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Glide Path [Paperback]

Arthur C. Clarke (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Paperback
  • Publisher: Sidgwick & Jackson; Reprint edition (1977)
  • ISBN-10: 0283983507
  • ISBN-13: 978-0283983504
  • ASIN: B0014F4YP2
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting slant on the development of radar during WW2. 22 Aug 2001
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
This is an unusual, semi-biographical work by the doyen of sci-fi writers, Arthur C Clarke, based on his WW2 service with the Royal Air Force.

After initial training etc, Clarke became involved in development of a specialised radar system to give assistance to pilots and aircraft in the most critical time of a flight, the approach to landing.

The radar system concerned was MPN1, the first GCA (Ground Control Approach) system, involving beam widths and accuracies that are still impressive today.

As mentioned in its dedication, it involved amongst others, Luis Alvarez, who made major contributions to very diverse scientific fields.

Clarke's experience gained with MPN1 and his prior interests in astronomy and rocketry, led to his 1949 proposal of Geo-stationary Satellites, providing the basis of today's Satellite Telephony, Television etc, whilst studying at Imperial College London.

"Glide Path" therefore covers an important phase and seminal period in the life of its author, Arthur C Clarke.

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5.0 out of 5 stars excellent fictionalised account of ground control radar in WW2 2 Jan 2010
By Jules Jones
Format:Paperback
This is often described as Clarke's non-sf novel, but it has a very similar feel to some of his hard sf. There is the same world building and sense of wonder inspired by science -- but the world he brings to life here was real and recent history. For this novel is a fictionalised account of the development of Ground Control Approach radar during the second world war, and Clarke draws upon his own experience of working on the project to safely talk down aircraft by radar.

It might sound dry, but it isn't. Clarke does a fine job on showing both the the technology, and the people who created the technology, with the interplay between different personalities, and the little and large incidents that make up life in a developmental project. The main character's not always that likeable a person, but in a way that makes him a believable viewpoint character rather than a stock hero. There's plenty of dramatic tension, and lighter moments as well, with both clearly being drawn at least in part from Clarke's own experiences. Glide Path is well worth a read for both sf readers and WW2 History buffs.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com: 4.0 out of 5 stars  8 reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars A really good, overlooked book 7 Feb 2002
By Bill R. Moore - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This book is significant as being the only non-science fiction fiction book that Arthur C. Clarke ever wrote. It was inspired by (and partially, I'm sure) based upon his experience in World War II as a member of the Royal Air Force, using the GCD (Ground Controlled Descent) system to "talk-down" pilots. This is the setting of the story. Though the technology described is not impressive by today's standards (almost 40 years after the book was written, and 60 after the events it fictionalizes), the radar system is gone into in a quite detailed way, and it's obvious that Clarke knows what he's talking about. However, aside from this, there is another reason that this book is significant. Here we actually have Clarke employing a main character (Alan Bishop) as a main character, and developing him. Perhaps this was spurned on by his own personal involvement with the setting of the story, but, whatever the reason for it, this is probably actually the most "human" story that Clarke has ever put out. Those who claim that they can't read Clarke because all of his stories are just complex scientific esoteria that nobody understands wrapped up in a science fiction premise with cardboard cutout carichatures of characters who act merely as set pieces must revise, at least partially, this view of the author after reading this book. We see Clarke develop the character of Bishop. This, indeed, is one of his relatively few books (including among them Imperial Earth, The Songs of Distant Earth, and perhaps The Fountains of Paradise), where a human being is actually the star of the show, and not a machine or an idea. This is a bit of a change of pace for the reader of ACC's fiction, and it is a pleasant diversion. While this is most assuredly not one of his major works, it is an enjoyable read, and an interesting contrast. It balances the technological and human elements of the story rather well. A nice, quick read as well. Pick it up if you can find it.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Fictional Story based on Actuality of Early Ground Controlled Approach GCA Radar System 24 April 2012
By redfltldr - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I actually worked on the production version of the Exp MPN-1 GCA radar system this book deals with. Very interesting read. I only just learned of the existence of this book. I have never read any of Arthur Clarkes other books as I am not too much into SciFi. I don't understand why someone who enjoyed his SciFi books would put down his attempt to illustrate his actual experience with a real life Science project. These early GCA radars saved many air crews lives. The production units consisted of a Operational Trailer towed by a 2.5 ton prime mover (Truck) which also carried the diesel generator to power the radar equipment. I understand from talking to early British GCA Radar Technicians that there was an experimental version installed in a fixed structure at Heathrow towards the end of WW2. Possibly this was where Clarke experience this early GCA system.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read, negligent editing 28 Aug 2011
By Speidamen - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
While it is certainly not the novel of the century, Arthur C. Clarke's autobiographically founded story of a young radar engineer in WWII's England is quite an interesting read. In a down-to-earth yet strangely charming way, Clarke conveys insights into a time that seems so very remote and strange to younger generations. Although it is a completely different kind of book, there are some parallels to Andrew Hodges' biography of Alan Turing - both revolve around the lives and efforts of the scientific minds and the engineers who contributed to the allied victory.

On this particular reprint, I have to agree with my fellow reviewers that the lack of proofreading is simply appalling. I caught about two dozens of typical OCR errors, like replacing "flight" with "right", "really" with "redly", "off" with "oil" and so on. I wonder what kind of miserly publisher cares so little about his authors and their works that he would not pay someone to read a book at least once before it goes into print. Five stars for Clarke, a minimal one for I Books.
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