The Fountains of Paradise

infobox Book |
name = The Fountains of Paradise
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = Cover of first UK edition (hardcover)
author = Arthur C. Clarke
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country = United Kingdom
language = English
series =
genre = Science fiction novel
publisher = Victor Gollancz
release_date = 1979
english_release_date =
media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback)
pages = 256 pp
isbn = ISBN 0-575-02520-4
preceded_by =
followed_by =

"The Fountains of Paradise" is a 1979 novel by Arthur C. Clarke. Set in the 22nd century, it describes the construction of a space elevator. This "orbital tower" is a giant structure rising from the ground and linking with a satellite in geostationary at the height of approximately 36,000 kilometers (approx. 22,300 miles). Such a structure would be used to raise payloads to orbit without having to use rockets, making it much more cost-effective.

Plot Summary

In the novel, Clarke uses the life of the ancient king Kalidasa to foreshadow the adventures of engineer Vannevar Morgan in his single-minded determination to realize the space elevator. Subplots in the novel include human colonization of the solar system and the first contact with extraterrestrial intelligence. Clarke also hypothesizes that religion in humans is a consequence of sexual reproduction, although the idea does not play a central role in the novel. "The Fountains of Paradise" is set in the fictional equatorial island country of Taprobane. Clarke has described it as "about ninety percent congruent with the island of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka)", south of its real world location. The ruins of the palace at Yakkagala as described in the book very closely match the real-life ruins at Sigiriya in Sri Lanka.

In the novel, Clarke envisions a microscopically thin but strong "hyperfilament" that makes the elevator possible. Although the hyperfilament is constructed from "continuous pseudo-one-dimensional diamond crystal" [pg.45] in the novel, Clarke later expressed his belief that another type of carbon, Buckminsterfullerene, would play the role of hyperfilament in a real space elevator.

The latest developments in carbon nanotube technology bring the orbital elevator closer to possible realization.

The epilogue shows an Earth with several space elevators leading to a giant, "circumterran", space station that encircles Earth at geostationary altitude. The analogy with a wheel is evident: the space station itself is the wheel rim, Earth is the axle, and the six equidistant space elevators the spokes.

imilarities with other works of Clarke

* In the middle of "Fountains", we have an unmanned robotic spaceship of alien origin, called "starglider" by Clarke, passing through our solar system. This situation is very similar to "Rendezvous with Rama", though the ship exterior & its interactions with humans is different.

* The first third of "" describes details of the interior of the ring habitat that encloses earth, and is connected to earth's surface with 4 space elevators. At the end of "Fountains", we see this ring habitat for the first time - though it has 6 space elevators rather than 4 of 3001.

* At the end of "Fountains", Earth turns into an icy wasteland because the Sun has cooled. The same situation also occurs in the first story of "History Lesson". the major difference being that humans survived this cooling in Foutains by going to Venus.

* The alien we meet near the end of "Fountains" is a somewhat more physical form of the Swarm - the aliens that land on primeval earth in "The Possessed".

Awards and Nominations

* Winner, Nebula Award for Best Novel - 1979
* Winner, Hugo Award for Best Novel - 1980