Re:Arthur C. Clarke has died at the age of 90
by benl on Tuesday March 18, 2008 @06:37PM
(#140296)
This is a sad moment for me. ACC was the first science fiction author I ever read, and it wouldn't be an understatement to say that he changed my life.
His novels stimulated to think in a new way and to break free of the religious shackles I'd been brought up with.
Re:Arthur C. Clarke has died at the age of 90
by parker on Tuesday March 18, 2008 @06:18PM
(#140279)
Can't help but thing of this song:
"Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer true;
I'm half crazy over the love of you;
It won't be a stylish marriage;
I can't afford a carriage;
But you look sweet, upon the seat;
Of a bicycle built for two"
Trivia sidenote -- he called the supercomputer in 2001 HAL because he thought the company IBM would become increasingly dominant in a technical world. HAL's letters each are one below IBM's.
Re:Arthur C. Clarke has died at the age of 90
by Elfan on Tuesday March 18, 2008 @08:23PM
(#140371)
"Is it true, Dr. Chandra, that you chose the name HAL to be one step ahead of IBM?"
"Utter nonsense! Half of us come from IBM and we've been trying to stamp out that story for years. I thought that by now every intelligent person knew that H-A-L is derived from Heuristic ALgorithmic."
Re:Arthur C. Clarke has died at the age of 90
by maxwell on Tuesday March 18, 2008 @07:02PM
(#140311)
Though Clarke denied that, asserting it simply stood for "Heuristically programmed ALgorithmic computer" and was just a coincidence. Obviously, the odds are against him...
Re:Arthur C. Clarke has died at the age of 90
by parker on Tuesday March 18, 2008 @07:10PM
(#140315)
Another one of his mysteries I suppose... but I DID learn that while watching a TBS 2001/2010 marathon in like 1996. Ted Turner has never steered me wrong before.
Re:Arthur C. Clarke has died at the age of 90
by nazgulnarsil on Tuesday March 18, 2008 @10:37PM
(#140474)
Clarke was one of the true masters. He not only wrote great books but brought attention and respect to the entire genre of sci-fi. Before Clarke a government space program wouldn't have been caught dead asking for a sci-fi author's opinion.
"Clarke's most important scientific contribution may be in propagating the idea that geostationary satellites would be ideal telecommunications relays. He described this concept in a paper titled "Extra-Terrestrial Relays — Can Rocket Stations Give Worldwide Radio Coverage?", published in Wireless World in October 1945. The geostationary orbit is now sometimes known as the Clarke Orbit or the Clarke Belt in his honour."
Re:Arthur C. Clarke has died at the age of 90
by srp on Wednesday March 19, 2008 @12:11AM
(#140534)
Arthur C Clarke was one of my heroes. I started reading ACC when I was still at school, the impression he left on me has not only helped me cultivate a scientific temperament but also helped me see humanity as one people. The sheer excitement of reading a ACC story playing out on a global or bigger stage was more than enough to lift you up from whatever your current set of mundane problems are and make you feel part of something bigger. Thanks ACC for all the times you made me feel special.
Re:Arthur C. Clarke has died at the age of 90
by SwellJoe on Wednesday March 19, 2008 @06:51PM
(#141222)
It's a perfect time to celebrate his life, by reading (or re-reading) "Childhood's End", "2001", and "Rendezvous with Rama". All wonderful books that will enlighten and inspire.
His novels stimulated to think in a new way and to break free of the religious shackles I'd been brought up with.
Thanks.
"Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer true; I'm half crazy over the love of you; It won't be a stylish marriage; I can't afford a carriage; But you look sweet, upon the seat; Of a bicycle built for two"
Trivia sidenote -- he called the supercomputer in 2001 HAL because he thought the company IBM would become increasingly dominant in a technical world. HAL's letters each are one below IBM's.
The following is a public service announcement: PLEASE STOP DYING
Thanks for the magic in your writing that transported me as a teenager to worlds beyond imagination and high school...
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/5.01/ffclark.html
"Clarke's most important scientific contribution may be in propagating the idea that geostationary satellites would be ideal telecommunications relays. He described this concept in a paper titled "Extra-Terrestrial Relays — Can Rocket Stations Give Worldwide Radio Coverage?", published in Wireless World in October 1945. The geostationary orbit is now sometimes known as the Clarke Orbit or the Clarke Belt in his honour."
Thank you, Arthur Clarke.