Rating: 
Summary: One of the BEST Sci-Fi novels of all time !
Review: Delighted to find this work available in hardback; I've got my old Penquin copy from the 60's (it cost less than a buck back then) and it's falling apart, as I read this book once a year whether I need to or not. I first heard of British scientist Fred Hoyle back in my freshman physics class at Wheaton College, Ill, in the early 60's re: his "steady state" theory; Shortly thereafter I came across "The Black Cloud." Hoyle is a terrific writer and brings to bear his expertise as a scientist in producing a novel that is engrossing, with the dialogue delightfully flavored with his subtle British sense of humor. I particulary enjoy the interaction between the dignified 'Astronomer Royal' and the chief character and maverick & rather unstable Professor Kingsly. The book begins with a description of a cold wintry January morning on the prime meridian in England, with the natives huddled around their fireplaces moaning about the weather, and quickly moves to Mt. Palomar above the California orange groves, where an underpaid Norwegian grad assistant finds that certain photographic plates (didn't have CDC's back then) taken of the Orion region of the sky show that an entire circle of stars is blinking on and off when compared with the plate taken somewhat earlier….a condition that shouldn't exist…and the action starts from there….of course the culprit is the "Black Cloud" heading straight for the solar system. I'm a fan of Heinlein, Asimov, Arthur C. Clark, et. al…but I gotta say this is my number one favorite of all time. Anybody who likes sci-fi within the realm of what actually could happen as told by a writer grounded in science…and who's got a flare for SETI will love this book. And the way he writes, I find myself visualizing being right there on the scene., whether at Mt. Palomar, Pasadena, or Nortonstowe out in the English countryside (where they all end up). Always felt it was too bad Hoyle wasn't a more prolific writer of novels....
Rating:
Summary: One of the BEST Sci-Fi novels of all time !
Review: Delighted to find this work available in hardback; I've got my old Penquin copy from the 60's (it cost less than a buck back then) and it's falling apart, as I read this book once a year whether I need to or not. I first heard of British scientist Fred Hoyle back in my freshman physics class at Wheaton College, Ill, in the early 60's re: his "steady state" theory; Shortly thereafter I came across "The Black Cloud." Hoyle is a terrific writer and brings to bear his expertise as a scientist in producing a novel that is engrossing, with the dialogue delightfully flavored with his subtle British sense of humor. I particulary enjoy the interaction between the dignified 'Astronomer Royal' and the chief character and maverick & rather unstable Professor Kingsly. The book begins with a description of a cold wintry January morning on the prime meridian in England, with the natives huddled around their fireplaces moaning about the weather, and quickly moves to Mt. Palomar above the California orange groves, where an underpaid Norwegian grad assistant finds that certain photographic plates (didn't have CDC's back then) taken of the Orion region of the sky show that an entire circle of stars is blinking on and off when compared with the plate taken somewhat earlier….a condition that shouldn't exist…and the action starts from there….of course the culprit is the "Black Cloud" heading straight for the solar system. I'm a fan of Heinlein, Asimov, Arthur C. Clark, et. al…but I gotta say this is my number one favorite of all time. Anybody who likes sci-fi within the realm of what actually could happen as told by a writer grounded in science…and who's got a flare for SETI will love this book. And the way he writes, I find myself visualizing being right there on the scene., whether at Mt. Palomar, Pasadena, or Nortonstowe out in the English countryside (where they all end up). Always felt it was too bad Hoyle wasn't a more prolific writer of novels....
Rating:
Summary: Every Thinking Person Should Know This Book
Review: Every bright adolescent and teenager --not to mention adult-- should read this book and ponder its subject, which is nothing less than the provenance and place of thinking beings in the Universe. Full of stimulating, exciting ideas and speculations, with an engrossing and intelligent storyline, it engages the reader in addressing the problems presented. I say every teenager should read this book because no matter what your religious or philosophical bent or direction, that's the time in life when you really start considering these important topics in a mature fashion. The book was a thrill to me as a 12 year old in the late sixties; I read it again and again, along with The Martian Chronicles, the Odyssey, A Wrinkle in Time, the Robot books of Asimov, A Canticle for Leibowitz, Huck Finn, White Fang, and all the other high-quality fiction that insidiously teaches the reader to take seriously such questions as: what constitutes a soul (or conciousness)?; to what extent is there a place for compassion in nature; even if the universe is blind and uncaring, do I still have duties and obligations?; when may, and when must, I act even when my actions harm others?; and where did we come from, is there a reason for our being, is there a reason for everything, is there a reason for anything? This may seem pretty dry but the book, like the others mentioned, is not. It's exciting to come upon these questions, to treat them seriously especially for the first time, and it's important to learn to do this humanely (history is too full of people who get the Answer to these questions and then apply it vigorously to everyone in reach). And the cosmology is fascinating, too. The actual science is a little dated, but that won't hurt--the important stuff is still valid. I'm glad to see it back in print, even at so high a price--I want my daughters to read it. Someone ought to issue it in paperback. Compared to some of the books being read today in middle and high school (and many of these are good books), this work stands out. If you read the book and you AREN'T fascinated by the questions it raises, then either (a) you incapable of curiousity and wonderment, or (b) you have been mind-wiped by a culture of triviality and appetitive gratification--the Math is hard Barbie syndrome. I should note for those (parents) who are religiously inclined and concerned about this: The book does not preach amorality or a soulless universe. Neither is it, like the (wonderful) books of CS Lewis, a religious vehicle. It lies outside of these constraints. There is no magic or witchcraft, no something for nothing; the cloud's universe is our own, and displayed from a scientist's perspective. But it is not a perspective incompatible with views from other directions.
Rating:
Summary: The best-ever novel on extra-terrestrial intelligence?
Review: For a sci-fi work of the highest class, it appears to have received scant attention. I read it around 1980, and still haven't read a better work on ETI.
I have been searching in vain for a copy since.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent hard sci-fi
Review: Hoyle is a little weak on characters. He does not capture a feeling awe or paint fantastic images in the mind, but the scientific premise and its consequences for life on Earth was very interesting. I would have liked to explore "the cloud" a bit more. The book is short, so it's easy for me to overlook a little bit of dryness and say this should be on the "must read" list of anyone who is into hard sci-fi.
Rating:
Summary: Very nice
Review: I "inherited" this copy from my dad. I read this first at the age of 14, i.e last year. I loved the book! Its science fiction, with fiction facts, dunno how I can explain that, but ill give it a try. What all Sir Hoyle has put up, he has given full calculations, and little proofs of those things. So it really sounds very logical.I liked Kingsley's character very much. Brilliant minded character, but a bit unsound. Once you read the book, you might as well start wondering "Can there really be a living cloud in space?"
Rating: 
Summary: Naïve, but funny
Review: I definitely enjoyed reading this book, though it is a bit naive and poor written. Anyway, it is always nice to have a science fiction book done by a honorable scientist
Rating:
Summary: Classic "Scientific" Science Fiction novel
Review: I first read The Black Cloud in the late seventies and still used to read it every now and then (up to now at least 25 times!). It has a solid story, a very plausible scientific background (I am not a scientist to be able to prove it, but it "feels" right, and that is the most important thing after all, is it not?). There is a romantic plot, suspense, and the ending is not what we might excpect. One can find everything in this novel, except the book itself... It is three years now that my wife dismembered my copy by means of accidentaly letting it fall in a very busy road and since then I was not able to locate another copy although I am looking for it every time I go to a bookstore... But that is another story... Mr. Hoyle has written other novels also, some together with his brother Geoffrey Hoyle. I was able to obtain only The Fifth Planet which, naturally, I do not allow to be taken out of my library.
It is a wonder why books of the quality of The Black Cloud are not to be found easily. Perhaps because one must earn quality the hard way?
Rating:
Summary: Must read classic of all times!
Review: I got this book as a gift from my grand father when I was 15. I must have read this book at least 30 times since each time getting more out of it. About 15 yrs ago migrated to US without this book. Since then I have been searching without much luck. I must have visited practically every book store in Boston in search of this book. I am just delighted to order it again via Amezon! Thank you Amezon!!! Anil
Rating:
Summary: A book far ahead of it's time!
Review: I read a copy when I was younger and would like to read it again. Even Amazon don't have a copy so I guess it means a tour round the car boot sales. Another book in the same category of readability is The Chrysalids by John Wyndham - try them both if you can getcopies
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