Man and Space

Life Science Library

by Arthur C. Clarke

This book reviews the history of man's interest in space and analyzes the technological developments that have enabled him to explore this new frontier. (1966)

Genres: Space, Reference

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1964

About the author

Stories, works of noted British writer, scientist, and underwater explorer Sir Arthur Charles Clarke, include 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968).

This most important and influential figure in 20th century fiction spent the first half of his life in England and served in World War II as a radar operator before migrating to Ceylon in 1956. He co-created his best known novel and movie with the assistance of Stanley Kubrick.

Clarke, a graduate of King's College, London, obtained first class honours in physics and mathematics. He served as past chairman of the interplanetary society and as a member of the academy of astronautics, the royal astronomical society, and many other organizations.

He authored more than fifty books and won his numerous awards: the Kalinga prize of 1961, the American association for the advancement Westinghouse prize, the Bradford Washburn award, and the John W. Campbell award for his novel Rendezvous with Rama. Clarke also won the nebula award of the fiction of America in 1972, 1974 and 1979, the Hugo award of the world fiction convention in 1974 and 1980. In 1986, he stood as grand master of the fiction of America. The queen knighted him as the commander of the British Empire in 1989.

Reviews

[Kiel Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect sequel to Bonestell & Ley's Conquest of Space — refining the former's data with new science fresh from the burgeoning space race. Laden in gorgeous photography and graphic art to make today's mid-century graverobbers blush. Quintessential.

[Mrjames · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book, a 1967 edition, at a Kentucky antique shop for a dollar. Arthur C. Clarke wrote most of the text. It's a chirpy, feel-good account of the history of space exploration. The kind of book you would have seen on the shelves in your fifth grade class. Still, it gives a nice rundown of the technology and physics of spaceflight and the knowledge of the solar system in the mid-late 1960s. Clarke also makes some very prescient comments about what the world might look like in the future. He imagines newspapers delivered electronically and people carrying portable phones, although Clarke imagines that these advances in information sharing would come from satellite technology and nothing so mundane as earthbound wires and transmitters.
It was kitchy fun to read, especially for a space geek like me.

[Gigi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Esse livro é O livro.
Essa coleção como um todo é extraordinária, mas este volume em específico é especial. O motivo pra isso pode ser explicado pelas ilustrações lindas dos foguetes, pelas fotos memoriais e pela contextualização histórica e explicações dadas por um dos melhores autores que poderiam ter sido encarregados pra essa empreitada.
A singularidade desse livro também pode ser resumida simplesmente pela frase "porque engenharia aeroespacial é a maior ciência da humanidade", o que eu acho bastante apropriado.
Gosto muito de como o texto nos dá uma perspectiva do que se conhecia na época. O livro prevê o que viria a ser o ônibus espacial, o uso de satélites pra comunicação em massa, e até o home office e a internet. Há tópicos sobre os quais pouco se conhecia e hoje entendemos melhor, como as características de Plutão, e outras coisas que, apesar de ainda não sucedidas, seguem corretas em suas ideias, como os planos de usar a lua como estação de lançamento e observação, e características necessárias pra missões espaciais de longo prazo visando preservar as tripulações.

Eu não sei o quanto os interesses de um indivíduo são intrínsecos desde o nascimento e o quanto são fruto de seu contexto; mas de todo modo, esse livro foi fundamental pra formar o que eu sou hoje, e por isso sou muito grata.

(li a versão brasileira)

[Waskitho Wee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beli buku ini bekas, terjemahan bahasa indonesia
walaupun buku ini cetakan lama (bahkan teleskop hubble masih belum diluncurkan), tetapi uraian astronominya terbilang lengkap untuk aku yang masih awam. Beberapa bab memang agak susah dicerna karena berurusan dengan angka dan hitung-hitungan matematis, selebihnya adalah bab bab yang gak pernah membuatku berhenti kagum: alam semesta ini luas dan misterius!

[Nandha Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

One book to sum up the emotions and aspirations of the space age. Gives an all American view of the space race. Leaves you thanking these satlwarts when you realize that you are living their dreams

[Nazifi Abdullahi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love finding books like this that capture a snapshot in time of a work in progress. 1964 - we knew we were going to the moon, we just didn't know how. Even better if it's written by Arthur C Clarke!