Introduction

Arthur C. Clarke

Along with Isaac Asimov and Robert Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke is considered one of the big three of science fiction’s golden age. For over 50 years now, he has been deeply influential on the genre—not only for his original writing (such as the 1953 novel Childhood’s End), but also for his works that have been adapted (the film 2001: A Space Odyssey was based in part on his earlier short story “The Sentinel”) and for his collaborations (such as the novel Beyond the Fall of Night, which Clarke coauthored with Gregory Benford). A known humanist and rationalist, Clarke nevertheless has repeatedly explored religious themes in his fiction, and he is skilled at blending real-world science with technological vision. When you crack open a new Clarke novel, chances are pretty good you are getting a sneak peek at the future.

Essential Facts

1. Though born in England, Clarke currently lives in Sri Lanka. He survived the tsunami that hit the island in 2004—but it did destroy his scuba diving school.
2. He didn’t take out a patent, but Clarke is credited with coming up with the idea of communication satellites.
3. Clarke was knighted for his achievements in 2000. He had been scheduled to be knighted in 1998, but a particularly nasty—and false—story in a British tabloid caused him to ask for the ceremony to be delayed.
4. How great is Clarke’s influence? A dinosaur, an asteroid, a Mars explorer, an orbit, a school, and more than one award have been named after him.
5. Clarke’s law about advanced technology is even quoted by people who don’t otherwise know who he is: “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”