The Nine Billion Names of God

“A network of relay satellites twenty-two thousand miles above the equator.” 

Clarke wrote this story before satellite communication existed. He essentially predicted one of the greatest technological advances known on Earth. These types of predictions led him to be known as a kind of prophet.

“Meridian Museum’s greatest treasure—the Siren Goddess.”

Clarke mentions that after writing this story—which he thought was just good fun—scientists discovered what looks like a carving of a human face on Mars. He is delighted by the coincidence, though he is pretty sure it is a trick of light and shadow on the rocks. Nevertheless, this reflects the extent to which Clarke’s writings tapped into a cultural and scientific zeitgeist, as real life frequently mirrored his stories.

“Within a few generations the great masses of mankind, knowing that they could reach any part of the globe in a matter of hours, had gone back to the fields and forests for which they had always longed.”

Clarke imagines that once humans can travel quickly and easily by air rather than car, they will follow their true desire to flee crowded cities and return to living in nature, as our ancestors did. Although air travel is much safer and more prevalent today than in Clarke’s time, it remains to be seen if humanity will retreat back to the land in response.

“The light died in the west.”

This is a metaphor for the death of Western culture, whose intellectual prowess is represented by the works of William Shakespeare. The line emerges as the story explores the destruction of Shakespeare’s hometown, Stratford-on-Avon.

“For the same reason, he knew, that they had once struggled to reach Everest and the Poles and the far places of the Earth—for the excitement of the body that was adventure, and the more enduring excitement of the mind that was discovery.”

Astronauts in Clarke’s stories are often compared with explorers and voyagers. Space seems to be the next frontier, ripe for exploration and fresh discoveries. In the minds of Clarke’s space explorers, the intense hardships of space travel are worth it for the thrill of discovery.

“Everything that happened had a perfectly rational explanation, obvious to any man with the slightest knowledge of psychology.” 

In space, the narrator relies on perfectly rational explanations to disconnect from his human emotions. This is because it is too difficult to venture out alone into space unless he does so. He must sacrifice the ability to express his feelings in order to stay strong for his career.

“There was an exhilarating loneliness about his mountain eyrie.”

Most often, the loneliness of space is presented in a negative light. For K.15, however, it represents the opportunity to escape society, its rules, and its consequences. K.15 believes that outer space is like the Wild West, and he is a bandit on the run.

“One day they may discover us, by whatever strange senses they possess, as we circle around their mighty, ancient home, proud of our knowledge and thinking ourselves lords of creation. They may not like what they find, for to them we should be no more than maggots.” 

The narrator wonders if humans are the least developed race in the Universe. Thus, other sentient beings will look upon them as lowly creatures akin to maggots. Once again, Clarke places human evolution—advanced though it may seem to humanity itself—into a much larger and longer context on the scale of the universe.

“As they were in the beginning—clean and bright…and sterile.”

This story posits the idea that in the beginning the planets were sterile. The development of life is akin to pests or maggots growing on their surface. This supports Clarke’s larger theme that humanity is far less relevant to the universe than it believes itself to be.

“He felt awe, and curiosity, and a little fear, and above all a longing to go out into the great world before him.” 

Shervane represents the archetypal hero. He has a desire to go out into the world on a quest, to find the answer to age old questions, and ultimately to return humbled and wiser. He will later be disabused of these adventurous notions by the revelation of the universe’s circular nature.

“Would be the best thing that could possibly happen.”

Clarke humorously shows the nature of humanity, as it wallows in misery and destroys the planet. Perhaps, the story’s protagonist believes, a quick end is just what Earth needs. Thus, Clarke subverts traditional apocalyptic narratives by anointing a cynical pessimist as the only person capable of saving the world.

“Obeying an urge whose meaning they have never known.”

Clarke portrays the unknown urge that lemmings feel to jump off of a cliff en masse as an alien life force. This story asks whether a being can ever really know the motivations of another’s behavior. Moreover, it poses the possibility that the mysteries of familiar yet beguiling biological life-forms on Earth may be rooted in centuries-old extraterrestrial activity.

“Some men could achieve both power and happiness, but that gift was not for him.” 

The Senator can only experience peace and happiness in the face of death. Only then can he let go of his insatiable need for power. Thus, power and happiness are positioned as diametrically opposed, at least for the Senator.

“Beneath the clouds of Venus, the story of Creation was ended.”

Clarke speculates on the potential harm of space exploration. Humanity’s contaminating presence could impede the development of life without our even knowing it. Once again, Clarke characterizes humanity as a contaminant, significant only in its capacity to poison other beings or ecosystems.

“The search for an irresistible weapon must go on. At first it had been a luxury that would shorten the war. Now it was a necessity if we were to end it victoriously.” 

Clarke uses a science fiction story to offer social critique, particularly in reference to weapons development. He is concerned about the development of more and more deadly weapons and sees no way for the race to build the biggest and deadliest weapon to end. His concerns have shown to be valid and prescient.

“Facing Nature, with no weapons but his own strength and skill.” 

As he often does, Clarke compares space exploration with rugged individualism. It is also telling and consistent with his themes that the author capitalizes “Nature,” defining it as a life force of its own.

“How do you know where we were meant to live, Dad? After all, we were in the sea for about a billion years before we decided to tackle the land.”

The protagonist reminds his father that with every generation there comes new scientific research and evidence. These developments may open doors that make older generations uncomfortable. He compares the first space travel with the first steps of evolution.

“As she must do often in eternity, Nature had repeated one of her basic patterns.” 

Clarke makes a simple yet provocative statement which opens up the logical possibility that many Earthlike planets and humanlike species exist in the Universe. This once again conveys the author’s theme that human evolution is nothing special when viewed across the long arc of the universe.

“I wish I could warn you against the mistakes we made, and which now will cost us all that we have won.” 

Bertrond’s regrets serve as a mouthpiece for Clarke’s concerns that human activity will eventually bring about the destruction of civilization and the Earth. Yet the fact that Bertrond only “wishes” he could warn the more primitive civilization suggests that a race of beings must make its mistakes on its own, even if it leads to their demise.

“Their long exile.”

This is a biblical allusion to the Jews who suffered in exile in Babylon. The title of this story, “If I Forget Thee, Oh Earth,” is a similar allusion to the biblical line from Psalms 137, “If I forget thee, oh Jerusalem.”

“The joy of climbing, the knowledge that no man had ever gone this way before and the exhilaration of the steadily widening landscape gave me all the reward I needed.”

Clarke again compares space exploration with rugged individualism. He specifies that the desire to be first is worth every risk and suffering. This also draws comparisons between the astronauts of his stories and the human explorers who centuries ago charted the ocean in search of lands unknown to their civilizations.

“A glittering, roughly pyramidal structure, twice as high as a man, that was set in the rock like a multi-faceted jewel.” 

The sentinel or beacon described here was the inspiration for the obelisk in Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. It is one of many symbols and narrative elements that have permeated popular culture in the decades since Clarke wrote his most iconic works.

“For man had come and gone.” 

This story speculates that man could be a transient presence on Earth, rather than an integral part of it. Humans evolve on the planet, only to disappear as quickly as they came. What feels like eternity to humanity is but a blip on the timeline of the Universe.