The Nine Billion Names of God

“All the many names of the Supreme Being—God, Jehovah, Allah, and so on—they are only man-made labels […] but somewhere among all the possible combinations of letters that can occur are what one may call the real names of God.” 

The monks believe that with a specially devised alphabet of nine letters, they can list out all the real names of God. They believe this is the work the human race is meant to perform, and when the work is complete the Universe will end. Computers are brought in to help speed up the process. After the last calculation is completed by the computer the world ends. So, readers are left to wonder if the man-made computers really were part of a divine plan after all, even though the scientists running them were non-believers.

“A network of relay satellites twenty-two thousand miles above the equator.” 

Clarke wrote this story before satellite communication existed. He essentially predicted one of the greatest technological advances known on Earth. These types of predictions led him to be known as a kind of prophet.

“Meridian Museum’s greatest treasure—the Siren Goddess.”

Clarke mentions that after writing this story—which he thought was just good fun—scientists discovered what looks like a carving of a human face on Mars. He is delighted by the coincidence, though he is pretty sure it is a trick of light and shadow on the rocks. Nevertheless, this reflects the extent to which Clarke’s writings tapped into a cultural and scientific zeitgeist, as real life frequently mirrored his stories.