Encounter in the Dawn

Infobox short story |
name = Encounter in the Dawn
author = Arthur C. Clarke
country = United Kingdom
language = English
genre = Science fiction
published_in = Amazing Stories
publication_type =
publisher =
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pub_date = June-July, 1953

"Encounter in the Dawn" is a short story by Arthur C. Clarke published in 1953. Also known as Encounter at Dawn, the story was originally published as "Encounter in the Down." The story was later restyled and used as the basis for the first section in Clark's "2001 A Space Odyssey".

In Clark's "The Lost Worlds of 2001", the author noted that: "An editor at Ballantine Books gave it the ingenious title "Expedition to Earth" when it was published in the book of that name, but I prefer "Encounter in the Dawn." However, when Harcourt, Brace and World brought out my own selection of favorites, The Nine Billion Names of God, it was mysteriously changed to "Encounter at Dawn."