Talk:Arthur C. Clarke

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Contents 1 Pedophilia claims 2 Sexuality 3 Medical/Other 4 Link suggestions 5 Autodidact category removal 6 2001: book and film will have separate articles 7 Science fact 8 telecomunications 9 Herbert 10 Image for top of article 11 RPG link 12 Confused about 2001 film credit 13 I'm curious about Clarke's spirtual beliefs... 14 Attribution of quote needed 15 Rescue Party movie wanted 16 Gentry Lee, co-author or ghostwriter? 17 Clarke in gaming 18 Editing 19 Deist, agnostic, atheist? 20 2001 as first section? WTF? 21 Report on Planet Three 22 World of Strange Powers on DVD yet? 23 Puzzlements and miscellany 24 Changes to external links 25 External links 25.1 Interviews 25.2 Awards and organizations startedor influenced by Clarke 25.3 Other links 25.4 Links deleted 25.5 Links added 26 Publishing date of Prelude to Space contradiction 27 Radar experience 28 Writer infobox 29 Bibliography -- Why Partial? 30 Trivia 31 Debut Work Incorrect?

[edit] Pedophilia claims

The claims of pedophilia made against Clarke should be mentioned here. They were big news a few years ago, and I've heard told that more cases arose which were not grabbed by the tabloids. I'm unsure of how to broach the subject without risking slander, however. Kricxjo 22:48, 31 Oct 2003 (UTC)

Court document is best, then book, then reputable newspaper report. Don't add anything if you don't have at least one of those to cite, whether online or paper. It's not slander if your report is factually correct ("X accused Y of Z" may be true even if the accusation itself is false). Stan 00:44, 1 Nov 2003 (UTC)

Done. [[User:Smyth|– Smyth]] 19:36, 22 Oct 2004 (UTC)

I've read elsewhere that the allegations were eventually found to be false, but this wasn't picked up by the tabloids. I'd suggest doing a fair bit of research first on everything that happened and putting it together.

The allegations were indeed dismissed as false in 1998, and can be read about in the PlanetOut archive. All the wire services carried the report of the exoneration, but the fact that "the tabloids" didn't do so suggests that such an exoneration didn't serve their interests. jcsherwood1950 21 Mar 2005 (UTC)

I think that it needs to be mentioned, and if it was exonerated, that be included as well. I had heard about Clarke's pedophilia and was wondering how that resolved -- and see nothing in the article at all about it. It was prominent enough that I think it deserves mention because it hit people's public consciousness of the subject. No reason we can't include both claims and exoneration to make things quite clear, but coming to the talk page and seeing just this isn't effective. — WCityMike ^{(T | C)} 03:00, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

The Sunday Mirror was the first tabloid to make the claim that they recorded an interview with Clarke in which he stated that he had sex with boys at his home in Sri Lanka and that he had no idea how old they where. Clarke was then cleared by the deputy inspector-general of police, MSM Nizam, who said: "We are satisfied that he has not violated any Sri Lankan laws or committed any crime. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/s/w_asia/74938.stm. Eventually the whole story ended up with Interpol critizing The Sunday Mirror for refusing to supply the tape. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/150223.stm IMO, the story isn't worth spreading on Wikipedia is no more than a nasty rumour. On the subject of Clarke being gay. Clarke denies being homosexual. http://books.guardian.co.uk/departments/sciencefiction/story/0,,374388,00.html Clarke always gives the same puckish pro forma answer: "No, merely cheerful." To top if off, Clarke was actually once married. See the same guardian article "...He was married briefly to an American, Marilyn Mayfield, now dead, whom he met while diving in Florida in the 50s." Yes he does live in Sri Lanka, which may sound like a strange place for an old English man living alone, except for the fact that there are about another ten thousand Western litrature writers living there also. [[[User:Simonapro|Simonapro]] 18:24, 9 May 2006 (UTC)]

This is supposed to be an encylopedia. It is a *very* well-known fact that the Mirror started this hoo-hah and that Clarke was *not* knighted when he should have been. This has nothing to do with whether he is/was a pedophile, a homosexual, or even a little green alien. This is a fairly major happening in his recent life, I would say. The Robert A. Heinlein article has lots of info about his medical ups and downs and how they may have affected his writing. Wouldn't you say that a delayed knighthood is of equal importance in a *long*, supposedly NPOV article about a *very* well-known personage? Let's say that Ken Lay is found innocent of all charges against him in the Enron trial. Are we going to let a Ken Lay supporter edit the Wikipedia article about him so that all mention of the trial just *vanishes*? That's akin what you're trying to do here by removing this info. Hayford Peirce 04:59, 10 May 2006 (UTC)

Edited out. By the end of this episode the evidence indicated nothing other than defamatory libel spun from whole cloth by a tabloid. It does not provide any significant information about Clarke, and there's a compelling interest in not perpetuating the report of the libel - unlike "he said she said" journalism, Wikipedia should be based on evidence. It's no better than using weasel words, e.g. "according to some critics..." and it's far worse, in the case of something for which removing the "according to..." clause would instantly convert the Wikipedia entry itself into a defamatory libel that would be liable for civil damages, probably of far greater magnitude than from any copyright infringement. A tabloid could print libel against anybody at all. That would not make the libel a significant aspect of the target's life. - Reaverdrop 04:58, 10 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Sexuality

Anyone who's read ACC's work since the early 1970's can't doubt he is bisexual. What's the quote from Imperial Earth (from memory, so probably not verbatim) "He [the central character] couldn't understand anyone who's sexuality was exclusively polarized in one direction or the other". Also see the 70's rewrite of 'Songs of Distant Earth' (not the original short story or the 80's novel, the extended short story with the 2-men-1-woman threesome. Central character was called Falcon I think). Even the pin-up Kumar from the 80's Songs novel "had slept with all of the girls and most of the boys in his agegroup". Of course, just because he writes about it doesn't mean he does it.. but for a unsentimental writer like Clarke it's telling that bisexuality forms such a staple ingredient. It never happened in Asimov novels!! It's not as if Clarke is socially innovative generally (eg Iain M Banks).

Incidentally, none of this is intended as a critisism. He's an old man living in a country where (I think) homosexual activity is illegal - I can understand why he doesn't want to rock the boat. 80.177.152.35 22:07, 28 July 2006 (UTC)

The man's sexuality is not relevant to the article. --Muugokszhiion 00:07, 3 August 2006 (UTC)

It is relevant to his life and thus to the article. Although he might simply see bisexuality as a preferable state to heterosexuality. Zeck 20:55, 21 August 2006 (UTC)

Why is it not relevant? Or perhaps you just wish people didn't talk about such things at all Muugokszhiion? A topic that so heavily infulences his writing is obviously relevant, must more so that his brief marrage, which is mentioned 80.177.152.35 17:29, 24 August 2006 (UTC)

Well, for one thing, none of these instances cited above have anything whatsoever to do with the story plots or any important aspects of the stories. If, let's say, the bisexuality of one of the characters led to him/her getting the post of captain of the starship, and then got him/her into trouble with a major character in the book, then it would be relevant to mention it. In articles about the Saint books, or the James Bond books, is it relevant to mention that Leslie Charteris or Ian Fleming were heterosexuals? I don't think so. In fact, let's say that they *weren't* -- what possible difference would that make to the books as they are written? If we say in this article that Clarke *might* be bisexual, do we then say in the Asimov article that he was *clearly* heterosexual, as based on the fact that there are married couples in his books? But how do we *know* Asimov was 100% hetero? Etc. etc. etc. Hayford Peirce 18:20, 24 August 2006 (UTC)

This arguement just isn't logical or consistent. The article is packed full of details that arn't relevent to the plot of his books, (eg Place of birth, working as an auditor, marrage and rapid separation). Also, the bisexual nature of some of his characters is *highly* relevent to stories. See Imperial Earth or Songs for examples (I can supply page refs if you like).

The auguement that 'it doesnt affect the books so lets not mention it' misses the point. It manifestly influences a number of his later books (see above), and even if it didn't, by mentioning his marrage ACC's heterosexuality is implied. The article is about the man, not just the books.

Frankly the 'lets not mention it' arguement is a bit 1950's (least said soonest mended etc etc), the 'not relevent to his stories' one is just dumb.

The only good arguement is privacy and ACC's reluctance to 'out' himself - which is fine with me. I guess we have to wait for his death, and the publishing of his archives to find out for sure. (if you're reading this Arthur, sorry to be anticipating your demise! I wish you'd clear up the matter - you conspicously havent so far. I know a few Sri Lankan's, and it's the worst kept secret since Rajiv Gandhi said "fighter jets over sri-lanka, what fighter jets??"). 80.177.152.35 18:56, 31 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Medical/Other

I think adding in his medical condition (arthritis in the extreme I think?) would also be a good idea. John Lynch 15:52, 31 July 2004 (GMT 10+)

Sir Arthur suffers from post-polio syndrome and is wheelchaired as a result; however he also does daily exercises and can stand for brief periods, especially when he plays table tennis. jcsherwood1950 21 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Does anyone know the scene in You Only Live Twice that Sir Arthur is supposed to have a cemeo appearance in? Kuralyov 02:29, 6 Dec 2004 (UTC)

When someone's joke is taken seriously, you see how rumors get started. Sir Arthur wasn't in You Only Live Twice. But ... Doesn't Donald Pleasance as the evil Blofeld, sitting in his wheelchair, remind you just a little of Sir Arthur ...? Of course, it's a backward-in-time reference, as Sir Arthur wasn't in a wheelchair until the late 1980s, and the Bond movie was made a generation earlier. In passing: Blofeld also was the inspiration fo Mike Myers' "Dr. Evil." jcsherwood1950 21 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Perhaps some mention should also be made of his cameo in 2010: Odyssey Two - sitting on a park bench outside the White House (his face and that of Stanley Kubrick also appear on a "Time" Magazine cover in the movie as President of the US and Premier of the USSR respectively). Grutness|^hello? 23:45, 31 Dec 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Link suggestions

An automated Wikipedia link suggester has some possible wiki link suggestions for the Arthur_C._Clarke article, and they have been placed on this page for your convenience.
Tip: Some people find it helpful if these suggestions are shown on this talk page, rather than on another page. To do this, just add {{User:LinkBot/suggestions/Arthur_C._Clarke}} to this page. — LinkBot 10:34, 17 Dec 2004 (UTC)

Perhaps a minor note should be added including the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake information in the following Slashdot article: http://slashdot.org/articles/04/12/28/0120240.shtml?tid=99&tid=1 --Spug 22:27, 28 Dec 2004 (UTC)

Not having seen this first (bad Me :-), I put a blip in the lede. We can expand it below, preparatory to moving it down there permanently later. -- Baylink 05:53, 29 Dec 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Autodidact category removal

I removed "autodidact" - he studied at one of the England's most prestigious universities. The fact that he did it after a short period of employment and then his military service doesn't mean that he was self-taught (at the time he went to university, it was usual to be studying while in mid to late 20's). Admittedly he was already publishing sci-fi by that time, but many sci-fi writers start young. The fact that they haven't finished their formal education before starting their occupation doesn't qualify them as autodidacts, as far as I can see. And just because the degree wasn't in English literature or similar, doesn't mean he counts as an autodidact just because his occupation was not a direct branch-out of his degree. --VivaEmilyDavies 00:57, 10 Mar 2005 (UTC)

[edit] 2001: book and film will have separate articles

Just a head's up that the book will have its own article soon, which will necessitate some link changes. See the film's talk page for more.

[edit] Science fact

Clarke also wrote at least one science fact book. The Promise of Space appeared in 1968, and was reissued in 1985. --205.175.225.5 20:24, 15 August 2005 (UTC)

[edit] telecomunications

Isn't Clarke considered the inventor of the telecomunication's satelite?

I think he was the first person to think up the idea of a geostationary satelite. For people interested in communications, get a copy of his non-fiction book "When the World Was One"

He wrote about satellites in his short stories that were published. He did not think that they would come as soon as they have done so he did not patent them. However when the companies saw that the satellites could make a lot of money they tried to patent them but Clarke pointed out that he had invalidated their patents.

He wrote a wry article, "How I Lost a Billion Dollars At Home In My Spare Time" (later updated to "How I Lost a Trillion Dollars At Home In My Spare Time") on how he thought of, but did not patent, the idea of communications satellites. - 21 december 2005

He couldn't have patented it, it was already public domain by over 15 years.Herman Potočnik's book(c.1929) introduced the first full concept of geostationary communications satellites (first put forward by Konstantin Tsiolkovsky). - 26 January 2006

To be precise, Potočnik's book describes a space station and discusses communication between the space station and the ground, but the application of a satellite for mass communication and telephony is a specific invention that does not seem to be covered. Elroch 11:44, 1 February 2006 (UTC)

He's wearing a "I Invented the Satellite and All I Got is this Lousy T-Shirt" t-shirt in a BBC news article. I kid you not. [1] — WCityMike ^{(T | C)} 02:57, 5 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Herbert

Was Frank Herbert as good of a science fiction author as Clarke, Asimov and Heinlen, the so called Big Three of science fiction?--Moosh88 22:04, 4 September 2005 (UTC)

In what units would you like us to measure "good"? - 21 december 2005

His reputation rests mainly on the Dune series. The Big Three were much more diverse and productive. Clarityfiend 09:23, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

Good Herbert is in the same league as the "Big Three". However, they are not known as the "Big Four"

Strange, when I read Sci-Fi back in the 80s, the "Big Three" seemed to be Clarke, Asimov and Ray Bradbury. Although already then I wondered why I knew so few about Bradbury. 195.46.254.17 17:21, 14 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Image for top of article

The image that assumedly had been uploaded for the top of the article appears to have been deleted. I removed the empty box for it for now, and hopefully someone has an image that they can upload and place in the article. --Syrthiss 21:35, 3 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] RPG link

An anonymous put "http://ramarpg.proboards74.com/index.cgi? Raman simulator" in the external links. This looks like an RPG, but it isn't there yet. I'm removing it for now, but if something develops, it might become interesting later maybe. Or maybe this is just link spam. --ssd 06:46, 22 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Confused about 2001 film credit

In the 2001 section, second paragraph, it says, "It was credited to Clarke alone." This doesn't make sense to me -- is "Kubrick" intended/correct? Thx, "alyosha" 05:21, 24 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] I'm curious about Clarke's spirtual beliefs...

"crypto-buddist" he once said and noted secular humanist.

[edit] Attribution of quote needed

The article currently claims that the United States said that Clarke "provided the essential intellectual drive that led us to the moon.", a statement that is taken from a 1994 news release. Since countries themselves do not speak, does anyone know who did say this (or something similar)?Elroch 13:56, 26 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Rescue Party movie wanted

Is is possible to find the short movie Resue Party for legal purchase in any media? DVD preferred, VHS ok, BetaMax slightly-less-ok, film-reel acceptable.

[edit] Gentry Lee, co-author or ghostwriter?

He is listed as "co-author" on a number of Clarkes' later books. I believe "ghostwriter" would be more accurate. If one reads the books it appears that they were actually written by Lee and then published with Clarkes' name on them. They do take place in Clarkes' settings and use Clarkes' characters. Their styles are quite different. Clarke is a first rate author. Lee would quickly fade out of print if he published under his own name. Based on his fiction, I had not realized Lee had any real scientific background. Would it be appropriate to change the Wiki article to reflect this?

Having read some of the Clarke/Lee works, I agree that it's difficult to detect any trace of Clarke's style in them. The notion that Lee ghost-wrote them is quite plausible. However, we cannot state it as fact in a Wikipedia article without citing a reliable source. Accordingly, I have tagged that statement with the {{citation needed}} template. Pat Berry 19:58, 9 August 2006 (UTC)

No one has come forward with a citation, so I am deleting the statement that Clarke's later works were ghostwritten. I am aware of no evidence supporting that notion. Pat Berry 05:14, 5 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Clarke in gaming

someone should add a section on the few Video Games that have been made out of his books. User:Zerath13

Wait! Time out! Please sign your comments when you add your thoughts in this subject and all the other areas of Wikipedia. Thank You for you co-operation! --Siva1979^{Talk to me} 01:53, 20 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Editing

I made a slight edit in the Introduction; I think it reads a bit better this way. CFLeon 21:13, 1 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Deist, agnostic, atheist?

Is it compatible for Clarke to be categorised both as a "Deist thinker" and an agnostic? I thought he was an atheist--I believe that's the category he was in some time ago.

[edit] 2001 as first section? WTF?

Why is the first section on one small part of this man's life? It needs to be moved or deleted or something. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 131.217.6.9 (talk • contribs).

I agree that it's placement is odd. Someone more familiar with the article than myself should move it to a more appropriate place. - Dr. Zaret 01:50, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Report on Planet Three

I'm deleting this from the list of novels, since it isn't a novel. Johnny Pez 16:38, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] World of Strange Powers on DVD yet?

Clarke is also well known to many for his television programmes Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious World (1981) and Arthur C. Clarke's World of Strange Powers (1984).

Does anyone know if there are any plans to release either of those shows on DVD? I remember hearing rumors on and off but does anyone know what the story is? Or even if Clarke is aware that these works are not available on DVD? (Simonapro 21:28, 10 June 2006 (UTC))

[edit] Puzzlements and miscellany

1. This sentence from "Themes, styles and influences":

"Despite this, Clarke's style was open to humour and a degree of whimsy which salted its propagandist tone regarding scientific advancement with a sting in the tail."

Can someone tell me what it's trying to say?

It's just lousy, pretentious writing. Hayford Peirce 01:29, 8 August 2006 (UTC)

OK, I edited the section, and that sentence is gone. But those paragraphs still need work. ChrisWinter 14:16, 11 August 2006 (UTC)

And now it's back. Further, there's no sign of that version in the history. What gives? ChrisWinter 18:00, 14 August 2006 (UTC)

Well, I've just taken it out again. And this time I'll keep it out. Hayford Peirce 18:07, 14 August 2006 (UTC)

Thanks. I've no idea who put it back — if anyone did. My edit of 11 August is missing from the history, which makes me suspect some sort of glitch in Wikipedia's servers. Does that sound sensible? ChrisWinter 03:23, 15 August 2006 (UTC)

Absolutely. I *know* that I made a minor edit in another article about the same time, in which, like here, I simply removed a sentence, then saved it. A while later I went back to the article and discovered that there was no record of what I had done. Just a Wiki glitch, I guess. Hayford Peirce 03:58, 15 August 2006 (UTC)

2. "'The Sentinel' (1948) introduced a religious theme to Clarke's work, a theme that he later explored more deeply in "The Star". His interest in the paranormal was influenced by Charles Fort and embraced the belief that mankind may be the property of an ancient alien civilization. Surprisingly for a writer who is often held up as an example of hard science fiction's obsession with technology, three of Clarke's novels have this as a theme."

I know Childhood's End is one. Which are the other two?

3. I also think that the article should say a bit more about Clarke's involvement with the BIS and his life on Sri Lanka. WRT the latter, I know he played an important role in a school or university in Colombo -- Chancellor or some such.

4. Concerning who are the "Big Three" authors of the Golden Age of Science Fiction, see the article on A. E. van Vogt. There's a potential conflict there.

Not really. Van Vogt was a big shot *before* Clarke first appeared. Clark did not really become a major writer in the SF world until, oh, let's say the late 40s, early 50s. By which time Van Vogt had partially vanished. The "Big Three" was probably not used for Clarke, Asimov, and RAH until the 60s, or maybe even later. Hayford Peirce 01:29, 8 August 2006 (UTC)

5. Finally, having a list of books here and a separate article about his books (collectively) with a similar list seems like overkill. --ChrisWinter 01:02, 8 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Changes to external links

The list of external links has been tagged for cleanup for some time. I propose to change it as follows:

[edit] External links

The following links point to supplemental material on Arthur C. Clarke, or to links to such material.

[edit] Interviews

• Spike Magazine Interview (1997)
• Interview for The Onion (February 2004)
• God, Science, and Delusion Free Inquiry magazine interview Volume 19, Number 2

[edit] Awards and organizations startedor influenced by Clarke

• The Arthur C. Clarke Foundation
• Sir Arthur Clarke Awards

[edit] Other links

• Where Is Everybody? : an essay by Arthur C. Clarke on SETI
• The Motif of First Contact in Arthur C. Clarke's SF Works, by Zoran Živković
• Sir Arthur C. Clarke links & image archive
• Arthur C. Clarke at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
• Arthur C. Clarke at the Internet Movie Database

[edit] Links deleted

• ArthurCClarke.net : fan community & discussion site

Because it's on the page of links pointed to by entry #5 above.

• Clarke's 1945 Communication Satellite Idea

Because it's on the links page, and appears (or should appear) as a reference in the text.

• Institute for Cooperation in Space

Because that page doesn't make it clear what Clarke's contribution to cooperation in space was: that he's been a long-time advocate of satellite monitoring as a means of arms control. I think it would be better to put this link back in the article proper, inside a paragraph that discusses those contributions.

• The Sundial on a Novel Concept includes image of Clarke at the inaugaration of the Sundial Moratuwa University 1996

Because AFAICT it has only a tenuous connection to Clarke's work.

• Memoirs of Science Abstracts' editorial staff — by Arthur C. Clarke

Because, again, the science abstractor job is a minor part of Clarke's career. The link should to to a paragraph above.

• ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE BSAC references Clarke as a member

Bare mention of Clarke as a member, halfway down the long page, and a tiny photo. Once again, I'd put this in the paragraph about his SCUBA diving.

• The Arthur Clarke Mars Greenhouse, Devon Island, Nunavut (NASA Haughton Mars Project)

Because it's just a greenhouse named in honor of Clarke.

[edit] Links added

None. I was going to suggest adding a link to the Science Museum reproduction of Clarke's Wireless World article, but I see that one's on the links page too. Also, it appears as a reference above, or it should. In fact, I'd put in 3 references to the commsat idea: R-Bianci, Lakdiva, and Science Museum. ChrisWinter 05:01, 10 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Publishing date of Prelude to Space contradiction

The bibliography gives a 1951 date for Clarke's first novel. The actual article on the book says 1953. Which is correct? 23skidoo 19:29, 28 August 2006 (UTC)

According to my copy of Twentieth Century Science Fiction Writers (2nd ed.) (1986), it was published in New York by Galaxy Books in 1951; in London by Sidgwick and Jackson in 1953; as Master of Space by Lancer Books, New York in 1961, and again by them in 1969 as The Space Dreamers. -- Arwel (talk) 19:44, 28 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Radar experience

The article says "he ... was involved in the early warning radar defence system which contributed to the RAF's success during the Battle of Britain.". Is this really right? I thought he joined the airforce during the war (after the Battle of Britain, I assume) and was involved in the Ground Controlled Approach system which can't really be called an "early warning radar defence system". EdDavies 22:16, 9 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Writer infobox

I put in a Template:Infobox Writer at the beginning of the article. Feel free to add/correct info. Gaheris 01:06, 7 October 2006 (UTC)

I added the Cingalese nationality, because Mr Clarke has double citizenship of UK and Sri Lanka. By the way, the meaning of the word is controversial: properly, nationality has to be reffered only to ethnic-cultural-language belonging, while citizenship has to be referred to the belonging to a territorial State. However, some peoples (and some dictionaries, too) consider to two words as having the same meaning and I think it was used in this way on this site. Only - I'm sorry - I fear to have had a mistake in digit and saved in a wrong way. I'll try to restore.

[edit] Bibliography -- Why Partial?

Any particular reason the bibliography doesn't include short stories. It would be a useful reference. Ichibani 00:01, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Trivia

Is it really necessary to quote the entire text of Clarke's story for Wired Magazine? :-P 64.90.198.6 23:33, 12 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Debut Work Incorrect?

 What would properly define a Debut Work, as shown on the Clarke entry?  As referenced in another article, Travel_by_Wire!_(short_story) is the debut story from Clarke.

Fireye - 163.252.113.29 19:21, 4 April 2007 (UTC)