The Hammer of God and over 1.5 million other books are available for Amazon Kindle . Learn more

Buy Used
Used - Good See details
Price: £2.66
Fulfilled by Amazon

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
   
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
Sorry, this item is not available in
Image not available for
Colour:
Image not available

 
See all 3 customer images
Share your own customer images
Search inside another edition of this book
Start reading The Hammer of God on your Kindle in under a minute.

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

Hammer Of God [Paperback]

Sir Arthur C. Clarke CBE (Author)
3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)

Available from these sellers.


Formats

 Amazon Price New from Used from
Kindle Edition £4.99   -- --
Hardcover --   -- --
Paperback --   -- --
Books Trade-In
Amazon.co.uk Trade-In Store
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Special Offer until June 30, 2013: Receive an additional £5 promotional Gift Certificate, when you trade-in at least £10 worth of books. Learn more.

Book Description

Publication Date: 6 April 1995

It is an amateur astronomer on Mars who first spots the previously uncharted asteroid, falling sunwards. And when the scientists of project SPACEGUARD compute its orbit, they christen it Kali -the Hindu goddess of destruction.

It is 2109, sixty-five million years since the reign of the giant reptiles was ended. And now Kale threatens a similar fate for mankind. As Captain of the research vessel Goliath, Robert Singh is in charge of an operation that has been long planned but never before put into action -the immense task of pushing an asteroid off its course. But even the most meticulous planning cannot anticipate the human factor. With superb storytelling and authentic science, The Hammer of God is vintage Clark.

Special Offers and Product Promotions

  • Amazon Family members enjoy 20% off every delivery of nappies. Join today to get your discount, as well as a free trial of Amazon Prime and up to £50 worth of offers every month.

Product details

  • Paperback: 272 pages
  • Publisher: Orbit; New edition edition (6 April 1995)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1857231945
  • ISBN-13: 978-1857231946
  • Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 17.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 330,933 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

More About the Author

› Visit Amazon's Arthur C. Clarke Page
Arthur C. Clarke
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.

Product Description

Review

'Arthur C. Clarke is awesomely informed about physics and astronomy, and blessed with one of the most astounding imaginations...' -- New York Times

'Arthur C. Clarke is one of the truly prophetic figures of the space age ... The colossus of science fiction' -- NEW YORKER

'For many readers Arthur C. Clarke is the very personification of science fiction' -- THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SCIENCE FICTION

Book Description

With superb storytelling and authentic science, THE HAMMER OF GOD is vintage Clarke.
See all Product Description
Inside This Book (Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
First Sentence
CAPTAIN ROBERT SINGH ENJOYED THESE WALKS THROUGH THE forest with his little son, Toby. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt
Search inside this book:

What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?

› Explore similar items

Customer Reviews

3.7 out of 5 stars
7 reviews
3.7 out of 5 stars
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Solid modern clarke. 21 Feb 2001
By dki100@york.ac.uk
Format:Paperback
This is the story of a situation that has occupied Clarke for the better part of the last century; that of the earth being hit by an asteroid. Basically, the plot concerns the efforts of the crew of the spacecraft assigned to divert the asteroid. As well as this though there is the typical clarke style writing. This effectively means that the main plot is almost sidetracked by Clarke in order to give his views on man and science and how the two will co-exist in the future. This is a forte of Clarke's and the hammer of God is no exception, with the book concentrating on social change et all without being an excuse to put on a display of futuristic stuff, which much modern, film influenced sci fi does, much to it's discredit. All in all this is one of Clarke's better efforts of recent times. It pales in comparison to Rendezvous with Rama, 2001 or Childhood's End but is a worthy edition to any Clarke fan's collection.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Hammer of God 13 Mar 2008
By Jane Aland VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
Clarke's last original stand alone novel tells the story of the attempt to deflect a massive asteroid from colliding with the Earth. It's a narrative that has since been used more than once in Hollywood movies, but Clarke's novel showcases his typically level-headed approach, with any drama resulting wholly from the scientific and mechanical problems faced and overcome by the heroes.

Clarke's prose is stripped back and minimal compared to most modern day SF authors, but this allows 'Hammer of God' to be a pacy read, and there are enough character moments for spaceship Captain Robert Singh to ensure the novel isn't entirely souless. Clarke also does well by providing a near future background that is intruiging, even if it isn't very plausable (none more so than the depressingly disproved speculation that American soldier's contact with religion in the Gulf War would result in a more harmonius future between Christianity and Islam.)

Good, solid, old-school science fiction.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Another taste of genius. 7 Sep 2002
By Ian Tapley VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
First off, the name 'The Hammer of God' in reference to an asteroid that could destroy mankind is evocative and a perfect tone-setter for Clarke's writing.

Once again Clarke manages to create genuine characters among the hi-tech of the future which manages to ground the book in a way that many modern sci-fi books lack.

The tone of the book is very much one of impending doom and Clarke switches between the doom of Earth and the immanent self-sacrifice of the members of Spaceguard. I'll admit I was surprised by what happens to the crew of Goliath at the end.

The story is driven by two things, the past and present of the Goliath's captain and the desperate efforts to avert the disaster. The captain, Robert Singh, leads an endearingly tragic and lonely life that is mirrored in the characters Heywood Flyod and Frank Poole from Clarke's Space Odyssey series.

Finally, my favourite part of the book are the various 'Encounters' which chronicle Earth's past meteor impacts and warn of future ones.

Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
3.0 out of 5 stars Left me wanting much, much more! 13 Jun 2013
By Kate TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Kali, a most appropriately named asteroid, is on a collision course with Earth and only the crew of the Goliath stands between the planet and devastation. The impact is projected to be no less catastrophic than that which wiped out the dinosaurs. Now, though, or at least in the 22nd century when this novel is set, man has set a foot into space and has the opportunity to save himself. Eyes on Earth are turned upwards to the Goliath, a science vessel that normally surveys Jupiter whose captain Robert Singh has spent so long in space, he is now unable to survive in the gravity of Earth.

If any of this sounds familiar, then you won't be surprised to hear that Stephen Spielberg optioned The Hammer of God, resulting in the movie Deep Impact. The differences, though, are many. This being an Arthur C. Clarke novel, much of the time is spent developing the background and history, not just to the asteroid Kali but also to the character of Robert Singh and the religious conflict on Earth that places the mission to save it in jeopardy.

Robert Singh's character brings such life to the novel. Aged about 70 when Goliath approaches the asteroid, we learn about the captain's early career, his first love, his children, his life on Earth and even his athletic career as a runner on the Moon (of all places). Likewise, we learn a little about the peculiar Chrislam, a fusion of Christianity and Islam, which has become so popular on Earth, although relatively ignored on the Moon and on Mars. But these are just glimpses, never more than that, and it's quite possible that, like me, you'll be left wanting much, much more.

The Hammer of God began life as a short story and this final version is still little more than that.... Read more ›
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
3.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps a classic when published, but a cliché story by today's standards 3 May 2013
By J. Ritmeijer
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I am a huge SciFi fan (Vance, Asimov, Clarke, Hamilton), but this just didn't do it for me. Perhaps at the time of writing it was the first in its kind, but the 'Killer Asteroid' story has been 'hammered' to death over the years by various movies and books.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
4.0 out of 5 stars I like A C C 13 Feb 2013
By nick brown
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Arthur C Clarke lives up to himself in this. It is a typical story, but he carries it off. Not bad at all
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Lacking structure and cohesion 13 April 2011
By Christian Wendt
Format:Paperback
A confused assemblage of various bits and pieces. It's less than 2 years ago that I read this story but I can't remember what had actually happened in the end. `The Hammer of God' feels more like a manuscript, certainly one for a very interesting novel, but still waiting to be finished.

After `Rendezvous with Rama' had made such a profound impression on me I began to read several of Clarkes books, but I found them to be rather hit-and-miss. If you want to read the best of his novels it's advisable to be very careful what to buy, and this one may not be your first choice.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?   Let us know
Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

There's a problem loading this menu at the moment.

Learn more about Amazon Prime.

    Your Shopping Basket is empty.

    Give it purpose -- fill it with books, DVDs, clothes, electronics and more.

    If you already have an account, sign in.

    There's a problem previewing your shopping basket at the moment.

    Check your Internet connection and go to your cart, or try again.

    View Shopping Basket (0 items)

      Customer Discussions

      This product's forum
      Discussion Replies Latest Post
      No discussions yet

      Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
      Start a new discussion
      Topic:
      First post:
      Prompts for sign-in
       


      Active discussions in related forums
      Search Customer Discussions
      Search all Amazon discussions
         
      Related forums

      Listmania!

      Create a Listmania! list

      Look for similar items by category

      Feedback