Imperial Earth

The publication of the novel fulfilled a contract for three books, which was the most lucrative ever signed by an SF writer.

The previous books were Rendezvous with Rama from 1973 and Imperial Earth, published in 1975.

At one time, Clarke had viewed Imperial Earth as the big one.

but was ultimately disappointed with it.

He had similarly high hopes for The Fountains of Paradise, and briefly held that it would be his last novel.

The Fountains of Paradise is also one of his books which most clearly shows Clarke's sensitivity to spiritual perspectives.

His fictionalised portrayal of Sri Lanka puts its people in a distinctly passive and secondary position, but the setting is apt for a novel which, at its best, does summon up a sense of wonder.

far more substantial than Imperial Earth.