This was probably the first novel I read that had me in awe, and made me a Clarke fan for life. I think I was in my teens when I first read it, and its impact on me was profound. It had everything: the sweeping big ideas coupled with the intimate personal drama of the lives of the characters, great moments of suspense and surprising revelations. All in all, one of the greatest science fiction novels ever written, in my humble opinion.
What think thee?
What think thee?