The Fountains of Paradise
by Arthur C. Clarke · first published 1978
52% recommend43% neutral4% critical
Why HN recommends it
Hard science fiction novel about building a space elevator, praised for engineering-minded storytelling that treats the idea seriously. Suits readers curious about space elevators and old-school, idea-driven Clarke.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
In the 22nd century visionary scientist Vannevar Morgan conceives the most grandiose engineering project of all time, and one which will revolutionize the future of humankind in space: a Space Elevator, 36,000 kilometers high, anchored to an equatorial island in the Indian Ocean.
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…is 90% fantasy, there is only a little bit of research done by the author on desert ecosystems. My favourite real science fiction author is Arthur C clarke. some good books by him... earthlight the fountains of paradise islands in the sky the sands of mars rama songs of distant earth Also would recommend accelerando by Charles Stross and the mars series by Kim Stanley Robinson
on “What are your favourite sci-fi books?” ↗For those looking for a popular culture examination of space elevators--albeit from a number of decades back--check out Arthur C. Clarke's The Fountains of Paradise. It also deals with some of the engineering issues, though again it's quite old.
on “Japan starts space elevator experiments” ↗…of "influencing". "Neuromancer" was very influential, but hardly predictive. Actual predictive SF is much, much rarer, but if we ever get a space elevator you can probably blame Arthur C. Clarke ("The Fountains of Paradise"), which is an old-school didactic hey-why-don't-we-do-this-the-numbers-check-out work of prediction in fiction drag. Or maybe Andy Weir's "The Martian". Written SF has traditionally been utter rubbish…
on “Why Futurism Has a Cultural Blindspot” ↗1984 (George Orwell) Fountains of Paradise (Arthur C Clarke, Space Elevator SciFi) Dune Series (Herbert) Ender Series (Orson Scott Card) 2001 Series (Arthur C Clarke)
on “Ask YC: favorite books” ↗…Dune - what does scarcity do to a society? Isaac Asimov - Robot series. Foundation series. All of his short stories, esp. The Last Question, Nightfall. A.C. Clarke - 2001 - series, Childhood's End, The Fountains of Paradise The Little Prince, The Count of Monte Cristo, Catch-22, Siddhartha, Ender's Game, Sundiver, Wodehouse.
on “Ask HN: Good books?” ↗Everybody is going to have their own opinions. For Clarke I would have put The Fountains of Paradise way ahead of Childhood's End, for instance, but to each their own.
on “The Best Science Fiction Books (According to Reddit)” ↗Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke is a great book about space elevators. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/149049.The_Fountains_of_...
on “Uproar over plan to dispose of Syrian chemical weapons in the Mediterranean” ↗…is 90% fantasy, there is only a little bit of research done by the author on desert ecosystems. My favourite real science fiction author is Arthur C clarke. some good books by him... earthlight the fountains of paradise islands in the sky the sands of mars rama songs of distant earth Also would recommend accelerando by Charles Stross and the mars series by Kim Stanley Robinson
on “Ask HN: Favourite sci-fi books?” ↗Dune (first book only), The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur Clark, Robert Heinlein (Starship Troopers, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Stranger in a Strange Land), Uplift Series by David Brim, The Mars Trilogy by Kim Stanly Robinson, Ann Leckies books…
on “Neal Stephenson – Announcing Termination Shock” ↗For todays lucky 10,000. Arthur C Clarke wrote a great story about space elevators called "The Fountains of Paradise". https://arthurcclarke.org/site/legacy/fiction/fiction-sz/
on “Space Elevator” ↗…work in perfect synchrony to be really safe and reliable. In the foreseeable future, probably easier just to put physical bollards in. Your comment reminds me of a funny aside in Arthur C Clarke’s The Fountains of Paradise (wonderful novel, about the construction of a space elevator). A famous architect, designing the world’s longest and highest bridge, fights to avoid putting guard rails along the sides. His justification…
on “Bollards: Why and What” ↗The first I know of is "The Fountains of Paradise" by A.C. Clarke. Great book.
on “How to Build a Space Elevator” ↗It definitely was not Childhood's End that you're thinking of, although that's a fantastic book. I haven't read Fountains of Paradise but will have to add that to the list.
on “Bitcoin Value Loses Its Mind as Trading Lags on the Mt.Gox Exchange” ↗…perception of modern technology. From communications satellites (the geosynchronous 'Clarke orbit' is named after him) to encrypted smartphones (described vividly in Imperial Earth), to space elevators (The Fountains of Paradise) - he introduced so many ideas that are now regarded as unremarkable. (I remember being attacked and ridiculed in high school when I brought up the preposterous subject of space elevators...) His writing…
on “A Conversation with Arthur C. Clarke (1999)” ↗Reminds me of the beginning of Arthur C. Clarke's "Childhood's End" (or was it "Fountains of Paradise"? It's been decades since I've read them), where he explains how, even in a networked, high-speed trading world, the stock trading system can get overloaded by orders and lag will cause the system to…
on “Bitcoin Value Loses Its Mind as Trading Lags on the Mt.Gox Exchange” ↗