This Makes Me Sad
Arthur C. Clarke died today.
I won't try to eulogize him here. There will be tons of eulogies by better writers who are much more knowledgable than me.
I'll just say I really enjoyed his writing and you have to give props to a man who helped invent radar and communication satellites. That whole thing of having satellites in a geosynchronous orbit about 23,000 miles up so that they always stay over the same spot on the globe? Yeah, that was his idea. Pretty fucking brilliant.
He was part of the old school, with guys like Isaac Asimov and Robert Heinlein. Guys who knew their science but could also craft engaging, entertaining and well written fiction.
Very sad.
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Mr. Clarke had a quite powerful, positive impact on young kids - I was one of them.
He had me, and I suspect you, absolutley enthralled using our imaginations to imagine his world.
I cannot imagine a better gift we could receive.
Btw, on Heinlein, one of his best books was "Time Enough for Love", and his Lazarus Long character.
Speaking of long-lived characters, it's interesting to compare Lazarus Long to Lestat from the Anne Rice Vampire chronicle series...
I highly recommend the "The Notebooks of Lazarus Long" illustrated and illuminated by D.F. Vassallo.
One illuminated quote of wisdom simply said "Rub Her Feet."
I've always remembered it and it has always served me well.
As a guide for living an eternal life, I'll take Lazarus Long over Lestat. I suspect that Lazarus may be a Democrat. Lestat is most definitely a Republican.
now all three of masters are dead.
I love you, XO, for always proving there are geekier people out there than me. =)
Yeah, I saw this before I came in today. The guy wrote stuff that was often tough to read, but weeded out the wussies. I read 2001 waaay to young, it was really hard. I have read it a dozen times since, and always enjoy it. AND I always get something new out of it.
H hasn't been as prolific at publishing in his later years, but in my imagination the night sky is a little darker without his star.
lol true XO.
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