Arthur C. Clarke

[coyote]

As kind of an odd little side note - Arthur C. Clarke has died. Not only was he one of the three most influential science fiction writers ever, but he was also a complete diving fanatic. Crippled from polio in the 50’s, he moved to Sri Lanka in 1956 to be closer to his favorite dive sites. "I'm perfectly operational underwater," he once said.

He was a member of The Explorers Club along with Sylvia Earle, Jacques Piccard, Don Walsh and Robert Ballard.

[Beaucoupfishies]

He was one of those people you just kind of thought would be around forever because he kept right on going. It makes me want to go do a Mysterious Universe marathon.

[DollFin]

Very sad news - I am a huge fan of his writing and admire the life he lead as well.

[cmburch]

I am only familiar with the movie 2001 a Space Odyssey. Which of his novels would you recommend?

[DollFin]

Originally Posted by cmburch

I am only familiar with the movie 2001 a Space Odyssey. Which of his novels would you recommend?

So many good ones - Rendezvous with Rama is alway a good one to start with. He had a gift for being able to not only write good SF from the technological aspect, but also create very "real" characters an average person could relate to and tell stories that draw you in even if you're not a fan of "Hard SF".

[Beaucoupfishies]

Songs of Distant Earth was my favorite growing up, but Rendezvous with Rama was also very good.

[navyhmc]

I agree, truly sad to lose another great. Rendevous with Rama was one of my favorite. He pegged the entire physics of the sphere type planet. "Ramans do everything in three's".

[coyote]

Originally Posted by DollFin

So many good ones - Rendezvous with Rama is alway a good one to start with. He had a gift for being able to not only write good SF from the technological aspect, but also create very "real" characters an average person could relate to and tell stories that draw you in even if you're not a fan of "Hard SF".

I agree.

If you can find a copy, The Sentinel is the story 2001 was based on. He wrote three (?) more stories based on that storyline. The books were much better than the movie sequels.
Songs of Distant Earth and Rendezvous with Rama might be his best known work. Both are really good. Childhood's End is classic sci-fi with a definite 50’s flavor - back when sci fi was more “what if” and less CGI inspired storyline.
Amazon.com has several collections that are worth looking into, especially of short stories.

[John Yaskowich]

Originally Posted by navyhmc

I agree, truly sad to lose another great. Rendevous with Rama was one of my favorite. He pegged the entire physics of the sphere type planet. "Ramans do everything in three's".

In the obit on MSNBC it mentioned that Rendevous with Rama is in development as a movie. Morgan Freeman is listed as producer and star. I hope that Hollywood does this work proud (hey, there is a first time for everything!).

[fishi]

I watched a interview of him the interviewer asked what he thought of the space station he said mine was a beautiful cylindrical sphere orbiting the Earth what They have built is a over priced piece of junk. I didn't know he had died thats sad.