Customer Reviews

EARTHLIGHT

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I didn't like this one as much as I did "Tales from the White Hart", but it's still one of those books you just can't put down!

Not Clarke's best novel, but still, nonetheless, a good one. Although the prose retains his characteristic hard-core scientific accuracy, poetic descriptions, and sly wit, this work is also more suspenseful than most of his other books. Although "space wars" are an extremely common theme in science fiction (being, indeed, the mainstay plots of some authors) it is extremely war in a Clarke novel. Earlight, however, focuses on it, and even has a full-fledged war scene. Mind you, it is not your typical "pulp" SF corny war scene, but rather one told in strikingly believable detail, complete with scientific accuracy and poetic prose. The book will keep you reading. Definately a book you will want to pick up if you are an ACC fan, though new fans will want to pick up 2001, 2010, Rendezvous With Rama, or Childhood's End instead.

This short work is still one of Clarke's best. The battle scene at the very end of the book between The Acheron spaceship and the moon base, which has developed a strange, molten-metal beam weapon which works in a vacuum, is extremely unusual and very well done, I thought.

Clarke's discussion of the political issues between Earth and her colonies, The Confederation, that eventually lead to the climactic battle scene, are also well done. If you liked this book, you might also try Robert Heinlein's books, "Between Planets," and "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress," which also deal with the issue of the Moon or other planets attempting to rid themselves of the colonial hegemony of mother Earth.

In my opinion, this is easily the best thing Clarke has ever written. It is a little shorter than I would have liked, but its depiction of an interplanetary conflict between old mother Earth and the confederation of once upon a time "colony" planets is very well done. Although interisting and quirky characterizations are not among the reasons this book is good, it does discuss the nature and future of humanity itself, and explores this ambitious theme better than any other author I know of can. The battle at the end between the forces of Earth and the Confederation I thought was very well done. The speculation of the kinds of weapons that would be used were much more realistic or detailed than Star Wars or even other reputable science fiction authors such as Asimov or Heinlein. Definitely a book worth reading for any sci-fi fan.

Easily one of the best novels of its kind ever written. Clarke's scientific accuracy, combined with his abillity to enthrall all his readers made this book one of the best sci-fi novels I've ever had the pleasure of reading.

I have always loved Clarke's works. It began with 'Expedition to Earth' and there is still a lot to read. I must say I preferred 'Childhood's End' to this book, but this one wasn't dull either. It was fairly straightforward, a book about conflict between Earth and the Federation over resource allocations. The whole story is the usual scientifically-accurate and descriptive science fiction, without any needless drama or extreme grandeur, or wierd aliens. As always, Clarke's books have a certain human quality to them, and are never overtly extravagant. This book is not a must read, but any fan of Clarke's would want to read it.