We don’t have his forecast space elevators yet, but we do have geosynchronous satellites, and we might say without even knowing who said it first that any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. We have linear feet of science fiction novels, and if we look for it, a good deal of plain old, good science writing to savor, all in tribute to Britain’s (and, for the last half century, Sri Lanka’s) Arthur C. Clarke. More than a few bricks in the edifice of modern culture, bolstering our vision of our future, are Sir Arthur’s making.

Stories:

NYTimes Gerald Jonas has an obit of considerable length, a good place to start for anybody wanting to get a review of the man’s life within one or two cups of coffee (did you know that the Int’l Astronomical Union says comsats are parked in “Clarke orbits.”? The Tracker hadn’t know, or forgot, that ; BBC obit plus a sidebar on his inspirations ; Guardian (UK) Sarah Knapton ; LA Times Dennis McLellan ; and many more.

Blogs have many more salutes to Clarke. A notable one, from a newspaperman via his site ScienceDude, arrives from Gary Robbins, science editor at the Orange County Register. Its contents are an essay, not by Robbins but lifted, with permission, from Orange County and UC-Irvine physicist and noted sci-fi writer Gregory Benford. Written a short time ago, it is a fine appreciation of Clarke’s gifts by an old, close friend and colleague.

-CP

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