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March 18, 2008

Arthur C. Clarke (1917-2008)

Arthur C. Clarke died from breathing complications today at his home in Sri Lanka. He was 90 years old.

How do I express the profound impact of Clarke on my own life? He co-wrote the screenplay to my favorite film (2001: A Space Odyssey), and wrote several science-fiction novels that deeply affected me (e.g. Childhood's End, Rendevous With Rama, and Fountains of Paradise). He had an extensive career in both space and undersea research and helped bring the Space Age to the common man. Few writers have had the personal impact that Clarke has (only Vonnegut, Jr., Heinlein and Larry Niven -- whom I've met on several occasions -- are in the same Pantheon).

Like Al Gore, he is credited with promoting some advanced concepts that eventually became reality, including geosynchronous satellites. He's been a staunch supporter of the Space Elevator, which if ever built, will almost certainly be named the Clarke Elevator as has the geosync orbit of Earth (the Clarke Orbit). He left three wishes at the event of his 90th birthday, and among them was the desire for humanity to discover life on other worlds. This is a common theme of his works.

I would be remiss if I didn't weigh in, so to speak, on Clarke's eccentricities. I was dismayed when the accusations of pedophilia arose around the time that Clarke was being knighted. I would not be surprised to find out if he was a homosexual, and that would hardly diminish my respect for him and his work. It certainly has been a particular spectre for British geniuses, with the suicide of Alan Turing being the most painful example. No wonder Clarke chose to live abroad most of his life. His insistence on staying in Sri Lanka always exposed him to danger from extremists, but he apparently felt safe there. I'm sure the island nation is a spectacular place to live.

In his later years, his productivity naturally diminished, but not before he could pen 3001, a fitting and moving end to the 2001 series. He ties up some loose ends, reveals the limits of the interstellar intelligences (they being vulnerable to software virii), and makes a strong threat about global warming and zero-point energy. He also gave an interesting "look back" on our times, and that is always the hallmark of excellent science-fiction.

Clarke's writing was usually crisp, technically brilliant, and in his later work, richer in character development. The profound ideas in his stories are what shaped my own views of the Universe and our place in it. I will miss him, and always cherish his work.

Posted by Steven at March 18, 2008 09:42 AM

Comments

I never got around to reading much of Arthur C. Clarke's books, although my husband and I have a lot of his novels. But of course I watched his 2001 and 3001 series. I hope his movies were right about a God in the universe.. I agree he was a great storyteller.

Posted by: michelle w [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 26, 2008 09:21 PM

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