classic read The Fountains of Paradise

[RichP714 3,151]

The novel focuses primarily on a project proposed by the main character, Vannevar Morgan, known as the Orbital Tower. The tower is to stretch from the Earth's equator to a satellite that is in geostationary orbit. Such a structure would greatly reduce the cost of sending people and supplies into space.

The main story is framed by two other stories. The first one tells of King Kalidasa, living thousands of years before Morgan is born, who is constructing a large tower. The other story, taking place long after Morgan has died, deals with aliens making contact with Earth.

Due to many technical issues, there are only two locations on Earth where the Orbital Tower can be built. One is in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, and the other is Sri Kanda (now Sri Lanka). However, there is a Buddhist temple on the island, and Mahanayake Thero, the head of the order, refuses to give permission to begin construction.

Hearing of the difficulties, a group of people living on Mars contacts Morgan and suggests that the tower be built there instead. It would be smaller than the one planned for the Earth and reach from Mars to one of its moons, Deimos.

After a few setbacks, including some fatalities, construction of the tower gets underway. Although the engineer's heart is failing, he rides up the tower to take food and oxygen to a group of stranded students and their professor. After overcoming serious difficulties he succeeds, then dies of a heart attack on the way back down.

[jvandyke_texas 432]

Why would such a sci-fi book even be written?  Different radii orbit at different angular rates.  Shear would tear any such tower apart.  Reading a good introductory physics book is a constructive use of time.

[RichP714 3,151]

58 minutes ago, jvandyke_texas said:

Why would such a sci-fi book even be written?  Different radii orbit at different angular rates.  Shear would tear any such tower apart.  Reading a good introductory physics book is a constructive use of time.

 

Having been the guy that 'invented' the geostationary orbit; I'm guessing that  Clarke decided he could take liberties with the engineering.  That, and some fullerine technology to handle the forces.

 

If you haven't read it, give it a try; Clarke's books typically are wrapped in tech environs, but the meat of the story is about what it means to be human.  The motivations, aspirations fears and actions......e.g. this story alternates between three different sub-plots.....all three of which involve building a tower of some sort, for different reasons, with different technologies.  So the story isn't about the tech