Arthur C. Clarke, RIP
For me, Arthur C. Clarke was never defined by hard science; he was defined by the unknowable. Whatever lay on the other side of the monolith. The agenda of the aliens in Childhood’s End. And of course, what was for me his most resonant work, Rendezvous with Rama. These are not stories that offer understanding — they offer, instead, mysteries a bit too big to fit into one book, one story.
Sure, he may have invented the communications satellite, but what he may be best remembered for in the end is an aphorism: any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. As we live in an increasingly magic world, it’s good to remember that there are always horizons — that any sufficiently familiar magic is merely technology — and that there are always new magic just over the horizon, barreling towards us and presenting new mysteries to attempt to resolve.
4 Responses to “Arthur C. Clarke, RIP”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Arthur C. Clarke, RIPPosted on March 19, 2008 by Raph
Well put.
Those two are good readings. He was more than a science fiction author. He created the most believable worlds of the most unbelievable scenarios and taught us to accept strangers for who they are in both of those books. Childhood’s End also pointed to VR in his description of the theatre in the new city (I believe it was New Athen or something like that).
I loved his Rama book, so glad you reminded me of it 🙂