Arthur C. Clarke passed away yesterday. Being something of a science fiction buff-but not a full fledged aficionado-it is with great sadness that we note his passing. I read a lot of his books, all of the 2001 series, and many of his articles in various magazines.
1968-yours truly, telling Mom he was going one place then doing something totally different-got on the street car to watch 2001 A Space Odyssey at the Fulton theater on 6th street. If she had known I was taking the streetcar into town, I am quite certain she would have kicked my ass. I was all of 11 years old.
Fast forward 15 years to 1983. USS America had pulled into Colombo Sri Lanka. Not exactly a thriving liberty port- we each had to make our own fun. I mostly spent my days getting drunk by the pool after fighting beggars on the street just to walk around and see what few sights there were to see, played golf on an old British course complete with cows on it, and talked with my friends from the squadron. One of whom-quite by surprise to us I might add-looked up Arthur C. Clarke somehow , unannounced, paid a visit on him. According to him, the author spent about 40 minutes with him. We all thought it was BS-until he produced the autographed book. 7 jaws dropped in unison.
Godspeed sir and thank you for your work.
Ah, yes, I remember reading “Earthlight” in 4th grade, when I was 9. The teacher left me alone, I being generally ahead of the program.
“Earthlight” is still my favorite of his. Has a lot to say about divided loyalties, heavy-handed government people, and exciting space battles.
I remember the lecture he did at Ga. Tech in 1968. A gal I knew very slightly came away with the water glass from which he’d drunk.
There was an informal challenge between himself and Asimov over who would write the most number of books – Asimov may have won the challenge, but I came out ahead having read all of their collective works over the course of three summers. And what a collection – Childhood’s End, the Sentinel, 2001 (of course), Earthlight, to name but a few on Clarke’s side and over on Asimov’s side – the FoundationTrilogy and I Robot series to name but a few. We are richer for the experience but poorer for their absence today (especially for the dreck that passes for SF these days).
Oh and speaking of today…mazeltov my friend 😉
-SJS
3 more days. I’ll e-mail you to explain. But its Monday, Japan time!