Monthly Archive for March, 2008

Credits: Image from New Times Obituary (see below)

Popular Science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke is dead at 90 in Sri Lanka. Clarke is famous for his “2001: A Space Odyssey” and prediction of the concept of geostationary satellites. A comprehensive obituary can be found at the New York Times website.

I remember being hypnotized by Arthur C Clarke’s “Rama” series of novels in college. I picked up “Rendezvous with Rama ” almost on a whim. And then, for next few days, I couldn’t get enough! I read all of four them! I still remember being in a trance like state at that time. I just couldn’t wait to get back from my classes to read Clarke…

Ultimately, much of Clarke’s science “fiction” is grounded in “real” science. And thats what makes him a great read. So while advanced powers are doing all kinds of technologically amazing things in his novels, the plot still has a plausible ring to it. Clarke also conveys the sense of grandeur of the universe and its unsolvable mysteries masterfully. Mankind in many of Clarke’s novels is technologically inferior and weak compared to the “other” civilization. The sense of vulnerability is therefore very palpable and ultimately heightens the sense of adventure and the mystery of his stories. Clarke doesn’t provide all the answers (as some science fiction authors do) in his novels which can be frustrating. But consider this: when we do come in contact with a alien civilization we won’t know all the answers anyways.

I’ve been off science fiction for a while, unfortunately, but I  should get back to it. Its a mind broadening experience.

Let me leave you with some really lovely quotes by Arthur C Clarke (from Wikipedia)

• Clarke’s three laws
  • 1. “When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong”
  • 2. “The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible”
  • 3. “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic”

• “The truth, as always, will be far stranger.”

• “Sometimes I think we’re alone in the universe, and sometimes I think we’re not. In either case the idea is quite staggering.”

• “Somewhere in me is a curiosity sensor. I want to know what’s over the next hill. You know, people can live longer without food than without information. Without information, you’d go crazy.”

• “The greatest tragedy in mankind’s entire history may be the hijacking of morality by religion.”