The novel “The City and the Stars” by Arthur C. Clarke was published for the first time in 1956.
When Alvin comes of age, he discovers he’s a “Unique”, a very rare inhabitant of Diaspar who has never lived before, the first of his kind in millions of years. Another difference Alvin notices between himself and the city’s other inhabitants is that they’re terrified at the mere thought of leaving it, whereas he has actively started searching for a way out.
His encounter with Khedron proves helpful, as Khedron is the only one willing to assist him. Nicknamed “the Jester” for the pranks he plays on Diaspar’s citizens, Khedron is intrigued by Alvin and helps him uncover an ancient transport system that, a billion years earlier, had connected Diaspar to other cities on Earth.
“The City and the Stars” is the culmination of work Arthur C. Clarke carried out over several years. In 1948, a novella titled “Against the Fall of Night” was published in the magazine “Startling Stories” after having been rejected by John W. Campbell. Clarke expanded it into a novel, which was published in 1953. In subsequent years, he heavily revised the book and gave it a new title; both versions have since been reprinted in various editions.
From the very beginning, Arthur C. Clarke provides a wealth of detail to convey to the reader that the story takes place in the very distant future. Diaspar is a city said to have existed for a billion years, and its inhabitants are convinced they are the last remaining humans on Earth.
It quickly becomes apparent that the citizens’ knowledge of humanity’s past is fragmentary and not necessarily reliable. It also becomes clear that, while the inhabitants of Diaspar are virtually immortal, their lives are marked by a certain stagnation, a refusal to venture beyond specific boundaries that are both physical and mental.
Alvin’s quest to find a way out of Diaspar blends a coming-of-age story with a deeply intellectual journey, exactly what one expects from Arthur C. Clarke. Alvin’s curiosity drives him to face various challenges and uncover ancient secrets that radically shift his perspective on Earth and the history of humanity.
While the sense of wonder stems from Alvin’s gradual discovery of the universe, the story offers far more than the grand adventures typical of classic science fiction. Arthur C. Clarke links this adventure to the protagonist’s curiosity, stressing how vital that trait is in the service of his intellect. The author develops this intellectual aspect in a way that transcends the mere accumulation of cold facts, allowing the reader to appreciate the wonders that exist beyond one’s own limited horizons.
The approach Arthur C. Clarke develops is precisely what has made “The City and the Stars” a classic of science fiction. Its underlying message, encouraging us to step beyond our boundaries, including the ones we impose on ourselves, and to wonder if everything we’re told about the past is true, makes it, in my opinion, a novel well worth recommending today. You can find it on Amazon USA, UK, and Canada.
