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Rating: 
Summary: A masterpiece preceding The City and The Stars
Review: Arthur C. Clarke's masterpiece The City and The Stars (which I'm glad to note is back in print, which is loooooong overdue), is, in fact, an extended version of this early Clarke masterpiece. The City and The Stars is widely considered one of the greatest science fiction novels ever written, and with good reason. And, although I would agree with Clarke in saying that the later novel is the better of the two, this is a certifiable masterpiece in itself. Most all science fiction is, inevitably, set in the future, but this book is set in the far, far, far future. The world Clarke posits is a logical one, and is great as both a story and a warning. Far from being a dystopia, the city of Diaspar in the book is the genuinely archetypal Utopia. It is into this stagnant, decadent setting that Clarke creates one of his grandest visions. This book is sweeping in its vision and its prose. Clarke has always had a deft poetic touch, and this story contains some of his most beautiful outpourings of words. An absolutely essential read for any science fiction fan, as is the novel that it bequeathed.
Rating: 
Summary: Good clean fun
Review: Later rewritten and published as THE CITY AND THE STARS, the original version is charming and intriguing. Somewhat quaint, perhaps, by today's standards, this science fiction-mystery makes a virtue of initiative and includes many traditional 1950s themes such as telepathy, robots and star travel. Generally areligious (although obviously materialistic, it contains only one passing snide remark towards religion) and without sexual themes or foul language (which mars so much of modern science fiction), this book is appropriate for youth as well as adults.
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Summary: Clarke's usual dim view of mankind
Review: Once again, this is a fearful and brilliant vision of the triumph of a future of material values; and, typical of Clarke, it is a story in which the last spark of human spirit rebels against conformity and ignites a new flame of freedom. It's a wonderful book for people who like this sort of book; i.e., the premise is that humans are basically too dumb to accomplish much of anything without getting a kick-start from some vastly-superior all-knowing eternally-wise civilization. It's a good story of one-dimensional characters encountering a faceless perfection; for an analogy, think of a world in which everyone is a clone of the Stepford Wives without their wit, wisdom or waxy perfection. It does raise the question -- What would life be like if it was perfect? Clarke doesn't offer an answer, except for one young lad who wants to know more than the limits of perfect knowledge. The first two-thirds of the book set out the usual dazzling Clarke scenario; the final third degenerates into the "life is more than you can understand" formula. His city of perfection is neatly packaged in one megalopis, perhaps somewhat like the Paolo Soleri vision of FutureWorld; the element that upsets me is the assumption this vastly superior technology can't nurture a pot of geraniums outside its rigid borders. In my view, humans always test the limits of the possible and permissable. Clarke assumes a human future where people don't color outside the lines; in contrast, anyone who's been in prison (I assume Clarke hasn't; every month I work with a dozen or so people just out of prison) knows the impossibility of living inside a closed door or blank wall. Clarke is a classy writer, he tells intriguing stories. Personally, I don't like his sense of pessimism and deus ex machina escapism to explain the vicissitudes of mankind; but, for those who think humans need a marvelous or malevant mechanical miracle to explain our faults, future or follies . . . . Clarke is very good.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating Story
Review: This book is set in the far future, when humanity is hiding from reality and has set up a constantly renewing but artificial society. One man searches for "a way out" of the "city" that protects all that they know of humankind. His search is fascinating and what he finds out is haunting and exciting and a warning.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating Story
Review: This book is set in the far future, when humanity is hiding from reality and has set up a constantly renewing but artificial society. One man searches for "a way out" of the "city" that protects all that they know of humankind. His search is fascinating and what he finds out is haunting and exciting and a warning.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating Story
Review: This book is set in the far future, when humanity is hiding from reality and has set up a constantly renewing but artificial society. One man searches for "a way out" of the "city" that protects all that they know of humankind. His search is fascinating and what he finds out is haunting and exciting and a warning.
Rating: 
Summary: Aganst the fall of Night: Good Clasic Clarke
Review: This is a great story. It's shorter than the average Clarke book, but worth the read. It isn't as good as Childhoods End, Songs from a distant Earth, RAMA, or 2001, but a good days reading. A good Used book if you can find it.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best Science Fiction stories ever written.
Review: This is the precursor to the Clarke novel "City and the Stars". I originally read this while still in elementary school and it was the first sci-fi I had ever read. No other has ever topped it. Clarke forms a world in the very distant future whose inhabitants live for hundreds of years on a ravaged planet earth in the oasis of the city. The city is an incredibly advanced utopia but an island of machines and somewhat bored inhabitants. The main protaganist is the youngest member of the community who ventures out into a voyage of discovery and onto another community which has also survived the ravages of time. The reuniting of the two tribes of mankind each a distinct culture at opposite ends of the spectrum is problem and goal of "Against the Fall of Night". This is science fiction storytelling at its best. A great story and a must have for all fans of the genre.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best Science Fiction stories ever written.
Review: This is the precursor to the Clarke novel "City and the Stars". I originally read this while still in elementary school and it was the first sci-fi I had ever read. No other has ever topped it. Clarke forms a world in the very distant future whose inhabitants live for hundreds of years on a ravaged planet earth in the oasis of the city. The city is an incredibly advanced utopia but an island of machines and somewhat bored inhabitants. The main protaganist is the youngest member of the community who ventures out into a voyage of discovery and onto another community which has also survived the ravages of time. The reuniting of the two tribes of mankind each a distinct culture at opposite ends of the spectrum is problem and goal of "Against the Fall of Night". This is science fiction storytelling at its best. A great story and a must have for all fans of the genre.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best Science Fiction stories ever written.
Review: This is the precursor to the Clarke novel "City and the Stars". I originally read this while still in elementary school and it was the first sci-fi I had ever read. No other has ever topped it. Clarke forms a world in the very distant future whose inhabitants live for hundreds of years on a ravaged planet earth in the oasis of the city. The city is an incredibly advanced utopia but an island of machines and somewhat bored inhabitants. The main protaganist is the youngest member of the community who ventures out into a voyage of discovery and onto another community which has also survived the ravages of time. The reuniting of the two tribes of mankind each a distinct culture at opposite ends of the spectrum is problem and goal of "Against the Fall of Night". This is science fiction storytelling at its best. A great story and a must have for all fans of the genre.
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