Notes
The Songs of Distant Earth, a novel by Arthur C. Clarke.

Based on a novelette of the same name first published in Worlds of If Science Fiction (June 1958 issue).

The image opposite and the blurb below are from the 1987 printing of the Grafton Books paperback edition, ISBN 0586066233. Cover illustration by Michael Whelan.

Publisher’s Blurb – Lower Cover
THE VOYAGERS AWOKE IN PARADISE

When Earth’s sun went nova, the MAGELLAN barely escaped in time, with its precious cargo of one million sleepers and gene banks of plants and animals.

Five hundred years into the voyage they stopped for repairs on the idyllic planet of Thalassa.

But whilst the awakened Earth people envied them their stable, harmonious world, the hospitable Thalassans were drawn by the long quest of the interstellar voyagers.

And when Lieutenant Commander Loren Lorenson met beautiful Thalassan Mirissa, their alien destinies became inextricably – and tragically – entwined.

THE SONGS OF DISTANT EARTH
is the novel that Arthur C. Clarke has wanted to write for the past 20 years, a brilliant blend of sound scientific speculation with a moving story of life and love on an alien and beautiful world.

'Clarke’s simple, musical style never falters in this novel, which is a sobering yet far from bleak commentary on humanity’s longing for the stars. Highly recommended.'
Library Journal