Sci-fi author Arthur C. Clarke died yesterday at his home in Columbo, Sri Lanka after suffering from post-polio syndrome for two decades. He was 90 years old.
Believe it or not, VH and I only recently watched Clarke’s film collaboration with Stanley Kubrik, 2001: A Space Odyssey, which affected us both so differently that it seemed like we’d seen two different films. VH found it monotonous and painfully slow, lacking the booze, boobs and bombs he prefers in movies. Me? I found it the visual equivalent of experimental literature, something I have a fondness for.
Then again, I’ve worshiped Clarke’s literary mastery since the first time I picked up Childhood’s End, a novel about an alien species, the Overlords, that transforms Earth into a “paradise” by supplying humans with everything they could possibly need. In doing so, the Overlords sought to help humans evolve and ready themselves to participate in the larger universe.
But “paradise” is often a label attached by those who’ve never actually experienced it, whereas those who have often find their circumstances considerably less than ideal. Ultimately, one has to wonder whether humans supplied with everything they could desire — and thus freed of the need to struggle, toil and persevere — are actually human anymore.
That book so profoundly affected me that I spent the better part of a year devouring some of his other works, eventually working my way into other masters of the sci-fi genre: Heinlein, Asimov, Zelazny.
Clarke’s imagination drew me into a genre of fiction that never fails to make me think, to dream and to hope. He said of his own life, words now immortalized in his epitaph, that “never grew up; but he never stopped growing.” Thanks to his prolific and profound works, that can also be said of his millions of fans who, like me, are mourning our loss.
Wednesday, March 19th, 2008, 10:16 am | 
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March 19, 2008 at 12:32 pm
It is rare that a prophet is venerated in his own life time. Hale to the visionary. His ability to stimulate us to dream lives even though his voice and pen is stilled.
March 19, 2008 at 12:34 pm
He will always be one of my favorite sci-fi authors and pundits. He’ll be missed…
Jeff’s last blog post..I’m Being Stimulated
March 19, 2008 at 2:38 pm
I preferred the book version of 2001 to the movie. It made so much more sense, and it also made the movie version of 2010 comprehensible.
Brian J.’s last blog post..Misleading Headline
March 19, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Another to add to the list: my “homeboy” Ray Bradbury (from my county seat)
kimsch’s last blog post..Easter Cactus?
March 19, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Speaking of Sci-Fi, have you ever read “Dhalgren” by Samuel R. Delany? It’s a difficult read, but well worth the effort.
metal dad’s last blog post..Just Because There’s Something Special About a Woman With a Gun
March 19, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Sci-fi sparked my interest in reading when I was in high school. Although my interest in the genre has waned over the years, Clarke and Heinlein were my favorites. I loved “2001″ both the book and the movie.
I thought Clarke had died years ago, so I don’t feel much of a loss but as long as his books are around, he lives on. I think its time to watch “2001″ and “2010″ once more.
Bryan’s last blog post..Panaorama of Mars
March 19, 2008 at 3:09 pm
I’ll have to pick the book up someday soon. VH would probably enjoy the movie more after reading it… except he’d have to actually read.
March 19, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Oh, absolutely!
March 19, 2008 at 3:11 pm
I haven’t read it, but I’ll tell ya: the last time someone encouraged me to pick up something that was “difficult read, but well worth the effort” was a Gene Wolfe book.
I just about ripped my brain out through my eyeballs halfway through it waiting for the “worth it” part to occur.
March 19, 2008 at 3:11 pm
I would be, too!
March 19, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Mine’s waned as well, and yet there are some authors — Clarke being one of them — whose books feel like old friends that I enjoy getting reacquainted with periodically.
March 19, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Childhood’s End was my first Clarke book too. Man, he rocked. A family friend is Sri Lankan and was a buddy of his. I was so jealous!
March 19, 2008 at 4:23 pm
I read of his passing with a sigh. Not so much for his being gone, as he was not in the best of health, and to be free at last to (at least I would like to think so) return to the company of fellow travelers (Asimov, Heinlein, et all) and be able to marvel at the wonders of the universe first hand, can’t be all bad.
Rather, in a selfish way, I mourned for the passing of yet another great light. Of whom there are so very few left.
RIP Sir Arthur, you will be missed.
March 19, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Philip Jose Farmer: Riverworld, Dayworld, Venus on the Half Shell – writing as Kilgore Trout, more Tarzan books, Dorothy’s son going to OZ – A Barnstormer in Oz, and I think he may have done a Barsoom or two as well. More Fantasy than SciFi but still classic. From Peoria, Illinois.
kimsch’s last blog post..Easter Cactus?
March 20, 2008 at 5:20 am
Clarke: “Open the pod bay doors St. Peter.”
St. Peter: “I’m afraid I can’t do that Mr. Clarke.”
rodney dill’s last blog post..CaptionContest
March 20, 2008 at 9:14 am
I doubt it, the book only makes the movie more terrible.
March 20, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Damn, that’s funny.