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Beirut
03-18-2008, 23:59
Bummer. :shame:

The greatest Science-Fiction writer of our age is gone. I read so many of his books I felt like I knew him. Perhaps I did.

Along with Pink Floyd, Arthur C. was my greatest artful delight. I'm going to blast 2001 on the big screen tonight.

Ma man, gone to where Rama went.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/horsesass/10073759A2001-A-Space-Odyssey-Poste.jpg
pevergreen
03-19-2008, 00:00
Although Im not a fan of the movie, he was a great guy.

:bow:
Ramses II CP
03-19-2008, 00:34
He will be missed, but his life was long and full. I hope I'm as fortunate.

:egypt:
Gregoshi
03-19-2008, 00:51
Bummer indeed. It shouldn't surprise me, but it does. He seems to have been in flail health for a number of years. I must have subconsciously known something was afoot as I picked up Earthlight, perhaps my favourite novel of Arthur's, and just finished reading it this past weekend. I may never go to the moon, but he painted a picture in my mind so vivid, that I almost feel like I've been there.

The end of Arthur's short story, The Nine Billion Names of God, seems appropriate here.


"Look," whispered Chuck, and George lifted his eyes to heaven. (There is always a last time for everything.)

Overhead, without any fuss, the stars were going out.
Adrian II
03-19-2008, 03:13
Yes, this is a severe case of bummer :shame:

Apart from all the books and movies, a great personality is gone. I saw a tv documentary about Arthur Clarke some years back; such a gentle, cultured, spiritual guy.

May he rest in peace and may future generations appreciate his work. :bow:
Mouzafphaerre
03-19-2008, 04:12
.
Overheard on CNN while zapping around. RIP :bow: Faintly remember reading an interview made with him in 2001, on Newsweek.
.
InsaneApache
03-19-2008, 12:53
The man was/is a legend. I remember discovering his works back in the 70s, I was a fan instantly. Reading his books even when I'd gone camping on the moors and dales, once opened you couldn't put his books down.

He must have been a good age though, IIRC he was in the RAF in the last war.

RIP Arthur. :bow:
PBI
03-19-2008, 12:59
Goodbye Arthur C. Clarke. His books were the first to get me interested in sci-fi and are the finest examples of the genre. I know I should not feel sad at the passing of a man who lived such a long and full life but his works gave me so many happy hours of reading and he will be sorely missed. At least he lived long enough to see so many of his ideas become reality.
Vladimir
03-19-2008, 13:41
I saw 2001 when I was very young and it had a profound effect on me. Perhaps I can attribute my fascination with astronomy to his works.
Monk
03-19-2008, 14:18
Aw man. He will indeed be missed, rip :shame:
Togakure
03-19-2008, 18:51
*bows*
Scurvy
03-21-2008, 01:26
Excellent writer.
doc_bean
03-21-2008, 09:12
Another great man gone without someone worthy to fill his shoes...

He will be missed.
Conradus
03-21-2008, 09:42
The last of the great science fiction writers gone. It has been a bad year for my writers.
May he rest in peace.
Gregoshi
03-21-2008, 16:24
Clarke was 90, so he lived a long and fulfilling life at least.

I'm reading some of his short stories now. Read Dog Star yesterday and thought of you Beirut. :bow:
InsaneApache
03-21-2008, 17:04
Clarke was 90, so he lived a long and fulfilling life at least.

I'm reading some of his short stories now. Read Dog Star yesterday and thought of you Beirut. :bow:

Are you Sirius? :inquisitive: :laugh4:

Gotcha! :yes:
Gregoshi
03-21-2008, 17:22
Are you Sirius? :inquisitive: :laugh4:

Gotcha! :yes:
Black humour IA? That's not only inappropriate but the wrong author. ~;)
Papewaio
03-25-2008, 05:24
I had a media and PC self imposed blackout for the last 3 weeks while traveling in Taiwan.

Got back and found that Gary Gygax had passed away (one of my favourite past-times was D&D and I intend to get Toddlerwaio into it when he is old enough... he already loves my 40K minatures so not too large a jump).

And now I have found out that the big C himself is dead. He was one of the later influences in getting my interest up on Space and hence Physics... I was more into ants and whales from age 7 to ten.

I was reading his great fellow writer Asimov on the trip... the Second Foundation.

Sad events indeed... sad that I find this sadder then China in Tibet, but then again I'm only human and prioritise not on democratic numbers but benign greatest of individuals.