Topic: Arthur C. Clark Has Passed (Read 1728 times)

JohanobesusII · « **on:** March 18, 2008, 11:51:13 pm »

I'm sure everyone hear knows by now, but Arthur C. Clark just died after a long illness. It's sad to look over his optimistic predictions and see how many realistic advances we have failed to make.

He knew his time was coming to an end, and a few months ago recorded his


last public message

on his ninetieth birthday.

Forgive me if this is inappropriate. I have seen many OT threads in this forum and surprisingly a search showed no thread on this topic anywhere here.

Anthony Scott · « **Reply #1 on:** March 19, 2008, 12:41:30 am »

I met the man once when we were doing humanitarian stuff in Sri Lanka. I was slumped against my pack on some airstrip outside where he lived and was reading 2010 I think. This shadow falls across me and I'm thinking "Great, what have one of my men done now?" when this stentorian English-accented voice says:

"That's not one of my best works."

To say that it was like meeting God for me was putting it mildly. I stood up (what else are you to do in front of a Knight?) and he chatted for a few moments before moving on. He was quite the gentleman and was more than happy to talk about radar which he had invented in the early days of the 1930's.

Like many of his generation he was a modest humble man quite overwhelmed with all the attention that his writings and inventions had made him the center of. I still have that book by the way.

I will miss him as much as I have missed James Doohan.

Semper Fi, Carry On

Adonis · « **Reply #2 on:** March 19, 2008, 03:04:32 am »

Another one of the greats has went for the stars.

He will forever be remembered!

ModelsPlease · « **Reply #3 on:** March 19, 2008, 08:38:32 am »

Bonk · « **Reply #4 on:** March 19, 2008, 09:20:50 am »

Childhood's End is my favorite. An influential text, wonderful story, I remember having a hard time returning to reality after reading it as a teenager. It was one of those where you don't want the story to end.

FPF-Tobin Dax · « **Reply #5 on:** March 19, 2008, 11:09:16 am »

Quote from: Bonk on March 19, 2008, 09:20:50 am

Childhood's End is my favorite. An influential text, wonderful story, I remember having a hard time returning to reality after reading it as a teenager. It was one of those where you don't want the story to end.

I have to agree. Childhood's End is the one I remember best. An interesting ending too. Sad and uplifting at the same time. I also enjoyed reading the sentinel in one of his short story collections. I have the books still in the basement. Quite an amazing man.

Greenvalv · « **Reply #6 on:** March 19, 2008, 11:35:32 am »

His death was humorous in only one way... it was the 18th for me when I read the news that he had passed away on the morning of the 19th... he's a time traveler!

Klingon Fanatic · « **Reply #7 on:** March 19, 2008, 01:49:04 pm »

Truly a great man has passed. What a life too! I can only hope I'm that mentally intact if I ever reach 90+.

KF

Anthony Scott · « **Reply #8 on:** March 21, 2008, 11:38:06 pm »

For me, it was The Songs of Distant Earth and Odyssey 3 that have solidified certain certain political and religious beliefs. Also Rendez Vous with Rama. My copy of 2010 is battered and in some places torn but it remains one of my most treasured books, alog with Carl Sagain's The Demon-Haunted World, a book that should be required reading.

Semper Fi, Sir Arthur C. Clarke.

News: