The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke:
Science Fiction Inventions, Technology and Ideas

Classic Clarke; this novel is a great exemplar of his careful, reasoned style. The novel intertwines two stories; the first that of a king long dead and his obsession with his mountain paradise, and the second a modern story of a man who wanted to build a tower to the heavens. Highly recommended; this is also a great place to learn about space elevators.


('Fountains of Paradise' by Arthur C. Clarke)

Select an invention:

1D Diamond Crystal - might be a carbon fullerene molecule
A continuous pseudo-one dimensional diamond crystal- maybe a nanotube?

CORA - Coronary Alarm
An implanted (or worn) ECG monitor that warns the user of coronary events.

Holopad
A small display like an iPad that shows 3D images.

Hyperfilament
A very high tensile strength material structured as a long thin line or ribbon.

Operation Cleanup - remove orbital debris the brute force way
The program that removed space debris in LEO that could harm the space elevator.

Orbiting Factories
Manufacturing centers in orbit around the Earth.

Personal Interest Profile (PIP) - invention of Google Alerts
A set of topics about which you would like to hear the latest news; known today as Google News Alerts.

Space Elevator (Orbital Tower) - best novel reference
A physical link between a point on the surface of the Earth and a satellite in geosynchronous orbit.

Spider Space Elevator Test Vehicle - test the cables
A robotic testing device for the cables of a space elevator.

Spinnerettes - handling nanofibers
A device that will unspool a nanowire filament and then pull it back in.

 

Technovelgy.com is devoted to the creative inventions of science fiction authors and movie makers. Look for the Science Fiction Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary of Science Fiction Inventions, the Timeline of Science Fiction Inventions, or see what's New.
Find
new authors and technologies - Shop for yourself, your library and your lab.

 

 

 

 

Science Fiction
in the News

Robot Gas Station Attendant Fills Tank - Which I Saw In 1962
re: Philip K. Dick
(3/27/2023)

Cheap Paper-Based Sensors Let You Snoop For Pesticides
re: Frank Herbert
(3/25/2023)

I Am Alarmed By Efforts To Teach AIs And Robots To Hate
re: Harlan Ellison
(3/23/2023)

MXenes - Atomic-Thin Metal Sheets Now Easier To Make
re: John Edwards
(3/21/2023)

Do We Still Need Orbiting Factories?
re: Jerry Pournelle
(3/19/2023)

Space Weather Forecasters Surprised By Strong Solar Storm
re: Lawrence Chandler
(3/17/2023)

JWST Finds New World Of Turbulent Silicate Clouds
re: Gene Roddenberry
(3/15/2023)

3D Printed Cheesecake Not Quite Food Replicator Quality
re: Various
(3/13/2023)

Spectroscopic Analysis Of DART Impact Debris Cloud (SF Prediction)
re: EC Tubb
(3/11/2023)

Modern App Provides Video Technology From Bradbury's 'Fahrenheit 451'
re: Ray Bradbury
(3/9/2023)

Win $250K By Reading Ancient Scrolls Carbonized By Vesuvius
re: James P. Hogan
(3/7/2023)

Toy-Like Robot Well-Being Coaches Are The Best
re: Manga Clamp
(3/5/2023)

AI-Trained Snack App Avatar Goes On Dates For You
re: Stanislaw Lem
(3/3/2023)

M-Dwarf Stars May Not Have Habitable Planets
re: EE 'Doc' Smith
(3/1/2023)

More SF in the News

Home | Glossary | Invention Timeline | Category | New | Contact Us | FAQ | Advertise |
Technovelgy.com - where science meets fiction™

Copyright© Technovelgy LLC; all rights reserved.