Nebula Award Best Novel Winner
The Fountains of Paradise
by Arthur C. Clarke
Summary
Arthur C. Clarke tells of engineer Vannevar Morgan, who dreams of building a space elevator anchored to a mountain on a fictional island modeled on Sri Lanka. The story braids his struggle against physical and political obstacles with the ancient history of a king who once built a palace on the same peak. Clarke grounds a vast feat of engineering in human ambition, blending rigorous science with a meditation on faith and legacy.
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Historical Context & Significance
The novel won both the Nebula and the Hugo Award and helped popularize the concept of the space elevator in science fiction.