks and audiobooks.
rachelz's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
tylertootle's review against another edition
5.0
After reading this book, it's easy to see why Clarke is considered one of the all-time greats in science fiction literature. All hail the King.
valentimtavares2's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
4.5