Name: The City and the Stars
ISBN: 9780446677967

Arthur Charles Clarke

An omnibus edition featuring two science fiction classics presents The City and the Stars, about a man born into a society of immortals who wants to find out what lies beyond his narrow existence, and The Sands of Mars, in which science fiction writer Martin Gibson get a chance to visit Mars and discovers more than he had ever dreamed. Reprint.

And, The Sands of Mars

The City and the Stars

Arthur C. Clarke

This grand space adventure explores the fate of humanity a billion years in the future— A visionary classic by one of science fiction’s greatest minds. Far in the future, Earth’s oceans have evaporated and humanity has all but vanished. The inhabitants of Diaspar believe their domed city is all that remains of an empire that had once conquered the stars. Inside the dome, the citizens live in technological splendor, free from the distractions of aging and disease. Everything is controlled precisely, just as the city’s designers had intended. But a boy named Alvin, unlike his fellow humans, shows an insatiable—and dangerous—curiosity about the world outside the dome. His questions will send him on a quest to discover the truth about the city and humanity’s history—as well as its future. A masterful and awe-inspiring work of imagination, The City and the Stars is considered one of Arthur C. Clarke’s finest novels.

Perhaps it's melodramatic praise, but this is easily one of the best novels I've ever read, and likely will read (my relatively young age notwithstanding). The fantasy elements of the story directly mirror humanity's ambitions and fears, rather than just acting as an allegory for them. Sure, the technology of Clarke's fictional world may never be realized, but in a story that explores the human psyche, these details are merely supports for the plot. Calling this book "soft science fiction" feels almost like an insult.

Jack A. Lopez

Men had built cities before, but never such a city as Diaspar; for millennia its protective dome shutout the creeping decay and danger of the world outside. Once, it held powers that rules the stars. But then, as legend had it, The invaders came, driving humanity into this last refuge. It takes one man, A Unique to break through Diaspar¿s stifling inertia, to smash the legend and discover the true nature of the Invaders.

Dana Kraft

I read very little science fiction but I enjoyed this. Written over 50 yrs ago and it still feels relevant today. The way that he shows the weaknesses and/or fears of the characters made them feel very real to me.

Kevin Maschke

Honestly it got me form start to finish. I was not able to stop reading it. One of my favourite books of 2015!

The City and the Stars And, The Sands of Mars