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The monolith - a Space Odyssey icon Monoliths are advanced machines built by an unseen extraterrestrial species that appear in Arthur C. Clarke's Space Odyssey series of novels and films. During the series, four monoliths are discovered in the solar system by humans and it is revealed that thousands if not more were created throughout the solar system, although none are seen. The subsequent response of the characters to their discovery drives the plot of the series. It also influences the fictional history of the series, particularly by encouraging humankind to progress with technological development and space travel. The first monolith appears in the beginning of the story, set in prehistoric times. It is discovered by a group of hominids, and somehow triggers a considerable shift in evolution, starting with the ability to use tools. Uploaded by stvasile (5290) • 1 year ago Tags: arthur c clarke, monolith, space odyssey, icon, discovery stvasile (5290)

Early theoretical work on artificial satellites

The first known fictional depiction of a satellite being launched into orbit is a short story by Edward Everett Hale, The Brick Moon. The story was serialized in The Atlantic Monthly, starting in...

Communication satellites

Telecommunication satellite is a kind of satellite (later explained) that’s very close to our daily life. Arthur C. Clarke was one of the pioneers of this field; he fostered the idea of a worldwide...

Orbit types of satelites (2)

Synchronous Classifications Synchronous Orbit - An orbit where the satellite has an orbital period equal to the average rotational period (earth's is: 23 hours, 56 minutes, 4.091 seconds) of the...

What authors of the past do you think would have embraced the Internet?

Having an Internet presence is a must for modern authors because of the nature of the increasingly digitized world we live in. Not all authors embrace cyberspace equally, however -- for some, the...

Arthur C. Clarke dies at 90

I was sadden to read this this evening. I looked but didn't see any thing amoung my friends so I thought I'd post it. This was a great man, a great scientist and a great writer. He was involved in...

Top 100 Alternative Search Engines, March 2007

Well, it's that time again! Time for the monthly update of the Top 100 Alternative Search Engines. Before we get into it, allow me to back up just a bit. First of all, the "Alternative"...

Robert Heinlein at One Hundred

The centennial of Robert Heinlein’s birth is coming up in July, and tempers are still worked up over this pulp fiction writer who turned into a consciousness-raising guru during the 1960s. Only...

Book Review: Brasyl by Ian McDonald

Writers, like other artists, do not create in a vacuum. Rather, creation often comes by accretion, building on ideas of others to strike out in new or different directions. Ian McDonald's Brasyl...

Time’s Eye by Arthur C. Clarke and Stephen Baxter

While a child I was always interested in military history, including the study of weapons and their development through the years. One of the things I, in my imaginative young mind, sometimes...

On Weddings, Religion and Arthur C. Clarke

Is it not a good feeling when you find yourself reading a book you've been meaning to delve into for a long time? An old friend reminded me recently that he once recomended Arthur C. Clarke's...