Arthur C. Clarke has died.

[Shakespeare]

:-(

Arthur C. Clarke, a visionary science fiction writer who won worldwide acclaim with more than 100 books on space, science and the future, died Wednesday in his adopted home of Sri Lanka, an aide said. He was 90.

Clarke, who had battled debilitating post-polio syndrome since the 1960s and sometimes used a wheelchair, died at 1:30 a.m. after suffering breathing problems, aide Rohan De Silva said.

Co-author with Stanley Kubrick of Kubrick's film "2001: A Space Odyssey," Clarke was regarded as far more than a science fiction writer.

He was credited with the concept of communications satellites in 1945, decades before they became a reality. Geosynchronous orbits, which keep satellites in a fixed position relative to the ground, are called Clarke orbits.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/03/18/entertainment/e150556D87.DTL&type=entertainment

[DarkTirade]

1. Yet another that I'll never have a chance to meet.

:\

[SOteric]

2. What a terrible loss for us all.

[TZ]

3. another great mind lost...

:(

[Forkboy]

4. Thank you Arthur for letting me see things I never would have without you.

:toast:

[Orsino]

5. He wrote with grace and vision...

...producing a few of my very favorite novels. Another Old Master ascends the Tower of Kalidasa. :-(

[spinbaby]

6. How many are left?

The science fiction golden years were good ones--I used to be a faithful reader. Bradbury is still alive, I think, and William Tenn, but most are gone. Asimov hit me hard when he died.

[Shakespeare]

7. Bradbury is still very much alive. He occasionally makes appearances in Los Angeles.

Any Angelino DUers would be strongly encouraged to catch him at the LA Times Festival of Books this April (hell, just GO TO THE DAMN FESTIVAL, it's the best thing in LA all year long). Bradbury is usually their keynote speaker, and always gives a wonderful speech, mostly anecdotes from his incredible career.

He's in his late 80s now, so I'm not sure how many more times I'll get to see him.

[mainegreen]

8. Jesus, what's with all the ones I looked up to, who molded my youth all dropping dead?

Crap.

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. I loved his Rama series

[Blue_Tires]

10. r.i.p.

very sad

[YankeyMCC]

11. Success

To laugh often and much;
to win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children;
to ear the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;
to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others;
to leave the world a better place,
whether by a healthy child,
a garden patch
or a redeemed social condition;
to know even on life has breathed easier
because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.
Attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson but may be by Bessie Stanley, 1904

I think Mr Clarke met at least a couple of those criteria, he'll be missed.

[Flaxbee]

12. He was a family friend.

We are very sad here, though we knew he was quite ill (not just post-polio). He was brilliant, and kind, and generous.

[Aristus]

13. I want to thank him for this: "Any sufficiently advanced technology

is indistinguishable from magic." - Arthur C. Clarke.

So true.

Any sufficiently prescient scientific mind is indistinguishable from that of a prophet. - Aristus