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, 2001: A Space Odyssey, was made into a film by director Stanley Kubrick in 1968.
Once called "the first dweller in the electronic cottage", his vision captured the popular imagination.
Sir Arthur, who was born in Minehead, Somerset, and was a radar specialist for the RAF in World War II, become a full-time writer in the 1940s.
A farmer's son
Sir Arthur's vivid - and detailed - descriptions of space shuttles, super-computers and rapid communications systems were enjoyed by millions of readers around the world.
His writings are credited by many observers with giving science fiction - a genre often accused of veering towards the fantastical - a human and practical face.
A farmer's son, he was educated at Huish's Grammar School in Taunton before joining the civil service.
"You've all been selected for this mission because you each have a special skill. Professor Hawking, John Leslie, Phil Neville, the Wu-Tang Clan, Usher, the Sugar Puffs Monster and Daniel Day-Lewis! Welcome to Operation MindFuck!"
Rendezvous With Rama was one of the first science fiction books I ever read. I gather they are making a movie of it - I really hope they dedicate it to Arthur.
Give a man a fire, and you keep him warm for a day. SET a man on fire, and you will keep him warm for the rest of his life...
Son of a... One of my all-time favorites. At least he had a good run, and hopefully died near the beach in Sri Lanka. I hear it's quite nice.
RIP
There is only one way of avoiding the war – that is the overthrow of this society. However, as we are too weak for this task, the war is inevitable. -L. Trotsky, 1939
RIP
He predicted/ made famous an orbit around earth that was between us an moon that was in the "sweet spot" between both gravitational pulls and is called the clarke's orbit, though I could be horrendously wrong on this one
Man, what an amazing sci-fi author. Right up there with Isaac Asimov and Jules Verne. I have the video game Rama, based on the book. It's an old game, but still a lot of fun.
"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." -Benjamin Franklin-
mwhittington wrote:...I have the video game Rama, based on the book. It's an old game, but still a lot of fun.
I played that back in the mid-90's. It was a cool game.
There is only one way of avoiding the war – that is the overthrow of this society. However, as we are too weak for this task, the war is inevitable. -L. Trotsky, 1939
A true visionary, who was as much of a prophet as a writer, along the lines of Heinlein, Verne, and Wells. Requiescat in pace. We will miss your voice.
I can't stand nothing dull
I got the high gloss luster
I'll massacre your ass as fast
as Bull offed Custer
Where do you live, again? I've been itching to travel...
There is only one way of avoiding the war – that is the overthrow of this society. However, as we are too weak for this task, the war is inevitable. -L. Trotsky, 1939
