Clarke Books

Expertly edited by Juliet McMaster (Professor Emerita in English at the University of Albert and Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada), Woman Behind The Painter: The Diaries Of Rosalie, Mrs. James Clarke Hook by Rosalie Hook presents the life, observations and comments of the wife of the artist James Clarke Hook. Presenting the full narrative details of Rosalie Hook domestic partnership with her artist husband, Woman Behind The Painter begins with the fifth day after the young couples' marriage in August of 1846, and continues through their travels to May of 1848. Hallmarked with her vivid and tangible dialogue, enhanced throughout with both color and B/W illustrations, and featuring three appendices ("Index of Artists", "Burton Family Tree", "Hook Family Tree from Adam Clarke"), a list of cited works, and an extensive Index, Rosalie Hook's Woman Behind The Painter is very highly recommended for Women's Studies, Art History, and Travel Diary supplemental reading lists and academic reference collections.

Had the opportunity to ask the author ,French Count Gonzaque St Bris , to autograph the book for me after his lecture in Lafayette, Louisiana. He pointed out some of the highlights of the book when talking about the Marquis de Lafayette. He mentions that Leonardo Da Vinci (whose home the Count lives in currently in France) designed and built a home for King Francois that had a telephone/intercom system, doors that opened automatically and an indoor water system in the late 1400s. He compares the inventiveness of Jules Verne to Leonardo Da Vinci on many levels. The book is an easy read and very interesting.

HI
I would like to purchase a book containig informations about maintenance and tunning of yamaha's RD 350.
Best regards
Ricardo

As a staunch Calvinist, I was a bit leary about buying this title, knowing that he was a Quaker. However, I knew about his work as a philosopher and the book was only a dollar, so I took it home. Excellent, short sermons written in an almost post-millennial framework. Great Sabbath reading for anyone serious about the work of the church in the culture. Buy it, its too cheap to pass up!!!

This book was written by the Rev. E. Gerard Carroll DD, Ph

I'll admit to being a little biased in the review of this book (and also the one by Pippa Funnell, "Training the Young Horse"), in that I'm from England and am familiar with the training methods outlined by these authors. Also, as an event rider I particularly like the introduction to cross-country fences, which I appreciate is not necessary for every rider. This book covers basic ground work, early lessons under saddle, beginning jumping, training cross-country fences, fitness and preparing for your first competition. Obviously since it covers so much material, it doesn't go into great detail. Nonetheless, I think it provides an excellent starting point and a structured program for your young horse. What I like about this book is that it gives a realistic insight into working with young horses, with examples of problem horses and how the training difficulties were overcome. It follows actual horses bred at the Catherston stud and you can see their progression throughout the book. With this book (and Pippa's) you get the impression that this is the program they follow and it works. The international success of both authors is testament to that. On a minor point - I always like a book with lots of photographs, it gives me inspiration for my day dreams.

Your Genealogy Affects Your Health
F. Clarke Fraser, PhD, MD
Professor Emeritus, McGill University, Montreal, Canada



This book is a MUST READ! Written by Dr. F. Clarke Fraser, a founder of the Teratology Society, the field of genetic counseling and a world-renown teacher and researcher, it encapsulates a wealth of knowledge in a small fascinating book. Researchers, medical doctors and students will find it an invaluable reference that can be used to quickly update their current knowledge on genetics and authoritatively address frequently asked questions about the relationship of genetics to disease susceptibility. The book is divided into four chapters. The first is an over view of genetics and the next three address genetic traits in alphabetical order. There is also a glossary and a list of recommended books and internet sites for those wanting more detailed information. The cover provides an unexpected bonus because it features a silk quilt adaptation of Klimpt's Tree of Life masterpiece by Marilyn Preus's (aka Mrs. Fraser, to whom the book is dedicated), which makes the book a beautiful conversation piece to add to any coffee table.

Chapter 1, Genetics in a Nutshell, provides an easy to understand overview of this complicated field. The descriptions of the Double Helix, the gene, the genome, and the three main ways genes can cause disease make this chapter one that should be required reading for the general public, legislators and clergy. Seldom are these complex sensitive issues so critical to research and human health so well communicated.

Chapter 2, Family Resemblances: Common and Normal Traits, answers many questions we're sometimes afraid to ask. Subjects range from the amount of risk for genetic problems in children of related couples, to descriptions of the biology of eye and hair color, to the genetics of homosexuality, intelligence and longevity.

Chapter 3, Genetics of Common Physical Disorders, describes genetic associations with such varied disorders as Alzheimer's, autism, bedwetting, bulimia, heart disease, diabetes, cancers, obesity, Parkinson's and restless leg syndrome.

Chapter 4, Genetics of Behavior: Normal and Abnormal, addresses such complex subjects as alcoholism, attention deficit-hyperactivity, compulsiveness and suicidal behavior.

Everyone should have this authoritative concise approach to genetics on their reference shelf.

I have read many of the latter works by Clarke, and I find them imaginative, intelligent and thought-provoking. So when I turned my attention to some of his early works, Childhood's End came very highly recommended, and I'm glad to say it lives up to almost all its high praise.

Though presented as a novel, this could easily be three short stories, dealing with three different subjects: contact, utopia and apocalypse. In fact, the book is divided into three parts, which are bound together by a century of life on Earth following humanity's first contact with an alien race called the Overlords. The first two parts are vintage Clarke: a chilling and suspenseful depiction of first encounter laced with clues that will keep any reader guessing at just what might come next and who are these "benevolent" Overlords. The second part describes a utopia that for all intents and purposes has humanity feeling content with itself. As with all utopias in science fiction, we know what to expect next... and do we ever get it.

[Spoilers]
However it is here that the story takes a strange and anti-climatic twist. In short, all that was obtained by the grace of the Overlords, all of mankind's population, and even the Earth itself is entirely eradicated simply to fuel the next evolutionary step for humanity. On one end Clarke, stresses the fact that humans are quite insignificant and not "meant of the stars" and yet just a few pages later mankind's offspring can gobble up their home planet while undergoing their ascendance to the next plane of existence. Not only has this evolutionary step no biological basis, but it is heavily steeped with religious and paranormal implication, the first of which were summarily denied in the first part of the book by the Overlords. Despite all the hints and clues that Clarke purposefully scatters throughout the book about the Overlords, their appearance, and their true intentions, in the end it is humans themselves who inevitably destroy everything; not because of misguided intentions or horrendous mistakes, but simply to fulfill their destiny. The author heavily emphasizes that this is a good way to go, but I find many logical pitfalls in this conclusion. Besides the ones listed above, another glaring one is the destruction of the Earth and all its life, which could have produced other species that eventually become capable of reaching this much-desired enlightenment that humans attained. Clarke gets most of these problems sorted out by his later works, but Childhood's End, while being very imaginative is very raw and heavily influenced by the general outlook and political mind-set of its decade.

A classic worthy of reading? Certainly.

But a masterpiece?...not quite.

This is an amazing, shocking book. Like 2001 the movie(and it's inspiration-Clarke's story "The Sentinel"), man encounters alien civilization in a way that is far more fascinating and original than the typical invasion story. I don't won't to say too much. That could ruin the story. This might be the best science fiction book(and one of the best in general) I have ever read. The only slight problem I see is that traces of anachronism are presented in the book-originally published in the 50's. Clark tried to update it a bit 40 years later, but some of the age still shows. That is only a minor concern. The story is so powerful and excellent that one little dirt speck can't ruin its overall luster

Sir Arthur C. Clarke (1917 - 2008) is one of the masters of the genre of Science Fiction from its golden age. Though undoubtedly best known for "2001: A Space Odyssey", there are numerous other works of his which should be on every fan of science fiction's reading list. "Childhood's End" is one of those books. This book deals with concepts such as the utopian society, individuality, a `hive mind", and much more. This novel grew out of a short story titled "Guardian Angel" which was published in 1950 ("Famous Fantastic Mysteries"). The original novel was written in February through December of 1952 and was published on August 24th of 1953 by Ballentine. The text which I am reviewing includes a new chapter (or prolog) which was added in 1990, replacing the original.

When "Childhood's End" was first published, it included a disclaimer "The opinions expressed in this book are not those of the author". Though certainly an odd statement, it did have its purpose as Clarke explains in his introduction. After publishing "The Exploration of Space" he felt that people would be confused by a book expressing the idea that "The stars are not meant for man" which is not only in opposition to the book he had just published, but in many ways is the opposite of most of his works which express an opinion in that area.

The story is told in three parts. The first section is titled "Earth and the Overlords". The original prolog had the United States and the Soviet Union both on the verge of creating nuclear powered spaceships for space exploration venture when a fleet of alien spaceships appear over all the major cities of the world. Reinhold is the main scientist for the U.S., and Konrad Schneider is the USSR's lead scientist. The new prolog replaces that with Earth starting the 21st century by proclaiming it the Century of the Solar System with mankind on the verge of visiting the other planets when the Overlord fleet arrives.

The story then picks up five years down the road, with the overlords firmly in control of Earth, but with people becoming more and more restless about the still unseen Overlords and specifically the Supervisor, Karellen. Secretary General Stormgren is the only one who has even been able to talk to the Overlords, as he meets with Karellen on the Overlords' ship, but he sits in a room with what he thinks is a view screen and is only allowed to talk to Karellen. When his time as Secretary General is coming to an end, Stormgren is kidnapped and finds that he has been used as bait by Karellen to find the leaders of those who are opposed to Earth allowing the Overlords to control humanity. Stormgren then comes up with his own plot, to find out what the Overlords look like, with or without their permission.

The second section is titled "The Golden Age" and starts with the Overlords allowing at last humanity to see what they look like. This is also the golden age on Earth. Humanity has evolved and put aside many of its prejudices and superstitions and with the help of the Overlords has attained new heights in almost every scientific area. This is man's second shot at the paradise. Will man be cast out of the Garden of Eden again? This time the apple is the exploration of the stars, and Adam is in the form of Jan Rodricks, who learns the location of the Overlords home star, and attempts to stowaway on one of their ships to find out more about their home world and the Overlords themselves. Clarke borrows from the story of Jonah and the whale in this story, to add to some of the biblical allusions.

The last section is titled "The Last Generation", and this section reveals the Overlords real purpose, which is to guard over and guide the evolution of man into what mankind will evolve into. It is also revealed that the Overlords themselves are fated to advance no further. The message for the rest of humanity is not so wonderful though, as they are fated to be the last generation. Their entire purpose was to be the caterpillar for the butterfly that is to be man's evolution. There are theological motifs played out as well, for what are the Angels (Overlords) in relation to humanity? Mankind was made in the image of God, while the Angels are the servants. Jan Rodricks returns to Earth and do to time dilation and the psychological effects on the world, he is alone as the last human in existence, able to observe the Overlords observing what man has become.

This novel has many thinking points. Is it better to be a member of a species which will evolve, but your own species is but a stepping stone to that higher level, or to be a member of a species which is stagnant, force to watch and serve those who are more advanced? Clearly Clarke prefers the latter, but there is a certain sadness to know that all that one accomplishes is meaningless with the exception of one's descendents. There is also the question of what the real fate is of humanity's child, does it really partner with the Overlords master as they say? How would they really know? This is science fiction at its best, an engaging story which keeps the reader thinking while reading as well as after finishing.

Arthur C. Clarke was a master of science fiction and Childhood's End shows it.

This book will leave you thinking about heavy concepts long after you finish it.

I highly recommend this book.

--Guy P. Harrison, author of 50 Reasons People Give for Believing in a God

I also recommend:

Greetings, Carbon-Based Bipeds!: Collected Essays, 1934-1998

Foundation (Foundation Novels)

I actually bought this the day ACC died, and what a legacy this man left behind. This novel actually adresses racial issues. For it's time, I'm impressed with the ethnic diversity represented here. I love a book that gets me thinking, and this is no exception. What happens when an alien race solves all of humanities problems, or so we think? Unless you're getting this book for a short plane ride or a trip to the beach, your money might be better spent getting this as part of a Clarke collection, because it's so short...a mere 212 pages. An interesting fact I didn't realize about this book was the influence it had on the V television series, which I hear is coming back to film or TV after 20 years of obscurity (Part II). This novel is fascinating, keeping in mind this was originally published in 1953.

I don't know that I would classify Clark as a creator of great fiction; as mentioned in other reviews, the "human equation" in his works is largely missing. Clark excels and creating vivid descriptions of technology and alien grandeur, but his books are a bit lifeless at they have almost no character developement or interesting dialog.

I've read most of his books, and find he is a great alternative in those times I would find myself reaching for an atlas or a National Geographic. Honestly, I think AC Clarke is one of those sacred cow authors--praised by those who think it raises their intellectual profile, and read mainly when bored by those who can see that the emperor, while not entirely naked, could do with more than a loincloth.

It is hard to believe that it has been forty years since 2001, the book and the film, was released. In 1968 it was a strange, mind bending, fascinating vision of the future. It is a worthy monument to the vision of Arthur C. Clarke, bard of the space age.

**Some Spoilers!***

Love how Clarke uses factual science like the most obvious crater on the moon to house the monolith, the tycho crater, as well as the very strange Saturn moon that has an all white side, Iapetus. How more obious can an alien make it for us to make first contact by keeping monoliths in the center of these obvious places? Besides the changes from jupiter orbit to the Saturn moon as staging grounds for the stargate I found the book to be similar to the movie/ book "Contact" by Carl Sagan. Not sure if you've seen or read, but i think Carl has read 2001. His story involved his character going through a wormhole to end up in a familiar earth environment (the beach) as well so as to be comfortable. Very similar here although in 2001 it is a hotel room, from that point however the stories change. A signal from deep space was sent to earth in Contact and from the moon monolith to deep space in 2001.

I did know that Bowman became something more from watching the sequel 2010 but not from 2001. Wonder why Kubrik left all that out.

Because Arthur C. Clarke recently died I decided to reread his classic novel, 2001: A Space Odyssey. Some people say that the major knock against science fiction is that it's necessarily dated soon after written because of the progress of society and technology. While this may be true of many stories, 2001 is timeless. It's hopeful, it's beautiful and it's filled with themes that speak to what we are as humanity.

Evolution is probably the most important element of the story. From the beginning when primitive man finds a black obelisk and it teaches the concept of tool use and subtly changes these creature's minds the idea that our improbable evolution was guided by alien intervention. Then, just as humanity gained the power to destroy its own planet those same aliens had planned to help the descendants of those early creatures jump to the next step, as equal in advancement as using stones for tools were to starving primitives. The message I took from the story was that we are limited in how forward we can think and until we break through another evolutionary barrier we'll be butting our heads against an invisible barrier on creativity. It's profound and humbling to consider the possibility that there are beings who look at our restrictions as simplistic as we view the idea of making a fire for survival.

Invariably this novel gets compared with the Stanley Kubrick film and rightly so. Unlike any pair I've encountered, both the novel and screenplay were developed simultaneously and in conjunction. With slight differences the stories are complementary and equally brilliant. What makes me favor the book more than the movie is the ending, which is explained better revealing the true scope of the evolutionary step man is about to make.

- CV Rick, April 2008

Goodbye! Your legend will endure as long as their is a mankind alive to read your words.

One of the great sci-fi books. Does anyone need to say more?

PROS: Original concept, eye opening ideas, and clear writing. The ending is outstanding.

CONS: I'm sure the pace of the novel was exciting and swift for the 1970s, but today it feels sluggish and slow. I found myself skimming parts in anticipation of the point of the scene.

CONCLUSION: This book won the Hugo and the Nebula award for good reason. For its time, it was the best scifi book around. Today it's still a good read, but there are more entertaining books out there.

This is an enjoyable & quick read. I don't read a lot of science fiction but I thought I would try something different. This is a classic of scifi & I can see why. I think this would make a great movie. I don't want to give away any of the plot but I will say it starts off with a strange object heading into our solar system - something that has been traveling for millions of years - page by page some of the mysteries are slowly revealed.

Even though this book is now 35 years old I found Arthur C Clarke's writing exciting & easy to read. I was also amazed that after 35 years it still seems as if it could have been written yesterday. Now to find some more great science fiction.

Others have said just about everything about this novel, so I'll just add that it would make a wonderful movie. Now that digital technology is up to re-creating the worlds of Tolkien and CS Lewis, just imagine what a great job they could do with this scenario: a team of explorers discovering a huge, mysterious artificial world... experiencing its oceans in the sky, giant electrical lightning makers, hurricanes, weird landscapes beyond comprehension.... why, it would be FANTASTIC!!

Screen writers might even want to tack on a satisfying ending, something that Clarke left out: answering the question "who made Rama and what is it for?"

I'm not a hardcore sci-fi reader, but I do enjoy the genre. I'm currently making an effort to read some of the older sci-fi classics that I probably should have read when I was much younger. RENDEZVOUS WITH RAMA is one of those novels, and I must admit some disappointment with this book.

As another reviewer pointed out, Clarke is not particularly interested in plot or characterization. Instead, he is interested in describing (in a rather detailed, grandiose manner) an alien world that humanity has recently discovered. Much of this is certainly interesting, but doesn't get really compelling until perhaps the final thirty pages or so. None of the characters are particularly memorable, which makes it hard to care about them during the novel's repetitive action scenes. The ending is deliberately anti-climactic, which I found something of a letdown.

Still, RENDEZVOUS WITH RAMA is an intelligent novel filled with big ideas, and is widely considered a classic (it has also spawned multiple sequels). It's a short read, and I don't regret spending the time on it. As with a lot of science fiction, however, it lacks an emotional element that made my reading experience a somewhat sterile one.

Okay, so after a long affair with fantasy lit, I decided to branch out into SF. Since I'd read the Foundation series and Starship Troopers back in the day, I decided to introduce myself to the one member of the holy trinity of Science Fiction I hadn't read yet, Clarke. Based on reviews here I thought Rama might be my speed so I ordered the cheapest used copy and prepared myself for.... I don't know.... a genius who would overwhelm me with his vastly superior intelligence? I guess I'd read so much about how Great the man was that I had this expectation that he'd be, well, Impressive and Deep.

Silly me. I guess I really didn't expect it to be fun. Short, bite-sized chapters that were easy to rip thru and a story that quietly drew me in and kept me fascinated from one discovery to the next. I guess I owe one to Mr. Clarke. A genius who's fun too. I'd almost forgotten those two could go together.