Arthur C. Clarke 1917-2008… R.I.P.

In Arthur C. Clarke’s 1953 classic ‘The Nine Billion Names of God.’ ” , Tibetan monks use a supercomputer to sort through permutations of characters to arrive at the name of God — at which point, in an elegantly chilling sentence, the universe ceases.

This was one of my very favorite stories… I first read it when I was a little boy and it’s never been far from my mind… And to this day anyone who knows me has heard me reply in the negative in HAL’s immortal words… ” I sorry Dave… I’m afraid I can’t do that.” I don’t do it well… But I do it.

Arthur C. Clarke’s Mysterious World was a staple in my house. He was one leg of my ultimate Sci-Fi Author Triumvirate along with Frank Herbert and William Olaf Stapledon. Having the the highest, most important orbit that we place our satellites into named a Clarke Orbit was exactly the right thing to do since he envisioned it before we even had the means to make it a reality.

Here’s hoping his passing was peaceful. Here’s toasting his genius. His memory will last longer than any Clarke orbit.

Arthur C. Clarke’s Laws

Clarke’s First Law:

“When a distinguished but elderly scientist says that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he says it is impossible, he is very probably wrong”

Clarke’s Second Law:

“The only way to find the limits of the possible is by going beyond them to the impossible.”

Clarke’s Third Law:

“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”