Arthur C CLark has died

http://news.smh.com.au/scifi-guru-ar...0319-20cg.html

Sci-fi guru Arthur C. Clarke dies in Sri Lanka at 90

*
* Email
* Print
* Normal font
* Large font

March 19, 2008 - 7:33PM
Advertisement

Visionary science fiction guru Arthur C. Clarke, best known for the classic film "2001: A Space Odyssey," died in a Sri Lankan hospital on Wednesday at the age of 90.

The British writer, who had post-polio syndrome for decades and used a wheelchair, died after suffering breathing problems, his office said. He had reviewed the final manuscript of his newest work, The Last Theorem, just days previously.

Sri Lanka's most celebrated guest resident since 1956, Clarke believed mankind's future lay in space. He achieved iconic status with the film "2001: A Space Odyssey, the 1968 movie he created with acclaimed director Stanley Kubrick, and the novel he wrote by the same name.

Clarke, who was awarded a knighthood in 1998, wanted a private funeral with no religious services and to be buried in the family plot of his Sri Lankan business partner, Hector Ekanayake, with whose family he lived.

"We are awaiting the arrival of family members from Britain and Australia. They are already on the way," his secretary Nalaka Gunawardene said.

"Sir Arthur has also left written instructions that his funeral be strictly secular," he said.

"Absolutely no religious rites of any kind, relating to any religious faith, should be associated with my funeral," the statement quoted the author as saying.

Clarke, born in Minehead, Somerset, in 1917 and author of more than 100 books and over 1,000 shorter works, was prophetic in many ways.

After working during the Second World War on the pioneering development of radar, he predicted in 1945 telecommunications satellites that would broadcast television images around the world -- decades before they became a reality.

The farmer's son, who had a diverse career as an author, underwater explorer, space promoter and science populariser, also predicted space shuttles, super-fast computers, lightning quick communications and that man would reach the moon.

"I want to be remembered most as a writer -- one who entertained readers, and, hopefully, stretched their imagination as well," he told the BBC late last year on the occasion of his 90th birthday.

Clarke also said in a statement marking his birthday he had sadly watched a bitter ethnic conflict dividing his adopted tropical homeland for nearly half his lifetime and called for "lasting peace."

British astronomer Patrick Moore, who had worked with Clarke on several writing projects, paid tribute to his "dear friend" and said his death was a "great loss."

"He was ahead of his time in so many ways," Moore told the BBC.

"Quite apart from artificial satellites there were other things too. A great science fiction writer, a very good scientist, a great prophet and a very dear friend -- I'm very, very sad that he's gone."

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse paid tribute to him as a "great visionary."

Clarke, who moved to Sri Lanka drawn by marine diving which he said was as near as he could come to the weightlessness in space, is survived by siblings Fred and Mary, both of whom still live in his home town of Minehead.

Their youngest brother, Michael, died earlier.

I must say that I always enjoyed 2001 a Space Odyssey. As well as 2010. Unfortunately I have never had time to enjoy any of his other great works. The Literary world as well as the Sci FI world has lost one of its greats!

noone else posts here?

wierd.

anyway

a great writer and infact even my favourite writer

rip

Wow How could I miss this post ? :O I really loved him ,He was my best sci-fi writer. interesting that none cared in this board about him and I feel sorry that I find this thread too late Rest in peace Arthur

O_o

Best necromancy post I've ever seen. Specially because the topic is about someones death.

I think there was another thread about this here a long time ago actually.

I found it strange at the time that none of his obituaries mentioned that he was suspected of preying on young boys while living in Sri Lanka.

Wasn't he a pedophile ? Just asking

At first I was like... Then I was like, "yup, necropost. haha

Originally Posted by Lord of the Drunk Penguin

Wasn't he a pedophile ? Just asking

I think he prefers the term "pederast", lol. And I'm not positive it was ever proven.

After all these year being a member of this board (along with some other forums) ,Yet I don't know the logic behind this "Anti-Necro" thing ! Maybe because I'm more a reader than a poster (?) Personally think that it is better to post in an already created thread than make one myself again. Also I've seen moderators that always encourage the members to search the forum for the topic they're looking for before making one themselves.

Back on topic , It seems when C.Clark was passed away ,I was busy serving in Military (As draftee) and later busy with life so there was no time for reading and thus think about one of my favorite writers who was Arthur C.Clark I read his books (like "Space Odysseys" series and "Rendezvous with Rama") when I was a teenage and it was in 90's ,the time some of the best space scifi books written.

I couldn't avoid to not post in this thread and pay my respect to him ,because not only I enjoyed reading his books alot ,but also I believed and completely agree with his views about the future of mankind. That human being have to get rid of this body and to turn into a kind of energy based beings if We want to save ourselves and more importantly to guarantee our future as masters of universe !

[Sorry for bad english]

Originally Posted by kambiz

After all these year being a member of this board (along with some other forums) ,Yet I don't know the logic behind this "Anti-Necro" thing ! Maybe because I'm more a reader than a poster (?) Personally think that it is better to post in an already created thread than make one myself again. Also I've seen moderators that always encourage the members to search the forum for the topic they're looking for before making one themselves.

Back on topic , It seems when C.Clark was passed away ,I was busy serving in Military (As draftee) and later busy with life so there was no time for reading and thus think about one of my favorite writers who was Arthur C.Clark I read his books (like "Space Odysseys" series and "Rendezvous with Rama") when I was a teenage and it was in 90's ,the time some of the best space scifi books written.

I couldn't avoid to not post in this thread and pay my respect to him ,because not only I enjoyed reading his books alot ,but also I believed and completely agree with his views about the future of mankind. That human being have to get rid of this body and to turn into a kind of energy based beings if We want to save ourselves and more importantly to guarantee our future as masters of universe !

[Sorry for bad english]

Necroposting is considered a no-no because its resurrecting topics that have long since ended. This is not in contradiction with the desire for keeping certain things one topic at a time so as to prevent multiple topics on an ongoing thing.

I suppose that your reasons for wanting to comment are somewhat justifiable though. I nearly missed his death as well, but not by three years.

Hey, the guy's a good writer, just keep' im away from my kids

Wow...Old post is old...

Was going to say didn't he die a few years ago?

Kill it, kill it with fire.