Arthur C. Clark‘s left us today. He spent his last years in Sri Lanka – those who saw The colours of infinity (slightly psychedelic documentary about fractals) might have glimpsed his back garden. I like to think he went in style, after what was certainly an interesting life.
He’s mostly known for writing the Space Odyssey triquadrilogy. It is pretty typical of its time: noble ideals, galactic schemes, and people who act like wax puppets. The Kubrick adaptation of 2001 was phenomenal – making HAL9000 a prototype for our AI nightmares.
I read a later novel of his (can’t remember the name though) which was quite different and (still) forward-thinking, with the adventures of an augmented woman looking for the reason of her existence.
According to “2010 – Odyssey Two”, we make contact with the wise beings from outer space, in yes, 2010. So he won’t be there to see it. Or to see it doesn’t happen, and the Great Ones won’t save our ass for us.