What do you think?
Rate this book
ราชสีห์แห่งคอมมาร์ และเรื่องอื่นๆ
Arthur C. Clarke est l’un des grands maîtres de la SF moderne. Chantre de la conquête de l’espace, il fut également prophète de l’ère des télécommunications universelles, explorateur des fonds sous-marins, humoriste et commentateur de l’aventure humaine dans un univers recelant encore bien des mystères. La collection numérique Brage vous permettra d’explorer toutes ces différentes pistes à travers plus d’une centaine de nouvelles, indispensables à tout amoureux de la science-fiction.
270 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1949
1 person is currently reading
98 people want to read
About the author
Arthur C. Clarke
1,649 books11.6k followersStories, 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.
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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
July 22, 2018
I guess the producers of The Matrix has influenced from this story.
September 23, 2025
Ce supriză neașteptată! O nuvelă mică-mică, dar plină de idei neobișnuite. Pământul în anul trei mii o sută și ceva, ajuns la stagnare, cu oamenii nemaifiind interesați de progres de bine ce trăiesc. Cu excepția câtorva nemulțumiți, care au căutat sanctuarul de legendă Comarre și nu s-au mai întors de acolo. Și vine eroul nostru și descoperă că locul există. Atâta doar că e altceva decât s-a așteptat și ne-am așteptat. Iar acum gândurile au spațiu de hălăduit într-o grămadă de direcții. :)
March 2, 2021
Lots of thought-provoking ideas here. What becomes of the us when we reach the end of all that science can offer us? (Or at least we believe all future improvements have been exhausted.) A nice novelette in 7 chapters that could have been written today, 70+ years after its original publication. Clarke at his best.
March 9, 2015
A beautiful short story about the future society, that thinks it has reached perfection - thus stopping to develop and focusing on arts and philosophy - and a few people that still believe things can get better and that there are still lots to invent.
October 9, 2016
In the Odyssey, Lotus Eaters forgot their former selves and lived in a peaceful, dream-like apathy. In a future Utopia, some people still turn their backs to life's opportunities in search of happiness only the dream machines of Comarre can bestow. One traveler unsuccessfully attempts to rescue these dreamers, not understanding they do not wish to be saved. He leaves Comarre with the unfinished journal of its former scientist and a promise to research the codependency of robots and humans further.
May 31, 2018
I didn't like this story, but gosh darn it! Even in his sub-par work, Clarke's genius shows through! The initial premise, of a world which has "discovered everything" is a theory I had contemplated, and never expected to find in a short story. Add to that the exploration of virtual reality (though I really think his ideas on this topic take off in his satirical "Patent Pending") and the early stirrings of the ethics of self aware AI, and its hard not to accept this as a hugely influential work.
So, did I enjoy reading it?
No, not really.
Do I regret reading it?
No, not at all.
So, did I enjoy reading it?
No, not really.
Do I regret reading it?
No, not at all.
April 29, 2014
Täitsa mõnus lühike ulmeks, mida pole raske soovitada üheks-kaheks magamiseelseks lugemiseks. Tekst ja tegevus liigub tempokalt ja ideed on head, ehkki eriti sügavuti neid ei uurita. Clarke'ilt on muidugi paremaid asju, üheks nendest on vältimatult võrdluseks toodav "Linna ja tähed", kuid tema varase loominguga tutvumiseks igati sobilik asi.
Read
November 22, 2014Armas ja sõbralik, täis ajastukohat entusiasmi ja ajatuid vaimseid murepunkti, üleinimlikku naiivsust ja viimistletud mõtlemist üheaegselt. Peaks tegema riiuli "soovitan tütrele" ja see oleks seal kohe kindlasti.
June 13, 2020
what a visionary
audiobook
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvuHx...
audiobook
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvuHx...
November 30, 2023
Although I probably read one or both of these novellas when I was a teenager, I recently found a copy of this book, printed in 1967, at the back of one of my bookshelves. I read it (again, perhaps) and was reminded of why Arthur C. Clarke has always been one of my favorite authors.
This small book contains two novellas: "The Lion of Comarre," and "Against the Fall of Night," in addition to an interesting preface by Clarke himself. "Lion" is fairly short and not nearly as good as the second piece, "Night," although they are thematically similar. Clarke apparently started "Night" in 1935 and wrote many drafts before finally finding a publisher. He recounts (amusingly, to me at least) how his manuscript was turned down repeatedly by John W. Campbell, the editor of Astounding Stories, before being published by something called "Startling Stories," one of those old pulp magazines from before 1960.
Since Clarke was born in 1917, he was all of 18 when he began to write this story--and it shows, since the protagonist, Alvin, is a young man on the cusp of adulthood, and the story is basically about him coming to understand what it means to be an adult. We would probably call this a YA book these days, although I doubt that term was used at the time it was published. Despite the young age of the main character, the story was engaging even to this older person, since it was really about the need to face one's fears, take risks, and confront what Clarke refers to as decadence and intellectual laziness.
As a writer who thinks about things like voice and point of view, I was impressed (again, as I always am with Clarke's work) with his skill in this area. He uses an omniscient narrator and easily slides between the thoughts of one character and another, and does all this in a confident and skilled way. A lot of writers try to do this and fail, but Clarke is a master storyteller and knows how to do it correctly and in a way that adds to the story rather than confusing the reader.
Since telepathy and other sorts of mental excursions occur in this story, it's important that he use an omniscient voice--although I was a bit surprised when, at one point late in the story, the author himself intervened to tell us something that neither Alvin nor any of the other characters could know. Some day I hope to be as confident of a writer and attempt something like this myself--but I'd probably run up against an editor somewhere who will tell me it can't be done.
It was fun to read (or, perhaps, re-read) this story and to catch glimpses of later works by Clarke. There are hints of "Rendezvous with Rama" and "Childhood's End," here, as well as "2001: A Space Odyssey," particularly in the way the "robots" behave in "Night" (which we would probably now call AIs). I'm really glad I found this book tucked away on my back shelf and will probably try to slip it into the hands of some young person who may not know about this great writer from what is rightly called the "Golden Age" of classic science fiction.
This small book contains two novellas: "The Lion of Comarre," and "Against the Fall of Night," in addition to an interesting preface by Clarke himself. "Lion" is fairly short and not nearly as good as the second piece, "Night," although they are thematically similar. Clarke apparently started "Night" in 1935 and wrote many drafts before finally finding a publisher. He recounts (amusingly, to me at least) how his manuscript was turned down repeatedly by John W. Campbell, the editor of Astounding Stories, before being published by something called "Startling Stories," one of those old pulp magazines from before 1960.
Since Clarke was born in 1917, he was all of 18 when he began to write this story--and it shows, since the protagonist, Alvin, is a young man on the cusp of adulthood, and the story is basically about him coming to understand what it means to be an adult. We would probably call this a YA book these days, although I doubt that term was used at the time it was published. Despite the young age of the main character, the story was engaging even to this older person, since it was really about the need to face one's fears, take risks, and confront what Clarke refers to as decadence and intellectual laziness.
As a writer who thinks about things like voice and point of view, I was impressed (again, as I always am with Clarke's work) with his skill in this area. He uses an omniscient narrator and easily slides between the thoughts of one character and another, and does all this in a confident and skilled way. A lot of writers try to do this and fail, but Clarke is a master storyteller and knows how to do it correctly and in a way that adds to the story rather than confusing the reader.
Since telepathy and other sorts of mental excursions occur in this story, it's important that he use an omniscient voice--although I was a bit surprised when, at one point late in the story, the author himself intervened to tell us something that neither Alvin nor any of the other characters could know. Some day I hope to be as confident of a writer and attempt something like this myself--but I'd probably run up against an editor somewhere who will tell me it can't be done.
It was fun to read (or, perhaps, re-read) this story and to catch glimpses of later works by Clarke. There are hints of "Rendezvous with Rama" and "Childhood's End," here, as well as "2001: A Space Odyssey," particularly in the way the "robots" behave in "Night" (which we would probably now call AIs). I'm really glad I found this book tucked away on my back shelf and will probably try to slip it into the hands of some young person who may not know about this great writer from what is rightly called the "Golden Age" of classic science fiction.
December 18, 2022
No es por autobombo, pero yo me leería esta reseña y no muchas de las otras que hay acerca de este libro, que hay mucho "inteligente" que al hacer la comparación de esta novela con una película muy famosa, hace que a mitad del tomo ya sepas lo que va a pasar. Dicho esto, allá voy.
En el siglo XXXI la humanidad domina y coloniza el sistema solar. Este salto se ha producido gracias a la enorme capacidad de trabajo de las máquinas, robots inteligentes que han liberado a los humanos de realizar cualquier actividad, por así decirlo "útil", así que la gente puede entregarse en cuerpo y alma al pensamiento y la creación "pura", artística, filosófica o plástica. Pero Richard Peyton III quiere ser ingeniero, quiere que se siga investigando en el sector tecnológico, quiere explorar el espacio más allá de nuestro sistema solar, con lo que tiene muy preocupados a su padre y a su abuelo, hombres notables del Sistema Solar, que no quieren que el chico pierda el tiempo en esas actividades tan mediocres. En esta tirante situación familiar, al protagonista se le ofrece investigar una ciudad mítica: Comarre. Creada por Rolf Thordarsen, parece ofrecer una alternativa a la gente que no se siente a gusto en esa idílica sociedad. Son un misterio tanto su ubicación como lo que hay allí, sólo se sabe que quien la visita, no vuelve nunca...
Llegó a este libro porque lo compré en un viaje de vacaciones, en una tienda de libros de segunda mano. De ahí que tenga en "leyendo" el volumen de la editorial Caralt que reúne las dos novelas, ésta y la de "A la caída de la noche", pero como también se encontraban por separado, me viene mejor para el reto. En ambos casos Clark nos habla de sociedades perfectas pero anquilosadas, inmóviles, entregadas a la facilidad para vivir que una tecnología muy avanzada genera. Pero siempre hay disidentes, personas díscolas que reconocen que se vive confortablemente, pero que se preguntan "¿Hay algo más ahí fuera?". Y son estas personas las que, como la espoleta de un proyectil explosivo, intentan hacer saltar las convenciones hasta entonces aceptadas. ¿Provoca esa actividad ese cambio social? Pues lo tendréis que comprobar vosotros mismos. Sea lo que sea lo que pase, os aconsejo ambas lecturas.
Leído en papel.
En el siglo XXXI la humanidad domina y coloniza el sistema solar. Este salto se ha producido gracias a la enorme capacidad de trabajo de las máquinas, robots inteligentes que han liberado a los humanos de realizar cualquier actividad, por así decirlo "útil", así que la gente puede entregarse en cuerpo y alma al pensamiento y la creación "pura", artística, filosófica o plástica. Pero Richard Peyton III quiere ser ingeniero, quiere que se siga investigando en el sector tecnológico, quiere explorar el espacio más allá de nuestro sistema solar, con lo que tiene muy preocupados a su padre y a su abuelo, hombres notables del Sistema Solar, que no quieren que el chico pierda el tiempo en esas actividades tan mediocres. En esta tirante situación familiar, al protagonista se le ofrece investigar una ciudad mítica: Comarre. Creada por Rolf Thordarsen, parece ofrecer una alternativa a la gente que no se siente a gusto en esa idílica sociedad. Son un misterio tanto su ubicación como lo que hay allí, sólo se sabe que quien la visita, no vuelve nunca...
Llegó a este libro porque lo compré en un viaje de vacaciones, en una tienda de libros de segunda mano. De ahí que tenga en "leyendo" el volumen de la editorial Caralt que reúne las dos novelas, ésta y la de "A la caída de la noche", pero como también se encontraban por separado, me viene mejor para el reto. En ambos casos Clark nos habla de sociedades perfectas pero anquilosadas, inmóviles, entregadas a la facilidad para vivir que una tecnología muy avanzada genera. Pero siempre hay disidentes, personas díscolas que reconocen que se vive confortablemente, pero que se preguntan "¿Hay algo más ahí fuera?". Y son estas personas las que, como la espoleta de un proyectil explosivo, intentan hacer saltar las convenciones hasta entonces aceptadas. ¿Provoca esa actividad ese cambio social? Pues lo tendréis que comprobar vosotros mismos. Sea lo que sea lo que pase, os aconsejo ambas lecturas.
Leído en papel.
February 16, 2025
So far, this is my favorite story from this collection. It's one of the stories you'll say makes Arthur C. Clarke a great writer... it just happens to discuss technology, robots, dreams and consciousness. Oh also mind reading robots! Too cool +3.
July 15, 2018
An interesting short story about a society that claims to have discovered everything there is to discover.
January 26, 2020
One can't fail to notice the similarities of this story to the plot of the movie "Matrix". Can't believe t his was written so many years ago.
December 22, 2020
Wonderful story about Peyton who tries to find out about the legendary place Comarre. Virtual reality many years before it was a reality
March 1, 2022
I think the main character was a bit too goody two shoes for me to care too much, but I liked the themes and the lion, who appears to be a stolen motif from a medieval French dream poem.
April 17, 2022
Really thoughtful book about the future and a life where science is no longer needed, very quick to read too.
April 20, 2023
Another solid Clarke entry.
October 12, 2024
Very intriguing and creative - Listened to it as part of "The Collected Stories of Arthur C. Clarke: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4..."
January 22, 2018
Oli ilmselge, et Peyton polnud kunagi kuulnudki mitte midagi sellisest iidsete aegade kultusfilmist nagu "Matrix", sest muidu oleks ta teadnud, et isegi ilmsi kuutõbistena oma rutiinses mullis ringi jalutavad inimesed ei soovi tegelikult, et keegi neid äratama tuleks, mis siis veel Comarre'i omadest rääkida...
Aga muidu täitsa huvitav jutustus.
Isiklikel põhjustel oli minu selle loo lemmikkangelane muidugi Leo ja säärase kiisu adopteeriks ma hetkegi kõhklemata!
"Nii Peyton kui ka robot olid sekkumise peale ühtviisi üllatunud. Ootamatult välgatas midagi pruunikaskuldset ning pool tonni konte ja kõõluseid, kihutades nelikümmend miili tunnis, tabas robotit otse keskpaika.
Korraks oli õhk täis vehklevaid kombitsaid. Siis kostis raksatus, nagu oleks robot hukatusele määratud, ja Insener lamas siruli põrandal. Leo kükitas langenud masina otsas ja lakkus mõtlikult käppi.
Ta ei saanud päris hästi aru sellest läikivast loomast, kes oli ta isandat ähvardanud. Selle nahk oli kõige kõvem neist, mida ta oli proovinud, pärast üht väga halvasti lõppenud arvamuste lahkuminekut ühe ninasarvikuga väga palju aastaid tagasi..."
Aga muidu täitsa huvitav jutustus.
Isiklikel põhjustel oli minu selle loo lemmikkangelane muidugi Leo ja säärase kiisu adopteeriks ma hetkegi kõhklemata!
"Nii Peyton kui ka robot olid sekkumise peale ühtviisi üllatunud. Ootamatult välgatas midagi pruunikaskuldset ning pool tonni konte ja kõõluseid, kihutades nelikümmend miili tunnis, tabas robotit otse keskpaika.
Korraks oli õhk täis vehklevaid kombitsaid. Siis kostis raksatus, nagu oleks robot hukatusele määratud, ja Insener lamas siruli põrandal. Leo kükitas langenud masina otsas ja lakkus mõtlikult käppi.
Ta ei saanud päris hästi aru sellest läikivast loomast, kes oli ta isandat ähvardanud. Selle nahk oli kõige kõvem neist, mida ta oli proovinud, pärast üht väga halvasti lõppenud arvamuste lahkuminekut ühe ninasarvikuga väga palju aastaid tagasi..."
January 24, 2016
Thematic (not content) spoilers ahead.
This is obviously outdated by now but can be seen as an interesting piece of retrofuturism, with universal themes. It starts off rather plainly but I really like how it becomes more philosophical as one goes along, even though the actual story never holds up. These themes are as relevant today as ever. The story explores the tension between those who prefer to live in reality and those, for whatever reason, choose illusion over reality. The main character undergoes a personal transformation regarding this issue because of the events in the story, and this really makes one think.
One thing that bothered me just a little bit is the fact that some characters are rather vividly introduced at the beginning but are never seen again. I suppose though that this is sometimes par for the course with short stories.
This is obviously outdated by now but can be seen as an interesting piece of retrofuturism, with universal themes. It starts off rather plainly but I really like how it becomes more philosophical as one goes along, even though the actual story never holds up. These themes are as relevant today as ever. The story explores the tension between those who prefer to live in reality and those, for whatever reason, choose illusion over reality. The main character undergoes a personal transformation regarding this issue because of the events in the story, and this really makes one think.
One thing that bothered me just a little bit is the fact that some characters are rather vividly introduced at the beginning but are never seen again. I suppose though that this is sometimes par for the course with short stories.
August 27, 2016
An early Arthur C. Clark novella that was published in serial format in the early part of his career. It has many of the same themes as the book it is often paired with, "Against The Fall Of Night," include far-flung futures and realities beyond common perception.
It was a nice easy breeze (under 70 pages) and had a nice, if abrupt, ending.
It was a nice easy breeze (under 70 pages) and had a nice, if abrupt, ending.
July 28, 2025
My main problem with this is that it is a short story, a sci-fi format that leaves me wanting for more "story" continuation.
April 8, 2013
i liked it except for the lion. 62pages
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews