Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic
18 03 2008That was an email signature line I used a long time ago, a quote from Arthur C. Clarke, who died today. I wanted to take a moment to reflect on some of the impact he had on my life.
I have a very vivid memory being taken as a kid to Mann’s Chinese Theater in Los Angeles to see 2001: A Space Odyssey. I was a nerdy kid who had a telescope and books about UFOs and aliens scattered around my room. 2001 was one of the first movies I saw that I thought gave a realistic view of what human space travel might look like in the near future.
Childhood’s End, one of my favorite books, was also one of the few I have ever read cover to cover in one sitting. I studied this book and several of his short stories in my college science fiction class, fascinated with his ideas of technology and quasi-spiritual paranormal purpose.
I didn’t realize or know until I did a little bit of research today that he was also gay. Interesting. Well, cheers and thanks…
I attended a free screeing of 2001: A Space Odessey at a theater here in Portland three weeks ago. I saw this movie as a kid. It was a completely different experience when I saw it again. I appreciated it so much more. I was wondering yesterday if people knew he was going to die and hence the screening of the movie.