The nine billion names of god, published in 1953 was about a tibetan monastery whose monks sought to list every imaginable name of god. Gc mckays snuggling up with some scifi with the nine billion names of god by arthur c. There are some stories about antigravity, new worlds, horse like creatures who meet tiny creatures who may outsmart them before too long. Discussion questions for the nine billion names of god. Clarke this is a slightly unusual request, said dr. Apr 25, 2016 another science fiction writer actually borrowed arthur c.
So far weve got 7 billion answers inhabiting our planet, looks like weve only got another 2 billion to go. This volume is of special interest included are a wide range of classic stories, including the title story, jupiter five, the deep range, second dawn, and. Their centurieslong project to write out all of gods. Assuming 100 laser printers spitting out a page a second, names a page, thats. In this way its a lot like a ghost story or urban legend. Daniel is the founder of you can science, and also the producer of a science podcast called uncertainty principle, which this website hosts. The purpose of the ending is to surprise and unsettle the reader, rather than to indicate some underlying truth or convey some significant message. Astronomy, totally rad science fiction friday the nine billion names of god by arthur c. The nine billion names of god published in 1953 demonstrates just this, in which the storys main characters are caught between their logic and that of another group. These names are not of human invention, but are given by god himself. The nine billion names of god is another religiously rooted story about monks getting a supercomputer to find all names of god to be ready when he comes. The two guys mentioned above set up a computer for tibetan monks, which is able to pronounce the tibetan sounds in the permutations that make up the nine billion names of god.
What modification does the lama want to make to the mark v computer. This is a science fictive short story where we meet a group of lamas who wants to write the nine billion names of god. The nine billion names of god by borja ruiz porras on prezi. Memorable quotes and exchanges from movies, tv series and more. Etext library the nine billion names of god the nine billion names of god arthur c. This is a science fictive short story where we meet a group of. The nine billion names of god arthur c clark avbook audiobook videobook ebook. The invention of computers was a godsend to the obscure monks deep in the himalayas.
Buy a cheap copy of the nine billion names of god book by arthur c. When chuck is relating his conversation with the lama, he says well, they believe that when they have listed all his names and they reckon that there are about nine billion of them. Best international short film vasteras film festival, sweden. Does science prove religion or does religion prove science. Clarkes the nine billion names of god for his own short story of the same name. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Analysis and interpretation the nine billion names of god. The nine billion names of god is basically a horror story. It was reprinted in the science fiction hall of fame, volume one, 19291964. In nine billion names of god a group of monks have been writing down possible names for god for three centuries. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters. Some of the old testament names denote that god is the high and exalted one. Nine billion names of god if this is your first visit, be sure to check out the faq by clicking the link above.
The story was among the stories selected in 1970 by the science fiction writers of. The nine billion names of god is a science fiction short story by arthur c. Francisco urquijo, laura candrian, gloria banuelos about author characters and setting key vocabulary comprehension questions the nine billion names of god, arthur c. Later chuck tells george that the lamas want to finish the last of all the names of god appears. It is about an order of tibetan monks who purchase a computer for the purpose of.
The nine billion names of god you are not logged in. Listen to the nine billion names of god audiobook by arthur c. The nine billion names of god by arthur clarke this is a slightly unusual request, said dr. The nine billion names of god and other stories by arthur c. So when a group of monks seek to enlist modern technology in their quest to list. This story appeals to me on so many levels, but the thing that sticks with me the most is the very last line of the story. For such a short story, the nine billion names of god has a lot to say about faith, fate, and hubris while leaving a lot to the imagination. Aug 15, 20 but, in general terms, god doesnt believe in the intelligence cycle it seems. Nine billion names of god summaryopinion yourshiningknight. Analysis and interpretation the nine billion names of. The story was among the stories selected in 1970 by the science fiction writers of america as one of the best science fiction short stories published before the creation of the nebula awards. The monks want the computer to help them print out all the possible names of god, of which they believe there are about nine billion. The nine billion names of god arthur c clarke ministry of.
But these are his twentyfive favorites and they combine to make fine reading. The one general name of god is split up into several special names, which are expressive of his manysided being. Clarke has written over a hundred short stories, most of which have been anthologized before. The nine billion names of god arthur c clark avbook audiobook. The nine billion names of god is a 1953 science fiction short story by british writer arthur c. Clarke wrote a story called the nine billion names of god, which is about a group of monks in the himalayas who believe that the task of man is to name the 9. This story appeals to me on so many levels, but the thing.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Editions of the nine billion names of god by arthur c. Arthur c clarke the nine billion names of god and other stories audiobook. So when a group of monks seek to enlist modern technology in their quest to list all nine billion names of god, there is no telling what may. One thing that stood out was the humor of the stories something i dont necessarily associate with clarke. They ask for a super computer named the mark v to be installed at their monastery to speed up the process and request that instead of using number sequences it should use their special. Ive noticed in some of the posts about his life and work that people have been mentioning the nine billion names of god as a story that was influential and important to them. Clarke in which a group of monks buys a computer to calculate all the names of god theres even a distributed computing webpage which proposes this project. Clarkes the nine billion names of god is an anthology of his favorite short stories that was first published in 1974 during the golden age of mass market science fiction and fantasy.
Ive found the nine billion names of god as a nicelypresented free pdf download here this link has four short stories. The nine billion names of god i remember babylon trouble with time rescue party the curse summertime on icarus dog star hide and seek out of the sun the wall of darkness no morning after the possessed death and the senator whos there. Arthur c clarke the nine billion names of god and other stories. The sentinel short story, bbc radio 4 extra, the nine billion names of god. Since this is supposed to be mans ultimate destiny, the world would end at that point. A tibetan monk rents an automatic sequence computer. He tells us to take things on trust, on faith alone and the more we believe without asking for evidence the better off we will be in terms of an eternal life. What is meaning behind the nine billion names of god story. Analysis and interpretation the nine billion names of god in 1953 arthur c. Over the last thirty years i have written about a hundred short stories, in such varied locales as wartime raf camps, islands on the great barrier reef, new york. And yet, praise god too that his name is so simple. Even though i dont mind telling you that i would make a somewhat different selection of the best short stories of arthur c.
If you need some extra reassurance today, find hope in these powerful names of god and understand what they mean in your life today. The nine billion names of god 2018 plot summary imdb. Clarke, the nine billion names of god remains an impressive testimony what a truly great writer the highbrows be blown. The nine billion names of god was written by the venerable sir arthur c. Mindwebs test, by theodore thomas the nine billion names of god, by arthur c. The nine billion names of god summary supersummary. To include a little background from clarkes forward in his 1974 reprise anthology the nine billion names of god signet, the new american library inc. As far as i know, its the first time anyones been asked to supply a tibetan monastery with an automatic sequence computer. Feb 15, 2014 in nine billion names of god a group of monks have been writing down possible names for god for three centuries. This is carter scholz, who incorporates science and theology into a different type of literary genre that is not quite science fiction.
The others range from the tall fantasy tales from the. Arthur c clarke the nine billion names of god and other. The nine billion names of god is a collection of short stories from acclaimed sciencefiction author arthur c. The nine billion names of god audible audio edition. Apparently even the dalai lama himself reportedly told clark. Full text of this story is available online link via best science. The nine billion names of god the intelligence people. The purpose of the ending is to surprise and unsettle the reader, rather than to indicate some underlying truth or convey some. Its the first time im not writing the script, for istance. Apr 09, 2014 help with the theme of the short story the nine billion names of god. Search the history of over 426 billion web pages on the internet. The title story is quietly remarkable as tibetan monks complete their lifes work with the aid of a computer and the star also makes an unsettling comment on religion. Clarke in 1953 and is included in his science fiction anthology of the same name. Mar 18, 2008 the nine billion names of god follows three employees of a computer company as they sell, deliver and maintain a relatively large and fast computer to a group of tibetan monks.
The nine billion names of god arthur c clarke this is a slightly unusual request, said dr. They ask for a super computer named the mark v to be. Best international short film vasteras film festival, sweden best cinematography vasteras film. As far as i know, its the vrst time anyones been asked to supply a tibetan monastery with an automatic sequence computer. Help with the theme of the short story the nine billion names of god. The nine billion names of god follows three employees of a computer company as they sell, deliver and maintain a relatively large and fast computer to a group of tibetan. The nine billion names of god audiobook by arthur c. God doesnt do evidencebased decision making and doesnt encourage us to do so either. Nepalese monks hire an ibm computer to print all possible nine letter words in a special language which could be the name of their god. If anyone has read the short story the nine billion names of god by arthur c. The nine billion names of gold by laura candrian on prezi.
Aug 21, 2017 the nine billion names of god is my most cooperative brickfilm so far. Wagner, with what he hoped was commendable restraint. This task is a variation of the short story by arthur c. The nine billion names of god was the first arthur c clarke story i ever read, and within a week of reading it i was devouring his work. Amusing computer specifications a second rate doomsday story.
Help with the theme of the short story the nine billion. The nine billion names of god arthur c clarke ministry. The reason is because it is the ultimate purpose of god and when they finished, everything disappears in the second part, one of the engineers george thought that this work was the. Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library. Clarkes short story the nine billion names of god by students of piquant prose project, engl 2515. Science fiction friday the nine billion names of god by. Dec 16, 2016 01the nine billion names of god this tale describes a mishmash of religious views researched and encouraged by tibetan buddhist monks, and it ends o. What if we are not searching for gods name but instead searching for gods love within each other.