Tales from the White Hart by Arthur C. Clarke (1957)

When I first began reading through my collections of short stories by Arthur C. Clarke, I anticipated virtually everything to be space-based. From my foggy recollections of Childhood’s End and 2001: A Space Odyssey, I knew there could also be some Earthbound plotting, but still—mostly focused on space travel and space creatures.

That’s why, when I saw the title for this 1957 collection of stories, I envisioned The White Hart as a spaceship lost in the deepest reaches, experiencing all sorts of drama with her as-yet-unknown crew. That’s is definitely not the case.

The White Hart is instead a pub down an English road where a bunch of men—many of them highly educated, but not all of them old—gather to spin yarns, to tell their big-fish tales, and most of all to hear Harry Purvis one-up them every single time. Sure, these stories all have some technical twist that could be described as “moderately Sci-fi,” but not fully so. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised by this—after all, Isaac Asimov also wrote way outside his own Sci-fi lane, so it shouldn’t be surprising to see Arthur C. Clarke doing the same.

Note: this post includes Amazon affiliate links.

The Stories in Tales from the White Hart

This book contains 15 great little stories, many of them tongue-in-cheek, and all of them highly enjoyable. I was surprised to see this recurring Purvis character as a narrator, and I thought—what an ingenious way to tell whatever kind of off-the-wall story you wanted to! Just put it in the mouth of a half-drunk story teller, and let him go!

As usual, I’m “reviewing” each story here by sharing their plots simply alongside my thoughts, generally sans spoilers.

1. “Silence Please” (1950, a.k.a. “By Charles Willis”)

In this introductory story, we’re kindly introduced to the White Hart, that mysterious pub where professionals come to argue, drink beer, and play chess. It’s also the place where scientists come to discuss their new inventions. One man creates a special gadget, The Fenton Silencer, that does some fascinating work with sound waves. This first story not only provides the setting for all that’s to come, but also introduces us to the main character, Harry Purvis, who tells all these wonderful tales—and to the narrator who recalls them. Very clever indeed!

2. “Big Game Hunt” (1956, a.k.a. “The Reckless Ones”)

Back in the same pub, we get to hear the story of a great whale hunt—though as stories go, I felt the clincher landed a little flat. Nevertheless, this one solidified for me the overall feel of this book. These are mostly happy tales, fit with twists and humor that would make a storyteller like Harry Purvis the definite life of any party.

3. “Patent Pending” (1954, a.k.a. “The Invention”)

It’s strange to think that someone with such a prolific Sci-fi career could have that one story called “The Invention.” Inventions are his bread and butter! That’s like naming a Sherlock Holmes story, “The Crime.”

In this story which attempts to capture the power of virtual reality—recording emotions and sensations electronically—Clarke references “the feelies” from Aldous Hixley’s Brave New World. By capturing the joys of eating meals and drinking wines (among other sensations), this inventor sparks certain suspicions in his wife.

4. “Armaments Race” (1954)

I know there have only been four stories so far, but “this “Armaments Race” is the most clever story yet and definitely may favorite so far. I had to laugh at the opening premise: that a television producer is sick and tired of seeing sword fights on other planets, like, if we can fly people across the universe, certainly we can think up better weapons than swords! Who hasn’t had the exact same thought whenever they watch Luke Skywalker battling Darth Vader with lightsabers?

The producer’s props guy is forced to come up with bigger and better weapons every episode of their space serial, until he creates one so grand, he garners attention beyond their studio.

5. “Critical Mass” (1957, revised from “Lilliput”, 1949)

Another yarn from the pub that saves its clincher for the final moment. This one mixes technology with nature in a way we least expect it. My own familiarity with the “black mass” described in this book has definitely made me think of aliens before! Not sure what I’m talking about? Guess you’ll have to read the story.

6. “The Ultimate Melody” (1957)

It’s incredible that, way back when, Arthur C. Clarke could predict exactly what AI music has now become. Oh, how I both love and hate AI! While I can’t trust anything I hear or see online anymore, I do occasionally appreciate some AI music—particularly the new-genre covers of famous classic songs. I never appreciated Soul, for example, until I heard “Sweet Child O’ Mine” and “Higher” redone by The Professor. Great tunes, the both of them. But is it art? And will it ever replace the work of true artists?

This story deals with queries like this, and this particular line really caught me:

If [the machine] worked, it would put every composer in the world out of business. Or would it? Perhaps not. Ludwig might be able to deliver the raw material, but surely it would still have to be orchestrated.

And there’s the rub. AI makes it so that orchestration itself is a non-issue. From words to tune to orchestration to tone, AI can do it all. Where will it ever end?

7. “The Pacifists” (1956)

When an early computer designed for math war is programmed to insult a particular general, bad things happen. I can’t exactly tell why, but this story is the closest I’ve yet seen to something akin to Asimov. Perhaps it’s Machine vs. Man conflict. Reminiscent for sure.

8. “The Next Tenants” (1957)

In this story, Harry Purvis recalls the time he found a man—living on what they thought was an uninhabited atoll—who raises and studies termites. The white-bearded Japanese professor reminds Purvis of “a Kentucky Colonel” he once knew during the war, and I’m pretty sure that’s a reference to Colonel Sanders, though my timeline may be off. The scientist has been training termites to build and use tools, hoping (I suppose) they’ll evolve enough to make delicious biscuits from scratch.

This story has another anti-human bent, as I’ve seen in other Clarke tales. It’s all Sci-fi, of course, but that recurring theme is strange—and a little disheartening.

9. “Moving Spirit” (1957)

This was a humorous tale about Purvis’ uncle, an inventor who also enjoying distilling illegal moonshine. When caught and taken to court, his twist in logic convinces the court that his whiskey has an alternative use. Harry Purvis may not have told this one while sober. I liked it.

10. “The Man Who Ploughed the Sea” (1957)

A man creates a “molecular sieve” which he attaches to cruise ships, not to search for gold as some think is possible, but something quite different. It is a fascinating concept, mining the minerals of the sea. I wonder if anyone has found success in doing that yet.

11. “The Reluctant Orchid” (1956)

If you like The Little Shop of Horrors, this story might be for you. I know this is a spoiler, but I love this frame of mind:

When Hercules considered that his picador tactics had brought the orchid into the right frame of mind, he wondered if he should test it with live bait. This was a problem that worried him for some weeks, during which time he would look speculatively at every dog or cat he passed in the street, but he finally abandoned the idea, for a rather peculiar reason. He was simply too kind-hearted to put it into practice. Aunt Henrietta would have to be the first victim.

12. “Cold War” (1957)

This story about a secret submarine reminded me so much of a Clive Cussler plot, it was uncanny. I really liked this simile:

Even a small iceberg would be as disconcerting to the Florida Chamber of Commerce as a small baby to an unmarried lady.

13. “What Goes Up” (1956)

In this mathematical story about the quiet possibility of UFOs, we finally learn a bit more about Harry Purvis, who calls himself “a general specialist.” It’s as ambiguous as it is insightful, and I think I’d like to call myself that from now on.

14. “Sleeping Beauty” (1957)

While this one is not at all a Sci-fi story, it is a lovely little tale about a man named Snoring who struggled with—you guessed it—snoring. It’s a charming and clever story that I think prepared us readers well for this final shocker.

15. “The Defenestration of Ermintrude Inch” (1957)

While “this “defenestration” is not a word I knew before reading this story, I find it’s a fitting word and a fantastic way to end this book! It’s right in line with all the rest, a half-believable tale and a perfect mystery about the disappearance of Harry Purvis himself. Loved it.

Conclusion

Although these Tales from the White Hart did not take me to space in a rocket (as I expected) to meet little green men (or hairy apes), I still found it an enjoyable foray into the mind and imagination of Arthur C. Clarke.

It makes me want to keep reading, in fact, which is great, because next up is The Other Side of the Sky (1968). I’m pretty sure that one will take me to Space.

©2026 E.T.

Want more reviews like this? Get Elliot’s Weekly Digest.