Clarke at 100
Dennis Fischer <[email protected]> Sun, 10 Dec 2017 21:35:33 +0000
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------=_Part_2005610_1287666790.1512941733586 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Arthur C Clarke at 100: still the king of science fiction 2001: A Space Odyssey, Childhood=E2=80=99s End, Arthur C. Clarke=E2=80=99s = Mysterious World =E2=80=A6 one hundred years after his birth, the British w= riter is the undisputed masterAdam Roberts Shares 1,508 Comments 347Born on 16 December 1917,=C2=A0Arthur C Clarke=C2=A0lived long enough to= see the year he and Stanley Kubrick made cinematically famous with=C2=A020= 01: A Space Odyssey, and it seemed for a while as though he might see in hi= s centenary too: he was physically active (he had a passion for scuba divin= g), non-smoking, teetotal and always interested in and curious about the wo= rld. But having survived a bout of polio in 1962, he found the disease retu= rned as post-polio syndrome in the 1980s; it eventually killed him in 2008.= For a while Clarke,=C2=A0Robert Heinlein=C2=A0and=C2=A0Isaac Asimov=C2=A0co= nstituted the =E2=80=9Cbig three=E2=80=9D, bestriding science fiction like = colossi. Like many SF fans I grew up reading Clarke. He was, for a time, ev= erywhere: his books thronging the shops, he himself popping up on telly to = present=C2=A0Arthur C. Clarke=E2=80=99s Mysterious World. He was a prolific= science writer and presenter, a rationalist and space flight advocate. But= most important was his science fiction. With =E2=80=9CThe Nine Billion Nam= es of God=E2=80=9D (1953),=C2=A0Childhood=E2=80=99s End=C2=A0(1953) and=C2= =A02001: A Space Odyssey=C2=A0(1968) he has a fair claim to have produced t= he best short story, novel and screenplay in 20th-century SF. Sign up for the Bookmarks email =C2=A0Read moreWhat all three works share is the ability to construe moment= s of astonishing transcendence out of the careful delineation of scientific= or technological plausibility. The amazing final line of =E2=80=9CNine Bil= lion Names=E2=80=9D (I won=E2=80=99t spoil it, if you don=E2=80=99t know it= ), the expertly paced uncovering of the mystery of the alien =E2=80=9Coverl= ords=E2=80=9D who place Earth under benign dictatorship in=C2=A0Childhood= =E2=80=99s End=C2=A0and the wondrous uplift of=C2=A02001=C2=A0=E2=80=93 thi= s is the genuine strong black coffee of science fiction.Not that he lacks d= etractors. He was an unshowy writer, his prose functional rather than beaut= iful, his characterisation rudimentary. Some of his short stories are marve= llous but many read like five-finger exercises, often aiming at a humorousn= ess that hasn=E2=80=99t aged well. Towards the end of his life Clarke fell = into the rut of producing myriad sequels to his earlier masterpieces rather= than new work.=C2=A0Rendezvous with Rama=C2=A0(1973), about the appearance= in the solar system of a mysterious alien space station, vast and seemingl= y unpiloted, won all the SF awards when it was published; but Clarke=E2=80= =99s egregious three sequels, co-authored with Gentry Lee between 1989 and = 1993, neither won nor deserved prizes.FacebookTwitterPinterest=C2=A0Arthur = C Clarke in 1984. Photograph: c.MGM/Everett / Rex FeaturesClarke=E2=80=99s = own novelisation of his screenplay=C2=A02001: A Space Odyssey=C2=A0makes an= interesting companion piece to the film, from which it differs in many res= pects. But once again the sequel itch struck Clarke in the 1980s:=C2=A02010= : Odyssey Two(1982) was followed by=C2=A02061: Odyssey Three=C2=A0(1987) an= d when number four was published as=C2=A03001: The Final Odyssey=C2=A0(1997= ) fandom breathed a sigh of relief.Advertisement=E2=80=93=E2=80=93 ADVERTIS= EMENT =E2=80=93=E2=80=93We can take with a pinch of salt his claim to have = invented the concept of geostationary satellites, where a spacecraft comple= tes one orbit in the same 24 hours of the Earth=E2=80=99s turning, so that = it occupies a fixed place in the sky (this is the principle behind today=E2= =80=99s communication satellites that enable everything from digital TV to = GPS). Clarke certainly did publish an article advocating it (Extra-Terrestr= ial Relays =E2=80=93 Can Rocket Stations Give Worldwide Radio Coverage?) in= Wireless World in=C2=A0October 1945. But Slovene rocket engineer Herman Po= to=C4=8Dnik proposed exactly this idea in 1928, and in 1942 American scienc= e fiction writer George O Smith published a novella,=C2=A0QRM =E2=80=93 Int= erplanetary, set on a stationary =E2=80=9Crelay station=E2=80=9D in space. = I=E2=80=99m not accusing Clarke of plagiarism, yet the concept was clearly = in the air in the 1940s.But none of this matters. We don=E2=80=99t need to = advocate the whole of Clarke to recognise the best of him, and to acknowled= ge that his influence continues to inform the genre. His plain writing styl= e and meticulous attention to detail are there not for their own sake but t= o provide the most effective platform from which to create a genuine sense = of wonder.Not for nothing is the UK=E2=80=99s premier science fiction prize= called the=C2=A0Arthur C=C2=A0Clarke award. Knighted in 2000, he is=C2=A0p= roperly speaking Sir Arthur; but for=C2=A0the huge affection many in SF fan= dom have for him, he could almost be King Arthur. ------=_Part_2005610_1287666790.1512941733586 Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <html><head></head><body><div style=3D"color:#000; background-color:#fff; f= ont-family:Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;font= -size:13px"><div style=3D"color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Guardi= an Text Egyptian Web", Georgia, serif; font-size: medium; font-variant= -ligatures: common-ligatures;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10679"= ><header id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10680"><div style=3D"backgro= und-color: rgb(149, 28, 85);" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10681">= <div style=3D"position: relative; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 81.25rem; pa= dding-left: 1.25rem; padding-right: 1.25rem; box-sizing: border-box;" id=3D= "yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10682"><div style=3D"max-width: 38.75rem; = margin: auto 20rem auto 15rem; position: relative;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1= _1512940373117_10683"><h1 itemprop=3D"headline" style=3D"margin-top: 0px; m= argin-bottom: 0px; font-size: 2.25rem; line-height: 2.5rem; font-family: &q= uot;Guardian Egyptian Web", "Guardian Text Egyptian Web", Ge= orgia, serif; font-weight: 200; padding-top: 0.375rem; padding-bottom: 2.25= rem; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_1068= 4">Arthur C Clarke at 100: still the king of science fiction</h1></div></di= v></div><div style=3D"color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-color: rgb(184,= 34, 102); padding-top: 0.375rem;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10= 685"><div style=3D"position: relative; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 81.25re= m; padding-left: 1.25rem; padding-right: 1.25rem; box-sizing: border-box;" = id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10686"><div style=3D"max-width: 38.75= rem; margin: auto 20rem auto 15rem; position: relative;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_y= m19_1_1512940373117_10687"><div data-link-name=3D"standfirst" data-componen= t=3D"standfirst" style=3D"font-size: 1.125rem; line-height: 1.375rem; font-= family: "Guardian Egyptian Web", "Guardian Text Egyptian Web= ", Georgia, serif; margin-bottom: 1.5rem;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_151= 2940373117_10688"><div style=3D"margin-bottom: 0.5rem;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym= 19_1_1512940373117_10689">2001: A Space Odyssey, Childhood=E2=80=99s End, A= rthur C. Clarke=E2=80=99s Mysterious World =E2=80=A6 one hundred years afte= r his birth, the British writer is the undisputed master</div></div></div><= /div></div></header></div><div style=3D"padding-top: 1.5rem; color: rgb(51,= 51, 51); font-family: "Guardian Text Egyptian Web", Georgia, ser= if; font-size: medium; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;" id=3D"yui= _3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10690"><div style=3D"position: relative; margi= n: 0px auto; max-width: 81.25rem; padding-left: 1.25rem; padding-right: 1.2= 5rem; box-sizing: border-box;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10691"= ><div style=3D"min-height: 17.25rem; max-width: 38.75rem; margin: auto 20re= m auto 15rem; position: relative;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10= 692"><div id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10693"></div><div style=3D"= margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117= _10694"></div><figure itemprop=3D"associatedMedia image" itemscope=3D"" ite= mtype=3D"http://schema.org/ImageObject" data-component=3D"image" data-media= -id=3D"6d97af7601e429c4653e575c870936575ebca385" style=3D"margin: 0px; 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border-style: initial; display: block; width: 620px; min-height: 372= .359px; ; top: 0px; left: 0px;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10709= " data-id=3D"795241d1-7584-d7c1-849d-bd2b62da1f9e" class=3D""></picture></d= iv></a></figure><div style=3D"min-height: 2.25rem; ; margin-bottom: 1rem; t= op: 0px; margin-left: 0; width: 13.75rem;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_15129403= 73117_10718"><div style=3D"float: left; margin-right: 0.9375rem;" id=3D"yui= _3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10719"></div><div data-link-name=3D"byline" da= ta-component=3D"meta-byline" style=3D"font-size: 1rem; font-weight: bold; p= adding-top: 0.125rem; line-height: 1.375rem; color: rgb(118, 118, 118); cle= ar: both; border-top: 0.0625rem dotted rgb(223, 223, 223); box-sizing: bord= er-box; padding-bottom: 0.75rem; min-height: 3rem;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1= _1512940373117_10720"><span itemscope=3D"" itemtype=3D"http://schema.org/Pe= rson" itemprop=3D"author" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10721"><a r= el=3D"author" itemprop=3D"sameAs" data-link-name=3D"auto tag link" href=3D"= https://www.theguardian.com/profile/adam-roberts" style=3D"touch-action: ma= nipulation; 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color: rgb(149, 28, 85); cursor: pointer; text-d= ecoration-line: none; display: block;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_151294037311= 7_10764"><h3 style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-size: 1rem;= line-height: 1.5rem; font-weight: normal; min-height: 0.9375rem; position:= relative; padding-left: 0.9375rem;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_= 10765"><span style=3D"fill: rgb(149, 28, 85); ; top: 0px; right: 0px; left:= 0px; margin-top: 0.0625rem; margin-right: 0;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512= 940373117_10766"><svg width=3D"16" height=3D"16" viewBox=3D"0 0 16 16" id= =3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10767"><path d=3D"M13 0l1 1v7l-1 1h-6l-= 2 3h-1v-3h-2l-1-1v-7l1-1h11z" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10768">= </path></svg></span><span style=3D"border: 0px !important; clip: rect(0px 0= px 0px 0px) !important; min-height: 0.0625rem !important; margin: 0 !import= ant; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; !important; wid= th: 0.0625rem !important;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10769">Com= ments</span></h3><span style=3D"font-size: 1.125rem; line-height: 1.125rem;= font-family: "Guardian Text Sans Web", "Helvetica Neue"= ;, Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-weight: bo= ld; letter-spacing: -0.0625rem; padding-top: 0.15rem; display: block;" id= =3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10770">347</span></a></div></div></div>= </div><div itemprop=3D"articleBody" data-test-id=3D"article-review-body" st= yle=3D"word-wrap: break-word; position: relative;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_= 1512940373117_10771"><div style=3D"margin-bottom: 1rem;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_y= m19_1_1512940373117_10772"><span style=3D"font-family: "Guardian Egypt= ian Web", "Guardian Text Egyptian Web", Georgia, serif; floa= t: left; display: inline-block; text-transform: uppercase; box-sizing: bord= er-box; min-height: 4.5rem; padding-top: 0.0625rem; margin-right: 0.3125rem= ; color: rgb(149, 28, 85);" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10773"><s= pan style=3D"font-size: 5.25rem; line-height: 4.25rem; display: inline-bloc= k; vertical-align: text-top;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10774">= B</span></span>orn on 16 December 1917, <a href=3D"https://www.theguar= dian.com/books/arthurcclarke" title=3D"" data-link-name=3D"in body link" st= yle=3D"touch-action: manipulation; color: rgb(0, 86, 137); cursor: pointer;= border-bottom: 0.0625rem solid rgb(220, 220, 220); transition: border-colo= r 0.15s ease-out; text-decoration-line: none !important;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_= ym19_1_1512940373117_10775">Arthur C Clarke</a> lived long enough to s= ee the year he and Stanley Kubrick made cinematically famous with <a h= ref=3D"https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/nov/27/2001-a-space-odyssey-re= view-rerelease" title=3D"" data-link-name=3D"in body link" style=3D"touch-a= ction: manipulation; color: rgb(0, 86, 137); cursor: pointer; border-bottom= : 0.0625rem solid rgb(220, 220, 220); transition: border-color 0.15s ease-o= ut; text-decoration-line: none !important;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940= 373117_10776"><em id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10777">2001: A Spac= e Odyssey</em></a>, and it seemed for a while as though he might see in his= centenary too: he was physically active (he had a passion for scuba diving= ), non-smoking, teetotal and always interested in and curious about the wor= ld. But having survived a bout of polio in 1962, he found the disease retur= ned as post-polio syndrome in the 1980s; it eventually killed him in 2008.<= /div><div style=3D"margin-bottom: 1rem;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373= 117_10778">For a while Clarke, <a href=3D"https://www.theguardian.com/= books/booksblog/2009/jan/12/heinlein-hugo-stranger-strange-land" title=3D""= data-link-name=3D"in body link" style=3D"touch-action: manipulation; color= : rgb(0, 86, 137); cursor: pointer; border-bottom: 0.0625rem solid rgb(220,= 220, 220); transition: border-color 0.15s ease-out; text-decoration-line: = none !important;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10779">Robert Heinl= ein</a> and <a href=3D"https://www.theguardian.com/books/isaacasi= mov" title=3D"" data-link-name=3D"in body link" style=3D"touch-action: mani= pulation; color: rgb(0, 86, 137); cursor: pointer; border-bottom: 0.0625rem= solid rgb(220, 220, 220); transition: border-color 0.15s ease-out; text-de= coration-line: none !important;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_1078= 0">Isaac Asimov</a> constituted the =E2=80=9Cbig three=E2=80=9D, bestr= iding science fiction like colossi. Like many SF fans I grew up reading Cla= rke. He was, for a time, everywhere: his books thronging the shops, he hims= elf popping up on telly to present <em id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940= 373117_10781">Arthur C. Clarke=E2=80=99s Mysterious World</em>. He was a pr= olific science writer and presenter, a rationalist and space flight advocat= e. But most important was his science fiction. With =E2=80=9CThe Nine Billi= on Names of God=E2=80=9D (1953), <em id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_151294037= 3117_10782">Childhood=E2=80=99s End</em> (1953) and <em id=3D"yui= _3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10783">2001: A Space Odyssey</em> (1968) = he has a fair claim to have produced the best short story, novel and screen= play in 20th-century SF.</div><aside data-component=3D"rich-link-tag" data-= link-name=3D"rich-link-tag" style=3D"float: left; margin: 0.3125rem 1.25rem= 0.75rem 0; clear: both; width: 13.75rem;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_15129403= 73117_10784"><div style=3D"background-color: rgb(246, 246, 246); margin: 0p= x; position: relative; overflow: hidden;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_151294037= 3117_10785"><div style=3D"position: relative;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512= 940373117_10786"><div style=3D"width: 220px; padding-bottom: 132px; positio= n: relative; overflow: hidden; transition: background-color 0.25s ease; bac= kground-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_1= 0787"><img src=3D"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/aefbb95d412e62514bb3a5c9bd= b47f23127f75ad/1826_0_1399_840/master/1399.png?w=3D460&q=3D55&auto= =3Dformat&usm=3D12&fit=3Dmax&s=3De1b44d43ba71b8dc61949ea4f1f5f5= 1a" itemprop=3D"contentURL" style=3D"border-width: 0px; border-style: initi= al; width: 220px; min-height: 132px; ; top: 0px; left: 0px;" id=3D"yui_3_16= _0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10788" data-id=3D"88983881-da3d-e62a-68fb-c092ec1f5= 163"></div><div style=3D"font-size: 1.25rem; line-height: 1.5rem; font-fami= ly: "Guardian Egyptian Web", "Guardian Text Egyptian Web&quo= t;, Georgia, serif; padding: 0.25rem 0.3125rem 0.5em; box-sizing: border-bo= x; min-height: 2.25rem;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10789"><h1 s= tyle=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-vari= ant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inher= it; font-family: inherit; line-height: inherit;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_15= 12940373117_10790"><a style=3D"touch-action: manipulation; color: inherit; = cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_15129= 40373117_10791" href=3D"">Sign up for the Bookmarks email</a></h1></div><di= v style=3D"padding-left: 0.3125rem;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_= 10792"><div style=3D"display: inline-block;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_151294= 0373117_10793"><span style=3D"fill: rgb(255, 255, 255);" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_y= m19_1_1512940373117_10794"><svg width=3D"24" height=3D"24" viewBox=3D"0 0 2= 4 24" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10795"><path d=3D"M12 0C5.373 0= 0 5.373 0 12s5.373 12 12 12 12-5.373 12-12S18.627 0 12 0m.21 19l-.637-.668= 4.888-6.326H4.996v-1.01h11.465l-4.888-6.333.637-.668L19 11.153v.685l-6.79 = 7.157" fill=3D"#005689" fill-rule=3D"evenodd" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_15129= 40373117_10796"></path></svg></span></div> <div style=3D"font-size: 0.= 875rem; font-family: "Guardian Egyptian Web", "Guardian Text= Egyptian Web", Georgia, serif; display: inline-block; min-height: 1.8= 75rem; line-height: 1.625rem; padding-left: 0.125rem; vertical-align: top; = color: rgb(0, 86, 137);" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10797">Read = more</div></div><a href=3D"https://www.theguardian.com/info/ng-interactive/= 2017/mar/30/sign-up-for-the-bookmarks-email" style=3D"touch-action: manipul= ation; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; top: 0p= x; right: 0px; bottom: 0px; left: 0px; overflow: hidden; text-indent: 200%;= white-space: nowrap; ; z-index: 0; opacity: 0;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_15= 12940373117_10798"></a></div></div></aside><div style=3D"margin-bottom: 1re= m;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10799">What all three works share= is the ability to construe moments of astonishing transcendence out of the= careful delineation of scientific or technological plausibility. The amazi= ng final line of =E2=80=9CNine Billion Names=E2=80=9D (I won=E2=80=99t spoi= l it, if you don=E2=80=99t know it), the expertly paced uncovering of the m= ystery of the alien =E2=80=9Coverlords=E2=80=9D who place Earth under benig= n dictatorship in <em id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10800">Chi= ldhood=E2=80=99s End</em> and the wondrous uplift of <em id=3D"yu= i_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10801">2001</em> =E2=80=93 this is the g= enuine strong black coffee of science fiction.</div><div style=3D"margin-bo= ttom: 1rem;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10802">Not that he lacks= detractors. He was an unshowy writer, his prose functional rather than bea= utiful, his characterisation rudimentary. Some of his short stories are mar= vellous but many read like five-finger exercises, often aiming at a humorou= sness that hasn=E2=80=99t aged well. Towards the end of his life Clarke fel= l into the rut of producing myriad sequels to his earlier masterpieces rath= er than new work. <em id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10803">Ren= dezvous with Rama</em> (1973), about the appearance in the solar syste= m of a mysterious alien space station, vast and seemingly unpiloted, won al= l the SF awards when it was published; but Clarke=E2=80=99s egregious three= sequels, co-authored with Gentry Lee between 1989 and 1993, neither won no= r deserved prizes.</div><figure itemprop=3D"associatedMedia image" itemscop= e=3D"" itemtype=3D"http://schema.org/ImageObject" data-component=3D"image" = data-media-id=3D"496092a5300d8cf6f783a434e3b472ac4e4c6082" style=3D"margin:= 1rem 0px 0.75rem; position: relative;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_15129403731= 17_10804"><a href=3D"https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/dec/09/arthur-c= -clarke-king-science-fiction#img-2" data-link-name=3D"Launch Article Lightb= ox" data-is-ajax=3D"" style=3D"touch-action: manipulation; color: rgb(0, 86= , 137); cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19= _1_1512940373117_10805"><div style=3D"width: 620px; padding-bottom: 372.109= px; position: relative; overflow: hidden;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_15129403= 73117_10806"><picture id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10807"><source = media=3D"(min-width: 660px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (mi= n-width: 660px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)" sizes=3D"620px" srcset=3D"htt= ps://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/496092a5300d8cf6f783a434e3b472ac4e4c6082/0_236_= 4200_2521/master/4200.jpg?w=3D620&q=3D20&auto=3Dformat&usm=3D12= &fit=3Dmax&dpr=3D2&s=3Ddb84fa87237492c26615ee2ffcd946f1 1240w" = id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10808"><source media=3D"(min-width: 6= 60px)" sizes=3D"620px" srcset=3D"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/496092a5300= d8cf6f783a434e3b472ac4e4c6082/0_236_4200_2521/master/4200.jpg?w=3D620&q= =3D55&auto=3Dformat&usm=3D12&fit=3Dmax&s=3Dadbbd883e4de3a8f= 2fc47a597a2fa11a 620w" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10809"><source= media=3D"(min-width: 480px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (m= in-width: 480px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)" sizes=3D"605px" srcset=3D"ht= tps://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/496092a5300d8cf6f783a434e3b472ac4e4c6082/0_236= _4200_2521/master/4200.jpg?w=3D605&q=3D20&auto=3Dformat&usm=3D1= 2&fit=3Dmax&dpr=3D2&s=3D9056a37905b9ce200c47baa398acacf9 1210w"= id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10810"><source media=3D"(min-width: = 480px)" sizes=3D"605px" srcset=3D"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/496092a530= 0d8cf6f783a434e3b472ac4e4c6082/0_236_4200_2521/master/4200.jpg?w=3D605&= q=3D55&auto=3Dformat&usm=3D12&fit=3Dmax&s=3D42365ec34af2e36= 5ff82825f0425c1ac 605w" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10811"><sourc= e media=3D"(min-width: 0px) and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.25), (mi= n-width: 0px) and (min-resolution: 120dpi)" sizes=3D"445px" srcset=3D"https= ://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/496092a5300d8cf6f783a434e3b472ac4e4c6082/0_236_42= 00_2521/master/4200.jpg?w=3D445&q=3D20&auto=3Dformat&usm=3D12&a= mp;fit=3Dmax&dpr=3D2&s=3D694b9e489609405b239d219c7df6393a 890w" id= =3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10812"><source media=3D"(min-width: 0px= )" sizes=3D"445px" srcset=3D"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/496092a5300d8cf= 6f783a434e3b472ac4e4c6082/0_236_4200_2521/master/4200.jpg?w=3D445&q=3D5= 5&auto=3Dformat&usm=3D12&fit=3Dmax&s=3D5e9d6b2f028b81962f63= 3253a67413af 445w" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10813"><img itempr= op=3D"contentUrl" alt=3D"Arthur C Clarke in 1984." src=3D"https://i.guim.co= .uk/img/media/496092a5300d8cf6f783a434e3b472ac4e4c6082/0_236_4200_2521/mast= er/4200.jpg?w=3D300&q=3D55&auto=3Dformat&usm=3D12&fit=3Dmax= &s=3D929ddc8d90f8c75115dcba78efbd3053" style=3D"border-width: 0px; 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width: 1.5rem; min-height: 1.5rem; box-sizing: border-b= ox;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10829"><span style=3D"fill: rgb(= 185, 37, 44);" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10830"><svg viewBox=3D= "0 0 32 32" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10831"><path d=3D"M16.363= 8C12.133 8 10 11.13 10 13.74c0 1.582.58 2.988 1.823 3.512.204.086.387.003.= 446-.23.04-.16.137-.568.18-.737.06-.23.037-.312-.127-.513-.36-.436-.588-1-.= 588-1.802 0-2.322 1.684-4.402 4.384-4.402 2.39 0 3.703 1.508 3.703 3.522 0 = 2.65-1.136 4.887-2.822 4.887-.93 0-1.628-.795-1.405-1.77.268-1.165.786-2.42= .786-3.262 0-.752-.39-1.38-1.2-1.38-.952 0-1.716 1.017-1.716 2.38 0 .867.28= 4 1.454.284 1.454l-1.146 5.006c-.34 1.487-.05 3.31-.026 3.493.014.108.15.13= 4.21.05.09-.117 1.223-1.562 1.61-3.006.108-.41.625-2.526.625-2.526.31.61 1.= 215 1.145 2.176 1.145 2.862 0 4.804-2.693 4.804-6.298C22 10.54 19.763 8 16.= 363 8" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10832"></path></svg></span><sp= an style=3D"border: 0px !important; clip: rect(0px 0px 0px 0px) !important;= min-height: 0.0625rem !important; margin: 0 !important; overflow: hidden != important; padding: 0px !important; !important; width: 0.0625rem !importan= t;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10833">Pinterest</span></a></div>= <figcaption itemprop=3D"description" style=3D"font-size: 0.75rem; line-heig= ht: 1rem; font-family: "Guardian Text Sans Web", "Helvetica = Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; color:= rgb(118, 118, 118); padding-top: 0.5rem; max-width: 32.5rem;" id=3D"yui_3_= 16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10834"><span style=3D"fill: rgb(255, 255, 255); b= order-radius: 62.5rem; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle; posit= ion: relative; margin-right: 0.125rem; margin-top: -0.1875rem; width: 0.875= rem; min-height: 0.875rem; background-color: rgb(189, 189, 189);" id=3D"yui= _3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10835"><svg width=3D"6" height=3D"14" viewBox= =3D"0 0 6 14" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10836"><path d=3D"M4.6 = 12l-.4 1.4c-.7.2-1.9.6-3 .6-.7 0-1.2-.2-1.2-.9 0-.2 0-.3.1-.5l2-6.7H.7l.4-1= .5 4.2-.6h.2L3 12h1.6zm-.3-9.2c-.9 0-1.4-.5-1.4-1.3C2.9.5 3.7 0 4.6 0 5.4 0= 6 .5 6 1.3c0 1-.8 1.5-1.7 1.5z" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_1083= 7"></path></svg></span> Arthur C Clarke in 1984. Photograph: c.MGM/Eve= rett / Rex Features</figcaption></figure><div style=3D"margin-bottom: 1rem;= " id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10838">Clarke=E2=80=99s own novelis= ation of his screenplay <em id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_1083= 9">2001: A Space Odyssey</em> makes an interesting companion piece to = the film, from which it differs in many respects. But once again the sequel= itch struck Clarke in the 1980s: <em id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_15129403= 73117_10840">2010: Odyssey Two</em>(1982) was followed by <em id=3D"yu= i_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10841">2061: Odyssey Three</em> (1987) a= nd when number four was published as <em id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_15129= 40373117_10842">3001: The Final Odyssey</em> (1997) fandom breathed a = sigh of relief.</div><div data-link-name=3D"ad slot inline1" data-name=3D"i= nline1" data-mobile=3D"1,1|2,2|300,250|fluid" data-desktop=3D"1,1|2,2|300,2= 50|620,1|620,350|fluid" data-google-query-id=3D"CJH1hu6ygNgCFdF-fgod3p0EbA"= style=3D"position: relative; z-index: 1010; overflow: initial; width: 18.7= 5rem; margin: 0.25rem auto 0.75rem 1.25rem; min-width: 18.75rem; min-height= : 17.125rem; text-align: center; background-color: rgb(246, 246, 246); floa= t: right;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10843"><div style=3D"font-= size: 0.75rem; line-height: 1.25rem; position: relative; min-height: 1.5rem= ; 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font-size: 10px !important;" i= d=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10851">=E2=80=93=E2=80=93 ADVERTISEMEN= T =E2=80=93=E2=80=93</div></div></div><div style=3D"padding-bottom: 168.75p= x; margin: 1px 0px 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; padding-rig= ht: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; l= ine-height: normal !important; letter-spacing: initial !important; min-widt= h: initial !important; min-height: initial !important; box-sizing: initial = !important; position: relative !important; min-height: 0px !important; back= ground-color: transparent !important;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_151294037311= 7_10852"><div style=3D"width: 300px; min-height: 168.75px; margin: 0px !imp= ortant; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; line-height: norma= l !important; letter-spacing: initial !important; min-width: initial !impor= tant; min-height: initial !important; box-sizing: initial !important; backg= round-color: transparent !important; !important; top: 0px !important; left= : 0px !important;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10853"><div style= =3D"width: 300px; min-height: 168.75px; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0p= x !important; border: 0px !important; line-height: normal !important; box-s= izing: border-box !important; letter-spacing: initial !important; min-width= : initial !important; min-height: initial !important; outline: none !import= ant; !important; top: 0px !important; left: 0px !important; z-index: 0 !im= portant;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10854"><iframe frameborder= =3D"0" scrolling=3D"no" src=3D"about:blank" style=3D"width: 300px; min-heig= ht: 168.75px; !important; left: 0px !important; top: 0px !important; margi= n: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; border-width: 0px !important; b= order-style: initial !important;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_108= 55"></iframe></div><img src=3D"https://video.unrulymedia.com/native/opt-out= -icon2.png" style=3D"border-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !i= mportant; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; line-height: nor= mal !important; box-sizing: border-box !important; letter-spacing: initial = !important; min-width: initial !important; min-height: initial !important; = outline: none !important; width: 42px !important; min-height: 42px !importa= nt; !important; background: transparent !important; right: 0px !important;= bottom: 0px !important;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10856" data= -id=3D"769eb25e-43cf-4d1f-bc4a-1363e746b7ab"></div></div><div style=3D"marg= in: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; line-h= eight: normal !important; letter-spacing: initial !important; min-width: in= itial !important; min-height: initial !important; box-sizing: initial !impo= rtant; min-height: 20px !important;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_= 10857"><div style=3D"margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; borde= r: 0px !important; line-height: normal !important; letter-spacing: initial = !important; min-width: initial !important; min-height: initial !important; = box-sizing: initial !important; min-height: 2px !important; width: 0px !imp= ortant; background-color: rgb(11, 187, 239) !important; transition: all 0.1= s linear !important; position: relative !important;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_= 1_1512940373117_10858"></div><img src=3D"https://video.unrulymedia.com/nati= ve/unmiss-sound-button-muted.svg" style=3D"border-width: 0px !important; bo= rder-style: initial !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !impor= tant; line-height: normal !important; letter-spacing: initial !important; m= in-width: initial !important; min-height: initial !important; box-sizing: i= nitial !important; z-index: 100 !important; width: 20px !important; min-hei= ght: 20px !important; opacity: 0.25 !important; float: right !important; -w= ebkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) !important; transition: all 0.2= 5s cubic-bezier(0.445, 0.05, 0.55, 0.95) !important; background: black !imp= ortant; border-radius: 50% !important; display: inline-block !important;" i= d=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10859" data-id=3D"040b3f9e-b789-8881-4= 1a6-f688ad72b249"></div></div></div></div><div style=3D"margin-bottom: 1rem= ;" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10860">We can take with a pinch of= salt his claim to have invented the concept of geostationary satellites, w= here a spacecraft completes one orbit in the same 24 hours of the Earth=E2= =80=99s turning, so that it occupies a fixed place in the sky (this is the = principle behind today=E2=80=99s communication satellites that enable every= thing from digital TV to GPS). Clarke certainly did publish an article advo= cating it (Extra-Terrestrial Relays =E2=80=93 Can Rocket Stations Give Worl= dwide Radio Coverage?) in Wireless World in October 1945. But Slovene = rocket engineer Herman Poto=C4=8Dnik proposed exactly this idea in 1928, an= d in 1942 American science fiction writer George O Smith published a novell= a, <em id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10861">QRM =E2=80=93 Inte= rplanetary</em>, set on a stationary =E2=80=9Crelay station=E2=80=9D in spa= ce. I=E2=80=99m not accusing Clarke of plagiarism, yet the concept was clea= rly in the air in the 1940s.</div><div style=3D"margin-bottom: 1rem;" id=3D= "yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10862">But none of this matters. We don=E2= =80=99t need to advocate the whole of Clarke to recognise the best of him, = and to acknowledge that his influence continues to inform the genre. His pl= ain writing style and meticulous attention to detail are there not for thei= r own sake but to provide the most effective platform from which to create = a genuine sense of wonder.</div><div style=3D"margin-bottom: 1rem;" dir=3D"= ltr" id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10863">Not for nothing is the UK= =E2=80=99s premier science fiction prize called the <a href=3D"https:/= /www.theguardian.com/books/arthurcclarkeaward" title=3D"" data-link-name=3D= "in body link" style=3D"touch-action: manipulation; color: rgb(0, 86, 137);= cursor: pointer; border-bottom: 0.0625rem solid rgb(220, 220, 220); transi= tion: border-color 0.15s ease-out; text-decoration-line: none !important;" = id=3D"yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1512940373117_10864">Arthur C Clarke award</a>= . Knighted in 2000, he is properly speaking Sir Arthur; but for t= he huge affection many in SF fandom have for him, he could almost be King A= rthur.</div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html> ------=_Part_2005610_1287666790.1512941733586--