Arthur C. Clarke’s health was failing fast, but he still had a story to tell. So he turned to fellow science fiction writer Frederik Pohl, and together the longtime friends wrote what turned out to be Clarke’s last novel.

The Last Theorem,” which grew from 100 pages of notes scribbled by Clarke, is more than a futuristic tale about a mathematician who discovers a proof to a centuries-old mathematical puzzle.

The novel, due in bookstores August 5, represents a historic collaboration between two of the genre’s most influential writers in the twilight of their careers. Clarke, best known for his 1968 work, “2001: A Space Odyssey,” died in March at age 90; Pohl is 89…

Chris Schluep, senior editor at Random House Inc., who worked with Clarke on the book’s concept from the beginning, said the final manuscript maintained a “golden thread” of Clarke throughout but was a clear collaboration between both authors.

“It’s sort of a worthy exclamation point on two pretty incredible careers,” Schluep said.

I couldn’t agree more. Clarke and Pohl have been threaded through my reading for decades.




  1. JPV says:

    From what I understand, Clarke had been using ghost writers for years before his death.

  2. Widgethead says:

    Clarke was one of the best. He will be missed, it is great that two such giants were able to complete one Clarke’s last work. Like Heinlein and Asimov, Clarke was one of the greats.

  3. Testament says:

    It goes to show how an ever inquisitive human mind is the most important component of all
    One can still hear Arthur Clarke’s voice all in all
    The impact that Arthur C. Clarke was and still is
    Satellites, A Space Odyssey – the list goes on and on
    And yet these two in poor health collaborated
    Using modern tools that were to a great degree available as a result as Arthur Clarke to work and complete this project, even in spite of limitations of geography and ever increasing poor health
    The tools were used as that tools – not as ends in themselves

  4. Floyd says:

    I’ve liked Clarke and Pohl’s books over the decades, and will probably buy this one if for no other reason than as a reminder of their work.

    I was looking for a copy of “2001” in a SF bookstore last weekend, actually. My old copy disintegrated before my last move.

  5. BigCarbonFoot says:

    It would be hard for that to be anything but good.

  6. montanaguy says:

    What a visionary! I read a book of his in the 60’s (Out of print, wish I had saved it) called ‘The 21st Century’ in which he predicted an amazing number of unheard-of-ideas that have either come true or are within the grasp of technology now.

  7. BubbaRay says:

    Sir Arthur was proud to have authored a computer adventure game, modeled after his “Rendezvous With Rama” novel. It was published by Sierra Online and did a credible job of leading the player through the novel.

    Even back in the 80’s he recognized that some of his predictions about computers had or were about to come true.

    I’d like to have that novel, by two of sci-fi’s best authors, in my hands right now.


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