Misplaced Pages

The Fountains of Paradise: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 20:06, 3 August 2018 editDan100 (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users29,083 edits →Similarities with other works of Clarke: mTags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit← Previous edit Latest revision as of 07:12, 9 November 2024 edit undoAnomieBOT (talk | contribs)Bots6,565,529 editsm Dating maintenance tags: {{Which}} 
(38 intermediate revisions by 31 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|1979 science fiction novel by Arthur C. Clarke}}
⚫ {{Infobox book |
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
⚫ | name = The Fountains of Paradise
⚫ {{Infobox book|
| title_orig =
⚫ | name = The Fountains of Paradise
| translator =
| image = fountains copy.jpg | title_orig =
| image_size = 200px | translator =
| caption = Cover of first UK edition (hardcover) | image = fountains copy.jpg
| author = ] | image_size =
| caption = Cover of the first UK edition
| illustrator =
| author = ]
| cover_artist = Terry Oakes
| country = United Kingdom | illustrator =
| language = English | cover_artist = Terry Oakes
| series = | country = ]
| genre = ] | language = English
| series =
⚫ | publisher = ] (UK)<br>] (US)
| pub_date = 1979 | genre = ]
⚫ | publisher = ] (UK)<br />] (US)
| english_pub_date =
| pub_date = 1979
⚫ | media_type = Print (] & ])
| pages = 256 | english_pub_date =
⚫ | media_type = Print (] & ])
⚫ | isbn = 0-575-02520-4
| oclc = 4993570 | pages = 256
⚫ | isbn = 0-575-02520-4
⚫ | preceded_by =
| followed_by = | oclc = 4993570
⚫ | preceded_by =
| followed_by =
}} }}


'''''The Fountains of Paradise''''' is a novel by British writer ]. Set in the 22nd century, it describes the construction of a ]. This "orbital tower" is a giant structure rising from the ground and linking with a satellite in ] at the height of approximately 36,000 kilometers (approx. 22,300 miles). Such a structure would be used to raise payloads to orbit without the expense of using ]s. The novel won both the Hugo<ref name="WWE-1980">{{cite web '''''The Fountains of Paradise''''' is a 1979 ] novel by British writer ]. Set in the 22nd century, it describes the construction of a ]. This "orbital tower" is a giant structure rising from the ground and linking with a satellite in ] at the height of approximately 36,000 kilometres (approx. 22,300 miles). Such a structure would be used to raise payloads to orbit without the expense of using ]s. The novel won both the Hugo<ref name="WWE-1980">{{cite web
| url = http://www.worldswithoutend.com/books_year_index.asp?year=1980 | url = http://www.worldswithoutend.com/books_year_index.asp?year=1980
| title = 1980 Award Winners & Nominees | title = 1980 Award Winners & Nominees
| work = Worlds Without End | work = Worlds Without End
| accessdate=2009-09-29 | access-date=2009-09-29
}}</ref> and Nebula<ref name="WWE-1979">{{cite web }}</ref> and Nebula<ref name="WWE-1979">{{cite web
| url = http://www.worldswithoutend.com/books_year_index.asp?year=1979 | url = http://www.worldswithoutend.com/books_year_index.asp?year=1979
| title = 1979 Award Winners & Nominees | title = 1979 Award Winners & Nominees
| work = Worlds Without End | work = Worlds Without End
| accessdate=2009-09-29 | access-date=2009-09-29
}}</ref> Awards for Best Novel. }}</ref> Awards for Best Novel.


==Plot== ==Plot==
===Summary=== ===Summary===
The novel focuses primarily on a project known as the Orbital Tower proposed by the main character, Vannevar Morgan. The tower is to stretch from the ]'s equator to a satellite that is in ]. Such a structure would greatly reduce the cost of sending people and supplies into space.
In the 22nd century, an Australian engineer has devised a technology for moving cargo and people between the surface of the Earth and orbit without the use of rockets. The only suitable point for the Earth terminus of the "space elevator" is the peak of a mountain on the island of ] (pronounced tap-ROB-a-nee per Clarke's preface), essentially ], the author's longtime home. The mountain's peak has been occupied for centuries by Buddhist monks with a perpetual lease, but that obstacle is removed after an ancient prophecy accidentally gets fulfilled.


The main story is framed by two other stories. The first one tells of King Kalidasa, living thousands of years before Morgan is born, who is constructing a ']' complete with functioning fountains, in a significant engineering effort for the time. The other story, taking place long after Morgan has died, deals with aliens making contact with Earth.
⚫ The engineer is let go from the giant corporation that employs him, for going beyond his mandate. He finds outside financing for his project from a company that is interested in building his giant elevator at Earth then moving it to Mars. After a few setbacks, including some fatalities, construction of the Tower gets underway. Although the engineer's heart is failing, he rides up the Tower to take food and oxygen to a group of stranded students and their professor. After overcoming serious difficulties he succeeds, then dies of a heart attack on the way back down.


Due to many technical issues, there are only two locations on Earth where the Orbital Tower can be built. One is in the middle of the ], and the other is Sri Kanda (a thinly veiled reference to ] in Sri Lanka). However, there is a ] on the island, and Mahanayake Thero, the head of the order, refuses to give permission to begin construction.
In the distant future, the Tower has been so successful that an enormous wheel of habitation encircles the Earth.


Hearing of the difficulties, a group of people living on ] contacts Morgan and suggests that the tower be built there instead. It would be smaller than the one planned for Earth, and would reach from Mars to one of its moons, ].
===Detailed===
''Part 1 – The Palace''</p>
The book opens with a flashback to the 2nd century CE with '''King Kalidasa''' of ] (pronounced tap-ROB-a-nee per Clarke's preface) in his palace atop Yakkagala (Demon Rock) contemplating old age and the end of his reign. Kalidasa's father had overseen a massive irrigation project culminating with the building of the titular fountains. More flashbacks of this type, describing the cruelty and death that accompanied Kalidasa's reign, occur during Part 1 of the book.


⚫ After a few setbacks, including some fatalities, construction of the tower gets underway. Although the engineer's heart is failing, he rides up the tower to take food and oxygen to a group of stranded students and their professor. After overcoming serious difficulties he succeeds, then dies of a ] on the way back down.
Two thousand years later, '''Dr Vannevar Morgan''', Chief Engineer (Land) of the Terran Construction Corporation and designer of the famous ] Bridge, wants to build a "space elevator" out of a thin, ultra-strong material called hyperfilament ("a continuous pseudo-one-dimensional diamond crystal"). Due to various geographic and atmospheric conditions, the only suitable point on Earth for the lower terminus of the elevator system is the summit of Sri Kanda, a mountain sacred to the local ]. The monks have held a lease on the peak of Sri Kanda for many centuries and have no intention of evacuating.

'''Johan Rajasinghe''', a retired peace negotiator with the World Federation, is enjoying his retirement villa at the ancient pleasure gardens of Kalidasa. He meets with Morgan and is impressed by the technology of the hyperfilament, but is skeptical about Morgan's chances of seeing the project through, given local circumstances.

''Part 2 – The Temple''</p>
{{quote box
| width = 28em
| align = right
| quote = '''Clarke's atheism:'''<br><br> had been one of the most promising young men in the field of astrophysics when, five years ago, he had announced, "Now that Starglider has effectively destroyed all traditional religions, we can at last pay serious attention to the concept of God." <br><br>...among all the countless other effects upon human culture, Starglider had brought to its climax a process that was already under way. It had put an end to the billions of words of pious gibberish with which apparently intelligent men had addled their minds for centuries.
}}
Another flashback, this one only about 80 years: The inhabitants of Earth are jolted by the arrival in the Solar system of a small probe (connected to an enormous antenna). Dubbed Starglider, it left its origin point 60,000 years previously and has been touring various stellar systems ever since, making contact with any technologically developed lifeforms it finds.

Morgan travels to the Buddhist sanctuary at the top of Sri Kanda and meets with two monks: the 85th '''Venerable Bodhidharma Mahanayake Thero''', namesake of and direct successor to the holy man who crowned Kalidasa the Accursed; and his private secretary, the '''Venerable Parakarma''', who was once the brilliant young astrophysicist Choam Goldberg. Both men are implacably opposed to Morgan's project, and he makes no progress. On his way back down the mountain, his car is stopped by a huge swarm of migrating golden butterflies. His native driver explains the local legend that these are the souls of Kalidasa's warriors, and if they ever reach the summit, Kalidasa will have finally conquered the mountain and the monks will have to leave.

Although Morgan has a design study for his space elevator, he has no funding; and his employer, the Terran Construction Corporation, is not interested in backing it. He visits the man who provided vital financing for Morgan's great triumph, the Gibraltar Bridge: '''Sheik Abdullah''', president of the Autonomous North African Republic, who controls "more power and wealth than almost any single individual on earth." The results of the meeting are inconclusive.

Johan Rajasinghe is watching a television interview being conducted by a friend of his, '''Maxine Duval'''. Her guest is Senator Collins, chairman of the Terran Construction Corporation, who is announcing the resignation of Vannevar Morgan from the TCC. Morgan went outside the organization to look for financing for his space elevator, and his premature, back-channel actions have led to an adverse ruling from the World Court: the court ruled in favor of the monks on top of Sri Kanda.

''Part 3 – The Bell''<br>
The Venerable Parakarma's meeting with Vannevar Morgan has relit a spark of curiosity; he leaves the monastery and returns to the world.

Morgan is beginning to enjoy his forced retirement among the Norwegian fjords when he is approached by the head of investments for Narodny Mars. He offers financing for Morgan to build his space elevator on Mars as part of his consortium's massive ] project.

Morgan wins permission from the World Court to do a test deployment of his hyperfilament on Taprobane since it will merely be a one-time inconvenience for the monks. The material can only be manufactured in weightless conditions, so the filament is deployed from a conical bundle dropped by a geosynchronous satellite. As the cone descends and the filament unspools, a ] blows through the area. Morgan is completely disconcerted because World Weather Control had assured him that they would not allow any high winds that day. Although the gale causes the hyperfilament to get tangled just a few kilometers above the lower terminus, the investments chief from the Martian consortium considers it a success, and Morgan gets ready to move to Mars to begin working in earnest.

Strangely enough, the golden butterflies were in flight at the time of the unspooling and the gale carried them to the top of the mountain. Since the ancient prophecy has now been fulfilled, the monks evacuate their temple (the title of Part 3 is a reference to the monastery bell, a gift from King Kalidasa the Accursed, which is only rung upon the occurrence of a disaster). As for the unauthorized hurricane, "there was the ironic role of the Venerable Parakarma, who must surely now feel that he was the pawn of some malicious gods." Having resumed his worldly identity as Dr Choam Goldberg, he had revolutionized micrometeorology and apparently suffered some kind of nervous breakdown while conducting experiments. Monsoon Control promises such a thing will never happen again.

With the monks gone from Sri Kanda, the tower can be built on Earth after all.

''Part 4 – The Tower''<br>
{{quote box
| width = 28em
| align = right
| quote = '''Design of Space Elevator:'''<br><br>The Tower, for all its overwhelming size, was merely the support for something much more complex. Along each of its four sides must run thirty-six-thousand kilometers of track, capable of operation at speeds never before attempted. This had to be powered for its entire length by superconducting cables, linked to massive fusion generators, the whole system being controlled by an incredibly elaborate, fail-safe computer network.
}}

Seven years later, construction of the Tower, as it is now called, is well underway. The formerly sacred mountain of Sri Kanda is now busy with construction activity and is being tunneled. Instead of four tubes, as originally envisioned, the Tower will have a square cross-section and the vehicles will ride up and down on the outside. At the moment, only the scaffolding is in place; this consists of a single 5-centimeter-wide "tape" that has been nicknamed "The Billion-Ton Diamond" because it is made entirely of carbon. An asteroid has been towed into Earth orbit to hold the tape taut by centrifugal force. Pieces of orbiting junk from the first hundred years of space exploration have to be eliminated. Once finished, the Tower will be transported whole to Mars.

Morgan's assistant engineer Warren Kingsley gives Morgan a tour of the mock-up of the car that will carry passengers up and down the Tower. Maxine Duval, the TV journalist, takes a test ride up the tape in a "spider", which looks like "a motorized bo'sun's chair". She ascends twelve kilometers and so is equipped with an oxygen mask. She is astonished by the view.

''Part 5 – Ascension''<br>
An astrophysicist and a group of his students are stranded, along with their pilot, in an emergency chamber called the Basement six hundred kilometres up after an accident with their transport capsule. They have no food and limited oxygen. Whilst a ] on a weather-control satellite is able to supply heat, it is imperative to provide them with filter masks against the increasing carbon dioxide and also with food, air, and medical supplies, until some rescue can be effected.

Despite his rapidly failing health, Morgan asserts his right to take the vital supplies up the Tower personally. The extra battery that was attached to give the spider the power needed to reach the Basement fails to detach at the necessary moment. Morgan uses the single strand of hyperfilament he always carries with him to saw through the bolt. While succeeding in dropping the heavy battery, he has exhausted his already frail heart. After reaching the chamber and delivering the supplies, Morgan walks around the catwalk surrounding the Tower to investigate the damage caused by the explosion.

On the way back down, he realizes that the geostationary satellites could be connected, and more space elevators could be constructed, forming a wheel-like structure without gravitational-perturbation problems. Before reaching the bottom, he dies of heart failure.

''Epilogue''<br>
A short epilogue titled "Kalidasa's Triumph" envisages Earth about fifteen hundred years later. The sun has cooled and Earth, slowly being covered by permafrost, is devoid of life except for the bottom of the ocean; humans now live on the terraformed inner planets as well as on Mars. Several space elevators lead to a giant "circumterran" space station that encircles the planet at geostationary altitude. The analogy with a wheel is evident: the space station itself is the wheel rim, Earth is the axle, and the six equidistant space elevators the ]s.

An inhabitant of the planet that launched Starglider has arrived and is studying humanity. This being is unable to understand such human thoughts as myth and humor. The visitor asks why the first space elevator is called the Tower of Kalidasa: in a final irony, it bears the name of a despotic tyrant and its humane designer has been essentially forgotten.


==Themes== ==Themes==
The main theme of the novel is preceded by, and to some extent juxtaposed with, the story of the life and death of King ] of ] (fictionalised as King Kalidasa). It foreshadows the exploits of Vannevar Morgan in his determination to realise the space elevator. The main theme of the novel is preceded by, and to some extent juxtaposed with, the story of the life and death of King ] of ] (fictionalized as King Kalidasa). It foreshadows the exploits of Vannevar Morgan in his determination to realize the space elevator.


Other subplots include human colonization of the Solar system and the ] with ]. Other subplots include human colonization of the Solar system and the ] with ].


Clarke envisions a microscopically thin (in his demonstrator sample) but strong "hyperfilament" that makes the elevator possible. Although the hyperfilament is constructed from "continuous pseudo-one-dimensional ] crystal", Clarke later expressed his belief that another type of carbon, ], would play the role of hyperfilament in a real space elevator. The ] in ] technology bring the orbital elevator closer to possible realisation. Clarke envisions a microscopically thin (in his demonstrator sample) but strong "hyperfilament" that makes the elevator possible. Although the hyperfilament is constructed from "continuous pseudo-one-dimensional ] crystal", Clarke later expressed his belief that another type of carbon, ], would play the role of hyperfilament in a real space elevator. The ]{{which|date=November 2024}} in ] technology bring the orbital elevator closer to possible realisation.


==Setting== ==Setting==
The story is set in the fictional equatorial island country of Taprobane, which Clarke has described as "about ninety percent congruent with the island of Ceylon (now ])", south of its real-world location. The ruins of the palace at Yakkagala as described in the book very closely match the real-life ruins at ] in Sri Lanka. The mountain on which the space elevator is built is called Sri Kanda in the book, and bears a strong resemblance to the real mountain ]. The story is set in the fictional equatorial island country of ], which Clarke has described as "about ninety percent congruent with the island of ]", south of its real-world location. The ruins of the palace at Yakkagala as described in the book very closely match the real-life ruins at ] in Sri Lanka. The mountain on which the space elevator is built is called Sri Kanda in the book, and bears a strong resemblance to the real mountain Sri Pada (]).


==Similarities with other works of Clarke== ==Similarities with other works of Clarke==
* In the middle of ''The Fountains of Paradise'', an unmanned robotic spaceship of alien origin, called "Starglider" (from an origin world dubbed "Starholme") by Clarke, passes through the Solar system. This situation is similar to '']'', though the ship exterior and its interactions with humans are very different. * In the middle of ''The Fountains of Paradise'', an unmanned robotic spaceship of alien origin, called "Starglider" (from an origin world dubbed "Starholme") by Clarke, passes through the Solar system. This situation is similar to '']'', though the ship and its interactions with humans are very different.
* The first third of '']'' describes details of the interior of the ring habitat that encircles Earth, and is connected to Earth's surface with four space elevators. At the end of ''The Fountains of Paradise '', this ring habitat is shown for the first time, though it has six space elevators rather than the four of ''3001: Final Odyssey''. * The first third of '']'' describes details of the interior of the ring habitat that encircles Earth, and is connected to Earth's surface with four space elevators. At the end of ''The Fountains of Paradise'', this ring habitat is shown for the first time, though it has six space elevators rather than the four of ''3001: Final Odyssey''.
* At the end of the novel, Earth turns into an icy wasteland because the Sun has cooled. The same situation also occurs in the story "]". * At the end of the novel, Earth turns into an icy wasteland because the Sun has cooled. The same situation also occurs in the story "]".
* The alien shown near the end of ''The Fountains of Paradise'' is a somewhat more physical form of the Swarm, the aliens that land on primeval Earth in "]". * The alien shown near the end of ''The Fountains of Paradise'' is a somewhat more physical form of the Swarm, the aliens that land on primeval Earth in "]".
Line 118: Line 68:


==Awards and nominations== ==Awards and nominations==
* Winner of the ] for ] - 1980<ref name="WWE-1980"/> * Winner, ] for ] - 1980<ref name="WWE-1980"/>
* Winner of the ] for ] - 1979<ref name="WWE-1979"/> * Winner, ] for ] - 1979<ref name="WWE-1979"/>
* Nominee, ] for ] - 1980<ref name="WWE-1980"/> * Nominee, ] for ] - 1980<ref name="WWE-1980"/>
* Nominee, ] - 1979<ref name="WWE-1979"/> * Nominee, ] - 1979<ref name="WWE-1979"/>
Line 125: Line 75:
==See also== ==See also==
{{portal|Novels}} {{portal|Novels}}
*] * ]
* '']'' — a science fiction novel on the same subject by ] published almost simultaneously with ''The Fountains of Paradise''


==References== ==References==
Line 131: Line 82:


== External links == == External links ==
* {{isfdb title|1903}} * {{ISFDB title|1903}}
* at Worlds Without End * at Worlds Without End


Line 139: Line 90:


{{Nebula Award Best Novel 1965-1980}} {{Nebula Award Best Novel 1965-1980}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Fountains Of Paradise, The}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Fountains Of Paradise, The}}
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
]

Latest revision as of 07:12, 9 November 2024

1979 science fiction novel by Arthur C. Clarke

The Fountains of Paradise
Cover of the first UK edition
AuthorArthur C. Clarke
Cover artistTerry Oakes
LanguageEnglish
GenreScience fiction
PublisherVictor Gollancz (UK)
Harcourt Brace Jovanovich (US)
Publication date1979
Publication placeUnited Kingdom
Media typePrint (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages256
ISBN0-575-02520-4
OCLC4993570

The Fountains of Paradise is a 1979 science fiction novel by British writer Arthur C. Clarke. Set in the 22nd century, it describes the construction of a space elevator. This "orbital tower" is a giant structure rising from the ground and linking with a satellite in geostationary orbit at the height of approximately 36,000 kilometres (approx. 22,300 miles). Such a structure would be used to raise payloads to orbit without the expense of using rockets. The novel won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards for Best Novel.

Plot

Summary

The novel focuses primarily on a project known as the Orbital Tower proposed by the main character, Vannevar Morgan. The tower is to stretch from the Earth's equator to a satellite that is in geostationary orbit. Such a structure would greatly reduce the cost of sending people and supplies into space.

The main story is framed by two other stories. The first one tells of King Kalidasa, living thousands of years before Morgan is born, who is constructing a 'pleasure garden' complete with functioning fountains, in a significant engineering effort for the time. The other story, taking place long after Morgan has died, deals with aliens making contact with Earth.

Due to many technical issues, there are only two locations on Earth where the Orbital Tower can be built. One is in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, and the other is Sri Kanda (a thinly veiled reference to Adam's Peak in Sri Lanka). However, there is a Buddhist temple on the island, and Mahanayake Thero, the head of the order, refuses to give permission to begin construction.

Hearing of the difficulties, a group of people living on Mars contacts Morgan and suggests that the tower be built there instead. It would be smaller than the one planned for Earth, and would reach from Mars to one of its moons, Deimos.

After a few setbacks, including some fatalities, construction of the tower gets underway. Although the engineer's heart is failing, he rides up the tower to take food and oxygen to a group of stranded students and their professor. After overcoming serious difficulties he succeeds, then dies of a heart attack on the way back down.

Themes

The main theme of the novel is preceded by, and to some extent juxtaposed with, the story of the life and death of King Kashyapa I of Sri Lanka (fictionalized as King Kalidasa). It foreshadows the exploits of Vannevar Morgan in his determination to realize the space elevator.

Other subplots include human colonization of the Solar system and the first contact with extraterrestrial intelligence.

Clarke envisions a microscopically thin (in his demonstrator sample) but strong "hyperfilament" that makes the elevator possible. Although the hyperfilament is constructed from "continuous pseudo-one-dimensional diamond crystal", Clarke later expressed his belief that another type of carbon, buckminsterfullerene, would play the role of hyperfilament in a real space elevator. The latest developments in carbon nanotube technology bring the orbital elevator closer to possible realisation.

Setting

The story is set in the fictional equatorial island country of Taprobane, which Clarke has described as "about ninety percent congruent with the island of Sri Lanka", south of its real-world location. The ruins of the palace at Yakkagala as described in the book very closely match the real-life ruins at Sigiriya in Sri Lanka. The mountain on which the space elevator is built is called Sri Kanda in the book, and bears a strong resemblance to the real mountain Sri Pada (Adam's Peak).

Similarities with other works of Clarke

  • In the middle of The Fountains of Paradise, an unmanned robotic spaceship of alien origin, called "Starglider" (from an origin world dubbed "Starholme") by Clarke, passes through the Solar system. This situation is similar to Rendezvous with Rama, though the ship and its interactions with humans are very different.
  • The first third of 3001: The Final Odyssey describes details of the interior of the ring habitat that encircles Earth, and is connected to Earth's surface with four space elevators. At the end of The Fountains of Paradise, this ring habitat is shown for the first time, though it has six space elevators rather than the four of 3001: Final Odyssey.
  • At the end of the novel, Earth turns into an icy wasteland because the Sun has cooled. The same situation also occurs in the story "History Lesson".
  • The alien shown near the end of The Fountains of Paradise is a somewhat more physical form of the Swarm, the aliens that land on primeval Earth in "The Possessed".
  • A space elevator is also constructed in the course of Clarke's final novel (co-written with Frederik Pohl), The Last Theorem.

Awards and nominations

See also

References

  1. ^ "1980 Award Winners & Nominees". Worlds Without End. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
  2. ^ "1979 Award Winners & Nominees". Worlds Without End. Retrieved 29 September 2009.

External links

Arthur C. Clarke
Novels
Novel series
Space Odyssey
Rama series
A Time Odyssey
Short story
collections
Non-fiction
Adaptations
Related
Hugo Award for Best Novel
Retro
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
Nebula Award for Best Novel
1966–1980
1981–2000
2001–2020
2021–present
Categories: