He is now free to wander the universe

March 25, 2008

As you no doubt know by now, Arthur C. Clarke passed away last week at the age of 90. Clarke, who wrote more than 100 books and short stories, will not only be remembered for his writings but also for his visions of technologies of the future. In Oct. 1945, he proposed the idea of satellites in geosynchronous orbit as communications systems. Although he got some details incorrect—he foresaw the satellites being huge and manned, with only three satellites necessary to handle all of the Earth’s communications—he lived to see many of his visions of the future become reality.

My dad introduced me to the works of Arthur C. Clarke when I was a young teen. After watching, but not quite comprehending, the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, I dove right into the book, followed by Rendezvous with Rama, The Fountains of Paradise, along with books by Asimov, Heinlein, Niven, and Pournelle. Thus began my love of science fiction, and along with it, my love of science. Clarke, through his books and stories, had the ability to inspire budding scientists and engineers as well as ordinary people. In his reflections on his 90 "orbits around the sun", Clarke explained how he most wanted to be remembered: "as a writer—one who entertained readers, and, hopefully, stretched their imagination as well." That, Sir Clarke, you have. And wherever you are now, I know it’s full of stars.

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