The Sentinel
Subtitle: masterworks of science fiction and fantasy
By: Arthur C. Clarke ; illustrated by Lebbeus Woods.
Edition: Berkley trade paperback ed. Masterworks ed.
Publisher: Berkley Books
Published: 1983
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 303
Subjects: Fantasy fiction, English; Science fiction, English
Description: From the Introduction...

Today's readers are indeed fortunate; this really is the Golden Age of science fiction. There are dozens of authors at work today who can match all but the giants of the past.  (And probably one who can do even that, despite the handicap of being translated  from Polish. . . ) Yet I do not really envy the young men and women who first encounter science fiction as the days shorten towards 1984, for we old-timers were able to accomplish something that was unique. 

   Ours was the last generation that was able to read everything. No one will ever do that again. 

Of course, it may well be argued that no one should want to do so, in deference to Theodore Sturgeon's much-quoted Law: "Ninety percent of everything is crud." It is—to say the least—a sobering thought that this might apply even to my writing. 

I  can only hope that everything that follows comes from the other ten percent.
Notes: "A Byron Preiss Visual Publications, Inc. book".
Table of contents: title: 9
label: Introduction: Of Sand and Stars; title: 17
label: Rescue Party; title: 51
label: Guardian Angel; title: 99
label: Breaking Strain; title: 135
label: The Sentinel; title: 151
label: Jupiter V; title: 191
label: Refugee; title: 209
label: The Wind From the Sun; title: 235
label: A Meeting with Medusa; title: 289
label: The Songs of Distant Earth; title: 301
label: Contributors