No Morning After

by Arthur C. Clarke

First published in Time to Come (1954), edited by August Derleth.

A warning from a distant world about the destruction of another is not heeded.

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories, Fiction, Audiobook

ebook

First published January 1, 1954

About the author

Stories, works of noted British writer, scientist, and underwater explorer Sir Arthur Charles Clarke, include 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968).

This most important and influential figure in 20th century fiction spent the first half of his life in England and served in World War II as a radar operator before migrating to Ceylon in 1956. He co-created his best known novel and movie with the assistance of Stanley Kubrick.

Clarke, a graduate of King's College, London, obtained first class honours in physics and mathematics. He served as past chairman of the interplanetary society and as a member of the academy of astronautics, the royal astronomical society, and many other organizations.

He authored more than fifty books and won his numerous awards: the Kalinga prize of 1961, the American association for the advancement Westinghouse prize, the Bradford Washburn award, and the John W. Campbell award for his novel Rendezvous with Rama. Clarke also won the nebula award of the fiction of America in 1972, 1974 and 1979, the Hugo award of the world fiction convention in 1974 and 1980. In 1986, he stood as grand master of the fiction of America. The queen knighted him as the commander of the British Empire in 1989.

Reviews

[Althea Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A re-read... but I read it long ago.

Clarke isn't generally known for his humor, but this is an excellent piece of black comedy.

Benevolent, telepathic aliens are desperate to contact humanity with a message of the greatest import for us. However, the only guy they manage to reach is both wildly depressed and three sheets to the wind - and believes he's hallucinating.

[J.B. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent humor. Definitely dated, but not in such a bad way that it doesn't work. The science is a bit wonky, but the story gets you in a groove and soon it doesn't matter. I enjoyed it, but it did take me a few pages to get into it. Kinda funny. The main character had a weird way of thinking about women. Overall, the story, though ultimately pointless considering how it ends, it was still fun.

[Nərmin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not entireley sure the humanity is worth to save anyway..

[Forked Radish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story surely shows that Clarke was no delusional humanist!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was unfortunate that William Cross had just received a work reprimand, lost his partner to another man, and drank heavily to assuage his frustrations. Otherwise, he might have heeded warning from telepathic beings and saved humanity.

[Akrabar · Rating 5 out of 5]

audiobook

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkugM...

[Mike Lisanke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was interesting to me... if I were to psychoanalysis the author, I'd say he was morbidly depressed for the likelihood our our survival as the human race... I don't know why smart imaginative bright people would develop such depressed attitudes. To me, I've seen humanity rescue itself Deus ex machina over and over... why won't we continue?

[Frans Kempe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A black humor piece about an alien telepathic "phonecall"

[Debdip Chakraborty · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is an excellent short story by Arthur C. Clarke. While the writing is flat and lacks any punch, there is certainly humor of the dry form to keep the reader engaged.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could be basis for Marvel’s Kree Supreme Intelligence.