Sir Arthur, We Will Miss You

Laws of Prediction

1. When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong.
2. The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.
3. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.


Arthur C. Clarke died today at the age of 90. His close companions thought he was going into the hospital with minor problems that one that age experiences. Complications arose and he left the mortal realm. His 3rd law listed above is one of my all time favorite quotes. He was a wise and strange man. Strange in a good way of course. In October of 1945 he published an article in Wireless World predicting the use of geostationary satellites as telecommunication devices. He wrote 2001: A Space Odyssey which may be his most famous work. The movie is one of my all time top 5 favorites. He was a prolific writer of Science and Science Fiction.

He corresponded with C.S. Lewis in the 1940s and 1950s. When Lewis passed away Clarke said that his Ransom Trilogy trilogy was one of the few works of Science Fiction that could be considered true literature. I agree. He was long time friends with Isaac Asimov constantly teasing him about visiting at the Clarke estate in Sri Lanka. Asimov suffered from acrophobia (fear of heights) and did not fly. This amusing banter is well documented in Asimov's autobiography. Clarke was knighted in 2000. This past December he sent a video message to his friends telling them good-bye. A futurist and man of predictions until the very end.

His works are vast and recommended. His wide variety of contributions to the world of science have stood the test of time and can be seen in many aspects of everyday life. Just this weekend a conversation was held with Brother Dave about this man's many achievements. If you owned a larger satellite dish in the latter part of the 20th century then you know it was called C-band. The C comes from Clarke. God bless the family and friends.

"For though from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar."
Tennyson, Crossing the Bar