Week Nine: The Star (1956)

  

  We were focusing on contemporary space opera this week. I chose to read The Star written by Arthur C. Clarke.

  The plot is about a group of space explorers from earth return from an expedition to a remote star system, where they discovered the remnants of an advanced civilization destroyed when its star went supernova. They also discovered the destroyed planet's culture was very similar to Earth's. Finally, the narrator calculated the data the emitted light from the explosion reached the Earth, proving that cataclysm that destroyed the peaceful planet was the same star that heralded the birth of Jesus.

  I personally don't like stories related to space or any "pace" things, so this is kind of boring to me, but I think it is appropriate to be shot in a movie. Since it is a space opera story, the plot and dialogue are melodramatic. I am impressed by the ending where after explorers saw the remnants of other planet's civilization which has been destroyed, the narrator asked "Oh God, there were so many stars you could have used. What was the need to give these people to the fire, that the symbol there of their passing might shine above Bethlehem?" It kind of suggests that scientists' faith has been shaken.

  When it comes to the question that what elements from other genre have been used in the work, I believe the author something related to Christian. There are many places where the author connected the plot to Christian. For example, the group's chief astrophysicist, a Jesuit Priest, is suffering from a deep crisis of faith, triggered by some disclosed events during the journey. The ending reveals that scientists' faith has been shaken was also because of the apparent capriciousness of god.

  Overall, it is a boring story to me, but I think it is a good story to study what is space opera.

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