The Fountains of Paradise

Summary

The novel «The Fountains of Paradise» by Arthur C. Clarke tells the story of constructing a space elevator on the equatorial island of Taprobane, reminiscent of Sri Lanka. The protagonist, engineer Vannevar Morgan, is determined to realize his ambitious idea of creating an elevator that connects Earth to geostationary orbit, significantly reducing the cost of space travel. However, the project faces numerous technical, political, and cultural obstacles, including resistance from local inhabitants for whom the mountain chosen for construction is sacred. Throughout the project's implementation, Morgan and his team overcome numerous challenges and confront ethical and responsibility issues towards humanity. The novel explores themes of progress, faith, and the interaction between humans, nature, and technology.