Arthur C. Clarke's The Songs of Distant Earth

Of all the novels Arthur C. Clarke wrote during his Grand Master career, The Songs of Distant Earth was his favorite. His story also travelled through a number of different versions over the years, appearing first as a novella in a 1950's pulp magazine, followed by a 1970's movie treatise, a best-selling 1986 novel, and finally a musical tribute to both Clarke and his writings by New Age composer Mike Oldfield.

In my essay "Singing the Songs of Distant Earth," which is now on SF Signal, I explore both this history and how The Songs of Distant Earth relates to certain reoccuring themes in Clarke's writings. If you are even a little interested in how one of the most famous SF authors of all time approached the craft of fiction, be sure to check out my essay.