Arthur C. Clarke dies age 90

Author: Joe Martin
Published: 19th March 2008
Comments (20) Stumble
"If I have given you delight in all that I have done, let me lie quiet in that night, which shall be yours anon."

"If I have given you delight in all that I have done, let me lie quiet in that night, which shall be yours anon."

Arthur C. Clarke, prominent science fiction author and one of the most visionary minds of our century, has died today aged 90. Arthur C. Clarke died in hospital care in Sri Lanka this morning according to reports from the BBC.

Clarke was well known for his science fiction works which included the likes of the hugely influential 2001: A Space Odyssey and The Songs of Distant Earth, but was also an early pioneer of satellite communication. Clarke is credited with being the first person to conceptualise geostationary communication satellites and has therefore had a huge and lasting impact on the way people communicate.

Clarke was born the son of a farmer in Somerset in 1917 and enjoyed a long and prolific position as one of the forefathers of science fiction, having published many novels and helping to push forward the development of radar technologies during World War II.

Having originally written stories for comic books before moving to full-length novels, Clarke was acknowledged by Gene Roddenberry as the major inspiration for the first series of Star Trek. He is survived by Clarke's Law, which states that "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."

Speaking at his 90th birthday last year, Clarke told fans that he wanted to be remembered most as a writer capable of stretching the imagination.

"If I have given you delight in all that I have done, let me lie quiet in that night, which shall be yours anon."

Pass on your respects in the forums.
Quote UncertainGod 18th March 2008, 22:11
Damn, R.I.P man.
Quote E.E.L. Ambiense 18th March 2008, 22:25
RIP. Absolute legend. Foreseer of satellite technology among others.
Quote Scirocco 19th March 2008, 02:47
One of my most favorite authors, a real visionary. My favorite book of his is Childhood's End. I also read that a movie of Rendezvous with Rama may be in the works.
Quote glaeken 19th March 2008, 03:40
That is a shame. One of the only sci-fi authors I would read.
Quote KayinBlack 19th March 2008, 03:43
I'm deeply saddened. He was a role model of mine as a writer...
Quote Herbicide 19th March 2008, 08:01
...

I think I'll re-read 2001-3001 (and others) in memory of a true visionary.
Quote badders 19th March 2008, 08:10
The last of the great three is now gone (Asimov, Heinlein, Clarke).

A sad day for us all.
Quote GreatOldOne 19th March 2008, 08:24
Damn. Couldn't believe it when I read the news last night. RIP Arthur. Mind you 90 is a good innings, and he lived long enough to see many of the sufficiently advanced technologies he wrote about stop being magic and beome science fact.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Scirocco
My favorite book of his is Childhood's End.

Great book - if you haven't read any Clarke at all, or the only exposure you've had to him is 2001 and the Mysterious World series, read this.
Quote CardJoe 19th March 2008, 10:27
Quote:
Originally Posted by badders
The last of the great four is now gone (Asimov, Heinlein, Clarke, Bester).

Corrected for accuracy, but at least Harlan Ellison is still causing a ruckus.

RIP Arthur, may you be remembered in more ways than you ever hoped.
Quote badders 19th March 2008, 10:31
Bester? - Who He?;)

Edit- With Anthony Minghella and The Original Captain Birds Eye also gone, it's a very sad day.
Quote Xtrafresh 19th March 2008, 10:44
Aristotle's "good man" is now defined.

RIP mate, i'm doing what i can to follow the way he lived and enjoyed life.
Quote LVMike 19th March 2008, 11:01
The only futurist who was/ is worth a damn. A visionary who inspired generations of thinkers and dreamers.
Quote JesterQ 19th March 2008, 12:36
A true visionary .... I don't think any other writter will have so much influence
Quote Reputator 19th March 2008, 12:56
My favorite author.

He will be missed.
Quote DXR_13KE 19th March 2008, 13:31
rest in peace.
Quote Nexxo 19th March 2008, 18:43
Quote:
Originally Posted by CardJoe
Quote:
Originally Posted by badders
The last of the great five is now gone (Asimov, Heinlein, Clarke, Bester, Dick).

A sad day for us all.

Corrected for accuracy, but at least Harlan Ellison is still causing a ruckus.
And again... corrected for accuracy. ;)

At least there is new blood: Charles Stross, Justina Robson, Richard Morgan...
Quote Kipman725 19th March 2008, 18:51
Quote:
Originally Posted by badders
The last of the great three is now gone (Asimov, Heinlein, Clarke).

A sad day for us all.

+philip K dick
Quote Nexxo 19th March 2008, 18:53
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kipman725
+philip K dick

Pssst. See my previous post...
Quote Tyrmot 19th March 2008, 21:00
RIP Arthur C. Clarke - sic itur ad astra
Quote johnnyboy700 19th March 2008, 21:41
Yep, I echo the sentiments already mentioned, RIP Arthur. Its a shame you never got to see your Rama novels on the big screen, I reckon that with the current state of CGI its certainly acheiveable.
Last I heard was that Morgan Freeman (no relation to Gordon though) was connected to the film version but that was a long time ago.
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