The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke

The book envisions a future where a visionary engineer undertakes the monumental task of constructing a space elevator, a tower stretching from the Earth's surface into geostationary orbit. Set on a fictional island closely resembling Sri Lanka, the narrative intertwines the engineer's ambitious project with the island's ancient history and religious traditions. As the protagonist grapples with technical challenges, political hurdles, and personal conflicts, the story explores themes of human ingenuity, the quest for progress, and the delicate balance between preserving the past and embracing the future. The space elevator concept, a staple of speculative fiction, serves as a metaphor for humanity's reach for the stars and the technological leaps necessary to achieve such dreams.

The 8048th greatest book of all time

Ranking Details:

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Total Points: 45

Since this book was first published in 1979, there is a penalty of 8.0%. The age adjusted score is 41.4.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.