Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: fat B****rd
Date: 23 Mar 08 - 10:01 AM

The only thing I ever read by him was "Dan Dare" in The Eagle, amd that's fine by me. RIP

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: GUEST,Peter
Date: 23 Mar 08 - 09:48 AM

Sapper82 - the title you are looking for is Glidepath. My favorite novel about WW2.

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: Mrrzy
Date: 22 Mar 08 - 01:27 PM

Real fame: He was the subject of Wait Wait Don't Tell Me's Not My Job segment, and the Pulitzer-prize winning reporter didn't know about the space elevator, and thus lost the game. Some poor listener will not have Carl Kassel's voice on their answering machine...

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: Mrrzy
Date: 21 Mar 08 - 02:27 PM

Yup. Marsport was Asimov. FYI. Also, I can't find anything reputable that says he (Clarke) was a child molester or liked young girls (which I consider a different thing, often)...

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: Mrrzy
Date: 21 Mar 08 - 10:27 AM

Now that I think of it, wasn't Marsport actually by Asimov? In Asimov's Mysteries?

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 21 Mar 08 - 06:01 AM

I have to admit that Arthur C. Clarke was one of the authors I classified in my younger days as "way too scientific" for me--(Tom Clancy is another, even now). I tend to go more for fantasy (LOTR, Doug Adams, etc.), but I liked Rendezvous with Rama even so, having always enjoyed a good mystery.

I would venture to suggest that it wasn't so much where Clarke was coming from as it was where you (collectively) were at the time you discovered him. I think no one would say that his imagination and ideas were less than stellar...

Lin

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: Mr Red
Date: 21 Mar 08 - 05:34 AM

now remind me someone - but I feel it was an Arthur C Clark story and it might very well have been "Marsport without Hilda" but -

one piece of wit and wisdom revolved around the poor communication / one-sided transmission / latency. But I have used the technique many times once or twice it was absolutley crucial. But basically when the answers are not coming through 'keep talking' and describing what you are doing/want/the problem. Saved my bacon.

Now that may not look like science to you but put that into a serial link between computers or e-mails etc and you have a technique, a methodology. Sound good sense? Science usually is.

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: Mrrzy
Date: 20 Mar 08 - 03:23 PM

A) Marsport without Hilda is one of my very favorite short stories.
B) Rendezvous with Rama was, yes, a boring read, BUT it was such a fascinating story! I loved the idea of aliens coming to our solar system just to use our star as a slingshot, not because they were interested in us!

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: Folk Form # 1
Date: 20 Mar 08 - 03:18 PM

Grab, double shame on you. The first shame is for slagging of Rendezvous with Rama. It is not true nothing happens, but it retains an air of mystery. Who the aliens are or the purpose of their mission is never solved, which, I think, but obviously you don't, is a nice touch. The second shame is to read an author who, when the inspiration runs dry and the bills still need paying, decides to callaborate with another, usually unknown, author. The known author provides the rough outline of the plot; the unknown author actually writes the damn thing. The end result: Shit. Serves you right for falling for that one. Oh well, we all have to learn.

Try reading Childshood End, The Sands of Mars, 2001: A Space Odyessy, or any of his collections of short stories. Wonderful stuff. As good as Rendezvous with Rama, if that doesn't put you off.

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: Mr Red
Date: 20 Mar 08 - 02:42 PM

Well I never read an Arthur C Clark story or book that didn't keep me interested till the end.

And in the 60's & 70's I read Sci-Fi avidly.

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: Grab
Date: 20 Mar 08 - 10:41 AM

Sorry, but Rendezvous with Rama is boring as hell. How can anyone turn exploring an alien spaceship into a dry-as-dust textbook? I can summarise it for everyone: they go to an alien spaceship, nothing happens, and you learn nothing interesting about the people involved. Now you don't need to waste time reading it yourselves. Oh, and Clarke bolted on a dreadful final few paragraphs to explain away the pointlessness of it as the first step in a series, although it's on record that he never actually intended to write any more Rama books.

As for the rest of the series, I got the first two sequels together, thinking maybe having a collaborator would improve things. I was sort of tempted to get the final one just to see how it turned out. But I decided that since I didn't care about any of the characters, and the writing was almost physically painful in the awfulness of plot, characterisation and dialogue, on principle I wasn't throwing any more money their direction. Gardens of Rama in particular is in my personal hall of infamy of books without a single redeeming feature.

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 20 Mar 08 - 10:26 AM

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-6009265.html

Please read full article.The article confirms his guilt without a shadow of a doubt.

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: Folk Form # 1
Date: 20 Mar 08 - 10:22 AM

With Clarke's death, we have lost the last of the goldern age of science fiction: Asimov, Heinlen, van Vogt,et al. At least he will have good company.

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: Rapparee
Date: 20 Mar 08 - 09:43 AM

Investigation of the child molestation charges (by Interpol) led to Clarke's complete exoneration. There was no, zero, zip credible evidence presented -- only statements which were not repeated under oath.

Yes, "The Sentinel" was the basis for "2001".

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: Mr Red
Date: 20 Mar 08 - 09:26 AM

Anyone remember the short story "I'm in Marsport Without Hilda"? Plenty of science there - making a boat out of a battery and copper sulphate, and presumably a mold.

And wasn't the Sentinel one of the early stories that gave rise to 2001?

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: Mrrzy
Date: 20 Mar 08 - 09:14 AM

Hmmm - the perviy part I hadn't heard... will look into it.

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 19 Mar 08 - 08:48 PM

Arthur C Clarke, Sri Lanka

Gary Glitter, Vietnam

Pervs in paradise.

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: Amergin
Date: 19 Mar 08 - 08:19 PM

The Sunday Mirror accused him of being a pervert....however the allegations were never proven.

the following is from the Irish Examiner:

Child sex file could
close on sci-fi writer

SRI LANKA will close its investigation of science fiction writer Sir Arthur C Clarke unless a British newspaper hands over evidence to support its allegation that he was a paedophile, a government official said yesterday.
Police sought the tape recording of an interview conducted by the Sunday Mirror on which it based its allegation that Sir Arthur had sex with children, but the paper had not responded to repeated requests, said CR De Silva, the Sri Lankan government additional solicitor-general.
"We have approached Interpol. Our embassy in London did its best. In short, we did everything, but the tape has not come," de Silva said.
"Our investigations in Sri Lanka have not found any evidence against him.
"Keeping this in view, and the situation that we are unable to get the tape, we will have no option but to close the case," he said.
Sir Arthur's office said his lawyers were discussing with government officials how to close the file.
He has strenuously denied the allegations made against him.
The Sunday Mirror published its story in February, a few days before the 80-year-old writer was to be knighted by the Prince of Wales who was visiting Sri Lanka at that time. The ceremony was postponed at Sir Arthur's request.
Police questioned the author and three of the four men quoted by the British tabloid newspaper as having claimed to have had sex or discussed sex with him.
Sri Lanka asked Interpol in April to get the interview tape from the newspaper. A reminder was sent a month later. The Sri Lankan High Commission in London also attempted to get the tape from the Sunday Mirror.

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: Slag
Date: 19 Mar 08 - 06:59 PM

Gee, I didn't really know much of anything of his personal life. If what Windsor Knot says is true, that does tend to take a little luster of his giant intellect and reveal feet of dirt.

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: vectis
Date: 19 Mar 08 - 06:29 PM

I only knew him through his stories and books. He and Wyndham awakened my mind to the possibilities of the future. His Space Elevator idea is now being seriously explored as a faint possibility. A visionary.

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: GUEST,Windsor Knot
Date: 19 Mar 08 - 06:18 PM

Child right activists in Sri Lanka expressed shock that science Arthur C Clarke the Paedophile was given a knighthood by Prince Charles. Why were they shocked ? We know the Royal Family.

Clarke was a dirty old man who was quoted as saying in the interview in the Sunday Mirror that having sex with children was all right.

''Once they have reached the age of puberty, it is OK... It doesn't do any harm,'' said Clarke.

"I am trying to think of the youngest boy I have ever had because, of course, you can't tell it here. I think most of the damage comes from the fuss made by hysterical parents afterwards. If the kids don't mind, fair enough,'' he was reported to have said in the interview which was conducted at his house.

May he slowly roast in hell.

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: Slag
Date: 19 Mar 08 - 06:07 PM

That's really sad Mrrzy.
Grab! I agree with you in part. Some of his stuff was just showcase for some rather brilliant ideas and speculation. I labored through 2001 and I couldn't put down Childhood's End. I don't think it was a question of inspiration. Rather is was a question of what exactly was it that was inspiring him at the time. At any rate, his was one of the great minds of the last century.

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Mar 08 - 04:18 PM

I liked Terry Pratchett's comment "He put the science in science-fiction"

John

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: Mrrzy
Date: 19 Mar 08 - 03:21 PM

Am I old? Nobody in my lab has even heard of him!!! I'm shocked, shocked!

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: sapper82
Date: 19 Mar 08 - 01:41 PM

Can't recall the title, but the Clarke story I enjoyed most was not even a scifi novel, but the one based on his experiences working on the Ground Approach Radar system in WW2.

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: EBarnacle
Date: 19 Mar 08 - 01:28 PM

One of my favorite stories of his details his catch 22 experience with the patent system. In it, he tried to patent the synchronous communications sattelite, which he envisioned. He first developed the idea in one of his stories. When he went to patent it, he was told that, as he had published it as speculative fiction and that it was not physically possible to achieve the product at the time of publication, he could not patent the idea. There were other details but it was one of the many reasons he left the Western world.

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: GUEST,beachcomber
Date: 19 Mar 08 - 12:44 PM

I remember reading one of his short stories, many, many years ago which made the hairs on my neck stand. It was "The Sentinel"!
What a wonderful brain he had.

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: Folk Form # 1
Date: 19 Mar 08 - 10:29 AM

"But also a shame he had to present the ideas in fiction, because he really wasn't much of a writer. "Rendezvous with Rama" is a classic example of how not to write. "

Grab, shame on you. Rendezvous with Rama is an excellet book, as were many of his others. He was a very readible writer who did not dazzle his readers with scientific gobbly-gook but presented his ideas in a clear and easy to understand style. Not much on characterisation, certainly; but a good story teller.

RIP Mr Clarke, we have lost a treasure.

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 19 Mar 08 - 10:01 AM

I've had 48 years enjoying not only his science fiction, but his books on marine archaeology and the Great Barrier Reef. I think the first book of his that I read was "Childhood's End" when I was around 11 back in the early days of the Space Race. Saw "2001: A Space Odyssey" in a theater is downtown Milwaukee -- several times. Several times more on the big screen at drive-ins (remember those?) before they hacked it up for television.

What a writer! What a mind!

And I still have so many of his books to go.

Linn

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: Bee
Date: 19 Mar 08 - 09:18 AM

Goodbye, Mr. Clarke. As a ten year old who'd suddenly and addictively discovered the delights of science fiction, yours were some of the most sciencey and difficult to read - but I couldn't stop reading them, and read every one I could find. Thank you.

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: Mrrzy
Date: 19 Mar 08 - 09:10 AM

Watched his goodbye video - I am so glad he left one. This is a tragic loss to knowledge, science, science-fiction, and outspoken atheism. Man. What did he NOT invent?

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: GUEST,The black belt caterpllar wretler
Date: 19 Mar 08 - 08:57 AM

I never met him, but I have met his brother Fred several times, who said that as children it was always wise to keep a wary eye on Arthur as he was always getting them into trouble with his invetive ideas.

Might need a cross reference to the "Rocket science" thread to get an idea of some of the things that happen with an inventive mind:)

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: Grab
Date: 19 Mar 08 - 08:27 AM

Shame - a great futurologist.

But also a shame he had to present the ideas in fiction, because he really wasn't much of a writer. "Rendezvous with Rama" is a classic example of how not to write. And the sequels are classic examples of how not to handle a collaboration. Some of his short stories (eg. "9 billion names of God") were good though.

Graham.

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: Slag
Date: 19 Mar 08 - 06:39 AM

One of Mr. Clarke's main themes, if not his central theme, was the next phase of human evolution and what that may look like. I'm sure I don't know. Some very subtle change leading to some very profound change, perhaps. But Mr. Clarke did play a big role in the technological evolution of satellite and electronic communication. He and other far thinkers are the visionaries of today and Clarke was one of the giants.

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: open mike
Date: 19 Mar 08 - 01:42 AM

He died at 90 years old in Sri Lanka, where he had lived for 40-50 years. NPR played a recording he made a few months ago where he quoted Rudyard Kipling...here is a place you can find the text of that speech
and a link to a You Tube recording too.
http://www.lightmillennium.org/2008_21st/arthur_c_clarke_90th_bday.html

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 19 Mar 08 - 01:16 AM

Reading the novel based of the movie of 2001 A Space Odyssey at 16 is one of my most vivid memories. I was virtually transported to Jupiter and beyond.

Fare well Mr. Clarke.

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: Chip2447
Date: 19 Mar 08 - 01:07 AM

Arthur C. Clarke was the first Science fiction author that I read.
Thanks for igniting my smoldering, and fertile imagination so long ago... You opened a door for a myriad of others.

Pax...

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 Mar 08 - 12:58 AM

Hard to believe he won't be around any more to challenge ideas and write such great stuff!

RIP, Sir.

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: Don Firth
Date: 18 Mar 08 - 10:39 PM

Happy voyaging, Mr. Clarke. And thank you!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: Peace
Date: 18 Mar 08 - 09:17 PM

These are the titles of his books. Takes about 20 minutes to read THEM.

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: Donuel
Date: 18 Mar 08 - 09:00 PM

Don't forget he gave us communication satilites.
His ideas were put into use within his own lifetime as opposed to Jules Verne who did not get to see his inventions.

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: GUEST,Stranger
Date: 18 Mar 08 - 08:54 PM

"Childhood's End" will always be a book/story/concept that will stay with me.

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: MartinRyan
Date: 18 Mar 08 - 08:16 PM

As a teenager, I enjoyed his writings hugely. Hopefully he's enjoying the latest galaxy he's found.

Regards.

Subject: RE: Obit: 2008 The Final Odyssey
From: Bill D
Date: 18 Mar 08 - 08:08 PM

He was once investigated for his predictions about satellites ....he was too close.

Subject: RE: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Mar 08 - 08:06 PM

I thought he was already....................I was never a Sci-Fi guy but his books covered much more and I remember many enjoyable hours when he was Clarke the the philosopher.

Spaw

Subject: Obit: Arthur C. Clarke, Legendary Author
From: Rapparee
Date: 18 Mar 08 - 08:03 PM

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) - Arthur C. Clarke, a visionary science fiction writer who co-wrote "2001: A Space Odyssey" and won worldwide acclaim with more than 100 books on space, science and the future, died Wednesday, an aide said. He was 90. Clarke, who had battled debilitating post-polio syndrome since the 1960s, died at 1:30 a.m. in his adopted home of Sri Lanka after suffering breathing problems, aide Rohan De Silva said.

Subject: RE: Obit: 2008 The Final Odyssey
From: GUEST,Wesley S
Date: 18 Mar 08 - 07:45 PM

He surely gave us a different way to look at the world and universe around us.

Subject: RE: Obit: 2008 The Final Odyssey
From: Bill D
Date: 18 Mar 08 - 07:36 PM

Childhood's End I hope he found a tenth of what he wrote about.

Subject: RE: Obit: 2008 The Final Odyssey
From: mrdux
Date: 18 Mar 08 - 07:13 PM

Clarke's Laws


       When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong.

                                    – Arthur C. Clarke, Clarke's first law


        The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible.

                                    – Arthur C. Clarke, Technology and the Future (Clarke's second law)


        Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

                                    – Arthur C. Clarke, Profiles of The Future, 1961 (Clarke's third law)

Subject: RE: Obit: 2008 The Final Odyssey
From: Peace
Date: 18 Mar 08 - 07:05 PM

He'll be checking out his visions first-hand. What a wonderful writer he was.