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The Songs of Distant Earth

By: Arthur C. Clarke
Narrated by: Jonathan Davis
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Publisher's summary

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.
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What listeners say about The Songs of Distant Earth

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poetic classic of science fiction

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!

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Ok Shorty

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.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Not the full book - the original short story

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

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

a shortstory that later lead to a well loved book

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.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

This is NOT the 1986 novel

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.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A Starry Love Story

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.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Cosmic love story

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.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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Not the book

Cut up version of the real book most of the book is missing. almost did not know what I was lifting to

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Poorly done.

Best parts of story were cut out. Having read the book the ending was totally changed. don't waste your time.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

This is not the same story.

This is one of my favorite books, I thought it would be fun listening to it. I don't know why but the names are changed and the story is different, though the same premise. Do not buy this version. It is not nearly as good and it's not the original story. I guess somebody thought they could do better with Arthur C. Clarke's story. Very disappointing.

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3 people found this helpful