The Nine Billion Names of God

"The Nine Billion Names of God" is a short story by Arthur C. Clarke that explores the idea that the universe's purpose is fulfilled when a specific set of divine names—nine billion in number—are completed. A group of monks seek to enumerate all these names, believing their completion will bring cosmic harmony. They hire technicians using a computer to list the names efficiently. The story suggests that once the task is finished, the universe's intended purpose is achieved, and natural phenomena, like stars, begin to fade, symbolizing that the cosmic goal has been accomplished.