Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies - io9 Comments

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

parnote — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:00:33 PDT

What a loss! I JUST heard! I have read many of his works, and remain enthralled with the legacy and wisdom of this fine man. It is so hard to pick a favorite ACC work from the large compendium of work he created. Songs of a Distant Earth, brought us a vision of a world without religion. Rendezvous With Rama, along with all of it's sequels, took mankind on an epic journey that has no equal (PLEASE hurry and make the movie ... Morgan Freeman and his film company have the rights and are reported to be working on script development). And, of course, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and it's sequels (yes, they were also good, as it saw the logical continuation of the special world he created in his mind), took mankind on a millenium-long journey of discovery, not only of the cosmos and what might lay in waiting for us, but also of our own inner-self, as a species.

You will certainly be missed. God bless, and we'll all meet up with you in Jupiter's orbit as we all await the return of the mysterious Ramans. Your visions have inspired us.

parnote

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

atfon — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:45:50 PDT

"Against the Fall of Night" was the first science fiction novel I ever read. I remember it very fondly.

Another giant has passed.

atfon

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

jedikalos — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:39:58 PDT

Good-bye, sir. thanks for many hours of pleasure and stimulating thought in your fantastic works.

jedikalos

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

Cacafuego — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 13:08:50 PDT

Then again, sci-fi fandom has always been something of a refuge for pedophiles, with a disturbing percentage of active members even going to obscene/ridiculous lengths to defend them.
[en.wikipedia.org]

I'm curious to hear what Clarke's former step-son and ex-wife--Clark & the boy's mother were married for 6 months before they separated, although it was over a decade before they were formally divorced--has to say about him.

Cacafuego

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

Cacafuego — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 13:00:19 PDT

@darcymcgee:
Yeah, I'm sure the investigating authorites in Sri Lankha are above taking bribes from its richest/most velebrated citizen. Did Neverland teach you fanboys nothing?

Cacafuego

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

Cacafuego — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 12:58:20 PDT

@Innings Eater:
Face it, Clarke was the Michael Jackson of sci-fi. I'm sure we'll hear more about it now that he's dead and no longer spooning out the hush money/bribes to the Sri Lankhan government.

Cacafuego

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

nuromansr — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 09:15:05 PDT

With all the classic Clarke novels like 2001, Rama and Childhood's End, it's great to see all the shoutouts on this page to his short fiction..One of my faves from the 70s was "A Meeting With Medusa," which IIRC I read in Playboy. A Richard Branson-type adventurer soars through Jupiter's atmosphere in a tricked-out balloon, being chased by intelligent jellyfish and killer manta rays..just awesome. Somebody make the movie, please...

nuromansr

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

Crunchy — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 09:06:13 PDT

Author, visionary, prophet. I grew up reading all his books and looking up at the stars dreaming. He was a father that I never had, a mentor of a distance and a friend when friends were scarce. Thank you for being a person born on this small planet called Earth.

Crunchy

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

darcymcgee — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 08:49:38 PDT

@IrisMR: Dude. You must have been one profoundly self-assured three year old.

I held Curious George in pretty high esteem by that age, and still do.

darcymcgee

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

IrisMR — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 08:47:30 PDT

@extracrispy: *Scratches head* I guess I just don't understand that because I never was much for icons. When I was a kid (and it continues today...), I didn't have any role models, and I thought it was stupid for me to try to identify myself according to someone else... Or to soothe my soul going "Well at least that important celebrity person is like me!" or "If I'm more like him I'm gonna be AWESOME!" S'what role modeling always struck me as... Soul soothing. As if you absolutely need to know there are people like you, people you want to mimic. I mean, why?

I guess I'm just very independant. But yes, you're right, a few blog posts are not a big deal. I just thought there was more to it.

IrisMR

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

kcquestor — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 08:43:56 PDT

While you are there, ask God which name is preferred:
[lucis.net]

kcquestor

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

GregorMendel — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 07:50:29 PDT

I thought I saw a commotion in the heavens...

GregorMendel

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

NefariousNewt — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 07:40:27 PDT

@Seth L: Yes, Bradbury, who is often overlooked in the science fiction community, I think because he worked on so much mainstream material, is still alive but I believe he also has been in frail health for some time. Have met him twice -- a great man and an excellent writer. But Asimov, Clarke, and Heinlein were considered the "Big Three" of the late Golden Age, when pulp science fiction took off.

NefariousNewt

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

donarumo — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 07:19:12 PDT

Here's to Mr Clarke finding a place at the storyteller's table in whatever afterlife he ascended into.

donarumo

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

darcymcgee — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 07:05:13 PDT

@extracrispy: Well, in fairness his birthday IS close to Christmas which could arguably be defined as a "major gay holiday."

darcymcgee

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

extracrispy — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 07:00:10 PDT

@IrisMR: Wait, I think we're in agreement on the pedophilia charge. It's dumb and shouldn't even be mentioned. I only expounded on it because some other moron brought it up earlier in this thread without providing the background.

As for the gay thing, I think it's important to gay men and women to have icons they can identify with and look up to because there are so few. And I'd hardly call a few blog mentions "making a big deal of it." It's not like anyone's proposed Clarke's birthday a major gay holiday.

extracrispy

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

IrisMR — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 06:36:22 PDT

@extracrispy: I don't understand why people wanna add such things at all costs. I mean, he was never officially accused of pedophilia (By a NEWSPAPER? COME ON!), never convicted. That means that NO, he wasn't a pedophile.

He was awesome and that's all we need to remember.

...And uh, what's with gay blogs and groups always wanting to you know, point at celebrities that might be gay and make a big deal/trophy out of it? I never understood that... Just an eyebrow rising point.

IrisMR

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

extracrispy — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 06:28:48 PDT

The Wiki nerds have been arguing yesterday and today about whether to include the pedophilia accusations in Clarke's wiki entry. It sounds like the accusations came from one newspaper, The Sunday Mirror; he was investigated by Sri Lankan police and cleared; and The Mirror retracted the claim.

I've also read on a couple of gay blogs this morning that there was widespread speculation that Clarke was gay. Pedophilia accusations are standard-issue homophobia.

He was a great writer and a phenomenal thinker. Hopefully, the stupid pedophilia accusations will just be a minor footnote or dismissed altogether.

extracrispy

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

IrisMR — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 05:37:05 PDT

What a life he had! I wish I had half of his imagination.

Sad sad loss.

IrisMR

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

deckard97 — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 05:06:55 PDT

He will always live in our hearts and imaginations. Godspeed.

deckard97

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

knownspace — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 04:50:48 PDT

A big collection of Clarke short stories is what got me interested in SF in the first place. A man with great vision and the ability to put it into words superbly.

Rest in peace.

knownspace

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

mikecoscia — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 03:38:22 PDT

A sad day indeed.

mikecoscia

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

Oasx — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 01:31:26 PDT

In my opinion the greatest Science Fiction writer ever and just an all-round interesting guy. Rest in Peace

Oasx

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

ithidet — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 01:12:10 PDT

the hatch bay doors are open for you

ithidet

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

Rick Chandler — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:50:34 PDT

Daisy ... Daisy ... give me your answer ... .. do ..

Rick Chandler

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

CmdrHunt — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 23:54:56 PDT

Thank you for the satellite and the space elevator.
Rest in peace old man.
May you be at one with the monolith.

CmdrHunt

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

gaygeek — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 23:36:17 PDT

A great writer, a great thinker, a true Brit expat who rose above it all (inlude baseless tabloid rumors fueled by some crank with an obscure private agenda) and kept working till the end. OK, those last works weren't his best, but his overall body of work still stands the test of time. And if you read his novelization of 2001, the movie's ending will actually make sense.
He will be missed.

gaygeek

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

Seth L — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 23:09:17 PDT

He will be missed. One of my favorite short story volumes is The Sentinel, illustrated by Lebbius Woods.

Fantastic collaboration.

Ray Bradbury is still alive though!

Seth L

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

darcymcgee — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 22:43:43 PDT

@HomoSapiensRex: Io. They should really be landed on Io.

darcymcgee

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

darcymcgee — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 22:43:06 PDT

@cybergrunt: And cleared. Unless you're some legal authority and have investigative evidence, you should speak only of what you know, not what you speculate.

darcymcgee

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

darcymcgee — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 22:41:41 PDT

Why does this show on the home page in a small headline? I totally missed it, and thought that io9 had missed it. I still don't understand why there's two different styles of headlines.

As for the event itself: it's not possible to describe the scope of this loss.

darcymcgee

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

cybergrunt — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 22:40:02 PDT

@Innings Eater: Actually he has been accused of being a paedophile a number of times. If it's true then good riddance. If it's not then it's a highly unfortunate thing to have that label against your life's work.

cybergrunt

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

Innings Eater — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 22:30:37 PDT

@Cacafuego: Just ignore the urges and see a therapist and I'm sure you can overcome it. Moron.

Innings Eater

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

SkyHits — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 21:46:24 PDT

THE SONGS OF DISTANT EARTH is such a beautiful story, but the ACC book that has been on my mind recently is IMPERIAL EARTH. Clarke imagines an America where all automobile traffic is automated, extinguishing the problem of auto-related deaths. When one has created so much with imagination (worlds, literally worlds) it is only fitting and beautiful when it is his time to join them. Bon voyage.

SkyHits

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

Grodoro — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 21:44:13 PDT

Requie In Pace et dormiens aeternitas, Sir Clarke.

We are forever grateful for all the memories you have given us.

Grodoro

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

bdavis007 — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:23:01 PDT

It's very frustrating that not a single NEWS outlet and most blogs fail to mention that he was a gay man. His contribution through his non-fiction writing to our shared vision of space commercialization is comparable to Alan Turing's contribution to computation logic and artificial intelligence and, over 50 years later, sadly, Sir Clarke is treated with no more dignity or respect in his death...

bdavis007

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

Jaffey — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:13:18 PDT

Not enough attention has been paid to his work. So many jumped on the "fill in the blank" punk wagon when what would have been better for the development of the sci-fi genre is a further exploration of his transcendental ideas. I'm very sad that we wont be blessed with anymore of his imaginations and prognostications. …a true master, who always had as his goal the further development of the human species. Peace be with him.

Jaffey

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

Cacafuego — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:31:54 PDT

Too bad about the whole pedophile thing.

Cacafuego

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

hellers1155 — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:25:01 PDT

And, one by one, the stars went out.

hellers1155

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

wundermint — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:15:02 PDT

Always had a secret wish to meet him and tell him how much his books meant. Thank you and rest in peace, Mr. Clarke.

wundermint

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

greetings — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:03:26 PDT

That stinks. I grew up reading his work.

greetings

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

Ghede — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 18:53:15 PDT

To Arthur C. Clarke. If anybody was a time-traveller, it was him.

Ghede

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

Miranda Kali (Desperate But Not Serious) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 18:51:15 PDT

Thank you, Arthur. This was better world for your time upon it.

Miranda Kali (Desperate But Not Serious)

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

doctor_cos — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 18:47:52 PDT

No one would argue that he was ahead of his time, and sad to see that time has passed.
Hard to pick a favorite story, but I've always had a soft spot for "The Nine Billion Names of God"...(there's always a last time for everything).

doctor_cos

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

BillNapier — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 18:33:15 PDT

sniff. He will be missed.

BillNapier

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

Yatta! — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 17:49:48 PDT

Aw, man.

Yatta!

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

Mircea Suciu — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 17:17:03 PDT

Saddening news, the last of the giants has passed. The world mourns.

Mircea Suciu

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

JustThisGuyYouKnow? — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 17:09:32 PDT

A friend of mine (whose ever-practical mind moves at many times the speed of my own glacially slow head-ballast) responded to this news with a question about what was to be done with the body.

Whilst that is obviously and rightly a matter for the dispensers of his will, I would be interested to read what coolly appropriate suggestions we here can come up with to honour the Great Man.

How about sending his ashes to one of Jupiter's moons on the next probe?

JustThisGuyYouKnow?

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

puckrod — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 17:00:16 PDT

Pour one out for a true baller.

puckrod

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

causeiambetta — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:45:54 PDT

he will be missed

causeiambetta

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

Ryan H — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:45:11 PDT

@cowboy_k:
Clarke, Asimov, and Heinlein, the true trinity that shaped the world. May they each get what they deserve in whatever comes next.

Ryan H

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

MrWashy — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:27:51 PDT

sorry for the double post, had a crash and didn't thint it made in on...

MrWashy

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

MrWashy — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:27:15 PDT

Farewell, Carbon Based Biped! You took me from Halley's Comet to Titan, evolved me from a man-ape to a god-child, brought my world, Rama and demons. You even helped me find the names of god.

Thanks for showing that science fiction can also be science literate!

MrWashy

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

MrWashy — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:24:06 PDT

He was my introduction to science fiction and has remained one of my favorites. He proved that science fiction can be scientifically literate.

Thanks, Sir Arthur. You took us to Halley's Comet and Titan; you evolved with us from man-apes to a god-child. You brought Rama and demons to earth and even taught us all of God's names.

Farewell, Carbon Based Biped!

MrWashy

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

eviladrian — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:22:54 PDT

Damn, first Gygax, now Clarke. This isn't shaping up as a good year for geeks. :-(
RIP, mate!

eviladrian

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

AmishJohn — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:21:40 PDT

I just re-read (for the N th time) Childhood's End, thinking it was time to pick him back up, while simultaneously wanting End as a movie, and dreading what Hollyweird would do to it.
Blessed Be, Arthur...

AmishJohn

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

ManchuCandidate — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:20:27 PDT

May the Flying Spaghetti Monster have mercy on your soul Arthur. Sigh. Another master gone.

ManchuCandidate

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

NefariousNewt — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:15:35 PDT

A bright light of the Golden Age has burned out and joins his brethren in eternal contemplation of the night. We are diminished by the loss, but we are more than amply filled with the gifts he left behind.

NefariousNewt

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

foolish-rain — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:13:26 PDT

Not only a brilliant writer but also a charming human being. Tales from the White Hart was my first exposure to the short story format. Decades later, I still find it a delightful read--"The Ultimate Melody" gives me shivers everytime. He will be missed!

foolish-rain

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

Rus — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:11:20 PDT

The man was not afraid to look up, and think about what he saw, and what our place in the universe might be.

Well done, sir, and many thanks.

Rus

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

goldfarb — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:09:34 PDT

A great man...he will be missed.

goldfarb

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

cowboy_k — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:06:54 PDT

Clarke, Asimov, and Heinlein were what really got me into sci-fi when I was growing up - now all three of these pioneers are gone. The end of an era... well, I guess it's been over for a while, but this really seems to seal it.

RIP, and thanks for providing such wonderful imagination fodder.

cowboy_k

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

Pham Nuwen — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:04:53 PDT

FUCK ME!!! That sucks! How can you do this. I was hoping he'd live long enough to be the first President of the Planet Earth. Oh well, Vernor Vinge is gonna have to take the job instead.

Well... now that the shock is settling, thanks for the brilliant memories, Rendezvous with Rama rocked out really hard.

Later dude... happy sailing.

Pham Nuwen

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

grrad — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:01:03 PDT

Yeah, thanks for the many years of pleasure you've provided, and farewell. PS: I forgave you long ago for those unnecessary sequels to 2001.

grrad

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

Atrocious — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:00:05 PDT

Indeed. I owe Mr. Clarke a unpayable debt. The very first sci-fi book I ever picked up - in fact it was the first "grown up" fiction of any sort - was penned by him. That slim book broadened my life in ways that words just can never describe. If I had the rest of eternity to try, I could not possibly thank him enough.

But I'll try anyway. Thank you, sir.

Atrocious

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

tibbie — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:59:15 PDT

Godspeed

tibbie

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

Grey_Area — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:58:39 PDT

Words actually fail me. Sir Clarke contributed so much to science and literature during his long career and will continue to inspire generations of humanity to come.
Ad astra per aspera.

Grey_Area

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

SuperUnison — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:58:38 PDT

I don't know much of his work, but I will say that "2001" is both an amazing book and film. It's really hard to top in terms of concepts like "the big picture" and "starting at the beginning."

SuperUnison

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

JustThisGuyYouKnow? — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:55:39 PDT

I am surprised to hear of his death, since it was always my understanding that prophets ascended directly to heaven. Apparently he wore a shirt that read; 'I invented the trillion-dollar communications satellite industry and all I got was this lousy T-shirt!'
Genius.

JustThisGuyYouKnow?

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

MilesFromNowhere — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:53:02 PDT

Farewell, thank you. I hope you have embarked upon your greatest journey.

MilesFromNowhere

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

Plague — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:46:37 PDT

Men like him deserve to live a long time.
And thank you, Mr. Clarke, with what you did with that time.

Plague

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

Grrsn Dn — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:44:53 PDT

I'm only good at shooting my mouth off so I'll just say... Farewell and Godspeed, you'll be missed.

Grrsn Dn

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

Silver_Back — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:41:06 PDT

:( One of the greatest Sci-Fi writers ever. A visionary who helped lead the genre ahead in thinking and in technology but also helped in the real world with his ideas. Condolences to his family and his friends and to all his fans.

Silver_Back

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

gods-n-clods — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:39:03 PDT

Just saw this on the AP-- fond farewell.
Many condolences to his family and friends... we should all have such a long and prodigious life.

gods-n-clods

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

PriorMarcus — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:37:47 PDT

Such a wonderful visionary and responsible for some of the greatest stories ever written. A true loss to the science fiction world and literature in general. He'll be remember forever for some of his greatest works, of which there are many.

PriorMarcus

Arthur C. Clarke, Futurist and Scifi Legend, Dies

daived — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:34:18 PDT

Here's to you, Clarke, on the Final Odyssey. Godspeed.

daived