There are surprises galore in this latest in the Venus Prime series, among them revalations about the Commander, changes in Sparta's views on things, and the central surprise which would be rude to reveal.

As Preuss says in his notes after the novel's conclusion, this book is setting up more events in the future, while still being a good read when held alone. I'd read the first three Venus Prime books in one weekend, and then had to wait months for the fourth. Hopefully, the next books in the series will arrive more quickly, but if not, at least I know they will be well-written.

Perhaps it is inaccurate to call this an autobiography. A good portion of it (particularly the first part of the book) is Arthur critiquing the early issues of Astounding Science Fiction magazine. Later, he tells quite a bit about his own life, but mostly this is a memoir of his experiences with Astouding. It is interesting for several reasons: first, we learn what Clarke thinks of a great many of his colleagues (including heavies like Asimov and Heinlein, both friends of Arthur's). But what makes the book really interesting for the hard-core ACC reader is later in the book where he tells a lot about his own life. We learn of his experiences at college, as a civil servant, and his time in the military. We also get a lot of his views and ideas on many things relating to science, as well as a good deal he says about his own subsequent books, the ideas behind them, and how the writing of other authors influenced him. And of course the book is all written in Clarke's trademark witty style.

This will all seem very boring for the casual Clarke reader, or for those who only know him as "that guy who did 2001". But for those true fans who recognize Arthur for what he is, a brilliant, creative, and witty writer who is unquestionably one of the literary greats of the 20th century, and possibly the greatest science fiction writer of all-time. The only thing about this book that disappoints me is that ACC elaborates so little on his own works for Astounding. I figured that would be the main point of the book, but it isn't; although he mentions many times his works, they are rarely the ones found in Astounding. Still, this is a worthwhile and book for the Clarke devotee; casual fans should look elsewhere.

Despite the fact that this was Arthur's first published novel (came out in 1951), it is one of his most interesting in many ways. First, note the date I listed above of it's publication. That's right, it came out several years before Sputnik (much less Apollo) and yet still offers up numerous technical-drenched in-book conversations detailing the ins and outs of rockets and spaceships. Arthur describes an elaborate plan of how to build and execute a spaceship, many of which were taken into account in the eventual building of the first spaceships (ACC placed the first Moon landing in 1977, and thought he was being optimistic), and several of which we have yet to fulfill. An interesting thing to note is that he uses atomic technology for the spaceships.

Aside from what I already mentioned above, there are several othe prophetic things in this book. For example, Clarke mentions an array of satellites positioned above earth to be used for communications purposes (this is written by the man who invented the Com-Sat, after all), and this book was written in 1947!

Also, Clarke fans will notice that this lays the foundation for many of his later works. It is a Prelude To Space in more ways than one. For one thing, he mentions in the book how we will attempt to colonize the Moon, something that has been done in the majority of his subsequent novels. It makes one wonder why we haven't done this in real life. Also, in an ironic twist of fate, the novel ends with the earth at the turn of the century, in the year 2001! Truly amazing stuff.

This is a good story in and of itself, and it is interesting to go back and read older (pre-Apollo) books like this and see how close they were to the real thing. As interesting as it would have been to read a groundbreaking (back then) book as this at the time it first came out, it is just as interesting, if not more so, to read such a book now.

A collection of short stories and essays (and even a poem) on the possibility of using a solar-sail as a mean of inter-planatary travel. Written by masters like Niven, Clark, Brin & Anderson, this book cannot be bad. The stories are interesting, and the book is not too long that the premise begins to become annoying. Maybe the theme is a bit forced at some points. All in all, one of many other good sci-fi collections.

This book should be read by everyone. It describes, in a lucid, clear, and level-headed style, the discoveries made by inventors and engineers over the years, in their quests to find a free and non-polluting source of energy, and why their inventions are still not out on the market. It makes for very sobering, not to say chilling and even frightening, reading. Infuriating is another word that comes to mind. In his foreword to the book, none other than Sir Arthur C. Clarke describes this as, "almost certainly the biggest scandal in the history of science."
This is not a "conspiracy theory" book. It does not describe grand conspiracies and cover-ups (although it does touch on those subjects). Tutt simply lays out the facts as they are, gathered from news stories, interviews, and the personal writings of the people involved (from both the pro and con camps). It is clear that with adequate funding and support, a source of limitless energy would be within our grasp in a matter of years. Yet very little funding is forthcoming, continued ridicule abounds, and our tortured world is still subjected to a year-by-year massive increase in pollution caused by the burning of primitive stone age fossil fuels. Not to mention the continued dependence of the Western world on the oil supplied by the fundamentalist Arab world.
There is no organized conspiracy, I certainly hope, but there is a "momentum" against change, and what is desperately needed is a paradigm shift. People with vested interests, and people whose livelihood and careers depend on the continued use of our primitive and backward energy technologies, are, independently of each other, actively working against the new technologies, and collectively they form a massive resistance that does indeed look like a great conspiracy. And in the scientific establishment we have all the "experts," whose careers and reputations depend on the continued discrediting of cold fusion and all other alternative free energy sources. The result is the world as we see it today, with its massive pollution and energy problems.
For those with no technical background, this book is heavy going at times. There is a lot of technical detail, and Tutt relies heavily, at times, on extracts from other sources, which interrupts the flow of the narrative. But the stories told are, nevertheless, interesting ones. Here is the original "mad scientist," Nikola Tesla, and his several free energy devices. Here is also the Radiant Energy Device of T. Henry Moray, and the tragic story of his futile struggle to find acceptance for his technology. Here is the mysterious N-Machine, and the Thesta-Distatica, developed by a sect of Christian fanatics somewhere up in the Swiss Alps. Here is the very tragic story of how the promise of cold fusion was destroyed, as Tutt delves into all the popular misconceptions about this important technology. And here is the story of Randell Mills and his BlackLight technology, currently in development. Tutt also describes some of the free energy scams that are continually being pulled by various con artists who usually claim that God has given them the technology, with the predictable result that long lines of evangelical Christians immediately form up to give the "inventor" their money.
I give this book the rating 4 out of 5 only because, as I said, it is not an easy read for those who are technically challenged. But the book is more than well worth reading. People with closed minds will no doubt scorn and deride, as such people always do, but for intelligent and open-minded individuals, this book gives an important insight into what is really going on in the field of free energy development. Highly recommended.

As a reader of many of Arthur C. Clarkes books, I just had to get this one too. I love the topic of this book. And to see how with available technics it would be possible to develop a "Garden on Mars" is very amazing to read about. Unluckily, in my opinion, Clarke put a bit too much work into playing around with this picture creating tool. I am a computer techie and I know how much fun it can be to work with stuff like that. But a view less pictures would have worked just the same.

This is not his best collection, but Clarke afficiandos will find a lot to like here. The most famous story here is probably I Remember Babylon the (barely fictional) account that stars Clarke himself as it's protagonist, and focuses on some of the seemingly (at the time) unforseen negative consequences of the communications satellites, which Clarke, of course, had a big hand in bringing to fruition. Most of these fears have been justified. The Russian references in this story (and also in Hate) date it somewhat, but it is still as relevant today as the day it was written, perhaps moreso. If you are one who realizes the danger of modern television, then you should read this account written by one of it's fathers. Other good stories here include Who's There?, Saturn Rising, and others. Two of Clarke's most underrated stories are here as well: Death And The Senator (which, along with Dog Star and Hate in this volume, show an unusually emotive side of ACC), and the long epic The Road To The Sea. The is a reccommended collection for the ACC addict.

I thought the book was good, not great. Arthur C. Clarke is an excellent author, but he could have done better. The book basically diminishes everything in the world as we know it to be usless and meaningless. It describes a grim future for our planet, one in which I think is a little insulting to the human race.

The book concentraited on to many details, overuse of figurative language. If I wanted to know how the roses smelled in 2037 I would not have read a Science-Fiction book, I would have read a poem. Once the book told you something, or should I say, described it, it would have restated you again and again. I just wish the book would have been directed toward how life could be in the future, not directed at a few characters personal lives.

However, even if the book did not have exactly what I was looking for, it included a lot of interesting ideas. It also related the problems in the furture to the ones we are facing now very well. I was extremely interested in the fact that Clarke used actual scientific ideas and principles, not just ones made up by a couple of mental patients.

I would rate this book a good read for someone who likes a good story, and not to someone who would like to aquire some knowledge.

In my reviews of two other Baxter books - Manifold:Time and Titan - I've been somewhat negative, primarily about Baxter's ability to flesh out his characters. I'll also admit that in general I've been less than impressed by the series of "Arthur C. Clark & ..." books. However, I was pleasantly surprised by "The Light of Other Days."

Isaac Asimov (I think) wrote a short story about the effects of being able to see the past. He concentrated on the effects of that discovery on the inventor and his wife. Clarke and Baxter expand on that theme and then upon that invention.

Baxter and Clarke are masters at the "sense of wonder" I enjoy in Science Fiction, and that sense is here in abundance as you follow users of the WormCam through both the past and distant space through the wormholes that the WormCam opens. Obviously, there's more to the story, but then that's why you read a book, right?

The story is solidly crafted though I confess that some of the turns and twists, and some of the characters' actions seemed to happen suddenly. That could be due to my inattention, a lack of characterization, or simply my being used to "novels" that span multiple books and use many too many pages in needlessly detailed characterization.

Still, that's a personal nit to pick. Light of Other Days is a solidly crafted work, well worth your time. It is complete: No need to wait for a sequel to finish the story, and that's getting all too rare. It's also a case where the collaboration seems to have worked very well. If I seem to sense the feel of "Childhood's End" and "The City and the Stars" in the book, who knows if it was Clarke's direct influence or his subliminal influence on Baxter.

Speaking of "The City and the Stars," I still think that it contains Clarke's best prose. Some of the story is a little dated, but it remains a book that I can read and re-read, savoring the wonderful use of the language that Clarke crafted into it.

I've been a fan of Sir Arthur Clarke's science fiction for most of my life. I haven't read anything by Stephen Baxter before, but after this I will. They've produced a real winner here.

As they say in the afterword, the idea of a machine that can see into the past and through walls is an old one (I especially recommend "E for Effort," by T. L. Sherrard, if you can find an old copy of the ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION ANTHOLOGY). Clarke and Baxter managed to make it new and different.

The key to their achievement was to anchor it to a rigorously imagined physics. The "wormhole camera" turns out to have uses and implications that its inventors don't expect, and it leads off in many strange directions.

I don't want to give away surprises, but I started this book expecting to be able to predict everything that would happen, and I was repeatedly taken by surprise.

There are a few flaws in this novel (for instance, the POW camp scene, which apparently has no purpose whatsoever), but almost everything is topnotch. The characters are mostly believable, the future world is interesting, and the ending was a delight.

Highly recommended.

Will people please stop comparing this book to "Rendezvous with Rama"? Of COURSE the 3 sequels in this series aren't the original. Let's move past that.

When I read Rama II, I was disappointed in many ways, but pleased in others. ACC is fantastic at what he does, but character development isn't it. So I was happy to have characters with some sort of depth to them. Sadly, these characters seem to lose depth with time. (Aside: Why is it that middle-aged scifi authors always write about exotic women with French accents who just happen to be amazing in bed?)

As another reviewer noted, the "revelation" of Rama was a bit of a cop-out. That's okay, because I'd known for years that ACC and Gentry Lee had painted themselves into a corner with the Ramans. Nobody could have pulled off a genuine revelation of the Ramans. Really, disappointing though it was, a cop-out was the best way they could have handled the revelation.

So, if the characters were terrible and the plot disappointing, why 3 stars? Simply because it was a valiant attempt, as was the entire series. ACC never intended to write a sequel to "Rendezvous," and the book on its own did not deserve one. He presented us with a mystery of stupendous magnitude, but nothing else. The sequels are worth reading simply because they attempt to put the mystery into HUMAN terms. We might not like or believe the characters, but it's good to see that they at least have names.

First, I read all four RAMA books back to back to back to back in 3 weeks. They all run together a bit for me (except for Rendezvous...different characters), but of the three Clarke/Lee books this one had some of the best and some of the worst material. The bad news: 1.Cliche ridden story lines--like another reviewer here, I found the tyrannical leader, addicted whore daughter, jailed good guy, etc.etc. a bit TOO overblown. 2. This book (and Garden of Rama) had an annoying tendency to use character dialog to explain details that really would not have been talked about in such detail--example, when one of the characters asks another about the octospiders' time system, the character responds with what sounds to me like a technical report on it--totally unrealistic dialog! Even scientists talk like regular humans occasionally! The good news: 1.Fantastically interesting and creative aliens!!! The octospider society is compelling and original. The other alien environment in Rama on this journey (sessiles & myrmicats) is a wonderful work of imagination. Those parts of the book were extremely enjoyable. 2.Overall the story of the node and universal intelligence was also original and fascinating. A good completion to the series, despite the shortcomings.

It's actually been a long time since I read this book, much less the series. The first review that I wrote here was incomplete and was written in a mood that was only temporary, juvenile and confused. I write again only to fully explain myself.

I now realize how much Gentry Lee helped with the character development. Anyone less than a complete moron ought to realize realize how much skill it takes to conjure up so many characters, make them real, and have such a heart-wrenching tale to tell with them. Clarke made a good move taking in Lee.

What fascinated and pleased me the most was the aging relationship between Richard Wakefield and Nicole des Jardins. Not only them, but their children's vastly different paths in life were shocking, heart-warming, and sobering. The fact that the characters were so real, so personal, so THERE, made the science fiction plot that they resided in far better than it would have been without them.

When you reach the end of the book, it is as if you're losing a friend. Through thousands of pages you have followed these characters; seen what they've done with their extraordinary, fictitious lives.

The sheer scale of the story is something I will treasure for the rest of my life. The constant discovery, awe, and mystery of: Where did this ship come from? then What are these creatures inside? and finally What in Heaven's name is going on and What's going to happen to us now??

Granted, the series has its moments of unwarranted quote-unquote "smut," but I guess the ultra-liberalism with the writing of character activity only helps develop them further, at a more "personal" level.

In conclusion, I think that the old preacher's explanation of the whole "Rama Mission" was not only satisfying, but awe-inspiring and it held mystery to ponder even after the story in writing was concluded.

I enjoyed the science fiction concept of The Trigger, as well as the sequence of scientific events portrayed in the story. However, the social issues were too noticeably skewed towards a liberal disarmament sentiment. I believe the authors intended to provide two objective sides of a complex issue, but because one side was not provided equivalent character strength, the story plays out unevenly.

The characters written to be liked were staunch supporters of gun control and were presented as having the highest moral character. The balancing characters with an opposing view were too conveniently portrayed as extremists or simply misguided, and never wielded any equivalent political or scientific power. The story would have been much more involving if the reader was given more of a chance to decide which side of the issue they were on with strong and likeable characters on both sides.

The bottom line is if you are from neutral to strongly in favor of global and personal disarmament you will vary from liking to loving this book. Conversely, if you hold a strong belief in your personal right to self defense you might have a hard time finishing the book. And if you happen to be a gun owner, you may be down right offended at times.

This is the story of some scientists who stumble on a discovery that renders explosives useless. The development of this technology, called the Trigger, into a public anti-gun/bomb shield is the basic plot of the book. The book follows the deployment of the devices and the resistance it creates in the US. There is more social commentary than science, but it's an intriguing idea and an engrossing story of how idealistic scientists and politicians battle the gun lobby and society's fear of change.

This book focusses mostly on the political side of events in the US - the court cases and debates (both public and private) between those in favour of the Trigger and those opposed. The balance is heavily weighted on the Trigger side and against the NRA-types. Although I am personally a proponent of gun control, I know that the majority of the gun lobby are not rabid militarists, as they seem to be portrayed in this book. It comes across sounding preachy at times. Another problem is that the narrative seems to run out of steam - the last 100 pages could be cut.

I enjoyed this book immensely - it's entertaining, engrossing, thought provoking, and difficult to put down. Only the slightly preachy tone and 2-dimensional portrayal of the gun lobby robbed it of its 5th star.

For those who enjoy stretching their knowledge of science to the limits, here's some serious mind expansion from the all time SF guru, Arthur C. Clarke. "Trigger" is built around wave physics and how much more can happen in that field - someday, sometime.

The non-scientifically inclined reader will also enjoy the book's extensive examination of the issues around gun control and ownership - the prime target of the authors. Using the Columbine High shootings as a case in point, they repeatedly engage with the many arguments put forward by proponents of the 2nd Amendment to prevent arms control initiatives.

But the scientific jewels hidden along the way are what make this a real delight. First, there is the Trigger - a wave-emitting device that automatically detonates any kind of explosive material, rendering any conventional arms and munitions more dangerous to the user than to their intended victims. The resulting reversion of security forces to pre-gunpowder weapons such as crossbows and maces may sound amusing, but certainly worth more than a passing thought.

Then comes the intellectual high point of the book - the concept that everything can be defined in terms of energy and information. This is totally mind blowing - if you take the concept of zooming in and out for more or less detail on a subject and couple it with the Heisenberg Uncertainty principle, that's what the guru is postulating. To quote " Information organizes and differentiates energy". The kick is in the converse - if you can remove information from a subject, you destabilize it - it ceases to exist! From this exquisitely neat hypothesis arises the Jammer - the antithesis of the Trigger - instead of blowing up arms and ammunition, it simply makes them cease to exist!

Just these alone would have been more than enough for any Arthur C. Clarke fan - but the authors leave the reader salivating for more right at the end - the discovery of a biological Trigger that can zero in on any specific DNA pattern and vaporise it - the Killer.

Overall, a taut thriller-class read with some elegant physics for those so inclined - what more can one ask for ?