Arthur C. Clarke has been a household name since 1968, when the film 2001: A Space Odyssey rocketed him to popular fame. McAleer explores Clarke's personal vision and career as one of the 20th century's most popular and influential writers and reveals the life experiences and creative forces that have shaped the man behind the legend. 30 photographs.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"A highly enjoyable account of the life and times of one of the great science fiction writers." -- The Times, London, June 1992
"An anecdote-filled, compulsively readable story of Clarke's own voyage through the twentieth century and behond." -- Nature, Fall 1992
"Four Stars for a rollicking life that beats any fiction." -- Los Angeles Dailey News, October 1992
"An anecdote-filled, compulsively readable story of Clarke's own voyage through the twentieth century and behond." -- Nature, Fall 1992
"Four Stars for a rollicking life that beats any fiction." -- Los Angeles Dailey News, October 1992
About the Author
Neil McAleer is the author of a number of books, including Earthlove, a science fiction novel, The Cosmic Mind-Boggling Book, The Body Almanac, and The Omni Space Almanac, which won the 1988 Robert S. Ball Award from the Aviation/Space Writers Association. He lives in Baltimore.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
As a long-time admirer of both Arthur C. Clarke the man and his fact and fiction, I've been looking for a good biography for quite a long time, and am glad to say I've finally found one. Neil McAleer has done an excellent job, and obviously put a lot of time into research and interviews. This book was compiled from several interviews with Clarke himself as well as with many of his friends, family members, editors, publishers, fellow writers, colleagues, and the like. One is greatful to get such a great glimpse into the lives of science fiction's most famous author, as well as one of the 20th century's most famous visionaries. Truly a remarkable man, Clarke has had an almost unbelievably productive, meaningful, and memorable life. Here we learn about his upbringing and exploits living on a farm in England in his childhood, and through his experiences in school and budding interest in science and science fiction. We then learn of Clarke's going on to join the Civil Service and eventually the Royal Airforce (where he helped with the radar "talk down" system), and through his college years. We are able to see the development of his writing years, and his active and vital role in the British Interplanetary Society. All of Clarke's major novels and several of his short stories are gone into in detail, and oftentimes we learn of his motivation for writing them, and also something of his writing method. One of the most important and revealing aspects of the book for Clarke fans are the long behind-the-scenes look we get at the making of 2001: A Space Odyssey. We learn of the working relationship between Clarke and Kubrick, and also get a glimpse into the super hush-hush activities that took place on the set. This book covers his career up to the release of his novel The Ghost From The Grand Banks, and a little beyond. It also touches mightily upon his non-fiction writing, as well as his many other and less celebrated exploits - lecturing, popularizing of communications, diplomatic interests, and the like. We learn a lot about Clarke's vital role in the establishment of communications satellites. This is quite simply an essential book for Clarke fans, with much knowledge held within it to put across and share. The only real drawback to it is that it does only go up to 1992, and thereby misses out on some important events in Clarke's career (the release of further books, including his final novel, 3001, his collected stories and essays, his knighthood, the unfortunate (and falsely alledged) accusations of pedophilia against him, and the actual coming of the year 2001, just to name a few.) Still, this is by far the most comprehensive and thorough book about Arthur C. Clarke available. Obvioiusly, as with any biography, it's not a book you'll want to dive into unless you are already familar with the author and his works. If you are, though, then this is an essential volume to add to your collection.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
THE biography of Arthur C. Clarke ! Finally ! it was well worth the wait
By Will Jerom
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This seems to me a good biography, if not absolutely complete. McAleer focuses mostly on Clarke's fiction and relevance to the scientific world. Clarke education, personal and family life have some detail, but are not fully illumined. Those interested in Clarke will probably find this to be a satisfactory, if not altogether complete view of Clarke's life and achievements.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Arthur C. Clarke Biography
I've only read one of his novels, but I loved this biography, and his science fiction biography 'Astounding Days'. I really liked these.
Published on November 17, 2010 by Liza Kimball
5.0 out of 5 stars
McAleer Portrays the True Clarke: Genius
In this novel, Arthur C. Clarke's entire life story is told. Also, actual interviews with Clarke and his family members are used. Read more
Published on March 26, 2002 by Number 5
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great writer of both fiction and non-fiction
Arthur C. Clarke had been one of my favorite writers since the early 1970's. The first book of his that I read was 2001: A Space Odyssey. I was hooked on Mr. Read more
Published on May 19, 2000 by Raymond D. Curry
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