Arthur C. Clarke books

[Beirut]

Beirut, I agree with you 100% about the 150-300 novels. It is a lost art nowadays. 700-1000 can be good, but sometimes they feel bloated.

In defence of short books:

"Were I called upon, however, to designate that class of compostion which should best fulfill the demands and serve the purposes of ambitious genious, should offer it the most advantageous field of exertion, and afford it the fairest opportunity of display, I should speak at once of the brief prose tale.

As the novel itself cannot be read at one sitting, it cannot avail itself of the immense benefit of totality. Wordly interests, intervening during the pauses of perusal, modify, counteract and annul the impressions intended."

In the brieft tale, however, the authour is able to carry out his ful design without interuption. During the hour of perusal, the soul of the reader is at the writer's control."

Edgar Allan Poe

(Ain't he just the greatest?)

I didn't know there was a fourth Rama book. Must check that out and then read the whole set.

You won't regret it. Some wonderful flights of fancy in that series. I read the 2001 series, but it does not compare in scope and imgination to the Rama story.

BTW Beirut, you'd better give Arthur that hug soon. I'm afraid he won't be with us too much longer...though I'm surprised he's lived as long as he has considering his health. He just turned 90 ond December 16th.

I make for Sri Lanka at dawn!