The Songs of Distant Earth by Arthur C. Clarke

At a secret session of the International Astronomical Union it is confirmed that the Sun will become a nova around the year AD 3600. Scientists in the 1960s discover that the neutrino emissions from the Sun – a result of the nuclear reactions that fuel the star – are far diminished from expected levels. In a series of descriptive passages, the events leading up to the race to save the human species are explained. Their peaceful existence comes to an end with the arrival of the Magellan, an interstellar spaceship from Earth containing one million colonists who have been put into cryonic suspension. They are typical examples of the Thalassan culture quiet, stable, and free from religion and supernatural influence. The story begins with an introduction of the Thalassans – the marine biologist Brant, his partner Mirissa and her brother Kumar. Thalassa has a small human population sent there by way of an embryonic seed pod, one of many sent out from Earth in an attempt to continue the human race before the Earth was destroyed. The novel is set in the early 3800s and takes place almost entirely on the faraway oceanic planet of Thalassa. The Songs of Distant Earth explores apocalyptic, atheistic, and utopian ideas, as well as the effects of long-term interstellar travel and extra-terrestrial life. The novel tells of a utopian human colony in the far future that is visited by travellers from a doomed Earth, as the Sun has gone nova. Clarke also wrote a short step outline with the same title, published in Omni magazine and anthologized in The Sentinel in 1983. He stated that it was his favourite of all his novels. Clarke, based upon his 1958 short story of the same title. The Songs of Distant Earth is a 1986 science fiction novel by British writer Arthur C. The original novelette 'The Songs of Distant Earth' was the cover story for the June 1958 issue of If.

The Songs of Distant Earth by Arthur C. Clarke