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The Fountains of Paradise

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The Fountains of Paradise

By: Arthur C. Clarke
Narrated by: Mike Grady
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About this listen

In the 22nd century visionary scientist Vannevar Morgan conceives the most grandiose engineering project of all time, and one which will revolutionise the future of humankind in space: a Space Elevator, 36,000 kilometres high, anchored to an equatorial island in the Indian Ocean.

©1979 Arthur C. Clarke (P)2013 W F Howes Ltd Science Fiction
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If you have ever been to enchanting Sigiriya, central Sri Lanka, this book would be doubly appreciated as it is set around that rock, gardens and its history... A wonderful novel that intertwines real history in various forms, a grandiose technical engineering project (and visionary topic for 1980), an excellent audible ("British") narration too (thankfully not an American reciting) but only marred abit by bad pronunciations of local language names and terms (quaint is not the word!), alas. The narrator, who I like alot, would have done better to talk to any Sri Lankan before his attempt as it would have really topped off this anyway lovely audio book.

A wondeful sci-cum-history book, classic AC!

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Not a huge number of twists and turns so a little dull but an interesting idea of how the first space elevator will be built

Good book if a little unexciting,

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The narration was unobtrusive, and that is a good thing.

The story was not the best in the world, not all that much happened, but listening to it while planing and sanding lots of wood made the job speed by and kept my mind off my aching limbs.

It reminded me a little of another of his stories (Ghost of the Grand Banks?) about the Titanic, where a slightly flimsy story served as the skeleton for the ideas A.C. Clarke wanted to present.

I enjoyed it though will not find the need to listen to it again.

I enjoyed it - not much of a story though

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Fantastic story fantastically read. One of the best audio books I have listened to. And I've listened to a lot!

Arthur C Clarke at his best

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Morgan, as a character, was very enjoyable. His determination and talent in the story made him feel like someone that really would exist. The niggling idea that his only legacy would be the Gibraltar Bridge eventually led him to restart the space lift project. The engineering and physics side to the story were very enjoyable too, as was the conflict between religion & spiritual life and progress. Overall it is well worth a listen.

true science-fiction

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