#005 - The S&L Podcast: Childhood's End (the beginning!)

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How convinient! The 5th episode of the podcast falls on the eve of our 5th book, Childhood's End! Here are the show notes for today's episode: [display_podcast] Arthur C. Clarke
Built first telescope at 13.
Great fan of "Astounding Stories"
Served in Air Force through World War II
Attended King's College London and took a degree in physics and mathematics
Prelude To Space was published in 1951 (First published novel)
Also published a short story called "The Sentinel" which inspired Stanley Kubrick to make 2001: A Space Odyssey.
May don't realize 2001 the book is a novelization of the movie.
Won the Hugo and Nebula awards for 1973 Rendezvous with Rama
He was Knighted in 1998 Comments from Childhood's End Group
http://swordandlaser.ning.com/group/childhoodsend

We are not Rocket Scientists
http://swordandlaser.ning.com/forum/topic/show?id=1288181%3ATopic%3A25745&page=2


New Neal Stephenson Novel out September 9, 2008.
Anathem
http://time-blog.com/nerd_world/2008/03/the_return_of_neal_stephenson.html

Side-reading
Books you might also be interested in.

Veronica's Pick
Belgariad and Mallorean:
by David Eddings

Tom's Pick
The Man in the High Castle - Philip K. Dick

Contest: Write us a great one-sentence opener to a sci-fi or fantasy book!!
Email us!!
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S&L Book 5: Childhood's End

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childhoodsendWe're back full-speed ahead into the science fiction genre with Arthur C. Clarke's Childhood's End. The book (as well as the other voting nominees) are now available in the S&L Store, or where ever you pick up your books! Here's a little bit of a review to whet your appetite: It sounds like a story you've heard before: great alien masters descend on Earth and take control of the world, ushering in a golden age that may be cleverly disguised creative slavery. But Clarke's legendary novel (equal to Rendezvous with Rama and 2001: A Space Odyssey in fame) isn't about a human rebellion against alien overlords, but the evolution of humanity into its next stage, and the ultimate dwarfing power of the unknowable order of the cosmos. I'm really looking forward to this one! Join the discussion group here. We'll be releasing another podcast episode in the next couple of days, intro-ing the book and discussing some other the themes (among other topics, of course). If you have anything you'd like us to talk about, email your suggestions to theswordandlaser [at] gmail [dot] com.
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