Kathie Huddleston From the Back Cover:įew masters of science fiction have brought us glimpses of the near future as vividly as Arthur C. With exceptional illustrations by Lebbeus Woods, The Sentinel is a must-read, not only for Clarke fans, but for all readers of science fiction. His most recent words in this anthology were written in 1983. While it would have been wonderful if Clarke had added an additional introduction about the human race's journey into 2001 and beyond for this special edition, that was not to be. In fact, he almost apologetically reminds the reader that while 'Jupiter V' is dated, Sputnik was still six years in the future when it was written in 1951. It's unavoidable that time would catch up with Clarke, though.

The truly amazing thing is that Clarke's short fiction still holds up, by and large. It's a special treat to be able to see the beginnings of 2001: A Space Odyssey and Childhood's End, along with Clarke's thoughts on how each story came about. This anthology spans three decades, beginning in 1946 with the second story he published, 'The Rescue Party,' and offers a chance to read some of the short stories that later germinated into his most spectacular works. In Clarke's introduction, he explores why he became the kind of writer he did, and he offers a look at the very first paragraph he ever published-in 1933. Clarke's The Sentinel offers insight and commentary on 10 of Clarke's most notable short stories. Originally published in 1983, the '2001 Anniversary Edition' of Arthur C.

The sentinel by arthur c clarke