I just read that Arthur C. Clarke passed away today. He will be greatly missed. His writings were some of the earliest that got me tuned into literature, religion, philosophy, science, etc. His writings were some of the first I read after my introduction to the world of ideas in my reading of Bradbury. He was 90 years old.

Rest in peace, one of our greatest.

I was introduced to scifi/fantasy by Ray Bradbury, when I got through Bradbury's work, I was hooked, and went right to Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov. They were both great. I remember being blown away by Clarke's Childhood's End. Also loved the 2001 movie and book. I was able to go to see 2001 A Space Odyssey in Hollywood on a massive, curved screen. Very cool. I have never grown out of my love of Scifi and fantasy. These guys changed my life decades ago, and still influence me.

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Originally posted by Mr. Dark:
I remember being blown away by Clarke's Childhood's End.

In my opinion, Childhood's End was his greatest work.

It's probably time for another reading of it.

Here is a link to the New York Times obituary for this fine writer:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/18/books/18cnd-clarke.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

Incidentally, Mr. Clarke and Ray Bradbury were long-time friends, and Mr. Clarke wrote a very nice (and ultimately very funny) forward to the recent PS Publishing re-issue of Ray's S IS FOR SPACE. They also appeared together on a panel discussion (with Carl Sagan, among others) about space travel and exploration that was transcribed and published in 1973 by Harper & Row as MARS AND THE MIND OF MAN.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Richard,

A macintosh man, I see.

So is Forry.

Does anyone remember that Arthur c. Clarke was the originator of the synchonous orbit satellite; that concept is used for all the transmissions from Earth to space and back to Earth. He also wrote a story about growing a filament from the Earth to orbit and then using that to enable a Space Elevator to traverse the filament avoiding the expense of rockets and fuel. What a truly inventive mind. And he lived in Columbo, Sri Lanka - a paradise.

"2001: A Space Odyssey" is one of the best films ever made.

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Originally posted by patrask:
And he lived in Colombo, Sri Lanka - a paradise.

But what is more amazing is that he moved there from England - even more of a paradise!

The great Mr. Clarke was one of the few to respond to a letter I sent to many people some years ago. His answer was detailed and gracious.

R. I. P., Arthur C.!

quote:

Originally posted by patrask:
Does anyone remember that Arthur c. Clarke was the originator of the synchonous orbit satellite; that concept is used for all the transmissions from Earth to space and back to Earth.

patrask~ Actually, the technical term for a synchonous orbit is called a Clarke orbit.

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Originally posted by Doug Spaulding:
A macintosh man, I see.

So is Forry.

I believe Sir Arthur used nearly every computer under the sun. His home in Sri Lanka was packed with computers and satellite dishes so he could maintain in communication with the rest of civilisation. He was one of the first authors to deliver his manuscripts electronically, and was using the internet before most of us knew it existed!

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Originally posted by Doug Spaulding:
But what is more amazing is that he moved there from England - even more of a paradise!

The cold and the damp in this "paradise" is what drives us Brits elsewhere!

quote:

Originally posted by Nard Kordell:
patrask~ Actually, the technical term for a synchonous orbit is called a Clarke orbit.

Synchonous is a good word.

But synchRonous is better!