Prelude to Space
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Prime members: New to Audible?Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Prelude to Space
Buy for $19.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Derek Perkins
-
By:
-
Arthur C. Clarke
About this listen
Here is the compelling story of the launching of Prometheus - Earth's first true spaceship - and of the men who made it happen.
Dirk Alexson, chronicler of the greatest space adventure of all time: He was chosen to immortalize the incredible story of the men and their heroic mission.
Sir Robert Derwent, Direct-General of Interplanetary-London Headquarters for the International Space-Flight Project: He was the man who got the mission off the ground and into the pages of history.
Professor Maxton, the world's leading atomic engineer: He designed the huge ship's drive units and he waited with the rest of the world to see if the project would be a success.
©1954 Arthur C. Clarke (P)2012 Audible, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
-
Earthlight
- By: Arthur C. Clarke
- Narrated by: Brian Holsopple
- Length: 6 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 79
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 72
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 74
The time: 200 years after man's first landing on the Moon. There are permanent populations established on the Moon, Venus, and Mars. Outer space inhabitants have formed a new political entity, the Federation, and between the Federation and Earth a growing rivalry has developed. Earthlight is the story of this emerging conflict.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A brilliant science fiction spy work
- By Daniel Davis on 06-13-16
By: Arthur C. Clarke
-
Islands in the Sky
- By: Arthur C. Clarke
- Narrated by: Charles Carroll
- Length: 5 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 69
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 62
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 62
The story of Island in the Sky centers around a young man, who, after brilliantly winning a space-related competition, requests a vacation on a space station as his prize. It is written with Arthur C. Clark's obvious knowledge of science, but moves at a page turning rate throughout the entire narrative. The short novel gives a realistic possibility of work and play in future space, heightened with constant excitement and action.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Fun early novel, aimed perhaps at teens
- By Darryl on 10-28-12
By: Arthur C. Clarke
-
Childhood's End
- By: Arthur C. Clarke
- Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer, Robert J. Sawyer - introduction
- Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 9,762
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 8,143
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 8,195
The Overlords appeared suddenly over every city - intellectually, technologically, and militarily superior to humankind. Benevolent, they made few demands: unify earth, eliminate poverty, and end war. With little rebellion, humankind agreed, and a golden age began.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Food for Thought
- By Kindle Customer on 11-17-08
By: Arthur C. Clarke
-
2001
- A Space Odyssey
- By: Arthur C. Clarke
- Narrated by: Dick Hill
- Length: 6 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 12,372
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 10,783
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 10,752
It has been 40 years since the publication of this classic science-fiction novel that changed the way we look at the stars and ourselves. From the savannas of Africa at the dawn of mankind to the rings of Saturn as man adventures to the outer rim of our solar system, 2001: A Space Odyssey is a journey unlike any other.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
The Movie Makes More Sense Now
- By Douglas on 12-10-08
By: Arthur C. Clarke
-
A Fall of Moondust
- By: Arthur C. Clarke
- Narrated by: Oliver Wyman
- Length: 8 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 457
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 377
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 376
Time is running out for the passengers and crew of the tourist cruiser Selene, incarcerated in a sea of choking lunar dust. On the surface, her rescuers find their resources stretched to the limit by the mercilessly unpredictable conditions of a totally alien environment. A brilliantly imagined story of human ingenuity and survival, A Fall of Moondust is a tour-de-force of psychological suspense and sustained dramatic tension by the field's foremost author.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Old Fashioned Science Fiction
- By Jim "The Impatient" on 12-03-11
By: Arthur C. Clarke
-
The Fountains of Paradise
- By: Arthur C. Clarke
- Narrated by: Marc Vietor
- Length: 8 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 1,314
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,125
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 1,129
Vannemar Morgan's dream is to link Earth to the stars with the greatest engineering feat of all time: a 24,000-mile-high space elevator. But first he must solve a million technical, political, and economic problems while allaying the wrath of God. For the only possible site on the planet for Morgans Orbital Tower is the monastery atop the Sacred Mountain of Sri Kanda.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Hard
- By Jim "The Impatient" on 04-30-11
By: Arthur C. Clarke
-
Earthlight
- By: Arthur C. Clarke
- Narrated by: Brian Holsopple
- Length: 6 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 79
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 72
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 74
The time: 200 years after man's first landing on the Moon. There are permanent populations established on the Moon, Venus, and Mars. Outer space inhabitants have formed a new political entity, the Federation, and between the Federation and Earth a growing rivalry has developed. Earthlight is the story of this emerging conflict.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A brilliant science fiction spy work
- By Daniel Davis on 06-13-16
By: Arthur C. Clarke
-
Islands in the Sky
- By: Arthur C. Clarke
- Narrated by: Charles Carroll
- Length: 5 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 69
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 62
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 62
The story of Island in the Sky centers around a young man, who, after brilliantly winning a space-related competition, requests a vacation on a space station as his prize. It is written with Arthur C. Clark's obvious knowledge of science, but moves at a page turning rate throughout the entire narrative. The short novel gives a realistic possibility of work and play in future space, heightened with constant excitement and action.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Fun early novel, aimed perhaps at teens
- By Darryl on 10-28-12
By: Arthur C. Clarke
-
Childhood's End
- By: Arthur C. Clarke
- Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer, Robert J. Sawyer - introduction
- Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 9,762
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 8,143
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 8,195
The Overlords appeared suddenly over every city - intellectually, technologically, and militarily superior to humankind. Benevolent, they made few demands: unify earth, eliminate poverty, and end war. With little rebellion, humankind agreed, and a golden age began.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Food for Thought
- By Kindle Customer on 11-17-08
By: Arthur C. Clarke
-
2001
- A Space Odyssey
- By: Arthur C. Clarke
- Narrated by: Dick Hill
- Length: 6 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 12,372
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 10,783
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 10,752
It has been 40 years since the publication of this classic science-fiction novel that changed the way we look at the stars and ourselves. From the savannas of Africa at the dawn of mankind to the rings of Saturn as man adventures to the outer rim of our solar system, 2001: A Space Odyssey is a journey unlike any other.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
The Movie Makes More Sense Now
- By Douglas on 12-10-08
By: Arthur C. Clarke
-
A Fall of Moondust
- By: Arthur C. Clarke
- Narrated by: Oliver Wyman
- Length: 8 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 457
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 377
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 376
Time is running out for the passengers and crew of the tourist cruiser Selene, incarcerated in a sea of choking lunar dust. On the surface, her rescuers find their resources stretched to the limit by the mercilessly unpredictable conditions of a totally alien environment. A brilliantly imagined story of human ingenuity and survival, A Fall of Moondust is a tour-de-force of psychological suspense and sustained dramatic tension by the field's foremost author.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Old Fashioned Science Fiction
- By Jim "The Impatient" on 12-03-11
By: Arthur C. Clarke
-
The Fountains of Paradise
- By: Arthur C. Clarke
- Narrated by: Marc Vietor
- Length: 8 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 1,314
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,125
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 1,129
Vannemar Morgan's dream is to link Earth to the stars with the greatest engineering feat of all time: a 24,000-mile-high space elevator. But first he must solve a million technical, political, and economic problems while allaying the wrath of God. For the only possible site on the planet for Morgans Orbital Tower is the monastery atop the Sacred Mountain of Sri Kanda.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Hard
- By Jim "The Impatient" on 04-30-11
By: Arthur C. Clarke
-
The City and the Stars
- By: Arthur C. Clarke
- Narrated by: Geoffrey T. Williams
- Length: 8 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 769
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 628
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 630
Diaspar is Earth's last city - surrounded by deserts, on a world where the oceans have long since dried up. It is a domed, isolated, technological marvel, run by the Central Computer. Diaspar has conquered death. People are called forth; they live for a thousand years and then are recalled, to be born thousands of years later, over and over again. No child has been born for at least 10 million years. Until Alvin....
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
A Classic
- By Jim "The Impatient" on 12-10-11
By: Arthur C. Clarke
-
The Collected Stories of Arthur C. Clarke
- By: Arthur C. Clarke
- Narrated by: Ralph Lister, Ray Porter, Jonathan Davis
- Length: 51 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,523
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,320
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,315
From early work like "Rescue Party" and "The Lion of Comarre", through classic stories including "The Star", "Earthlight", "The Nine Billion Names of God", and "The Sentinel" (kernel of the later novel and movie 2001: A Space Odyssey), all the way to later work like "A Meeting with Medusa" and "The Hammer of God", this comprehensive short story collection encapsulates one of the great science fiction careers of all time.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
List of stories from
- By KW Charlie on 09-15-16
By: Arthur C. Clarke
-
The Songs of Distant Earth
- By: Arthur C. Clarke
- Narrated by: Jonathan Davis
- Length: 1 hr and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 80
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 73
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 75
June 1958 issue of If. It was later expanded into the novel of the same name. Sir Arthur C. Clarke (1917-2008) is regarded as one of the most-influential science fiction writers of all time. He was named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and was inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Not the full book - the original short story
- By Amazon Customer on 06-21-18
By: Arthur C. Clarke
-
The Light of Other Days
- By: Arthur C. Clarke, Stephen Baxter
- Narrated by: Dick Hill
- Length: 11 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 404
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 313
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 313
The Light of Other Days tells the tale of what happens when a brilliant, driven industrialist harnesses the cutting edge of quantum physics to enable people everywhere, at trivial cost, to see one another at all times: around every corner, through every wall, into everyone's most private, hidden, and even intimate moments. It amounts to the sudden and complete abolition of human privacy - forever.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
When Seeing All is not Understanding All
- By Lisa Callihan on 11-30-08
By: Arthur C. Clarke, and others
-
The Damned Trilogy
- A Call to Arms, The False Mirror, and The Spoils of War
- By: Alan Dean Foster
- Narrated by: Mikael Naramore
- Length: 36 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 343
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 293
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 290
For millennia, the Weave, an alliance of species, have fought to resist the telepathic Amplitur, who strive to unite all self-aware life-forms in their great "Purpose." The Weave is slowly losing ground, but for both sides, warfare focuses more on outthinking and outmaneuvering your foe than destruction. In fact, most regard violence as hideously barbaric, and even the thought of harming another sentient being is beyond imagining.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
One of my favorites
- By Mike From Mesa on 10-22-19
By: Alan Dean Foster
-
Seveneves
- A Novel
- By: Neal Stephenson
- Narrated by: Mary Robinette Kowal, Will Damron
- Length: 31 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 25,323
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 23,147
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 23,140
A catastrophic event renders the earth a ticking time bomb. In a feverish race against the inevitable, nations around the globe band together to devise an ambitious plan to ensure the survival of humanity far beyond our atmosphere, in outer space.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Odd narrator choice
- By Josh Mitchell on 05-30-15
By: Neal Stephenson
-
Rocket Men
- The Daring Odyssey of Apollo 8 and the Astronauts Who Made Man's First Journey to the Moon
- By: Robert Kurson
- Narrated by: Ray Porter, Robert Kurson
- Length: 12 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 2,581
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 2,329
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 2,324
By August 1968, the American space program was in danger of failing in its two most important objectives: to land a man on the moon by President Kennedy's end-of-decade deadline and to triumph over the Soviets in space. With its back against the wall, NASA made an almost unimaginable leap: It would scrap its usual methodical approach and risk everything on a sudden launch, sending the first men in history to the moon - in just four months.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
The Men Who Saved 1968
- By Gillian on 04-04-18
By: Robert Kurson
-
Man Plus
- By: Frederik Pohl
- Narrated by: Dennis Boutsikaris, Robert J. Sawyer
- Length: 7 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 125
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 98
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 99
Roger Torraway watched in horror as the monster lurched, toppled over and died. Project Man Plus had gone suddenly and drastically wrong. The race to colonize Mars was too important, too costly, and America was already too committed, for plans to be scrapped. They would have to make a new Martian. And Roger Torraway was it, candidate for the endless surgery, operation after painful operation, that would enable him to survive on that faraway planet.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
More timely now than ever
- By Sandy R on 06-28-10
By: Frederik Pohl
-
I, Robot
- By: Isaac Asimov
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 8 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 8,099
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 6,299
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 6,312
They mustn't harm a human being, they must obey human orders, and they must protect their own existence...but only so long as that doesn't violate rules one and two. With these Three Laws of Robotics, humanity embarked on a bold new era of evolution that would open up enormous possibilities, and unforeseen risks.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Thank you
- By Fredrik on 06-11-04
By: Isaac Asimov
-
The Apollo Murders
- By: Chris Hadfield
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 15 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,109
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 1,858
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,851
NASA is about to launch Apollo 18. While the mission has been billed as a scientific one, flight controller Kazimieras "Kaz" Zemeckis knows there is a darker objective. Intelligence has discovered a secret Soviet space station spying on America, and Apollo 18 may be the only chance to stop it. But as Kaz races to keep the NASA crew one step ahead of their Russian rivals, a deadly accident reveals that not everyone involved is who they were thought to be. With political stakes stretched to the breaking point, the White House and the Kremlin can only watch as their astronauts collide.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Was dubious at first but happily surprised
- By Brett Fluri on 10-17-21
By: Chris Hadfield
-
Legacy
- A Prequel to Eon
- By: Greg Bear
- Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki
- Length: 15 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 213
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 191
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 188
In this prequel to Eon, Greg Bear continues to explore the possibilities presented by the asteroid Thistledown, a remnant of a lost human civilization. The Way is a tunnel through space and time that leads to other worlds, some more like planet Earth than Earth itself. It is perhaps the most formidable discovery in Thistledown and with it come disputes as to the nature of the Way and how it should be used. The Way can be reached only through Axis City, the only space station of Thistledown.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Barely related to Eon and Eternity
- By David A. Kingston on 02-21-15
By: Greg Bear
-
Contact
- By: Carl Sagan
- Narrated by: Laurel Lefkow
- Length: 14 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 5,612
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 5,053
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 5,053
The future is here...in an adventure of cosmic dimension. In December, 1999, a multinational team journeys out to the stars, to the most awesome encounter in human history. Who - or what - is out there? In Cosmos, Carl Sagan explained the universe. In Contact, he predicts its future - and our own.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Technical problems with this recording - skips...
- By Matt on 11-28-12
By: Carl Sagan
Related to this topic
-
The Fountains of Paradise
- By: Arthur C. Clarke
- Narrated by: Marc Vietor
- Length: 8 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 1,314
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,125
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 1,129
Vannemar Morgan's dream is to link Earth to the stars with the greatest engineering feat of all time: a 24,000-mile-high space elevator. But first he must solve a million technical, political, and economic problems while allaying the wrath of God. For the only possible site on the planet for Morgans Orbital Tower is the monastery atop the Sacred Mountain of Sri Kanda.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Hard
- By Jim "The Impatient" on 04-30-11
By: Arthur C. Clarke
-
The Engines of God
- By: Jack McDevitt
- Narrated by: Tom Weiner
- Length: 14 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 612
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 484
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 490
Humans call them Monument-Makers. An unknown race, they left stunning alien statues scattered on distant planets throughout the galaxy, encoded with strange inscriptions that defy translation. Searching for clues about the Monument-Makers, teams of 23rd century linguists, historians, engineers and archaeologists have been excavating the enigmatic alien ruins on a number of planets, uncovering strange, massive false cities made of solid rock. But their time is running out.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Conceptually intriguing, but uneven writing style
- By Michael G Kurilla on 05-12-11
By: Jack McDevitt
-
2001
- A Space Odyssey
- By: Arthur C. Clarke
- Narrated by: Dick Hill
- Length: 6 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 12,372
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 10,783
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 10,752
It has been 40 years since the publication of this classic science-fiction novel that changed the way we look at the stars and ourselves. From the savannas of Africa at the dawn of mankind to the rings of Saturn as man adventures to the outer rim of our solar system, 2001: A Space Odyssey is a journey unlike any other.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
The Movie Makes More Sense Now
- By Douglas on 12-10-08
By: Arthur C. Clarke
-
The Skylark of Space
- Skylark Series #1
- By: E. E. "Doc" Smith
- Narrated by: Reed McColm
- Length: 7 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 205
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 148
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 149
Brilliant government scientist Richard Seaton discovers a remarkable faster-than-light fuel that will power his interstellar spaceship, The Skylark. His ruthless rival, Marc DuQuesne, and the sinister World Steel Corporation will do anything to get their hands on the fuel. They kidnap Seaton's fiancée and friends, unleashing a furious pursuit and igniting a burning desire for revenge that will propel The Skylark across the galaxy and back.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Space Operas - Good Story telling!
- By Madge on 01-27-10
-
Apollo 8
- The Thrilling Story of the First Mission to the Moon
- By: Jeffrey Kluger
- Narrated by: Brian Troxell
- Length: 11 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,709
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,558
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 1,557
In August 1968 NASA made a bold decision: In just 16 weeks, the United States would launch humankind's first flight to the moon. Only the year before, three astronauts had burned to death in their spacecraft, and since then the Apollo program had suffered one setback after another. Meanwhile, the Russians were winning the space race, the Cold War was getting hotter by the month, and President Kennedy's promise to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade seemed sure to be broken.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Great history of NASA and Apollo 8: a must listen
- By J on 11-17-17
By: Jeffrey Kluger
-
Seveneves
- A Novel
- By: Neal Stephenson
- Narrated by: Mary Robinette Kowal, Will Damron
- Length: 31 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 25,323
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 23,147
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 23,140
A catastrophic event renders the earth a ticking time bomb. In a feverish race against the inevitable, nations around the globe band together to devise an ambitious plan to ensure the survival of humanity far beyond our atmosphere, in outer space.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Odd narrator choice
- By Josh Mitchell on 05-30-15
By: Neal Stephenson
-
The Fountains of Paradise
- By: Arthur C. Clarke
- Narrated by: Marc Vietor
- Length: 8 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 1,314
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,125
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 1,129
Vannemar Morgan's dream is to link Earth to the stars with the greatest engineering feat of all time: a 24,000-mile-high space elevator. But first he must solve a million technical, political, and economic problems while allaying the wrath of God. For the only possible site on the planet for Morgans Orbital Tower is the monastery atop the Sacred Mountain of Sri Kanda.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Hard
- By Jim "The Impatient" on 04-30-11
By: Arthur C. Clarke
-
The Engines of God
- By: Jack McDevitt
- Narrated by: Tom Weiner
- Length: 14 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 612
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 484
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 490
Humans call them Monument-Makers. An unknown race, they left stunning alien statues scattered on distant planets throughout the galaxy, encoded with strange inscriptions that defy translation. Searching for clues about the Monument-Makers, teams of 23rd century linguists, historians, engineers and archaeologists have been excavating the enigmatic alien ruins on a number of planets, uncovering strange, massive false cities made of solid rock. But their time is running out.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Conceptually intriguing, but uneven writing style
- By Michael G Kurilla on 05-12-11
By: Jack McDevitt
-
2001
- A Space Odyssey
- By: Arthur C. Clarke
- Narrated by: Dick Hill
- Length: 6 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 12,372
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 10,783
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 10,752
It has been 40 years since the publication of this classic science-fiction novel that changed the way we look at the stars and ourselves. From the savannas of Africa at the dawn of mankind to the rings of Saturn as man adventures to the outer rim of our solar system, 2001: A Space Odyssey is a journey unlike any other.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
The Movie Makes More Sense Now
- By Douglas on 12-10-08
By: Arthur C. Clarke
-
The Skylark of Space
- Skylark Series #1
- By: E. E. "Doc" Smith
- Narrated by: Reed McColm
- Length: 7 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 205
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 148
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 149
Brilliant government scientist Richard Seaton discovers a remarkable faster-than-light fuel that will power his interstellar spaceship, The Skylark. His ruthless rival, Marc DuQuesne, and the sinister World Steel Corporation will do anything to get their hands on the fuel. They kidnap Seaton's fiancée and friends, unleashing a furious pursuit and igniting a burning desire for revenge that will propel The Skylark across the galaxy and back.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Space Operas - Good Story telling!
- By Madge on 01-27-10
-
Apollo 8
- The Thrilling Story of the First Mission to the Moon
- By: Jeffrey Kluger
- Narrated by: Brian Troxell
- Length: 11 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,709
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,558
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 1,557
In August 1968 NASA made a bold decision: In just 16 weeks, the United States would launch humankind's first flight to the moon. Only the year before, three astronauts had burned to death in their spacecraft, and since then the Apollo program had suffered one setback after another. Meanwhile, the Russians were winning the space race, the Cold War was getting hotter by the month, and President Kennedy's promise to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade seemed sure to be broken.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Great history of NASA and Apollo 8: a must listen
- By J on 11-17-17
By: Jeffrey Kluger
-
Seveneves
- A Novel
- By: Neal Stephenson
- Narrated by: Mary Robinette Kowal, Will Damron
- Length: 31 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 25,323
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 23,147
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 23,140
A catastrophic event renders the earth a ticking time bomb. In a feverish race against the inevitable, nations around the globe band together to devise an ambitious plan to ensure the survival of humanity far beyond our atmosphere, in outer space.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Odd narrator choice
- By Josh Mitchell on 05-30-15
By: Neal Stephenson
-
The Medusa Chronicles
- By: Stephen Baxter, Alastair Reynolds
- Narrated by: Peter Kenny
- Length: 12 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 351
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 320
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 319
Howard Falcon almost lost his life in an accident as the first human astronaut to explore the atmosphere of Jupiter - and a combination of human ingenuity and technical expertise brought him back. But he is no longer himself. Instead he has been changed into an augmented human: part man, part machine, and exceptionally capable.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Almost stopped listening. Glad I didn't.
- By cek on 08-21-16
By: Stephen Baxter, and others
-
The Star Diaries
- Further Reminiscences of Ijon Tichy
- By: Stanislaw Lem
- Narrated by: David Marantz
- Length: 11 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 136
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 118
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 118
Ijon Tichy, Lem's Candide of the Cosmos, encounters bizarre civilizations and creatures in space that serve to satirize science, the rational mind, theology, and other icons of human pride.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Gulliver in Space
- By Joe Kraus on 12-29-18
By: Stanislaw Lem
-
Rocket Men
- The Daring Odyssey of Apollo 8 and the Astronauts Who Made Man's First Journey to the Moon
- By: Robert Kurson
- Narrated by: Ray Porter, Robert Kurson
- Length: 12 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 2,581
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 2,329
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 2,324
By August 1968, the American space program was in danger of failing in its two most important objectives: to land a man on the moon by President Kennedy's end-of-decade deadline and to triumph over the Soviets in space. With its back against the wall, NASA made an almost unimaginable leap: It would scrap its usual methodical approach and risk everything on a sudden launch, sending the first men in history to the moon - in just four months.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
The Men Who Saved 1968
- By Gillian on 04-04-18
By: Robert Kurson
-
Neil Armstrong
- A Life of Flight
- By: Jay Barbree
- Narrated by: Michael Prichard
- Length: 11 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 185
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 164
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 164
Much has been written about Neil Armstrong, America's modern hero and history's most famous space traveler. Yet, shy of fame and never one to steal the spotlight, Armstrong was always reluctant to discuss his personal side of events. Here for the first time is the definitive story of Neil's life of flight he shared for five decades with a trusted friend - Jay Barbree.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A Profound Personal Impact
- By Michael on 08-21-14
By: Jay Barbree
-
The Right Stuff
- By: Tom Wolfe
- Narrated by: Dennis Quaid
- Length: 15 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 5,646
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 5,123
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 5,098
Millions of words have poured forth about man's trip to the moon, but until now few people have had a sense of the most engrossing side of the adventure: namely, what went on in the minds of the astronauts themselves - in space, on the moon, and even during certain odysseys on earth. It is this, the inner life of the astronauts, that Tom Wolfe describes with his almost uncanny empathetic powers that made The Right Stuff a classic.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Righteous Book, Righteous Narrator, Righteous MEN!
- By Gillian on 02-08-18
By: Tom Wolfe
-
Legacy
- A Prequel to Eon
- By: Greg Bear
- Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki
- Length: 15 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 213
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 191
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 188
In this prequel to Eon, Greg Bear continues to explore the possibilities presented by the asteroid Thistledown, a remnant of a lost human civilization. The Way is a tunnel through space and time that leads to other worlds, some more like planet Earth than Earth itself. It is perhaps the most formidable discovery in Thistledown and with it come disputes as to the nature of the Way and how it should be used. The Way can be reached only through Axis City, the only space station of Thistledown.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Barely related to Eon and Eternity
- By David A. Kingston on 02-21-15
By: Greg Bear
-
Beyond the Aquila Rift
- By: Alastair Reynolds
- Narrated by: Tom Dheere
- Length: 1 hr and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 438
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 360
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 362
Beyond the Aquila Rift: It's shorthand for the trip no one ever hopes to make by accident. The one that will screw up the rest of your life, the one that creates the ghosts you see haunting the shadows of company bars across the whole Bubble. Men and women ripped out of time, cut adrift from families and lovers by an accident of an alien technology we use but rarely comprehend.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Great story, mediocre audio book.
- By Amazon Customer on 04-17-12
-
Footfall
- By: Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle
- Narrated by: MacLeod Andrews
- Length: 24 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 2,110
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 1,584
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 1,582
They first appear as a series of dots on astronomical plates, heading from Saturn directly toward Earth. Since the ringed planet carries no life, scientists deduce the mysterious ship to be a visitor from another star. The world's frantic efforts to signal the aliens go unanswered. The first contact is hostile: the invaders blast a Soviet space station, seize the survivors, and then destroy every dam and installation on Earth with a hail of asteriods.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle at Their Best
- By Flatlander on 06-24-10
By: Larry Niven, and others
-
The Tar-Aiym Krang
- A Pip & Flinx Adventure
- By: Alan Dean Foster
- Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki
- Length: 7 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 844
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 604
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 610
Moth was a beautiful planet, the only one with wings - two great golden clouds suspended in space around it. Here was a wide-open world for any venture a man might scheme. The planet attracted unwary travelers, hardened space-sailors, and merchant buccaneers - a teeming, constantly shifting horde that provided a comfortable income for certain quick-witted fellows like Flinx and his pet flying snake Pip.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
The First of the Flinx and Pip Novels AT LAST!
- By Chris on 01-20-09
By: Alan Dean Foster
-
The Last Man On the Moon
- By: Eugene Cernan
- Narrated by: Eugene Cernan
- Length: 5 hrs and 10 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 301
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 264
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 262
This is the story of a unique American hero who came of age as an astronaut during the few dramatic years when man reached the moon. Cernan's career spanned the entire Apollo program, from the tragic fire that killed three of his comrades on Apollo 1, through the moment when he left man's last footprint on the moon as commander of Apollo 17.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Yet Another Perspective
- By Shellbin on 12-28-12
By: Eugene Cernan
-
Gateways
- Original New Stories Inspired by Frederik Pohl
- By: Greg Bear, Gregory Benford, Ben Bova, and others
- Narrated by: Oliver Wyman
- Length: 17 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 96
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 85
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 84
It isn’t easy to get a group of bestselling SF authors to write new stories for an anthology, but that’s what Elizabeth Anne Hull has done in this powerhouse book. With original, captivating tales by Greg Bear, Gregory Benford, Ben Bova, David Brin, Cory Doctorow, Neil Gaiman, Joe Haldeman, Harry Harrison, Larry Niven, Vernor Vinge, Gene Wolfe, and others, Gateways is a SF event that will be a must-buy for SF readers of all tastes, from the traditional to the cutting edge; from the darkly serious to the laugh-out-loud funny.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Spectacular.
- By Steve Reid on 08-21-15
By: Greg Bear, and others
-
The Enceladus Mission
- Ice Moon 1
- By: Brandon Q. Morris
- Narrated by: Doug Tisdale Jr.
- Length: 8 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall3.5 out of 5 stars 216
-
Performance3.5 out of 5 stars 195
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 194
In the year 2031, a robot probe detects traces of biological activity on Enceladus, one of Saturn's moons. This sensational discovery shows that there is indeed evidence of extraterrestrial life. Fifteen years later, a hurriedly built spacecraft sets out on the long journey to the ringed planet and its moon. The international crew is not just facing a difficult twenty-seven months: if the spacecraft manages to make it to Enceladus without incident it must use a drillship to penetrate the kilometer-thick sheet of ice that entombs the moon.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Robotic performance, potentially interesting story
- By Opa on 02-21-19
What listeners say about Prelude to Space
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Jim "The Impatient"
- 04-18-14
PRELUDE
Most likely no other novel has been title so accurately. This was written in 1947, published in a magazine in 1951 and hardback in 1953. It is written before the Apollo missions and reads like a How To Manuel. If you are a Clarke fan, you have to read it ,as it his first book to be published. If you are not a fan or you are just getting started this is not the place to start. It is fairly dry science and since it is before actual space travel, it is wrong in a lot of places. It is hard to write Science Fiction of the near future, as you can soon be proved wrong, that is why you find most sci-fi stories take place way in the future,.
The City and The Stars is my favorite. Most people like the Rama books, as I do too. 2001 is what he is most famous for.
The narrator is great and makes the listening better then reading.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
14 people found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Kevin J. Bouffard
- 03-15-16
Old time SF
A good story and well written, as one would expect from Clark, with good narration. The novel is more interesting for its view of the future, already our past. References to mimeographs and electronics with vacuum tubes amusing.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Darryl
- 10-28-12
Another good early Clarke
again a serious novel filled with interesting ideas at the dawn of the "space age". Some ideas are prescient, like the winged vehicle for reentry. Structurally it is similar to Sands of Mars in that there is a writer visiting the site and reporting etc. and getting info explained to him. Early Clarke may be more for his fans, of which I am one, but if you are interested in the early ideas of how all this might be achieved this is good.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- CMT Hogan
- 01-02-23
Interesting view into past thoughts
Besides being a good story as one would expect from Arthur C Clarke, this also provides a fascinating view into what the world was thinking of space exploration a decade and change before it happened. So many false assumptions and expectations. But the assumptions at least were not unreasonable given the science of the 1940s. Highly recommend.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!