Arthur C. Clarke

"Arthur Clarke" redirects here. For other uses, see Arthur Clarke (disambiguation).

Sir

Arthur C. Clarke

CBE FRAS
In 1965, on one of the sets of 2001: A Space Odyssey
In 1965, on one of the sets of 2001: A Space Odyssey
BornArthur Charles Clarke
(1917-12-16)16 December 1917
Minehead, Somerset, England
Died19 March 2008(2008-03-19) (aged 90)
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Pen nameCharles Willis
E. G. O'Brien[1][2]
Occupation
  • Writer
  • inventor
  • futurist
Alma materKing's College London
Period1946–2008
GenreHard science fiction
Popular science
SubjectScience
Notable works
Spouse
Marilyn Mayfield
​
​
(m. 1953; div. 1964)​
Website
clarkefoundation.org

Sir Arthur Charles Clarke CBE FRAS (16 December 1917 – 19 March 2008) was a British science fiction writer, science writer, futurist,[3] inventor, undersea explorer, and television series host.

He co-wrote the screenplay for the 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey, widely regarded as one of the most influential films of all time.[4][5] Clarke was a science fiction writer, an avid populariser of space travel, and a futurist of a distinguished ability. He wrote many books and many essays for popular magazines. In 1961, he received the Kalinga Prize, a UNESCO award for popularising science. Clarke's science and science fiction writings earned him the moniker "Prophet of the Space Age".[6] His science fiction writings in particular earned him a number of Hugo and Nebula awards, which along with a large readership, made him one of the towering figures of the genre. For many years Clarke, Robert Heinlein, and Isaac Asimov were known as the "Big Three" of science fiction.[7]

Clarke was a lifelong proponent of space travel. In 1934, while still a teenager, he joined the BIS, British Interplanetary Society. In 1945, he proposed a satellite communication system using geostationary orbits.[8] He was the chairman of the British Interplanetary Society from 1946 to 1947 and again in 1951–1953.[9]

Clarke emigrated to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in 1956, to pursue his interest in scuba diving.[10] That year, he discovered the underwater ruins of the ancient original Koneswaram Temple in Trincomalee. Clarke augmented his popularity in the 1980s, as the host of television shows such as Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious World. He lived in Sri Lanka until his death.[11]

Clarke was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1989 "for services to British cultural interests in Sri Lanka".[12] He was knighted in 1998[13][14] and was awarded Sri Lanka's highest civil honour, Sri Lankabhimanya, in 2005.[15]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference pegasos was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference isfdb was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Adams was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Ranked number 15 by the American Film Institute in 2007. "AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies – 10th Anniversary Edition". American Film Institute. 2007. Archived from the original on 7 June 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  5. ^ Ranked number 6 in the British Film Institute/Sight and Sound critics' poll in 2012. Christie, Ian (September 2012). "The Top 50 Greatest Films of All Time". Sight & Sound. 22 (9). Archived from the original on 1 March 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  6. ^ Reddy, John (April 1969). "Arthur Clarke: Prophet of the Space Age". Reader's Digest. 9 (564).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Toiati-2023 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference etrelays was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Benford, G. (2008). "Obituary: Arthur C. Clarke (1917–2008)". Nature. 452 (7187): 546. Bibcode:2008Natur.452..546B. doi:10.1038/452546a. PMID 18385726.
  10. ^ Caiman, Roche (20 March 2008). "Remembering Arthur C. Clarke". Nature Seychelles. Archived from the original on 20 June 2008. Retrieved 27 March 2008.
  11. ^ Mintowt-Czyz, Lech & Bird, Steve (18 March 2008). "Science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke dies aged 90". The Times Online. Archived from the original on 14 May 2009. Retrieved 19 March 2008.
  12. ^ "No. 51772". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 June 1989. p. 16.
  13. ^ "The new knight of science fiction". BBC News. BBC. 1 January 1998. Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
  14. ^ "Arthur C Clarke knighted". BBC News. BBC. 26 May 2000. Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference SriLankabhimanya was invoked but never defined (see the help page).