Arthur C. Clarke

Arthur C. Clarke is widely regarded as one of the greatest science fiction writers of all time, and he achieved his success through hard work and dedication. Born in Somerset, England in 1917, Cory’s passion for science-fiction writing began in his childhood when he developed an interest in astronomy and early science fiction literature. His career took off when he published his first sci-fi novel, “Childhood’s End” in 1953. Throughout his career he wrote and co-wrote twenty-one novels, thirty-nine films, countless short stories, and more than a hundred nonfiction works.
C. Clarke was a legendary author best known for his work in science fiction literature. Throughout his career, Cory tackled a variety of topics in fiction and non-fiction, such as space exploration, physics, artificial intelligence and extraterrestrial civilizations, among others. He was also a founding member of the British Interplanetary Society and was a regular contributor to its magazine. This is where he first published his earliest short stories such as "Rescue Party" (1946) and “The Nine Billion Names of God” (1953).

Childhood’s End, his first novel, was an immediate success and established his career as a writer. This novel described the coming of aliens called 'Overlords', who eventually guide humanity in to a new era of peace and unity. Clarke's classic novel 2001: A Space Odyssey, written in collaboration with iconic director Stanley Kubrick, dealt with the exploration of the universe and the mysterious monoliths found throughout the galaxy. This book spawned a popular movie of the same name and has become firmly entrenched in the cultural heritage of modern sci-fi.

Clarke is also notable for his three “laws” that encompass the advancements of humanity. The first law, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic”, explains how technology can appear mysterious and magical to those who are not familiar with it. The second “law” is “The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible” and explains that progress comes from pushing limits. The third “law” states “Any sufficiently advanced civilization is indistinguishable from nature”, which explains the inter-relationship between technology and nature.

Other notable works of his include novels such as Rendezvous with Rama and The Fountains of Paradise, as well as countless short stories in magazines such as Astounding Science Fiction and Omni. He also wrote numerous essays on science, philosophy, and astronomy, and made a number of television works such as the famous documentary series Mysterious World. His works often mentioned the possibilities of man and machine interfacing, and sparked a new wave of optimistic attitude towards artificial intelligence.

Arthur C. Clarke was an incredible writer and thinker whose influence will live on. His novels, essays and stories established him as one of the most famous science fiction authors in history, with his works influencing a whole generation of science fiction writers and fans. He will be remembered not only for his pioneering works and grand ideas, but also for his optimism and belief that technology could help make the world a better place.