Reviews

The Songs of Distant Earth by Arthur C. Clarke

cherrick8's review against another edition

4.0

Very nice, poignant story of a future when Earth is no more. A good exploration of what could be with humanity living among the stars. I really did enjoy this one.

grant_b's review

5.0

“All these listeners heard in the music that came out of the night - the songs of distant Earth carried across the light-years..”
-Arthur C. Clarke, The Songs of Distant Earth (1986)

Finished the book and it was just like a fleeting dream, short but beautiful. It also felt quite nostalgic. ✨

blankpagealex's review

3.0

This book was rich in world-building and ideas surrounding a scientific utopia, but light on plot and conflict. Two societies encounter one another and get along pretty well, even when one has an affair with another's partner. The discovery of an underwater species that appears to be intelligent could have been more deeply explored and added some suspense to the otherwise straightforward proceedings.

That being said, it's still a remarkably well-established world that Clarke has created and it's a quick and easy read.

olletokstolle's review

emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

azazel11's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

readra's review

adventurous inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

While this book had occasional moments of philosophical insight or scientific big ideas, I found the overall work to be a little too plodding and disjointed, unengaging, and honestly a little weird.

wickedmitch's review against another edition

5.0

This is one of the most poetic pieces of science fiction I have read to date. Clarke here is not depicting amazing adventure or harrowing conflict, but rather reflecting on humanity in both its past and future. And it goes very well.

zsembo's review

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

tozpithan's review

emotional inspiring sad

4.0

akashic_dreckard's review

adventurous inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0