RIP Arthur C. Clarke

Fingolfin_Noldor · Post by **Fingolfin_Noldor** » 2008-03-18 08:43pm

His later books weren't too great, but his earlier works were imaginative and original.

RIP.

Lord Poe · Post by **Lord Poe** » 2008-03-18 08:45pm

The guy had a good run; he can't live forever.

I will be seeing Ray Bradbury next month. The last time I saw him the poor guy didn't look like he knew what planet he was on. That didn't stop his handlers from pushing books in front of him tro sign as he was trying to eat his breakfast.

Braedley · Post by **Braedley** » 2008-03-18 09:57pm

I just saw the article up on /., and although I never did read any of his books, I still know that the man is a sci-fi genius. He lived a long life, and may he rest in peace.

Mange · Post by **Mange** » 2008-03-19 12:00am

Farewell, Mr. Clarke.

Raesene wrote:I have to find my copies of 2001, 2010 and 2063 and read them again...

RIP...

While 3001 wasn't too great, I always found it hilarious how Clarke had his fourth millennium characters saying that religion is an expression of psychopathy.

Johonebesus · Post by **Johonebesus** » 2008-03-19 12:34am

Here is a message he recorded a few months ago on his ninetieth birthday. He knew his time was almost up and that this might be his last "public" appearance. It's depressing to look back at all his optimistic predictions, and see how many possibly realistic goals we didn't achieve.

I wonder how much longer Ray Bradbury has?

The Grim Squeaker · Post by **The Grim Squeaker** » 2008-03-19 12:41am

I can't believe this... My favourite living sci-fi author, now deceased, just like Asimov...
This is turning out to be a truly horrendous year for both great authors and their fans.

Rest in Peace Mr Clarke

Paolo · Post by **Paolo** » 2008-03-19 12:47am

It's a shame, really. He may have missed the boat predicting the future of space development, but that says more about the anemic state of practical aerospace and nuclear power investment and program management than anything else. The gas core thermal reactor he envisioned for 2001 is technology that could've been engineered even two decades ago, and there's not a whole lot of unexpected challenges in spinning a torus in vacuum freefall. Oh well...maybe something'll happen by 2031.

lazerus · Post by **lazerus** » 2008-03-19 02:21am

God DAMMIT.

RIP. His books introduced me to sci-fi and changed my life by showing me so many new concepts. :/

Fingolfin_Noldor · Post by **Fingolfin_Noldor** » 2008-03-19 03:34am

lazerus wrote:God DAMMIT.

RIP. His books introduced me to sci-fi and changed my life by showing me so many new concepts. :/

He had a habit of recycling those concepts though.

Aeolus · Post by **Aeolus** » 2008-03-19 04:35am

He was my favorite author growing up.

R.I.P

tim31 · Post by **tim31** » 2008-03-19 05:30am

I remember the creepy thrill I got as a kid reading The Sentinal, before moving on into the rest of the Odyssey books.

DesertFly · Post by **DesertFly** » 2008-03-19 05:33am

Wait, Ray Bradbury's still alive? I thought he was gone, just like Arthur C. Clarke until I heard the story about his death.

Well. I'll have to finally get around to reading some of his books now that he's gone.

Lord Pounder · Post by **Lord Pounder** » 2008-03-19 05:35am

R.I.P. he had a good innings and made a difference to lives, how many of us will be able to say the same when our time comes.

cosmicalstorm · Post by **cosmicalstorm** » 2008-03-19 07:48am

Yeah I always LOVED the stuff he wrote, especially the Rama series, even though the later ones were somewhat disappointing.
Hopefully they will be making a movie out of the first book in a couple of years, but it remains to see. Imo it would be a great idea.

I also just read The Light of Other Days, a lot of it was written by Baxter and wasnt very interesting, but some parts of that book (presumably the ones written by Clarke himself) were pretty mindblowing.

Post by **NecronLord** » 2008-03-19 10:54am

A wonderful writer who leaves much to be remembered for. Unlikely to be forgotten as long as any history of early spaceflight is recorded.

Strider · Post by **Strider** » 2008-03-19 11:08am

I'd thought Firstborn (by Baxter and Clarke, released recently) had been particularly dark compared to previous work by both of them. The book, especially the ending, seems eerily appropriate now.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2008-03-19 11:13am

first Gygax now Dr. Clarke

oh my favorite bit was when they found a black solid in the actual eye of the red spot NASA sent back a picture saying :Thinking of you" to Dr. Clarke's School in Sri Lanka

Post by **Kuja** » 2008-03-19 11:25am

I forget which of the Apollo missions it was, but when the astronauts overflew Tycho crater on the far side of the moon, they considered making a report of a strange electical disturbance in tribute to 2001. They chose discretion in the end, however.

Zixinus · Post by **Zixinus** » 2008-03-19 02:24pm

It's sad to see the last of the Trionviant of sci-fi go. But all must end and fall.

Reading his novels, I often smirked at the sheer naivety of his visions. The the Russian, the UK and USA would have made the first trip to the moon a true joint effort. But then again, I can't help think, that in that time, I would have wanted the same.

May he rest in peace.

Mlenk · Post by **Mlenk** » 2008-03-19 02:40pm

Zixinus wrote:It's sad to see the last of the Trionviant of sci-fi go. But all must end and fall.

I'm curious. Who else makes up the big three besides Clarke and Asimov?

JME2 · Post by **JME2** » 2008-03-19 03:16pm

Damm. RIP.

The Grim Squeaker · Post by **The Grim Squeaker** » 2008-03-19 03:20pm

Mlenk wrote:
Zixinus wrote:It's sad to see the last of the Trionviant of sci-fi go. But all must end and fall.
I'm curious. Who else makes up the big three besides Clarke and Asimov?

Heinlein. (Never agreed with that myself)

JN1 · Post by **JN1** » 2008-03-19 03:21pm

Kuja wrote:I forget which of the Apollo missions it was, but when the astronauts overflew Tycho crater on the far side of the moon, they considered making a report of a strange electical disturbance in tribute to 2001. They chose discretion in the end, however.

IIRC it was Apollo 8, the first one to go round the dark side of the Moon. I'm sure the astronauts considered telling Houston that they had spotted a monolith.

Post by **Kuja** » 2008-03-20 11:51am

JN1 wrote:
Kuja wrote:I forget which of the Apollo missions it was, but when the astronauts overflew Tycho crater on the far side of the moon, they considered making a report of a strange electical disturbance in tribute to 2001. They chose discretion in the end, however.
IIRC it was Apollo 8, the first one to go round the dark side of the Moon. I'm sure the astronauts considered telling Houston that they had spotted a monolith.

In the book (the movie hadn't been made at the time) the monolith isn't visable from space but surveys pick up bizarre electrical and magnetic signals from Tycho Crater, where it's buried. The Apollo astronauts, all fans of 2001, briefly tossed around the idea of reporting the same kind of readings as an homage to Clarke, but eventually decided it would be inappropriate.

Phantasee · Post by **Phantasee** » 2008-03-21 12:40am

Whoever said he wouldn't live forever: I thought he would have been the first ones to do exactly that.

Man, this really bummed me out when I heard on BBC the day of.