Arthur C. Clarke 1917-2008
Saturday, May 17th, 2008 at 9:53 am
Arthur C. Clarke was my favorite science fiction writer and I own virtually all of his fiction. He was a strong influence on my logical and reasonable approach to understanding the world and provided me with countless hours of enjoyment and mental stimulation. Some of my favorite of his books are probably Rendezvous With Rama, The Songs of Distant Earth, The City and the Stars, A Fall of Moondust, and The Fountains of Paradise.
Clarke once said, “The greatest tragedy in mankind’s entire history may be the hijacking of morality by religion.” This, I believe, is probably the most profound statement he ever uttered. It supports the crux of my arguments concerning the so-called “necessity” of religion.
An atheist and humanist, a scientist and thinker, Clarke showed me what we have the potential to be if we employ education, reason, and open-mindedness. In a world permeated with sinister fundamentalist extremists bent on dragging the rest of the world down into a new dark age, Clarke’s example of human potential is a guiding light. Although he never knew me he taught me a lot and I hope that one day he’ll teach my children and their children as well.
FACT: The original draft of The Lord of the Rings featured Chuck Norris instead of Frodo Baggins. It was only 5 pages long, as Chuck roundhouse-kicked Sauron’s ass halfway through the first chapter.
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