The Star
by Arthur C. Clarke
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At a glance:
- Author: Arthur C. Clarke
- First Published: 1955
- Type of Plot: Science fiction
- Time of Work: The twenty-sixth century
- Setting: Aboard an exploratory spacecraft
- Genres: Short fiction, Science fiction
- Subjects: Extraterrestrial life, Future, Space flight or travel, Space ships, stations, or vehicles, God, Forests or forestry, Jesuits, Stars, Space sciences
- Locales: Space
The Story
The unnamed narrator, a Jesuit priest, is the astrophysicist on an exploratory scientific spacecraft. He is constantly reminded of this duality by his shipmates and by the very decorations and features of his room. The Jesuit speaks throughout the story to an unnamed “you” who is often unknown, sometimes himself, at times St. Ignatius Loyola (founder of the Jesuits), and finally, God. The narrator’s several brief asides show his distress over something the ship has discovered.
The ship has come to the Phoenix Nebula, the remains of a star that became a...
(The entire page is 1264 words.)
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Popular Questions
See all »- In Arthur Clarke's "The Star," why is the ending of the story ironic?
- "The Star" by Clarke creates a conflict between science and religion. Please explain to me how.
- What is the conflict between religion and science in "The Star"?
- What is the central idea of "The Star"?
- Is there any figurative language in "The Star" by Arthur C. Clarke? Figurative language
