The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke
The book envisions a future where a visionary engineer undertakes the monumental task of constructing a space elevator, a tower stretching from the Earth's surface into geostationary orbit. Set on a fictional island closely resembling Sri Lanka, the narrative intertwines the engineer's ambitious project with the island's ancient history and religious traditions. As the protagonist grapples with technical challenges, political hurdles, and personal conflicts, the story explores themes of human ingenuity, the quest for progress, and the delicate balance between preserving the past and embracing the future. The space elevator concept, a staple of speculative fiction, serves as a metaphor for humanity's reach for the stars and the technological leaps necessary to achieve such dreams.
The 8048th greatest book of all time
- Published
- 1979
- Nationality
- British
- Type
- Fiction
- Pages
- 288
- Words
- 76,000
- Original Language
- English
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This book is on the following lists:
- 107th on Top 200 Science Fiction Books (Pre-2000) (Sci-Fi Lists)
- Nebula Award (Nebula Awards)
- Hugo Award for Best Novel (Hugo Awards)