I was a huge Arthur C. Clarke fan, so I had already read it. He is an amazing writer with a creative mind. I loved it! Thank you for allowing me to revisit it.
Margaret | Homepage | 10.04.07 - 10:53 pm | #

I do NOT understand those who ban stories. I consider myself a religious person, but you can't protect faith by promoting ignorance.

I really liked that story, but then I'm a big SF nut.

Thanks, Mamacita!
Ms. Cornelius | Homepage | 10.04.07 - 11:58 pm | #

I'm going to read it on my next 'break'!

Thanks for the tip.
Mike Davis | Homepage | 10.05.07 - 7:36 am | #

I love SF stories, and I think I've read that one before.

Banned books' authors, as I said in one of my posts, are the greatest authors to have ever lived.
Faith | Homepage | 10.05.07 - 8:18 am | #

You confused me! I thought that you were saying that he thought you could write one!

N.
BreadBox | Homepage | 10.05.07 - 9:34 pm | #

Wow, what a story! And I immediatly knew who I COULD send the link to, and who I shouldn't. We probably all have friends and family like that. Since I'm not religious, but understand the weight it carries for many others who are.... just....WOW.
Michaele | Homepage | 10.05.07 - 10:33 pm | #

This story has long haunted me, in the best way possible. It's really an amazing tale, and it shows Clarke as possibly the most imaginative fiction writer of the 20th century. (And more than just fiction - his writings led to the creation of satellites.)

*NOTE: MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD. PLEASE READ THE STORY FIRST.*






When CBS redid The Twilight Zone in the mid-1980s, one episode (aired around Christmas, of course), featured this story. The suits tacked on the discovery of a document in the Vault that had the civilization saying "Don't weep for us, because our sacrifice will allow others to have eternal life." I thought it completely undercut the entire story, and I was mad.

Of course, in my house, I couldn't explain why I was mad. I love my folks, but they're the types to get upset at a story like this.

WF
Wes F., back in Cincinnati | Homepage | 10.06.07 - 11:48 am | #

This is banned book week? and give a friend a book week and random acts o poetry week. That's got to add up favorably.
Pearl | Homepage | 10.06.07 - 12:17 pm | #

ooh, goosebumps. That's a cool story. I'd never read it before.
Pearl | Homepage | 10.06.07 - 12:23 pm | #

Stories like these always open my eyes to how much we tend to see things as only for our own good, without realizing the consequences our actions or "good fortune" have on others. Speaking of Twilight Zones, my favorite one speaks of our own blindness to others of differing cultures, etc. by examining "Earth Men's" presuppositions that we are dominant in everything and showing that just because something is different and not to our own understanding doesn't make it evil or malicious.

Thanks for a good story, Mamacita. It definitely gave me chills when reading the last bit, but I don't see why churches ban this story. What is wrong with questioning in search of true faith? It's the only reason my faith is as strong as it is.
jess | Homepage | 10.06.07 - 8:05 pm | #

You should try "The Final Question" by Isaac Asimov
Mike in Texas | Homepage | 10.07.07 - 2:58 pm | #