![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
The Jewel of Serendip
Dec. 16th, 2007 12:59 amOkay, in my time zone, it's 16 December at last. Sir Arthur C. Clarke turns 90 today.
I'm sure my Uncle Benny won't mind sharing some of his cake:
I discovered Islands in the Sky when I was about nine, and from then on, I read everything I could find with "Arthur C. Clarke" on the spine. With him I explored spaceflight, the ocean, Ceylon, electronic communication, and-- best of all-- The Future.
And I really, really loved his science fiction.
He was active in science fiction fandom back when they were still inventing it. Ditto for space activism.
He shaped my ideas about science and engineering and what part they play in our civilization. He made becoming a scientist sound like so much fun. The lure was irresistible.
He once wrote:
Herewith the very rich hours of a twenty-first century person's day:
Skimming five hundred channel program listings, two hours; viewing television programs selected, four hours; catching up on recorded programs, six hours; exploring the hyperweb, six hours; and adventuring in artificial reality, four hours...
The observant reader will have noted that this schedule leaves only two hours for the rest of the day's activities. Much of that time will be spent plugged into the most urgently required invention of the near future-- the sleep compressor. (They're still working on the sleep eliminator.)
Sir Arthur has recorded a video essay reflecting on his 90 orbits, and has made it available on a global communication network. How Clarkeian.
Thank you, Sir Arthur, for opening doors for me, and for all the worlds you've given all of us. Happy birthday.
(If you want to send your own birthday greetings, the Sri Lanka Astronomical Association is collecting them.)
I'm sure my Uncle Benny won't mind sharing some of his cake:
I discovered Islands in the Sky when I was about nine, and from then on, I read everything I could find with "Arthur C. Clarke" on the spine. With him I explored spaceflight, the ocean, Ceylon, electronic communication, and-- best of all-- The Future.
And I really, really loved his science fiction.
He was active in science fiction fandom back when they were still inventing it. Ditto for space activism.
He shaped my ideas about science and engineering and what part they play in our civilization. He made becoming a scientist sound like so much fun. The lure was irresistible.
He once wrote:
Herewith the very rich hours of a twenty-first century person's day:
Skimming five hundred channel program listings, two hours; viewing television programs selected, four hours; catching up on recorded programs, six hours; exploring the hyperweb, six hours; and adventuring in artificial reality, four hours...
The observant reader will have noted that this schedule leaves only two hours for the rest of the day's activities. Much of that time will be spent plugged into the most urgently required invention of the near future-- the sleep compressor. (They're still working on the sleep eliminator.)
Sir Arthur has recorded a video essay reflecting on his 90 orbits, and has made it available on a global communication network. How Clarkeian.
Thank you, Sir Arthur, for opening doors for me, and for all the worlds you've given all of us. Happy birthday.
(If you want to send your own birthday greetings, the Sri Lanka Astronomical Association is collecting them.)
