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Korgscrew Group: Super Admins Posts: 3511 Joined: Dec. 1999 Posted: Mar. 18 2008, 20:43 The science fiction writer and technological visionary Arthur C. Clarke has died at his home in Sri Lanka, aged 90. The influence of his legendary novels and short stories can be seen in many of Mike Oldfield's works, not least 1994's The Songs of Distant Earth, inspired by Clarke's novel of the same name. His death comes as a sad loss to the worlds of literature, science and technology, but his legacy will live on through his work for many years to come. Back to top

raven4x4x Group: Members Posts: 1535 Joined: Jan. 2002 Posted: Mar. 18 2008, 20:52 I think I've read more of Arthur C Clarke than I have any other author. To be writing about missions to Mars and interstellar rescues in the 1940s and 50s is simply extraordinary. The field of science fiction owes him an enormous debt. -------------- Thank-you for helping us help you help us all. Back to top

Blue Dolphin Group: Members Posts: 1232 Joined: Nov. 1999 Posted: Mar. 18 2008, 21:16 May you be with the stars, Arthur C. Clarke! You gave us such great gifts, and were an unique person. I love your books! Your loss is most tragic. Mike: my deepest sympathy. -------------- -The mark of a good musician is to play one note and mean it- Mike Oldfield - 1980 Back to top

Inkanta Group: Admins Posts: 1453 Joined: Feb. 2000 Posted: Mar. 19 2008, 00:25 There was a life well-lived! Amazing how fast 90 years comes and goes. Arthur C. Clarke inspired not only Mike's TSODE, but Genesis' "Watcher of the Skies" (Childhood's End). I, too, have read more of his works than any other science fiction author.  Indeed, here's to wondrous journeys through the heavens. -------------- "No such thing as destiny; only choices exist." From:  Moongarden's "Solaris." Back to top

DarkFeline Group: Members Posts: 144 Joined: Oct. 2005 Posted: Mar. 19 2008, 02:37 R.I.P. Arthur C. Clarke. That's all that I can say. I heard about many of his works like 2001, Rendezvous With Rama and of course TSODE, but it's just too bad I haven't gotten round to read any of those yet. Edit: His 90th birthday reflections - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLXQ7rNgWwg I guess I'll be playing TSODE on my WMP today as a tribute to him. That's the least I could do. -------------- Who's your mummy, where she go? Back to top

Ciderginaspro Group: Members Posts: 90 Joined: Dec. 2007 Posted: Mar. 19 2008, 03:41 sad news, really. He was an incredible writer. Rama's series of books are magic and, of course, also TSODE. all my sympathy to his family and friends. Back to top

Ray Group: Members Posts: 857 Joined: Jan. 2000 Posted: Mar. 19 2008, 05:05 That was a good innings Mr Clarke.  And a worthwhile contribution to the world.  Cheers and thanks for all the fish! Ray -------------- Looking out over the harbour in Peel....... Back to top

Alan D Group: Members Posts: 3670 Joined: Aug. 2004 Posted: Mar. 19 2008, 05:49 Here's to you, Mr Clarke: Let There Be Light Back to top

Guest Unregistered Posted: Mar. 19 2008, 07:57 Lucky bastard   Back to top

MusicallyInspired Group: Musicians Posts: 1445 Joined: June 2001 Posted: Mar. 20 2008, 10:17 I've listened to the entirety of The Songs of Distant Earth (the album) in his honour today. -------------- BrandonBlume.com "The beauty in life is in the embracing of the variety of things. If all the world was blue there would be no colour blue." Back to top

The Big BellEnd Group: Members Posts: 971 Joined: Jan. 2004 Posted: Mar. 20 2008, 15:37 Last year I read the Quadrilogy of book's that make up the epic Odyssey saga, also I read again The Songs of Distant Earth. They are all top notch read's. Arthur C Clarke had a gift for sci fi imagery almost beyond compare and a knack of leading the reader by the hand through his stories, that made you feel that you were not being bamboozled with technobabble, it was sci fi with a very human touch. 2001 A Space Odyssey is one of my favourite film's ever, so much so I class it as much a costume drama as well as the scientechno spactacular that it undoubtably is -------------- I, ON THE OTHER HAND. AM A VICTIM OF YOUR CARNIVOUROUS LUNAR ACTIVITY. Back to top

Ratty Group: Members Posts: 386 Joined: Jan. 2005 Posted: Mar. 20 2008, 16:35 sorry but i find it hard to show any sentiment to this man. -------------- Far away across the field The tolling of the iron bell Calls the faithful to their knees To hear the softly spoken magic spells Back to top

Modeler Group: Members Posts: 15 Joined: Feb. 2008 Posted: Mar. 20 2008, 19:39 It's sad when any one person dies, but he lived to 90 and left a legacy that will live on for generations - maybe even until the end of humanity. None of us could ask for more than that. -------------- Doo dom dop Doodily doop n'dop n'dop A-doodily doo dom dop Doodily doop n'dop n'dop Man, they don't write songs like that any more... Back to top

Bassman Group: Members Posts: 548 Joined: Feb. 2008 Posted: Mar. 20 2008, 19:55 Ratty, I don't understand your comment.  Did you mean you simply don't care for his work?  Or is it something else? Back to top

Blue Dolphin Group: Members Posts: 1232 Joined: Nov. 1999 Posted: Mar. 21 2008, 07:46 Quote (Ratty @ Mar. 20 2008, 22:35) sorry but i find it hard to show any sentiment to this man. EXCUSE me? -------------- -The mark of a good musician is to play one note and mean it- Mike Oldfield - 1980 Back to top

Dirk Star Group: Members Posts: 1331 Joined: Sep. 2007 Posted: Mar. 21 2008, 14:41 Well I`m guessing Ratty is refering to some allegations made by The Sunday Mirror about ten years ago now.Without wishing to go into details here the accusations were later proved to be unfounded and the newspaper subsequently published a complete retraction of the story.Obviously for some people though I guess that`s not good enough.Well everybody`s entitled to their opinion of course.But in a thread that was quite obviously started as a tribute to the man.I rather think that opinion could have been voiced elsewhere. One thing I always liked about Arthur was his dry sense of humour....As featured on Sky One's "50 Terrible Predictions" programme, Clarke once predicted that apes would function as household servants by the 1960's; "...with our present knowledge of animal psychology, we can certainly solve the servant problem with the help of the monkey kingdom" he said, but quipped "..of course, eventually, our super chimpanzees would start forming trade unions and we'd be right back where we started." Back to top

Bassman Group: Members Posts: 548 Joined: Feb. 2008 Posted: Mar. 22 2008, 13:49 (Is that where Pierre Boulle got the idea for "Monkey Planet"?  Or was it the other way around?) Since the announcement of ACC's passing I've been hunting around the house for my "Childhood's End" and I can't find it.  It's a beautiful old hardcover edition!  Argh!  I know I've said that the book affects me in a dark way, but I LOVE IT. Back to top

Blue Dolphin Group: Members Posts: 1232 Joined: Nov. 1999 Posted: Mar. 25 2008, 05:52 I hope you will find it Bassman! Good luck! I will remember that one if I'm going to buy some other books. But there's still plenty for me to read of ACC. 2001 and TSODE are still my favourites, but I lately read one called Imperial Earth. Completely different to what I've read of him so far. -------------- -The mark of a good musician is to play one note and mean it- Mike Oldfield - 1980 Back to top

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