800 Posts!
- Thread starter Cop
- Start date
- Status
- Messages
- 1,205
- Points
- 38
Even more Sad News
Writer Arthur C Clarke dies at 90
British science fiction writer Sir Arthur C Clarke has died in Sri Lanka at the age of 90.
Born in Somerset, he came to fame in 1968 when a short story The Sentinel was made into the film 2001: A Space Odyssey by director Stanley Kubrick.
Once called "the first dweller in the electronic cottage", his vision of future space travel and computing captured the popular imagination.
A farmer's son, Sir Arthur was educated at Huish's Grammar School in Taunton before joining the civil service.
During World War II, Clarke volunteered for the Royal Air Force, where he worked in the then highly-secretive development of radar and thought up the concept of communication satellites.
Sir Arthur's vivid and detailed descriptions of space shuttles, super-computers and rapid communications systems were enjoyed by millions of readers around the world.
He was the author of more than 100 fiction and non-fiction books, and his writings are credited by many observers with giving science fiction a human and practical face.
In the 1940s Clarke maintained man would reach the moon by the year 2000, an idea dismissed at the time.
'Great prophet'
British astronomer Sir Patrick Moore had known Sir Arthur since they met as teenagers at the British Interplanetary Society.
Sir Patrick paid tribute to his friend, remembering him as "a very sincere person" with "a strong sense of humour".
Tributes have also come from George Whitesides, the executive director of the National Space Society, with which Sir Arthur served on the board of governors, and fellow science fiction writer Terry Pratchett.
After a failed marriage Sir Arthur moved to Sri Lanka, then called Ceylon, in 1956, where he lived with a business partner and his family, and pursued his interest in scuba-diving.
His status as the grand old man of science fiction was threatened when, in 1998, allegations of child abuse, which he strenuously denied, caused the confirmation of a knighthood to be delayed. Sir Arthur was cleared by an investigation. From 1995, the author was largely confined to a wheelchair, suffering from post-polio syndrome.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7304004.stm
Writer Arthur C Clarke dies at 90
British science fiction writer Sir Arthur C Clarke has died in Sri Lanka at the age of 90.
Born in Somerset, he came to fame in 1968 when a short story The Sentinel was made into the film 2001: A Space Odyssey by director Stanley Kubrick.
Once called "the first dweller in the electronic cottage", his vision of future space travel and computing captured the popular imagination.
A farmer's son, Sir Arthur was educated at Huish's Grammar School in Taunton before joining the civil service.
During World War II, Clarke volunteered for the Royal Air Force, where he worked in the then highly-secretive development of radar and thought up the concept of communication satellites.
Sir Arthur's vivid and detailed descriptions of space shuttles, super-computers and rapid communications systems were enjoyed by millions of readers around the world.
He was the author of more than 100 fiction and non-fiction books, and his writings are credited by many observers with giving science fiction a human and practical face.
In the 1940s Clarke maintained man would reach the moon by the year 2000, an idea dismissed at the time.
'Great prophet'
British astronomer Sir Patrick Moore had known Sir Arthur since they met as teenagers at the British Interplanetary Society.
Sir Patrick paid tribute to his friend, remembering him as "a very sincere person" with "a strong sense of humour".
Tributes have also come from George Whitesides, the executive director of the National Space Society, with which Sir Arthur served on the board of governors, and fellow science fiction writer Terry Pratchett.
After a failed marriage Sir Arthur moved to Sri Lanka, then called Ceylon, in 1956, where he lived with a business partner and his family, and pursued his interest in scuba-diving.
His status as the grand old man of science fiction was threatened when, in 1998, allegations of child abuse, which he strenuously denied, caused the confirmation of a knighthood to be delayed. Sir Arthur was cleared by an investigation. From 1995, the author was largely confined to a wheelchair, suffering from post-polio syndrome.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7304004.stm
Joanna
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 1,476
- Points
- 40
Just got in ahead of me, Cop. One of the true greats indeed. Really sad to hear of his death. Can't remember now which editions of his various tv shows I watched as a child, but I do remember being enthralled by their imagery, imagination and music...and that skull. RIP, Arthur C....
[yt=Arthur C Clarke's World of Strange Powers (Messages from the dead, part 1 of 3)]gJpBheigWHE[/yt]
[yt=Arthur C Clarke's World of Strange Powers (Messages from the dead, part 1 of 3)]gJpBheigWHE[/yt]
- Messages
- 1,509
- Points
- 40
Brilliant! Used to send chills down my spine that. Many a sleepless night! I think a full thread is needed for that show. The stigmata and the poltergeist episodes were particularly scary, and the spontaneous combustion episode was more than a little disturbing.Joanna said:
Joanna
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 1,476
- Points
- 40
Not another one... 
Summer Wine star Brian Wilde dies
Remember him fondly as Mr Barraclough in the genius Porridge. RIP.
Summer Wine star Brian Wilde dies
Remember him fondly as Mr Barraclough in the genius Porridge. RIP.
Joanna
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 1,476
- Points
- 40
(Sorry, but feel this is worthy of mention)...Aw, gawd, thread of death...week of death...What is it with this week and all these entertainment industry deaths???? Sob.Michael said:This is just becoming a thread of death
Acting world mourns Paul Scofield
- Status
