Profiles of the Future

This is a reissue of the original book which came out in 1962, containing essays by the author which were published in various other venues over the years, if I remember right. Although best known as a science fiction writer, Clarke wrote prodigiously in the field of nonfiction as well, was the inventor of the communications satellite concept, collaborated on several nature films on the Mediterannean with a friend, and was an invited commentator for the Apollo moon landing. Fans of his fiction may notice the similarity between the speculations contained in this book and two of his novels about the far future, Against the Fall of Night, and The City and the Stars (basically a later and rewritten version of the earlier book). In these essays, Clarke engages in some of his most entertaining and far-reaching speculations on the future of science and technology and how that will affect man and society in the future. Very little of the science is dated despite it being over 40 years since the book came out. Various topics are covered, such as communications, computers, shipping and transport, and my favorite was the last chapter, The Obsolescence of Man. Clarke suspects humans will eventually be made "obsolete" by advances in science and medicine, with machines doing everything, better, faster, and cheaper, despite the extension of the human lifespan. By the way, as of a few years ago when I visited his website once, Clarke was still travelling and speaking, despite being confined to a wheelchair because of a recent medical problem, and answering fan mail on his website. Truly one of the giants of science fiction, Clarke is most remembered for the movie, 2001, but his novel, Childhood's End, published about ten years earlier, would be my pick for the top sci-fi novel of all time. (Note: 2001 is actually based on the short story, The Sentinel, which Clarke published in 1948). In this poignant and captivating story, the human race comes to a bittersweet ending by evolving into a strange communal intelligence, thereby leaving the limitations of individual, corporeal minds behind. The Overlords, whose minds are perhaps a hundred times more powerful than a humans, are memorable characters. But I'll also remember him for this fascinating and vivid book about the future of science, technology, and man himself.

f you are looking for a book with scientific facts, I don't think you will find much to your liking. But if you are interested in human imagination (more or less based upon facts), this might be something for you. Arthur C.Clarke is an English scientist and Science-Fiction writer. 'Profiles of The Future' was first published in 1962. There are nineteen chapters each with a different subject. Arthur C.Clarke calls it 'An inquiry into the limits of the possible.' One of the chapters is the future of transport. In the future cargo will be stowed in some kind of a submersible container. They could be linked together as the wagons of a train and pulled by a submarine. The idea is that ships are too heavy and loose too much time and energy during a storm. Up until now I'm wondering whether A.C.Clarke is joking or not. In the chapter 'The Obsolescence of Man' he discusses the future of the Homo Sapiens. Much of this chapter is used for the film '2001: A Space Odyssey'. At the end of the book there is a 'Chart of the Future'. It's a list of discoveries in the future as far as 2100. (Remember that 'Profiles of the Future' was first published in 1962). To name a few: in 2000, colonising planets (The optimism of the sixties !).In 21OO, immortality (!?). As you can see, don't take this book too seriously. But it's a engrossing read.

In this book Arthur C. Clarke considers the future development of human technology, focusing on the ultimate limits of what is possible rather than on what the near future is likely to bring. Originally published in 1962, Clarke has added comments where developments have substantially modified his earlier views. He addresses a wide range of questions: transport, colonising space, novel sources of energy, artificial intelligence, a universal machine that can produce any specified artefact, as well as more fanciful possibilities such as time-travel, teleportation, and invisibility. He suggests we should be slow to pronounce anything "impossible" as the technology of the future may be as hard for us to imagine as ours would have been for people of earlier ages. (He also quotes a number of "authorities" who denied the possibility of heavier than air flight or the rocket shortly before they became realities!) Sadly, my enjoyment of this book was somewhat spoiled by Clarke's style which is inclined to be rather laboured and pompous. A pity, as this is otherwise a first rate read.

Glance at A.C.'s table in the back of what will happen then next 100 years!!! Profiles is important to any one thinking about thinking of the future. So much to go! Thanks A.C.C.