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Islands in the Sky Kindle Edition

by Arthur C. Clarke (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 648 ratings
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The technologically groundbreaking novel of space exploration from the only science fiction author nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.
 
Roy Malcolm has always been fascinated by space travel. And when he wins a voyage to the Inner Space Station as a game show prize, he’s sure it’s the trip of a lifetime. Before long, Roy is taken in by the young crew—and shares their adventures and lives.
 
One of Arthur C. Clarke’s earliest novels, Islands in the Sky is particularly noteworthy for its description of geostationary communications satellites. While this technology was nonexistent during the writing of this book, it later became commonplace—and Clarke is credited with the first practical descriptions of such technology. This book is compelling not just as a fictional tale, but as an example of the prescient power of Clarke’s vision.
 
“[Clarke is] one of the truly prophetic figures of the space age.” —The New Yorker
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  1. Print length
    164 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    RosettaBooks
  5. Publication date
    November 30, 2012
  6. File size
    1401 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Arthur C. Clarke was considered to be the greatest science fiction writer of all time. He was an international treasure in many other ways: an article he wrote in 1945 led to the invention of satellite technology. Books by Mr. Clarke - both fiction and nonfiction - have more than one hundred million copies in print worldwide. He died in 2008 at the age of 90.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07H17TX83
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ RosettaBooks (November 30, 2012)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 30, 2012
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1401 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 164 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 648 ratings

About the author

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Arthur C. Clarke

Arthur C. Clarke

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SIR ARTHUR C. CLARKE (1917-2008) wrote the novel and co-authored the screenplay for 2001: A Space Odyssey. He has been knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, and he is the only science-fiction writer to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. His fiction and nonfiction have sold more than one hundred million copies in print worldwide.

Photo by en:User:Mamyjomarash (Amy Marash) (en:Image:Clarke sm.jpg) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
648 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

P. C. Polk
5.0 out of 5 stars A good tale, with actual science involved
Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2024
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Realistic characters as well as good descriptions of what's seen in space stations and ships. A good guess at the future.
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Cissa
4.0 out of 5 stars Golden Age sf- YA
Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2019
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I thought the evocation of an inhabited solar system, with a series of space stations circling the earth, was really great! We're not as forward on that as this older novel assumed we'd be... but we are- I hope!- tending in that direction, to some extent.

Clarke put a lot of thought into what this integrated intra-solar-system could look like, both physically and economically.

I liked the 16-year-old protagonist, too. His naivety worked the "as you know, Bob" infodumps into the plot pretty well.

There was no overarching plot arc, but there were issues and solutions.

I did think the dudes in the Mercury exploration were pretty stupid. One of the three guys had his leg heaters fail- and ended up losing his legs because he walked, and his legs froze. Now, he ended up needing to be carried half the distance anyway, since his legs failed; if he had been carried the whole distance- and the gravity was low- he would not have lost his legs at ALL! This apparently occurred to no one.

Also- it was definitely all dudes, all the time. The only woman given any time was the protag's mom, and she only existed so he could explain orbiting to her. Naturally, his dad did not need this...

It was a reasonably entertaining YA novel, and had an interesting picture of how intra-solar-system space travel could work and benefit us all. As such, it was rather utopian.

Semi-recommended. Enticing take on what we COULD do- but more interesting as that than as a novel per se.
3 people found this helpful
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BruMan
3.0 out of 5 stars A trip looking forward back in time
Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2015
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In the years preceding Sputnik, Gemini, or Apollo, Arthur C. Clarke looks forward with amazing accuracy at a journey through near space. I was a bit surprised that the book seems to be aimed at an adolescent audience, but that might simply be the result of the author's perception of what would come to be while I look at what we now know to be fact. This is a story of a young man who wins a trip to a space station in near-earth orbit and his subsequent adventures in and around the station. Simply written, the story is still fun unless you are looking for the ultra-detailed techno-novels of today. Sit back, imagine yourself in a time before man in space and step into the future as seen by one of the truly great Sci-Do writers. I gave it only three stars because the simplicity of the details, given what we know now, more than 60 years after it was written, is a distraction.
One person found this helpful
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John McAlexander III
5.0 out of 5 stars OH BOY!! I won a trip--- TO A SPACE STATION . . . . .
Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2023
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A very fulfilling reading experience! WOW! Winning trip to Anywhere in the world and maneuvering the 'game show' company to help Roy fulfill his BIG DREAM ---- TO GO INTO SPACE !!! Considering the year in which the book was written, Islands in the Sky is Considerably ahead of its time. THIS IS DEFINATELY SCI - FI ! ! ! VERY GOOD BOOK AND VERY
RECOMMENDED READ ! ! !
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Michael G Kurilla
4.0 out of 5 stars Teenage outerspace adventure
Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2019
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Arthur C Clarke's Islands in the Sky is an early 50's sci-fi tale from the Winston Science Fiction series. The target audience was teenagers with an interest in science and electronics and intended to provide some scientifically plausible storylines to counter much of pulp offerings of the time. In this tale, a teenager wins a national contest and requests his prize as a visit to a space station. What follows is his account of his doings on the space station as well as his involvement in a mission to get an injured person to medical care, an accident on their return that sends them around the moon and their discovery of lost nuclear waste material.

While the science is somewhat crude, given the time in which this was written (1952), Clarke was rather prescient in his description of the future and humanity's use of space. With multiple types of stations at various distances from Earth, Clarke nails the use of broadcast and communication satellites. He also identifies extended weightlessness as a cause for concern. Finally, his suggestion that nuclear waste might be simply shot into space was a bit advanced for that era.

Overall, this is quick read and given the target audience, is a quite respectable offering for this time period.
2 people found this helpful
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Namazon
5.0 out of 5 stars Another good read by Arthur C. Clarke
Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2015
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No plot to speak of but a series of events linked through the main character. All very well told with well researched descriptions of life in space and the perils that space travelers have to overcome. Fascinating throughout with just the right touch of personal interest.
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Bojack
4.0 out of 5 stars Good Value
Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2023
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Slight browning of edges, otherwise in great condition. Possibly unread.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars WOW
Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2015
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It is hard to believe that this was written even be for the launch of sputnik. Clark predicted, with a great deal of accuracy many of the things we now take for granted. He describes things that were only theory at the time with great accuracy. This was a great story.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars The Best
Reviewed in Canada on July 16, 2023
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Old is always quality ... a great read for young adventurers... I haven't read this in 40 years and it's takes us back to a much more optimistic and joyful time when the sky was the limit, and we were just embarking on the journey to the stars...enjoy
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blah^^
4.0 out of 5 stars Good kindle edition.
Reviewed in Germany on August 1, 2020
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Trying to keep it simple. It's one of Arthur c. Clarke's more well known books and it is as usual very good.

The UK gateway edition is pretty much Solid. I didn't notice spelling mistakes etc.

I believe I paid €2.99
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Mark
5.0 out of 5 stars A childhood favourite
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 30, 2018
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This book remains a brilliant read, and definitely one for a parent to share with children. Accurate science, albeit with an overoptimistic history, and excellent writing makes this an excellent introduction to science fiction.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars 名作SFジュブナイル
Reviewed in Japan on August 6, 2012
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50年以上前のヤングアダルト向けであるジュブナイル小説ですが、表現や考証が大変緻密で今読んでも充分に面白いです。
取って付けたような暴力や性表現はなく、純粋に宇宙SFとしての面白さのみで勝負しています。
SF好きの若者はもちろん、宇宙への憧れを忘れない(忘れたくない)大人にもおすすめです。
9 people found this helpful
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Ralph Walker
4.0 out of 5 stars A delightedly dated vision of space travel.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 23, 2021
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I’ve read most of Arthur C Clarke’s other classic Sci Fi novels and this is quite unlike any of the others. It’s more of a young person’s book, trying to visualise how a teenage boy might experience space travel to a space station in the mid 21st century. The charm of this delightful story comes from its 1950’s so naive vision of what space travel might be, and how that vision has dated with time. It’s portrayal of life on a space station reads like like work in a 1950’s British factory. It was written before much of the technology of modern space travel such as solar cells and digital displays was invented. It was clearly also written in the wildly optimistic era before much of the sheer difficulty of sending man into space was appreciated. The rocket flight up to the space station reads more like a ride on a bus and EVA in a space suit is as simple as putting on an overcoat! For anyone who loves classic science fiction, and any Arthur C Clarke fan, this book is essential reading.
One person found this helpful
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