Rating: 
Summary: An excellent science fiction novel.
Review: Clarke is famous for using a fictional premise as a vehicle for discussing scientific ideas, and rightly so. His ideas are so interesting, and his explanations are so clear that no one minds if the story sometimes takes a back seat to the science. In _Earthlight_, a secret agent visits the lunar colony to find the spy leaking classified material to Earth's other colonies. Clarke uses this premise to explore two main ideas: what life in an established lunar colony would be like, and how a conflict between Earth and her colonies might arise.Clarke's description of a 200-year-old colony is fascinating. His discussions of the problems created by the hostile lunar environment, and his solutions to them, are clear and interesting. What was surprising to me is that these descriptions, written almost 50 years ago, haven't really dated. There are some anachronisms; all communications are auditory, for example - television wasn't forseen, much less the Internet. But the majority of the ideas are as plausible and compelling as when they were written. The development of the conflict between the Earth and the Federation of colonies is somewhat less successful. The main reason for the conflict - competition for limited resources - rings true, and Clarke captures the feeling of life during a time of political tension leading to conflict. However, his descriptions of events and motivations feel a little too simple for what we'd expect to be a complex political situation. The concluding battle, employing highly speculative science, is a jarring contrast to the earlier, reasoned discussions of the science behind the lunar colony. These are nitpicks, however. _Earthlight_ succeeds in the ways most important to Clarke and to his readers. If you're familiar with Clarke's other work, I think you'll enjoy this novel. If you haven't read Clarke before, this novel is a fine introduction, although you would do equally well with his better-known works.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent!
Review: Easily one of the best novels of its kind ever written. Clarke's scientific accuracy, combined with his abillity to enthrall all his readers made this book one of the best sci-fi novels I've ever had the pleasure of reading.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: Easily one of the best novels of its kind ever written. Clarke's scientific accuracy, combined with his abillity to enthrall all his readers made this book one of the best sci-fi novels I've ever had the pleasure of reading.
Rating:
Summary: Good AC Clark
Review: I didn't like this one as much as I did "Tales from the White Hart", but it's still one of those books you just can't put down!
Rating:
Summary: Good AC Clark
Review: I didn't like this one as much as I did "Tales from the White Hart", but it's still one of those books you just can't put down!
Rating:
Summary: A straightforward story by Clarke
Review: I have always loved Clarke's works. It began with 'Expedition to Earth' and there is still a lot to read. I must say I preferred 'Childhood's End' to this book, but this one wasn't dull either. It was fairly straightforward, a book about conflict between Earth and the Federation over resource allocations. The whole story is the usual scientifically-accurate and descriptive science fiction, without any needless drama or extreme grandeur, or wierd aliens. As always, Clarke's books have a certain human quality to them, and are never overtly extravagant. This book is not a must read, but any fan of Clarke's would want to read it.
Rating:
Summary: Restrained, thoughtful drama about moon exploration
Review: I might be one of the few who still remember it - a little! A remarkably realistic - for its 50's time- and restrained, thoughtful drama about moon exploration/colonization. As an early teen reader when it came out, I considered it a little duller than I usually preferred, but I appreciated the scientific integrity - and Clarke is always interesting. It is NOT what is termed "pulp fiction," by the way.
Rating:
Summary: One of Clarkes Best!
Review: In my opinion, this is easily the best thing Clarke has ever written. It is a little shorter than I would have liked, but its depiction of an interplanetary conflict between old mother Earth and the confederation of once upon a time "colony" planets is very well done. Although interisting and quirky characterizations are not among the reasons this book is good, it does discuss the nature and future of humanity itself, and explores this ambitious theme better than any other author I know of can. The battle at the end between the forces of Earth and the Confederation I thought was very well done. The speculation of the kinds of weapons that would be used were much more realistic or detailed than Star Wars or even other reputable science fiction authors such as Asimov or Heinlein. Definitely a book worth reading for any sci-fi fan.
Rating:
Summary: 4 and 1/2 Stars
Review: Not Clarke's best novel, but still, nonetheless, a good one. Although the prose retains his characteristic hard-core scientific accuracy, poetic descriptions, and sly wit, this work is also more suspenseful than most of his other books. Although "space wars" are an extremely common theme in science fiction (being, indeed, the mainstay plots of some authors) it is extremely war in a Clarke novel. Earlight, however, focuses on it, and even has a full-fledged war scene. Mind you, it is not your typical "pulp" SF corny war scene, but rather one told in strikingly believable detail, complete with scientific accuracy and poetic prose. The book will keep you reading. Definately a book you will want to pick up if you are an ACC fan, though new fans will want to pick up 2001, 2010, Rendezvous With Rama, or Childhood's End instead.
Rating:
Summary: Realistic, hard-hitting speculation about future conflict.
Review: This is a very fine novel by Clarke even if some of the science is now out-of-date. The novel is set several centuries in the future. There are essentially two "nations" remaining, Earth (which includes the Moon) and the Triplanetary Federation, which encompasses Mars, Venus, and some of the outer satellites of Jupiter and Saturn. The issue is that in this novel Earth controls most of the solar system's supply of heavy metals e.g. titanium, high-grade iron ore, etc. Therein lies the conflict.
After several centuries of peace, the possibility of war once again looms. Clarke creates the atmosphere for this masterfully. The story is told from the perspective of an intelligence agent sent from Earth on a counterintelligence mission on the Moon. The storyline does not move at a breakneck pace by any means. Rather, the story moves in a leisurely fashion that gives the reader a fascinating look at what a Moon colony might one day be like. Despite this, the book moves to a climactic ending that is startling and absorbing. This book is an excellent read. This is a book that might have been made into a movie. Clarke is one of the giants of science fiction. Highly recommended.
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