Arthur C. Clarke
Childhood’s End (first published: 1953)
Interesting plot and characters. Unforeseen plot
development.
As a reader mentioned on Amazon,
this is not a typical Arthur C. Clarke sci-fi novel, in the sense that it isn’t
based on hard scientific research. It’s more in the realm of fantasy-sci-fi. It
has a lyrical quality, it has supernatural beings, and it makes a philosophic
point that is at odds with the one usually espoused by Clarke. But all
that is beside the point I wanted to make:
The funny thing is – like with many other futuristic, sci-fi
novels – that sci-fi writers, no matter how brilliant, did not foresee or dream
of such things as the internet, ebooks, email, mobile phones that are in effect
handheld computers that can do tons of complicated stuff; text messages,
e-photos, and more. Humanity could be so advanced, technically/mechanically;
yet they still get their info in the form of paper, tons of it; they’re still
stuck with clunky fax machines, and any serious computers are huge and take up
entire rooms.
In terms of the effect of technology on humans and their
daily life, Clarke’s 1956 novel, The City and the Stars, tells a different
story. But, since I read it 10 years ago, in Feb 2002, I must confess I don’t
remember the details, and only have the brief note I wrote to myself at the
time:
Feb. 2002
Arthur C. Clarke -
The City and the Stars
Amazing SF, especially considering when it was written (1956). The
breadth of vision and the scientific insight and foresight are amazing. When it
comes to human nature – nu, we've read better. The predominance of the male
point of view, seeing the entire universe as a man's domain, with women only an
adjunct, is typical of its time (and much later times.) ------
As it happens, half-way through Childhood's End, I came across the following newspaper article, which made me smile, because it described the up side of today's technological advances: No Flying Cars, but the Future is Bright, wrote Virginia Postrel. I find that a very comforting thought.
Have you read either of the above Arthur C. Clarkes? Both? Any comments?