Asteroid

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By Patrick Moore & Arthur C Clarke, with an introduction by Martin Rees
48 pages, Soft Covers
ISBN 0 0549846 0 9
Published 2005

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Description:

"It has been a unique privilege to work on a book with not one, but two legends of science and science fiction. These two knights of the realm have, with characterstic lack of self interest, and with great humanity, dropped everything to help the people of Sri Lanka." Robin Rees, Director

"As most people know, Arthur C Clarke lives in Sri Lanka. Luckily he was unhurt by the tsunami, but the devastation to the island is imme nse, and help is urgently needed. For years Arthur and I had planned a small book about asteroids. We have hastily finished it and it has now been printed. The book costs £10, and all proceeds will go to Sarvodaya, the Sri Lanka disaster fund." Sir Patrick Moore

"Asteroids are among are closest cosmic neighbours - some, indeed, come threateningly close. The authors will convince you that these rocky lumps hurtling through space are the most fascinating things in the universe. They bring to this theme the unflagging zest characteristic of their vast output - an output which, for six decades, has left their countless admirers hugely inspired and in their debt. Patrick Moore and Arthur C Clarke are internationally-known 'celebrities', admired for their genial and distinctive personalities as well as for the brilliance and imagination of all they've said and written. Anything new from either of these prolific authors is eagerly awaited. This book, a unique co-production, is doubly welcome. I'm honoured to have this chance to acclaim two visionary polymaths who have, through their long careers, extended our horizons to the edge of the known universe - and indeed beyond. They have been heroes and inspirations to me ever since childhood - as they surely are to millions of people worldwide. I'm one of the multitudes who owe their enthusiasm for astronomy to Patrick Moore. As a schoolboy I viewed, on the flickering screen of our family's newly acquired black and white TV, his commentaries on the first Sputnik. I was transfixed by them. I never then thought that I'd one day be lucky enough to become an astronomer, and to know Patrick personally. He modestly claims to be an amateur. But his knowledge is truly encyclopaedic and always up to date. Arthur also was a familiar name to me ever since the 1950s. My early reading included his prescient 'exploration of space' (first published as early as 1951) in 'Childhood's End', whose 'classic' status and poetic vision I only fully appreciated on later re-reading. The geostationary satellite idea - just one of his farsighted concepts - was 'rediscovered' after Sputnik, and soon became reality. But his other concepts still lie far ahead - some, indeed, in a posthuman future billions of years hence. He is a great writer as well as a visionary thinker, and scientists can derive more benefit and stimulus from him than from routine science fact." Sir Martin Rees

Please send a cheque for £10 per copy, made payable to Sarvodaya, to:

The Rocket Publishing Co Ltd
Dene Court
Bishops Lydeard
Taunton
TA4 3LT