NationStates Jolt Archive

Legendary British science fiction writer Sir Arthur C Clarke has died in Sri Lanka at the age of 90.
He came to fame when his story was made into the film 2001: A Space Odyssey, by director Stanley Kubrick in 1968.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7304004.stm

90 is a good run though he hadnt been well for some time.

Damn. :(

The man was a legend. Still, you're right, 90's not a bad age to reach.

Never heard of him, never read any of his books and never saw the Stanley Kubrick movie...I'll leave now...

Man, first Gary Gygax, now Arthur C Clarke. And Terry Pratchett has Alzheimers'... why are all the nerd icons leaving us?

Man, first Gary Gygax, now Arthur C Clarke. And Terry Pratchett has Alzheimers'... why are all the nerd icons leaving us?
Quick, somebody check on Stephen Hawking!

Quick, somebody check on Stephen Hawking!
I suspect that Hawking may be immortal.

I suspect that Hawking may be immortal.
That would explain a lot.

One of the sci-fi writers who helped shape my view of literature in childhood. Rest in peace.

"The stars are not for man."

Never heard of him, never read any of his books and never saw the Stanley Kubrick movie...I'll leave now...
He also invented the telecommunication satellite in 1945, but did not get it patented. :)
I will always remember him fondly.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7304004.stm

90 is a good run though he hadnt been well for some time.

:(
A moment of silence for the departing of a great writer.
:(
May he rest in peace.

I suspect that Hawking may be immortal.

With his wheelchair, he's kind of like a less cool Darth Vader.

I'm sorry to hear Clarke died. He, Asimov, and Bradbury all managed to write great literature (and I do consider it "literature) in a genre that is notorious for being hackneyed. And of course, he brought the world 2001, the only FDA-approved substitute for LSD. :)

With his wheelchair, he's kind of like a less cool Darth Vader.
Implicit in that remark is a requirement that Davros is less cool than Darth Vader, and I'm not willing to concede that.

*tips hat*

He also invented the telecommunication satellite in 1945, but did not get it patented. :)
I will always remember him fondly.

I ended the Cold War and brought about the downfall of the USSR, but stupid Reagan took credit for all my hard work.

To: Sir Arthur C Clarke - may you hear this where ever you've gone..

Thank you Sir, for everything, You'll be missed. I can't tell you how much your words inspired not only me but so many many more.

Take a good rest, and then, come back and write some more.

~Shal~

I ended the Cold War and brought about the downfall of the USSR, but stupid Reagan took credit for all my hard work.
Oh dear. You thought I was joking?
Did you know that he invented also the space elevator?

What the hell was he doing living in Sri Lanka?

Damn. Read Childhood's End for school recently, and thought it very interesting. Sad to see another great writer go. :(

I ended the Cold War and brought about the downfall of the USSR, but stupid Reagan took credit for all my hard work.

Arthur C. Clarke proposed the idea of using satellites in geosynchronous orbits in a technical paper for the RAF in 1945. This paper, slightly reworked, was published in the He later used the idea in the short story "The Haunted Spacesuit."

Geosynchronous orbits are called Clarke orbits for this reason.

What the hell was he doing living in Sri Lanka?

He went there to do some research, fell in love with the place, and stayed.

Damn... a moment of silence for a brilliant man and writer.

At least he'll live on in Clarke's Law.

Never heard of him, never read any of his books and never saw the Stanley Kubrick movie...I'll leave now...

Count your blessings, then.

But at any rate, rest in peace, Mr. Clarke. :(

Not gone, just exploring other Galaxies. It's been a privilege to share an era with you, sir.

To be honest, I thought he was already dead...wow, he had a great run.

Rest in peace..."2001" was a classic.

Adieu, Sir Arthur C. Clarke.

Un brillant écrivain et un sacré rêveur.

I'm sorry Mr Clarke - I'm afraid you can't do that.

Come back here and write dammit :(

He had such a great show on Discovey Channel.:(

While I've only read a few of his books, they were all enjoyable, and he was certainly an icon of both sci-fi and literature in general.

*salutes*

What the hell was he doing living in Sri Lanka?

While there are certainly many reasons, I've always assumed the tax policies of Sri Lanka would likely be quite advantageous.

Man, first Gary Gygax, now Arthur C Clarke. And Terry Pratchett has Alzheimers'... why are all the nerd icons leaving us?

Don't forget Adams and Jordan...

What the hell was he doing living in Sri Lanka?

Fitted in better with his lifestyle...

A huge loss.

One of the greatest scifi writers of the 20th century. RIP.

:(

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7304004.stm

90 is a good run though he hadnt been well for some time.

Sorry to say that I've never read any of his books...

Man, first Gary Gygax, now Arthur C Clarke. And Terry Pratchett has Alzheimers'... why are all the nerd icons leaving us?

I don't know, but the thought is depressing. It's hard to imagine life without all the nerd icons I grew up with.