The Deep Range

By: Arthur C. Clarke

Narrated by: Steven Menasche

It is the 21st century and humans have finally conquered the sea. Professionals now harvest plankton to feed the world. However, the sea has not given up all its secrets...and men like Walter Franklin are determined to find them out.

©1957 Arthur C. Clarke (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Narrater is fine

Don't be put off by other reviewers comments about the narrater. His style is fine and not at all distracting. Clarke over explains some things but that's to be expected given that sonar was an exotic technology at the time.

Love Arthur C Clarke's stories about the ocean.

A bit dated with the hunting of whales. I guess Clarke didn't quite predict this future correctly. It is still an enjoyable story reminiscent of "Dolphin Island" (which I wish Audible would do)....a future story set in an oceanic environment.

Weird, Unbelievable Story

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Interesting take on the future of the ocean, a bit unrealistic--. but given the publish date...

What could Arthur C. Clarke have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

More details.

Which character – as performed by Steven Menasche – was your favorite?

All are fine

Do you think The Deep Range needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No

Any additional comments?

I am not in love with the book, but I do like the narration. Kind of soothing. I think at times a bit dramatic, but it works for me.

Classic Clarke, but the reader pauses too much

What did you like best about The Deep Range? What did you like least?

This book, published in 1957, is Clarke's speculation on the use of the oceans to maintain the world's food supply. (The real life "Green Revolution" in land-based agriculture didn't take off until the 1960s, so at the time turning to the seas looked promising.) Plankton farming vies with whale herding for providing human nutriment. The analogy of plankton = homestead farming, vs. whales = cattle ranching in the Old West, is not lost on Clarke, who gives us Whaleboys instead of Cowboys. We also get the tantalizing possibility of undiscovered sea monsters, and the age-old debate over whether it's right to slaughter animals to feed humanity.

The characters have more depth than in much of Clarke's later work, and Clarke can be forgiven for casting women entirely in the housewife/secretary role they were stuck with at the time the book was written.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Steven Menasche?

Who would I cast as narrator? ANYONE ELSE. Mr. Menasche has an annoying tendency to pause dramatically before the end of every sentence. EVERY sentence. Even sentences that aren't supposed to be dramatic. It's like listening to William Shatner read the U.S. Constitution.

Was The Deep Range worth the listening time?

Yes

So much fun!

At first I was skeptical of a submarine adventure, but it's definitely a fun and refreshing change of pace from too much deep space!