His work ranged from wry short stories to massive tomes pondering the imponderable, and his science writing was some of the best around for many years. Personally, while my pre-teen/early teen self was quite intrigued with his descriptions of post-mission orgies (Rendezvous with Rama is a good example), his short story collection Tales From the White Hart remains my favorite tome of his. I did not agree with all his positions or ideas, but his writings, science and fiction, helped shape my early work and writings, and opened many new doors of thought for me. His influence will continue on for as long as his works exist. May the light have welcomed him home.
LW
I just heard about this… and it hit me that a whole era has now passed. I liked Heinlein and Asimov better, but I don’t think that had nearly the influence as Clark.
LW REPLIES:
It is indeed the end of an era as the big three are gone. Interesting that I liked Heinlein and Clarke better than Asimov, though all three wrote some outstanding works both science and science fiction. In terms of influence, I must reluctantly agree with you in terms of impact on the general public. Asimov and Heinlein laid a lot of the foundation for things to come, but it was Clarke who truly took things to the masses both through his writings and—most of all—through the movies made from his writings. While both Asimov and Heinlein had connections to or helped with movies, most of their works did not go to cinema until after their death (or at least in Heinlein’s case). Clarke’s works as movies tended to be blockbusters as much of what went on truly lent itself to visuals.
In terms of non-public impact, I wonder. Clarke postulated communications satellites and synchronous orbits, and had science research background for his writing. Asimov and Heinlein both also had practical experience, and to set off the tinfoil hat brigade worked in research near a certain naval yard long made infamous (and the source of both good and bad movies). Heinlein truly was the Man who sold the Moon. Both focused on practical results and research, and both had some fairly solid credit to their names in same. It might be interesting to look at the practical things on which each worked and try to examine the dollar value of such. Make someone a good research project…
Even more important, however, was how they tended to focus readers into science and engineering. All three pushed that openly and otherwise, and all three did work showing women (though Clarke didn’t do so as much, and seemed to have some issues with women on occasion) in the sciences. IMO, Heinlein was the best of the three in showing real people and in creating realistic female characters—something to which I give the credit for to the late and wonderful Virginia Heinlein. On that line, how much influence did their work have on your going into science? I will say that Heinlein and Clarke had a huge influence on me and my choices.
I regret that I never did get to meet any of the big three in person. I was to meet Heinlein one time, but his health cancelled the plans for him to be at an event and I was never nearby for such again. I did, however, enjoy an all-too-small correspondence with Virginia Heinlein and while I wish I had made more of it, I am glad for what little was there.
With the passing the giants are gone. We are richer for their being here, and their works and influence will live on in a multitude of ways.
LW
I got into Asimov first, as someone gave me the foundation trilogy as a birthday present. That got me started on science fiction in general. I discovered Heinlein later in my teens - he probably had the most influence on me of any writer, sci-fi or not. But interestingly enough, none of them influenced me going into science. I was already of that mindset and intrest long before I started reading science fiction.
I remember my father taking me into work and showing me all of the cool instruments he used, and when I was about 10 and he worked at a solar observatory, we all went in to watch a solar eclipse. Plus he was getting his Masters Degree (in Aeronomy and Planetary Atmospheres)when I was starting school and I loved to read his books on astronomy, although I only understood half the words. So I was focused on science from early on, and knew that’s what I was going to do, even if I had no clear idea what subject exactly I wanted to pursue.
