The Foundations of Paradise - Arthur C. Clarke [0]
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ISBN: 978-0-7595-2561-0
A trade paperback edition of this book was published in 2001 by Warner Books.
First eBook edition: September 2001
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Contents
Introduction
Preface
I. The Palace
1. Kalidasa
2. The Engineer
3. The Fountains
4. Demon Rock
5. Through the Telescope
6. The Artist
7. The God-King’s Palace
8. Malgara
9. Filament
10. The Ultimate Bridge
11. The Silent Princess
II. The Temple
12. Starglider
13. Shadow at Dawn
14. The Education of Starglider
15. Bodhidharma
16. Conversations with Starglider
17. Parakarma
18. The Golden Butterflies
19. By the Shores of Lake Saladin
20. The Bridge That Danced
21. Judgment
III. The Bell
22. Apostate
23. Moondozer
24. The Finger of God
25. Orbital Roulette
26. The Night Before Vesak
27. Ashoka Station
28. The First Lowering
29. Final Approach
30. The Legions of the King
31. Exodus
IV. The Tower
32. Space Express
33. Cora
34. Vertigo
35. Starglider Plus Eighty
36. The Cruel Sky
37. The Billion-Ton Diamond
V. Ascension
38. A Place of Silent Storms
39. The Wounded Sun
40. The End of the Line
41. Meteor
42. Death in Orbit
43. Fail-Safe
44. A Cave in the Sky
45. The Man for the Job
46. Spider
47. Beyond the Aurora
48. Night at the Villa
49. A Bumpy Ride
50. The Falling Fireflies
51. On the Porch
52. The Other Passenger
53. Fade-Out
54. Theory of Relativity
55. Hard Dock
56. View from the Balcony
57. The Last Dawn
Epilogue: Kalidasa’s Triumph
Sources and Acknowledgments
The Fountains of Paradise
Arthur C. Clarke
Vannemar Morgan’s dream is to link Earth to the stars with the greatest engineering feat of all time—a 24,000-mile-high space elevator. But first he must solve a million technical, political, and economic problems . . . while allaying the wrath of God. For the only possible site on the planet for Morgan’s Orbital Tower is the monastery atop the Sacred Mountain of Sri Kanda. And for two thousand years, the monks have protected Sri Kanda from all mortal quests for glory. Kings and princes who have sought to conquer the Sacred Mountain have all died.
Now Vannemar Morgan may be next . . . .
“Clarke once again sounds his grand theme . . . man is most himself when he strives greatly, when he challenges the very laws of the universe.”
—The New York Times Book Review
“Arthur Clarke is probably the most critically admired of all currently active writers of science fiction . . . awesomely informed about physics and astronomy, and blessed with one of the most astounding imaginations I ever encountered in print.”
—The New York Times
“The Fountains of Paradise is the most considerable work of the latter part of Clarke’s career.”
—Science Fiction Encyclopedia
“Intellectually provocative.”
—Newsday
“Sets the standard for science fiction that is both high-tech and high-class.”
—Entertainment Weekly
“Remarkable.”
—Los Angeles Times Book Review
ARTHUR C. CLARKE has more than 100 million copies of his books in print and is credited as an inventor of satellite communications and other technological innovations. His many achievements include a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth, recognition as a Grand Master from the Science Fiction Writers of America, numerous Hugo and Nebula awards, and an Academy Award nomination. Sir Arthur C. Clarke lives in Sri Lanka.
ACCLAIM FOR ONE OF THE LEGENDARY MASTERS OF SPECULATIVE FICTION—INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER ARTHUR C. CLARKE