The Fountains of Paradise

E110811

The Fountains of Paradise is a science fiction novel by Arthur C. Clarke that centers on the visionary construction of a space elevator on a fictionalized Sri Lankan island, exploring themes of technological ambition, religion, and human progress.

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The Fountains of Paradise canonical 1

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Predicate Object
instanceOf science fiction novel
author Arthur C. Clarke
awarded British Science Fiction Association Award
surface form: British Science Fiction Association Award for Best Novel

Hugo Award for Best Novel
Nebula Award
surface form: Nebula Award for Best Novel
awardYear 1979 BSFA Award for Best Novel
1979 Nebula Award for Best Novel
Hugo Award for Best Novel
surface form: 1980 Hugo Award for Best Novel
centralTheme human progress
religion
space elevator construction
technological ambition
containsElement ancient religious site on a mountain
fictional Buddhist monastery
countryOfOrigin United Kingdom
coverArtist Peter Goodfellow
exploresConcept advanced engineering megastructures
geostationary orbit
space elevator
genre hard science fiction
science fiction
hasInfluenceOn later space elevator studies
popularization of the space elevator concept
hasMottoOrQuote Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic (Clarke’s Third Law, thematically referenced)
inspiredBy Adam's Peak
Ancient City of Sigiriya
surface form: Sigiriya

Sri Lanka
ISBN 978-0-575-02494-5
language English
mainCharacter Vannevar Bush
surface form: Vannevar Morgan
mainLocation Mount Taprobane
mediaType print
narrativeFocus design and construction of a space elevator
narrativeStructure interweaving past and future timelines
notableFor early detailed fictional treatment of a space elevator
integration of engineering realism with spiritual themes
originalPublicationYear 1979
protagonistOccupation engineer
publicationDate 1979
publisher Victor Gollancz Ltd
relatedWork The Space Elevator (conceptual essays by Arthur C. Clarke)
setIn fictionalized Sri Lanka
island of Taprobane
timePeriodOfSetting 21st century

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Arthur C. Clarke notableWork The Fountains of Paradise