Arthur C. Clarke, science fiction author, dies at 90 - International Herald Tribune

An incredible man. An awesome true scientist and writer who so wonderfully mixed real science with fiction.

He's been a hero of mine since childhood.

Very sad indeed.

Just been reading this myself.

As a child I watched 2001 A Space Odyssey and that along with other science fiction and the Lunar project fueled my imagination . At the time I fully expected that I would at least visit the moon as an adult. I have been disappointed that the best we have accomplished is in robotic space exploration (as wonderful as that has been ) while humans for whatever reason have yet to conquer relatively short stints in low Earth orbit. We are approaching the position of retiring the only viable vessel to even adequately restock the Int.Space station and the promise of a trip to Mars is looking like a pipe-dream. We still have not figured out how to leave our confines without the use of a very large fire cracker .But we do get good pictures from Hubble to show on Hi-def TV .

I will use Reagan's eulogy to the Challenger Astronauts as a tribute to Arthur Clarke also .


Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds -- and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of -- wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hovering there,

I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace

Where never lark, or even eagle flew.
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.(an American ;Pilot John G. Magee serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force 1941 )

May he rest in peace. The world needs more persons of imagination like him.