Preview
  • The Black Cloud

  • Valancourt 20th Century Classics
  • By: Fred Hoyle
  • Narrated by: David Pickering
  • Length: 7 hrs and 53 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (27 ratings)

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The Black Cloud

By: Fred Hoyle
Narrated by: David Pickering
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Publisher's summary

Astronomers in England and America have made a terrifying discovery: an ominous black cloud the size of Jupiter is travelling straight towards our solar system. If their calculations are correct, the cloud’s path will bring it between the Earth and the Sun, blocking out the Sun’s rays and threatening unimaginable consequences for our planet.

With the fate of every living thing on Earth in the balance, world leaders assemble a team of brilliant scientists to figure out a way to stop the cloud. But when they uncover the truth behind its origins, they will be forced to reconsider everything they think they know about the nature of life in the universe....

A landmark of British science fiction, The Black Cloud (1957) was the first novel by world-renowned astronomer Sir Fred Hoyle (1915-2001), who used his own scientific background to create a frighteningly real apocalyptic thriller, in which Hoyle said, “there is very little that could not conceivably happen.”

©1957, 2023 Estate of Fred Hoyle (P)2023 Valancourt Books LLC
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Critic reviews

“Without a question the most intelligently written science fiction story I have ever read...A terrific yarn.” (Charlotte Observer)

“An eerie story which demands the reader’s attention from start to finish.” (Denver Post)

What listeners say about The Black Cloud

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Engrossing, Hard Science Fiction from 1957

This influencel science fiction story is an exciting story with a mysterious black cloud written by the astronomer who coined the term "Big Bang".

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A hidden science fiction classic

An instant classic that I recommend to anyone wanting to get into hard science fiction. This is a fun and easy to enjoy story with a lot of actual science mixed into it. I highly recommend for anyone want to dip their toes into sci-fi.

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The mathematics

So many old guys, needed more youngins, women and a romantic thread to round it out.

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Left awe struck

Great story and great performance.

I read this book based on a recommendation from another book, "A new science of heaven". I highly recommend reading it, because it makes this science fiction story, maybe not so fictitious after all.

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Brilliant perspective on humanity...

Excellent story about first contact and the problems facing mankind if we want to progress beyond our current beginning of understanding of our world.

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Interesting ideas and snapshot of the 1950s

Rereading this science fiction novel 35 years after I first read it, alot of social nuances jumped out at me that didn’t jump out at me before. The story is reminiscent of some of the Gene Roddenberry Star Trek plots but with actual science underpinning the plot development. The author was an astronomer so it makes for an interesting read if you appreciate science fiction with science.

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1 person found this helpful