Arthur C. Clarke has passed

[210]

No link yet, it was just announced on a mailing list I subscribe to.

[moedrabowsky]

Bummer.

[MsFunkay]

he's dead according to wiki

[Johnny H]

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - An aide says science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke has died.

Rohan De Silva says Clarke died early Wednesday after suffering from breathing problems. He was 90.

Clarke is the author of more than 100 books, including “2001: A Space Odyssey.”

[Sheriff Blaylock]

Sad. I'm a fan of Clarke. I loved his 2001 series. He co-wrote one book with another guy called Light of Other Days that I loved. Critics called it crap but for some reason that book sticks with me.

[Jaws]

Sad. I'm a fan of Clarke. I loved his 2001 series. He co-wrote one book with another guy called Light of Other Days that I loved. Critics called it crap but for some reason that book sticks with me.

So many good books.

Childhood's End is my favorite.

[BlueBrained]

:(

http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/books/03/18/obit.clarke/index.html

[jhanke]

I loved the Rama books

[hansolo]

[Box & Won]

First the Dungeons and Dragons guy, now this.

It's been a bad few weeks for nerds.

[Jaws]

I loved the Rama books

Yeah, those were very good.

Ever been to the Luxor in Las Vegas? Sitting in the middle of that giant pyramid reminded me of the description of the inside of Rama. Clarke conveyed the sense of immense size that, ironically, is more overwhelming than open space.

The only other time I had that sensation was standing under the Eiffel Tower. It is BIG. Both the Luxor and the Eiffel Tower don't strike a sense of awe from a distance. It is only from the inside that the scope of size hits you. I imagine the 30 mile Rama cylinder would be much the same -- no big deal approaching it from space but a near sense of vertigo from the inside.

What would you call an inverse sense of claustrophobia?

[Moon Man]

What would you call an inverse sense of claustrophobia?

Megalophobia. Or even Agoraphobia, maybe.

Moon

[Jaws]

Megalophobia. Or even Agoraphobia, maybe.

Moon

I considered agoraphobia but, IIRC, that is the fear of open spaces, like being in a flat desert or on the ocean. Not quite the same thing.

[Jeffro]

You guys think Airshark ever played D&D with Arthur C. Clarke?

[Airshark]

You guys think Airshark ever played D&D with Arthur C. Clarke?

To me it's borderline sacriligeous to talk about a clown like Gygax and a visionary like Clarke in the same paragraph. I'd have been proud to shake Clarke's hand.