The Ghost from the Grand Banks

by Arthur C. Clarke

Book Overview

A hundred years after the sinking of the Titanic, two of the world's most powerful corporations race to find a way to raise and preserve the doomed luxury liner. The quest to uncover the secrets of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0553072226
• ISBN13: 9780553072228
• Release Date: November 1990
• Publisher: Spectra Books
• Length: 274 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Great Read!

I read this book for the first time about 10 years ago. Before Y2K and before the 1997 film Titanic tweeked everyones interest in the Titanic. The main story deals with the attempt to raise the Titanic from the ocean floor and transport it to a location where it can be maintained and saved from further decay.Aside from the plot there were some very good subplots. One dealt with the YTK problem. This book was published a decade before YTK and way before most people, like me, were even aware that there was a YTK computer problem. The solution offered in the book obviously was not one that came to pass but it was still interesting to read about the nature of the problem and the difficulties that could arise if left unchecked. The technology used to raise the Titanic was well described. I am not that scientific or math savvy and so I cannot say if the technology described is currently possible but it seemed possible the way Clarke described it.The story is set around the year 2012, the 100 year anniversary of the sinkning of the Titanic. I'm quite sure some of the technology mentioned in the novel does not exist. One invention involving the future of windshield blades and keeping rain off of an automobile windshield was interesting. On the other hand I found the whole "M-set" thing to be beyond me. I'm not sure what role it actually played in the overall plot. I gather that the "M-set" is used in other novels and may make more sense to those that have read more of Clarke's novels. Lastly, this book is a quick read. It is not to deep or to shallow. An excellent book to read during breaks on the job or to read during an evening when you have time to kill.

The Clarke name says it all

Everyone knows this author; Arthur C. Clarke is a genius of his time and ours.I myself think anything dealing with Titanic is going to be a boring attempt at a topic that has been very over done, but I actually enjoyed this book. This was a story I felt I had to concentrate on; I was trying to figure out the math questions on my own without much success but a headache, but don't let that put you off, if I concentrate to much on anything my head begins to throb, anyways:The story line is fairly, well to be attempted. To bring Titanic up and of course it's going to take a few pretty pennies to do so. So why not make a big deal about it and have a race, two sides battle a way to the prize and to the success of having to bring up a snapped in half, ocean liner that sunk a hundred years ago? The interesting part is the year this book was written in and the year the characters are placed in, and of course what year you read the book. I was shocked at the way this author thought of the future, and it was so scary a mind could think that up.I can't remember but years ago, people wanted to bring up the Titanic; they should of read this book and just left their grubby hands off it. (I think they did)There is robots, huge squid, big high on their horse characters and over the top genius on this case and I even liked them.The characters are well, not really that important, it's the idea and plot in the book. Sometimes I lost myself in all the gumbo jumbo about how, when, where, and exactly the way your going to do it, but still it was a good book. The idea of M-set interested me much and I even read the little, explanation of it at the end of the book. WoW!I'd say if you like Clarke and his books, read it. If you like the idea of Titanic, read it, if you like sci-fi, Read it. I think it's a good thinking book and worth the time.

The Story of Raising the Titanic from where She Lies.

Arthur C Clarke's story telling comes out in one of his best story's containing more information as well as keeping the book running at a glorious rate. If you want to know about the M-Set or if -3 does have a square root you will find it here. Of course the main plot is of raising the hulk that is the Titanic and of Natures way of thwarting even the most detailed plans by not one but two corporations. He does like to skin dive and this is probably something he thought about himself in his own way. My rating of seven is for the story an extra point or two should be added for the extra information on the M-Set and the Square Root of -3. If you can find it consider buying it I bought it for £1.25 about $3. which is a bargain for this type of book.

Shows the everlasting desire of humanity to leave a mark.

A dramatic showcase of the everlasting desire of humanity to leave a 'footprint' - on Earth and beyond -. Clarke blends here science and thechnology with an epic fight for prevailing, resembling human ventures to the Nature's process of evolution

Exploring new depths of imagination

Once again, people are out to raise the Titanic! But this is a very different Clarke story. No rockets or talking robots here, just human ingenuinity - and Mother Nature untamed. The story is full of fascinating technology that is surprising in its simplicity - like using "condemned nuclear submarines" as underwater power plants to assist in raising the derelict. As any old salt will tell you, the sea never gives up all its secrets. The legend lives on, so does the fascination for it.