Tuesday, March 18, 2008

An imagination-stretcher, gone but not forgotten

Arthur C. Clarke died today.


He wished to be remembered "most as a writer, one who entertained readers and hopefully stretched their imaginations as well".


I can't think of a better way to summarize 2001. For me, it introduced the idea (one which I still maintain) that humanity can achieve immortality by mastering science (compassion and tolerance are implied, I think).


Incidentally, I've been to Minehead, Clarke's birthplace. There was a prison-like Butlins and a few delapidated Victorian-era gambling halls along the waterfront, but no tribute to its famous son. Why does Britain find it so hard to celebrate and encourage appreciation of its ground-breaking intellectuals? Nothing here: http://www.minehead.co.uk/things-to-do.htm

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Sounds like Minehead to me , but they have got a small (like the council -small minded) plaque on the house where he was born .
Derrick