Arthur C. Clarke 1917-2008
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto 
on 03.18.08
I was going to start this post by saying that I had read everything written by Arthur C. Clarke, but reviewing his oeuvre on Wikipedia, I realized that I had only scratched the surface. The man was not just a science fiction writer but a visionary; while many love his novels like Childhood's End (ever the urbanist, I preferred the City and the Stars) his solid non-fiction works like "The Promise of Space" inspired a generation.
He wrote in another era, one of incredible optimism, where science and technology would solve all of our problems. He solved a few of them himself, envisioning geosynchronous orbiting satellites in 1945. But he understood our tenuous position on this planet and described what would ultimately happen to us after we screwed up so badly in my absolute favourite short story written in 1949, History Lesson.
Arthur C. Clarke, dead at 90. ::Washington Post
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He was one of the greatest!
Sad...
but at 90, and with his achievements...
Is this about you, Lloyd, or Arthur C. Clarke?
"Much of it was crap"
Really? In an obituary? I appreciate the posting, but not the content. Have some respect, or at least some tact.
LA: You are correct and I have reconsidered that statement, and removed it.
Let's put things into perspective. If it weren't for Sir Arthur C. Clarke, we wouldn't have communications satellites. He may not have patented the idea in 1945, but we wouldn't have the telecommunications industry as we know it today if it weren't for Sir Arthur.
And then there's his other contributions to science as well as the (arguably) most important fiction pieces in his vast body of work, "Childhood's End," "2001," and "Rendevous with Rama." And what would science fiction movies be without "2001?"
With the passing of such a grand individual, I think reflection and contemplation is in order. We all owe Sir Arthur a lot.
:(
I feel terrible. One of my favorite authors.
Arthur C. Clarke's books were among the most influential that I read growing up. 2001 had a great influence on me as well and still does today, it didnt fail at predicting the future, we failed in living up to its vision. He predicted radar, satelites and space elevators given his track record I think we can expect space elevators in a few decades...
I am surprised he is not being credited as the creator of HAL in the articles I have read or about any films in the works based on his books, I understand that Rama is being filmed..... Thank you Arthur a great light has been extinguished but his works being way ahead of their time will live on and influence many others for decades to come.....
One of the three wishes Arthur C Clarke aired on his 90th birthday is to see the world move towards a clean energy source.