Superman of Futurism

Sir Arthur C. Clarke
b. December 16, 1917, d. March 19, 2008


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"Superman" of Futurism, Sir Arthur C. Clarke, dies at age 90

The Foundation named for him reports with quiet dignity this morning: "After a prolific and esteemed career, Sir Arthur has passed away in Sri Lanka."

Best known as the author of the short story on which the film 2001: A Space Odyssey was based, Sir Arthur C. Clarke was both an inspired writer and a source of inspiration for others.

In a poll of futurists for the Encyclopedia of the Future (Macmillan, 1996), Sir Arthur C. Clarke was ranked sixth of the 100 most influential futurists in history--ahead of Jules Verne and Isaac Newton.

He was an early supporter of the World Future Society, participating in its first conference, purchasing books about the future from the Society's specialty bookstore, and ultimately joining its Global Advisory Council.

Society founder Edward Cornish noted in his series on the Society's founding that "Arthur C. Clarke not only joined but sent in a membership for Stanley Kubrick, the producer/director of 2001: A Space Odyssey."

Described as a "prophet" for the space age for his inspiring stories and meticulous scientific perspective, Clarke was one of very few science-fiction writers equally gifted on both the science side and the fiction side of the genre.

He was also modest; he demonstrated a graceful integrity when he wrote a letter to the editor to THE FUTURIST to correct another author, who had inadvertently credited him with "inventing" the solar sail--a sun-powered spacecraft he described in his story "Sunjammer."

Clarke could justifiably be described as the Superman of futurism, and not just for his longevity against extreme physical challenges. According to newspaper obituaries, he had suffered from post-polio syndrome for the past two decades, succumbing to respiratory ailments.

But his forward-looking spirit led him to "predict" in his 1999 book Greetings, Carbon-Based Bipeds! that he would celebrate his one-hundredth birthday as a space tourist, one of the first guests in the Hilton Orbiter. In that regard, his goal-driven life calls to mind that of Superman star Christopher Reeve, who set a goal to walk again by age 50 after the riding accident that paralyzed him.

Sir Arthur "was a good friend and an inspiration to us all," said Cornish.



Sir Arthur C. Clarke (center), the famed science and science-fiction writer, is welcomed at a Society meeting by World Future Society founding president Edward Cornish (left) and board member Michael Michaelis. Clarke, who died early on Wednesday, March 19, at his home in Sri Lanka, was a member of the Society’s Global Advisory Council. Photo: WFS Archive.

Links:
1. World Future Society's tribute to Sir Arthur C. Clarke

2. New York Times obituary

3. Arthur C. Clarke Foundation

4. Edward Cornish's series on World Future Society history, which notes Sir Arthur's early involvement in and support of the Society

5. NASA Remembers Arthur C. Clarke