The Songs of Distant Earth Audiobook By Arthur C. Clarke cover art

The Songs of Distant Earth

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The Songs of Distant Earth

By: Arthur C. Clarke
Narrated by: Jonathan Davis
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About this listen

The Songs of Distant Earth was first published in the 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.

©2000 Arthur C. Clarke (P)2016 Audible, Inc.
Anthologies & Short Stories Fiction Science Fiction Fantasy
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Heartfelt Story • Poetic Writing • Cosmic Love Story • Classic Science Fiction
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Like The Martian Chronicles, this is one to listen over and over again. It is beautiful and poetic. Touching and thought-provoking. Such a wonderful story!

poetic classic of science fiction

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This is the short story that predates the expanded novel version of Arthur Clarke. Still was a great experience and totally worth it.
But be warned if you want the novel this is not it!

Great story but this is not the book!

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A colony ship makes an emergency stop in a small peaceful village of a world. The island of Thalassa welcomes them and there is some romance, and heart ache, but both ways of life, pioneer and quietly settled, are presented as equivalent for happiness.

Ok Shorty

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The author's thoughts originated in the 1950s. He was obviously an influence on books and movies decades later. His concept of future cities is mind-blowing.

Impressive

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A love story forever lost because of only 0.9 the speed of light. A story separated by 300 years in the only a few days.

Cosmic love story

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Not bad but if you are looking for the book, keep in mind that this is the original short story.

Not the full book - the original short story

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this short story is different than the full length book although it has mani simularaties. it is a fine story but the full book is buch better with fuller character and backstory. i resomend both but they each stand on there own.

a shortstory that later lead to a well loved book

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I was so looking forward to listening to this audio version because I loved the book. I started listening and the names were changed and I could not understand. That is until I read the reviews of other people who were disappointed. While the story is good, it is NOT what I was looking for and Audible does NOT make it clear that this is really the original 1958 story and not the 1986 novel. If you are looking for the unabridged 1986 novel, this isn't it.

This is NOT the 1986 novel

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From one of my favorite authors, a change from the more popular 2001 Odysseys series. This is a short heartfelt story that transcends the realities of future space travel and captures the moments when humanity meets unexpectedly.

A Starry Love Story

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What I liked the most was the beauty of Clarke’s poetic writing. Especially good in this short story.

Profundity.

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