View source for Biography:Arthur C. Clarke

{{Short description|British science fiction writer (1917–2008)}}
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{{EngvarB|date=April 2014}}
{{Infobox writer
| honorific_prefix = Sir
| honorific_suffix = {{postnom|country=GBR|size=100|CBE|FRAS}}
| image = Arthur C. Clarke 1965.jpg
| image_upright = 1.25
| caption = In 1965, on one of the sets of ''2001: A Space Odyssey''
| pseudonym = Charles Willis<br/>E. G. O'Brien<ref name=pegasos/><ref name=isfdb/>
| birth_name = Arthur Charles Clarke
| birth_place = Minehead, Somerset, England
| death_date = {{death date and age|2008|3|19|1917|12|16|df=yes}}<!--The timezone (UTC+5:30) means he died on the 19th.-->
| death_place = [[Place:Colombo|Colombo]], Sri Lanka
| occupation = Writer, inventor, futurist
| alma_mater = [[Organization:King's College London|King's College London]]
| spouse = {{marriage|Marilyn Mayfield<br/>|1953|1964|end=div}}
| period = 1946–2008
| genre = Hard science fiction<br/>Popular science
| subject = Science
| movement = 
| notableworks = {{plainlist|
* ''Childhood's End''
* ''2001: A Space Odyssey''
* ''Rendezvous with Rama''
* ''[[Unsolved:The Fountains of Paradise|The Fountains of Paradise]]''
}}
| website = {{URL|http://clarkefoundation.org/}}
}}
'''Sir Arthur Charles Clarke''' {{postnom|country=GBR|CBE|FRAS}} (16 December 1917{{snd}}19 March 2008) was an English<!--Clarke was a resident (not a citizen) of Sri Lanka.--> science fiction writer, science writer, [[Futurist|futurist]],<ref name=Adams/> inventor, undersea explorer, and television series host.

He co-wrote the screenplay for the 1968 film ''2001: A Space Odyssey'', widely regarded as one of the most influential films of all time.<ref>Ranked number 15 by the American Film Institute in 2007. {{cite web |title=AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies – 10th Anniversary Edition |url=https://www.afi.com/afis-100-years-100-movies-10th-anniversary-edition/ |publisher=American Film Institute |date=2007 |access-date=11 January 2024 |archive-date=7 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607064632/http://www.afi.com/100years/movies10.aspx |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Ranked number 6 in the British Film Institute/''Sight and Sound'' critics' poll in 2012. {{cite journal |url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/news/50-greatest-films-all-time |title=The Top 50 Greatest Films of All Time |volume=22 |issue=9 |date=September 2012 |journal=Sight & Sound |access-date=11 January 2024 |first=Ian |last=Christie |archive-date=1 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301135739/http://www.bfi.org.uk/news/50-greatest-films-all-time |url-status=live}}</ref> Clarke was a science fiction writer, an avid populariser of space travel, and a futurist of a distinguished ability. He wrote many books and many essays for popular magazines. In 1961, he received the Kalinga Prize, a [[Organization:UNESCO|UNESCO]] award for popularising science. Clarke's science and science fiction writings earned him the moniker "Prophet of the Space Age".<ref>{{cite journal | author= Reddy, John | title= Arthur Clarke: Prophet of the Space Age | journal= Reader's Digest | volume= 9 | number= 564 | date= April 1969}}</ref> His science fiction writings in particular earned him a number of Hugo and Nebula awards, which along with a large readership, made him one of the towering figures of the genre. For many years Clarke, [[Biography:Robert A. Heinlein|Robert Heinlein]], and [[Biography:Isaac Asimov|Isaac Asimov]] were known as the "Big Three" of science fiction.<ref name=bigthree>{{cite web | title= The Big Three and the Clarke–Asimov Treaty | url= http://www.wireclub.com/clubs/books/isaac_asimov_fans/conversations/Toj1CgM8CzfoOEM80 | publisher= wireclub.com | access-date= 20 September 2014 | archive-date= 13 January 2020 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200113102249/https://www.wireclub.com/clubs/books/isaac_asimov_fans/conversations/Toj1CgM8CzfoOEM80 | url-status= live }}</ref>

Clarke was a lifelong proponent of [[Astronomy:Human spaceflight|space travel]]. In 1934, while still a teenager, he joined the BIS, [[Organization:British Interplanetary Society|British Interplanetary Society]]. In 1945, he proposed a [[Astronomy:Satellite|satellite]] communication system using [[Astronomy:Geostationary orbit|geostationary orbit]]s.<ref name="etrelays"/> He was the chairman of the British Interplanetary Society from 1946 to 1947 and again in 1951–1953.<ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Benford | first1 = G. | title = Obituary: Arthur C. Clarke (1917–2008) | doi = 10.1038/452546a | journal = Nature | volume = 452 | issue = 7187 | page = 546 | year = 2008 | pmid = 18385726|bibcode = 2008Natur.452..546B | doi-access = free }}</ref>

Clarke emigrated to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in 1956, to pursue his interest in scuba diving.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.natureseychelles.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=326&Itemid=106 | title = Remembering Arthur C. Clarke | access-date =27 March 2008 |work = Nature Seychelles |last = Caiman |first = Roche |date= 20 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080620051133/http://www.natureseychelles.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=326&Itemid=106 |archive-date=20 June 2008}}</ref> That year, he discovered the underwater ruins of the ancient original Koneswaram Temple in Trincomalee. Clarke augmented his popularity in the 1980s, as the host of television shows such as ''Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious World''. He lived in Sri Lanka until his death.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mintowt-Czyz |first1=Lech |name-list-style=amp |last2=Bird |first2=Steve |date=18 March 2008 |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article3579120.ece |title=Science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke dies aged 90 |access-date=19 March 2008 |website=The Times Online |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090514065434/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article3579120.ece |archive-date=14 May 2009 }}</ref>

Clarke was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1989 "for services to British cultural interests in Sri Lanka".<ref name=CBE>{{London Gazette|issue=51772 |supp=y|page=16|date=16 June 1989}}</ref> He was knighted in 1998<ref name=BBCsfknight>{{cite news | title = The new knight of science fiction | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/43739.stm | work = BBC News | publisher = BBC | date = 1 January 1998 | access-date = 26 August 2009 | archive-date = 27 March 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120327115818/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/43739.stm | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name=BBCknighted>{{cite news | title = Arthur C Clarke knighted | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/765385.stm | work = BBC News | publisher = BBC | date = 26 May 2000 | access-date = 26 August 2009 | archive-date = 27 March 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120327115055/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/765385.stm | url-status = live }}</ref> and was awarded Sri Lanka's highest civil honour, Sri Lankabhimanya, in 2005.<ref name=SriLankabhimanya/>

{{clear left}}

==Biography==
===Early years===
Clarke was born in Minehead, Somerset, England,<ref>{{cite news|title=Campaign for Sir Arthur C Clarke memorial in Minehead|work=BBC News|date=25 July 2012|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-18927588|access-date=12 February 2017|archive-date=22 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122185048/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-18927588|url-status=live}}</ref> and grew up in nearby Bishops Lydeard. As a boy, he lived on a farm, where he enjoyed [[Astronomy:Astronomy|stargazing]], [[Biology:Fossil|fossil]] collecting, and reading American science fiction pulp magazines. He received his secondary education at Huish's Grammar School in Taunton. Some of his early influences included dinosaur cigarette cards, which led to an enthusiasm for fossils starting about 1925. Clarke attributed his interest in science fiction to reading three items: the November 1928 issue of ''Amazing Stories'' in 1929; ''[[Unsolved:Last and First Men|Last and First Men]]'' by [[Biography:Olaf Stapledon|Olaf Stapledon]] in 1930; and ''The Conquest of Space'' by David Lasser in 1931.<ref>Clarke, Arthur C., 1983, Of Sand and Stars: New York Times Book Review, 6{{nbsp}}March 1983, reprinted in Clarke, Arthur C., 1984, 1984: Spring / A Choice of Futures: New York, Ballantine Books, p. 151–157.</ref>

In his teens, he joined the Junior Astronomical Association and contributed to ''Urania'', the society's journal, which was edited in Glasgow by Marion Eadie. At Clarke's request, she added an "Astronautics" section, which featured a series of articles written by him on spacecraft and space travel. Clarke also contributed pieces to the "Debates and Discussions Corner", a counterpoint to a ''Urania'' article offering the case against space travel, and also his recollections of the Walt Disney film ''Fantasia''. He moved to London in 1936 and joined the Board of Education as a pensions auditor.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=34321|page=5798|date=8 September 1936}}</ref> He and some fellow science fiction writers shared a flat in Gray's Inn Road, where he got the nickname "Ego" because of his absorption in subjects that interested him,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/books/2017/01/close-tears-he-left-intermission-how-stanley-kubrick-upset-arthur-c-clarke|title="Close to tears, he left at the intermission": how Stanley Kubrick upset Arthur C Clarke|website=www.newstatesman.com|date=8 January 2017|access-date=15 March 2019|archive-date=21 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200121131228/https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/books/2017/01/close-tears-he-left-intermission-how-stanley-kubrick-upset-arthur-c-clarke|url-status=live}}</ref> and later named his office filled with memorabilia as his "ego chamber".<ref>{{cite magazine|url = https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1969/08/09/ego-chamber|title = Arthur C. Clarke: Out of the Ego Chamber|magazine = The New Yorker|last = Bernstein|first = Jeremy|date = 9 August 1969|access-date = 7 February 2018|archive-date = 17 February 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200217120154/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1969/08/09/ego-chamber|url-status = live}}</ref>

===World War II===
During the Second World War from 1941 to 1946, he served in the {{wipe|Royal Air Force}} as a radar specialist and was involved in the [[Engineering:Early-warning radar|early-warning radar]] defence system, which contributed to the RAF's success during the Battle of Britain. Clarke spent most of his wartime service working on ground-controlled approach (GCA) radar, as documented in the semiautobiographical ''Glide Path'', his only non-science fiction novel. Although GCA did not see much practical use during the war, after several years of development it proved vital to the Berlin Airlift of 1948–1949. Clarke initially served in the ranks and was a corporal instructor on radar at No.{{nbsp}}2 Radio School, RAF Yatesbury in Wiltshire. He was commissioned as a pilot officer (technical branch) on 27 May 1943.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=36089 |supp=y|pages=3162–3163|date=9 July 1943}}</ref> He was promoted to flying officer on 27 November 1943.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=36271 |supp=y|page=5289|date=30 November 1943}}</ref> He was appointed chief training instructor at RAF Honiley in Warwickshire and was demobilised with the rank of flight lieutenant.

===Post-war===
After the war, he attained a first-class degree in mathematics and physics from [[Organization:King's College London|King's College London]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Arthur C. Clarke|url=https://www.harpercollins.co.uk/cr-100226/arthur-c-clarke|publisher=Harper Collins|access-date=12 February 2017|archive-date=13 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213164229/https://www.harpercollins.co.uk/cr-100226/arthur-c-clarke|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=ocx4Jc12mkgC&pg=PA166|title = International Biographical Dictionary of Computer Pioneers|page = 166|editor-last = Lee|editor-first = John A. N.|publisher = Taylor & Francis|date = 1995|isbn = 9781884964473|access-date = 24 August 2017|archive-date = 7 May 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210507231845/https://books.google.com/books?id=ocx4Jc12mkgC&pg=PA166|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kcl.ac.uk/nms/about/people/NMSNotableFigures.aspx|title=King's College London – Notable figures from NMS|website=www.kcl.ac.uk|access-date=23 January 2017|archive-date=26 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126104735/http://www.kcl.ac.uk/nms/about/people/NMSNotableFigures.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> After this, he worked as assistant editor at ''Physics Abstracts''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Arthur C Clarke dies at 90 |date=19 March 2008 |url=https://physicsworld.com/a/arthur-c-clarke-dies-at-90/ |publisher=Physics World |access-date=16 July 2018 |archive-date=16 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716224121/https://physicsworld.com/a/arthur-c-clarke-dies-at-90/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Clarke served as president of the [[Organization:British Interplanetary Society|British Interplanetary Society]] from 1946 to 1947 and again from 1951 to 1953.<ref name = bis>{{cite web |url= https://www.bis-space.com/what-we-do/the-british-interplanetary-society/history |title= History |website= The British Interplanetary Society |access-date= 18 April 2018 |archive-date= 2 December 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171202212420/http://www.bis-space.com/what-we-do/the-british-interplanetary-society/history |url-status= live }}</ref>

Although he was not the originator of the concept of geostationary satellites, one of his most important contributions in this field was his idea that they would be ideal telecommunications relays. He advanced this idea in a paper privately circulated among the core technical members of the British Interplanetary Society in 1945. The concept was published in ''Wireless World'' in October of that year.<ref name="etrelays"/> Clarke also wrote a number of nonfiction books describing the technical details and societal implications of rocketry and space flight. The most notable of these may be ''Interplanetary Flight: An Introduction to Astronautics'' (1950), ''The Exploration of Space'' (1951), and ''The Promise of Space'' (1968). In recognition of these contributions, the [[Astronomy:Geostationary orbit|geostationary orbit]] {{convert|36000|km}} above the equator is officially recognised by the [[Organization:International Astronomical Union|International Astronomical Union]] as the Clarke Orbit.<ref name="foundation">{{cite web |url=http://www.clarkefoundation.org/acc/biography.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725175711/http://www.clarkefoundation.org/acc/biography.php |archive-date=25 July 2011 |title=Clarke Foundation Biography |access-date=19 March 2008 }}</ref>

His 1951 book, ''The Exploration of Space'', was used by the rocket pioneer [[Biography:Wernher von Braun|Wernher von Braun]] to convince President [[Biography:John F. Kennedy|John F. Kennedy]] that it was possible to go to the Moon.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/20/opinion/20iht-eddas.1.11290497.html |title=Final thoughts from Arthur C. Clarke |newspaper=The New York Times |date=20 March 2008 |access-date=20 December 2020 |archive-date=7 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507231846/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/20/opinion/20iht-eddas.1.11290497.html |url-status=live |last1=Das |first1=Saswato R. }}</ref>

Following the 1968 release of ''2001'', Clarke became much in demand as a commentator on science and technology, especially at the time of the Apollo space program. On 20 July 1969, Clarke appeared as a commentator for the CBS News broadcast of the [[Engineering:Apollo 11|Apollo 11]] Moon landing.<ref>{{youTube|xMAmk5Rp1tk|Mondo Cult Presents Walter Cronkite Apollo 11 Interview with Robert A. Heinlein & Arthur C. Clarke}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pU8qAAAAQBAJ&pg=PT179 |title=Sir Arthur C. Clarke: Odyssey of a Visionary: A Biography |first=Neil |last=McAleer |publisher=Clarke Project |isbn=978-0615-553-22-1 |chapter=20 |year=2010 |access-date=24 August 2017 |archive-date=7 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507231846/https://books.google.com/books?id=pU8qAAAAQBAJ&pg=PT179 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Sri Lanka and diving===
Clarke lived in Sri Lanka from 1956 until his death in 2008, first in Unawatuna on the south coast, and then in [[Place:Colombo|Colombo]].<ref name=obitnyt/> Initially, he and his friend Mike Wilson travelled around Sri Lanka, diving in the coral waters around the coast with the Beachcombers Club. In 1957, during a dive trip off Trincomalee, Clarke discovered the underwater ruins of a temple, which subsequently made the region popular with divers.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sri lanka's underwater ruins |url=http://www.ceylondigest.com/discovering-sri-lankas-underwater-ruins/ |publisher=Ceylon digest |access-date=21 September 2018 |archive-date=21 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921115103/http://www.ceylondigest.com/discovering-sri-lankas-underwater-ruins/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He described it in his 1957 book ''The Reefs of Taprobane''. This was his second diving book after the 1956 ''The Coast of Coral''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Book review – Reefs of Taprobane |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/arthur-c-clarke/reefs-of-taprobane/ |website=www.kirkusreviews.com/ |publisher=Kirkus Book Reviews |access-date=21 September 2018 |archive-date=21 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921153041/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/arthur-c-clarke/reefs-of-taprobane/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Though Clarke lived mostly in Colombo, he set up a small dive school and a simple dive shop near Trincomalee. He dived often at Hikkaduwa, Trincomalee, and Nilaveli.<ref>{{cite web |title=Underwater safaris – company details |url=https://lk.kompass.com/c/underwater-safaris-ltd/lk006970/ |access-date=21 September 2018 |archive-date=12 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170612202934/http://lk.kompass.com/c/underwater-safaris-ltd/lk006970/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Sri Lankan government offered Clarke resident guest status in 1975.<ref>{{cite web |title = Sir Arthur Clarke dies at age 90|url=http://www.clarkefoundation.org/news/031808.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100710013339/http://www.clarkefoundation.org/news/031808.php |archive-date=10 July 2010 |access-date=21 March 2012 |publisher=The Arthur C. Clarke Foundation |date=19 March 2008 }}</ref> He was held in such high esteem that when fellow science fiction writer [[Biography:Robert A. Heinlein|Robert A. Heinlein]] came to visit, the {{wipe|Sri Lanka Air Force}} provided a [[Engineering:Helicopter|helicopter]] to take them around the country.<ref name="pournelle198204">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1982-04/page/n215/mode/2up?view=theater | title=The Osborne 1, Zeke's New Friends, and Spelling Revisited | work=BYTE | date=April 1982 | access-date=19 October 2013 | author=Pournelle, Jerry | page=212}}</ref> 
In the early 1970s, Clarke signed a three-book publishing deal, a record for a science fiction writer at the time. The first of the three was ''Rendezvous with Rama'' in 1973, which won all the main genre awards<ref name=SFAwards/> and spawned sequels that along with the ''2001'' series formed the backbone of his later career.
[[File:Prins Claus en Arthur C Clarke (1982).jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.05|Clarke receives the Marconi International Fellowship Award from Prince Claus of the Netherlands in 1982]]

In 1986, Clarke was named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction Writers of America.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfwa.org/awards/grand.htm |title=SFWA Grand Masters |access-date=4 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090621013507/http://www.sfwa.org/awards/grand.htm |archive-date=21 June 2009 }}</ref>

In 1988, he was diagnosed with [[Medicine:Post-polio syndrome|post-polio syndrome]], having originally contracted [[Medicine:Polio|polio]] in 1962, and needed to use a [[Engineering:Wheelchair|wheelchair]] most of the time thereafter.<ref name=obitnyt/> Clarke was for many years a vice-patron of the British Polio Fellowship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishpolio.org.uk/|title=British Polio Fellowship|website=www.britishpolio.org.uk|access-date=4 January 2013|archive-date=25 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525005915/http://www.britishpolio.org.uk/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the 1989 Queen's Birthday Honours, Clarke was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) "for services to British cultural interests in Sri Lanka".<ref name=CBE/> The same year, he became the first chancellor of the International Space University, serving from 1989 to 2004. He also served as chancellor of Moratuwa University in Sri Lanka from 1979 to 2002.

In 1994, Clarke appeared in a science fiction film; he portrayed himself in the film ''Without Warning'', an American production about an apocalyptic alien first-contact scenario presented in the form of a faux newscast.

Clarke also became active in promoting the protection of gorillas and became a patron of the [[Biology:Digit Fund|Gorilla Organization]], which fights for the preservation of gorillas.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.gorillas.org/arthur_c_clarke |title= Gorilla Organization mourns loss of patron Sir Arthur C Clarke – a true champion for gorillas |date= 27 March 2008 |publisher= Gorilla Organization |location= London |access-date= 5 May 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110413080418/http://www.gorillas.org/arthur_c_clarke |archive-date= 13 April 2011 |url-status= dead }}</ref> When [[Chemistry:Tantalum|tantalum]] mining for mobile phone manufacture threatened the gorillas in 2001, he lent his voice to their cause.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-4626572-details/Campaign+for+gorilla-friendly+mobiles/article.do |title=Campaign for gorilla-friendly mobiles – News – This is London |access-date=20 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626235230/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-4626572-details/Campaign%2Bfor%2Bgorilla-friendly%2Bmobiles/article.do |archive-date=26 June 2009 }}</ref> The dive shop that he set up continues to operate from Trincomalee through the Arthur C Clarke Foundation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Diving at Trncomalee |url=http://underwatersafari.org/index.php/scuba-diving/ |website=www.underwatersafari.org |publisher=Underwaer safaris |access-date=21 September 2018 }}{{Dead link|date=October 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===Television series host===
In the 1980s and early 1990s, Clarke presented his television programmes ''Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious World'', ''Arthur C. Clarke's World of Strange Powers'', and ''Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious Universe''.

===Personal life===
On a trip to Florida in 1953,<ref name=pegasos/> Clarke met and quickly married Marilyn Mayfield, a 22-year-old American divorcee with a young son. They separated permanently after six months, although the divorce was not finalised until 1964.<ref name="McAleer">McAleer, Neil. "Arthur C. Clarke: The Authorized Biography", Contemporary Books, Chicago, 1992. {{ISBN|0-8092-3720-2}}</ref><!--pp. 93–100--> "The marriage was incompatible from the beginning," said Clarke.<ref name="McAleer"/><!--p. 100--> Marilyn never remarried and died in 1991. Clarke also never remarried, but was close to a Sri Lankan man, Leslie Ekanayake (13 July 1947{{snd}}4{{nbsp}}July 1977), whom Clarke called his "only perfect friend of a lifetime" in the dedication to his novel ''[[Unsolved:The Fountains of Paradise|The Fountains of Paradise]]''.{{efn|Full dedication reads: "To the still unfading memory of LESLIE EKANAYAKE (13 JuIy 1947{{snd}}4{{nbsp}}July 1977) only perfect friend of a lifetime, in whom were uniquely combined Loyalty, Intelligence and Compassion. When your radiant and loving spirit vanished from this world, the light went out of many lives."}} Clarke is buried with Ekanayake, who predeceased him by three decades, in Colombo's central cemetery.<ref>Wilson, Scott. ''Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons'', 3d ed.: two (Kindle Locations 8622–8623). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Kindle Edition.</ref> In his biography of Stanley Kubrick, John Baxter cites Clarke's homosexuality as a reason why he relocated, due to more tolerant laws with regard to homosexuality in Sri Lanka.<ref>
{{cite book|title=Stanley Kubrick: A Biography|last=Baxter|first=John|year=1997|publisher=Carroll & Graff|location=New York|isbn=0-7867-0485-3|page=[https://archive.org/details/stanleykubrickbi00baxt/page/203 203]|quote=But Clarke and Kubrick made a match.&nbsp;... Both had a streak of homoeroticism&nbsp;...|url=https://archive.org/details/stanleykubrickbi00baxt/page/203}}
</ref>  Journalists who enquired of Clarke whether he was gay were told, "No, merely mildly cheerful."<ref name=obitnyt/> However, Michael Moorcock wrote:
{{blockquote|Everyone knew he was gay. In the 1950s, I'd go out drinking with his boyfriend. We met his protégés, western and eastern, and their families, people who had only the most generous praise for his kindness. Self-absorbed he might be and a [[Philosophy:Teetotalism|teetotaller]], but an impeccable gent through and through.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/mar/22/arthurcclarke | title=Brave New Worlds | first=Michael | last=Moorcock | date=22 March 2008 | access-date=25 August 2008 | work=The Guardian | location=London | archive-date=2 October 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002145943/http://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/mar/22/arthurcclarke | url-status=live }}</ref>}}

In an interview in the July 1986 issue of ''Playboy'' magazine, when asked if he had had a bisexual experience, Clarke stated, "Of course. Who hasn't?"<ref>{{cite web |website=Playboy.com |url=http://www.playboy.com/articles/arthur-clarke-playboy-interview/index.html?page=2 |title=Arthur C. Clarke: Playboy Interview |access-date=12 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606222725/http://www.playboy.com/articles/arthur-clarke-playboy-interview/index.html?page=2 |archive-date=6 June 2011}}</ref> In his obituary, Clarke's friend Kerry O'Quinn wrote: "Yes, Arthur was gay&nbsp;... As [[Biography:Isaac Asimov|Isaac Asimov]] once told me, 'I think he simply found he preferred men.' Arthur didn't publicise his sexuality{{snd}}that wasn't the focus of his life{{snd}}but if asked, he was open and honest."<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.tobyjohnson.com/arthurcclarke.html | title = In honor of Sir Arthur C. Clarke | access-date = 18 March 2008 | publisher = Toby Johnson | archive-date = 22 February 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080222094415/http://www.tobyjohnson.com/arthurcclarke.html | url-status = live }}</ref>

Clarke accumulated a vast collection of manuscripts and personal memoirs, maintained by his brother Fred Clarke in Taunton, Somerset, England, and referred to as the "Clarkives". Clarke said some of his private diaries will not be published until 30 years after his death. When asked why they were sealed, he answered, "Well, there might be all sorts of embarrassing things in them."<ref name=Adams>{{cite news |last=Adams |first=Tim |title=Man on the moon |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/1999/sep/12/sciencefictionfantasyandhorror.arthurcclarke |newspaper=The Guardian |date=12 September 1999 |access-date=15 December 2014 |archive-date=13 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113102255/https://www.theguardian.com/books/1999/sep/12/sciencefictionfantasyandhorror.arthurcclarke |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Knighthood===
On 26 May 2000, he was made a Knight Bachelor "for services to literature" at a ceremony in Colombo.<ref name=BBCknighted />{{efn|Letters Patent were issued by Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom on 16 March 2000 to authorise this.}}<ref name=LP>{{London Gazette| issue=55796 |page=3167 |date=21 March 2000 }}</ref> The award of a knighthood had been announced in the 1998 New Year Honours list,<ref name=BBCsfknight /><ref name=Kt>{{London Gazette |issue=54993 |supp=y |page=2| date=30 December 1997}}</ref> but investiture with the award had been delayed, at Clarke's request, because of an accusation by the tabloid the ''Sunday Mirror'' of paying boys for sex.<ref>{{cite news |title=It Doesn't Do Any Harm ... Most of the Damage Comes from Fuss Made by Hysterical Parents |work=Sunday Mirror |date=1 February 1998}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Schaverien |first1=Tracy |last2=Insall |first2=Roger |title=SMIRK OF A PERVERT AND A LIAR; Police probe links Clarke to international child sex ring. |work=Sunday Mirror |date=8 February 1998}}</ref> The charge was subsequently found to be baseless by the Sri Lankan police.<ref name="BBC">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/74938.stm |title=Sci-fi novelist cleared of sex charges |access-date=11 February 2008 |publisher=BBC News |date=6 April 1998 |archive-date=28 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328053541/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/74938.stm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="irishexaminer">{{cite web |url=http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/1998/08/13/fhead.htm |date=13 August 1998 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110629115156/http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/1998/08/13/fhead.htm |archive-date=29 June 2011 |title=Child sex file could close on sci-fi writer |access-date=19 March 2007 |work=Irish Examiner}}</ref> According to ''The Daily Telegraph'', the ''Mirror'' subsequently published an apology, and Clarke chose not to sue for defamation.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sir Arthur C Clarke |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1582125/Sir-Arthur-C-Clarke.html |work=The Telegraph |date=19 March 2008 |access-date=16 July 2018 |archive-date=23 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623001043/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1582125/Sir-Arthur-C-Clarke.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''The Independent'' reported that a similar story was not published, allegedly because Clarke was a friend of newspaper tycoon Rupert Murdoch.<ref>{{cite news |title=NOTW editor 'spiked paedophilia scoop on Arthur C Clarke for fear of Murdoch' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/press/notw-editor-spiked-paedophilia-scoop-on-arthur-c-clarke-for-fear-of-murdoch-7920816.html |website=The Independent |date=7 July 2012 |access-date=14 February 2020 |archive-date=11 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191111131521/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/press/notw-editor-spiked-paedophilia-scoop-on-arthur-c-clarke-for-fear-of-murdoch-7920816.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Clarke himself said, "I take an extremely dim view of people mucking about with boys", and Rupert Murdoch promised him the reporters responsible would never work in Fleet Street again.<ref>{{cite web |last=Harding |first=Luke |title=The space Odysseus |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2000/sep/28/sciencefictionfantasyandhorror.arthurcclarke |work=The Guardian |date=27 September 2000 |access-date=10 February 2018 |archive-date=11 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211071717/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2000/sep/28/sciencefictionfantasyandhorror.arthurcclarke |url-status=live }}</ref> Clarke was then duly knighted.

===Later years===
[[File:Clarke sm.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.05|Clarke at his home in Sri Lanka, 2005]]
Although he and his home were unharmed by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake [[Tsunami|tsunami]], his "Arthur C. Clarke Diving School" (now called "Underwater Safaris")<ref>{{cite web |title=About us |url=http://underwatersafari.org/ |publisher=Underwater safaris |access-date=21 September 2018 |archive-date=24 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224132222/https://underwatersafari.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref> at Hikkaduwa near Galle was destroyed.<ref>{{cite web |title=Arthur C Clarke loses diving school |url=https://www.writerswrite.com/arthur-c-clarke-loses-diving-school-1229041 |website=www.writerswrite.com |publisher=Writers write |access-date=21 September 2018 |archive-date=21 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921114720/https://www.writerswrite.com/arthur-c-clarke-loses-diving-school-1229041 |url-status=live }}</ref> He made humanitarian appeals, and the Arthur C. Clarke Foundation worked towards better disaster notification systems.<ref>{{Cite news |first= Arthur C. |last= Clarke |title= Letter from Sri Lanka |url= https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.02/letter.html |access-date= 17 August 2009 |magazine= Wired |volume= 13 |date= February 2005 |issue= 2 |publisher= Condé Nast |location= San Francisco |issn= 1059-1028 |archive-date= 28 October 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091028081929/http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.02/letter.html |url-status= live }}</ref>

Because of his post-polio deficits, which limited his ability to travel and gave him [[Medicine:Aphasia|halting speech]], most of Clarke's communications in his last years were in the form of recorded addresses. In July 2007, he provided a video address for the Robert A. Heinlein Centennial in which he closed his comments with a goodbye to his fans. In September 2007, he provided a video greeting for [[Organization:NASA|NASA]]'s Cassini probe's flyby of Iapetus (which plays an important role in the book of ''2001: A Space Odyssey'').<ref>{{cite web |url=http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/videos/video-details.cfm?videoID=160 |title=Video greeting to NASA JPL by Arthur C. Clarke |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012151241/http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/videos/video-details.cfm?videoID=160 |archive-date=12 October 2007 |access-date=24 September 2007}}</ref> In December 2007 on his 90th birthday, Clarke recorded a video message to his friends and fans bidding them good-bye.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLXQ7rNgWwg|title=Sir Arthur C Clarke 90th Birthday reflections|website=YouTube|access-date=22 February 2008|date=10 December 2007|archive-date=7 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507232112/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLXQ7rNgWwg|url-status=live}}</ref>

Clarke died in Colombo on 19 March 2008, at the age of 90.<ref name=obitnyt>{{cite news |first= Gerald|last= Jonas|title=Arthur C. Clarke, Premier Science Fiction Writer, Dies at 90. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/18/books/18cnd-clarke.html |quote=|work={{wipe|The New York Times}} |date=18 March 2008 |access-date=19 March 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121126161736/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/18/books/18cnd-clarke.html| archive-date=26 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Writer Arthur C Clarke dies at 90 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7304004.stm |website=BBC News |date=19 March 2008 |access-date=11 January 2024 |archive-date=12 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212155850/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7304004.stm |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Sci-fi guru Arthur C. Clarke dies at 90 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna23697230 |website=NBC News |agency=Associated Press |date=18 March 2008 |access-date=11 January 2024 |archive-date=29 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221229070211/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna23697230 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=wiredblog>{{cite magazine |title=Arthur C. Clarke: The Wired Words |url=http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2008/03/arthur-c-clarke.html |magazine=Wired Blog Network |date=18 March 2008 |access-date=22 March 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080320085441/http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2008/03/arthur-c-clarke.html| archive-date= 20 March 2008}}</ref> His aide described the cause as respiratory complications and heart failure stemming from post-polio syndrome.<ref>{{cite news |title= Sci-fi guru Arthur C. Clarke dies at 90 |first= Simon |last= Gardner |url= http://in.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idINCOL14093220080319 |agency= Reuters India |date= 19 March 2008 |access-date= 6 February 2010 |archive-date= 7 May 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210507231848/https://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idINCOL14093220080319?edition-redirect=in |url-status= live }}</ref>

Just hours before Clarke's death, a major [[Astronomy:Gamma-ray burst|gamma-ray burst]] (GRB) reached Earth. Known as [[Astronomy:GRB 080319B|GRB 080319B]], the burst set a new record as the farthest object that can be seen from Earth with the [[Astronomy:Naked eye|naked eye]].<ref name="nasa1">{{cite web |title=NASA Satellite Detects Naked-Eye Explosion Halfway Across Universe |url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/swift/bursts/brightest_grb.html |publisher=NASA |date=21 March 2008 |access-date=21 March 2008 |archive-date=3 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303175418/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/swift/bursts/brightest_grb.html |url-status=live }}</ref> It occurred about 7.5&nbsp;billion years ago, the light taking that long to reach Earth.<ref name="nasa1"/> Larry Sessions, a science writer for ''Sky and Telescope'' magazine blogging on earthsky.org, suggested that the burst be named the "Clarke Event".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://voices.allthingsd.com/20080326/sessions/ |title=Why not the Clarke Event? |publisher=EarthSky Blogs |date=21 March 2008 |access-date=17 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080328212009/http://voices.allthingsd.com/20080326/sessions/ |archive-date=28 March 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://science.slashdot.org/index2.pl?fhfilter=GRB+080319B |title=The Arthur C. Clarke Gamma Ray Burst |website=Slashdot |author=kdawson |date=25 March 2008 |access-date=12 January 2015 |archive-date=10 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210181850/http://science.slashdot.org/index2.pl?fhfilter=GRB+080319B |url-status=live }}</ref> ''American Atheist Magazine ''wrote of the idea: "It would be a fitting tribute to a man who contributed so much, and helped lift our eyes and our minds to a cosmos once thought to be province only of gods."<ref>{{cite web |url= https://issuu.com/atheists/docs/25 |work=American Atheist Magazine |date=2008 |page=21 |last=Goeringer |first=Conrad F. |title=Writer, Visionary, Futurist & Atheist Arthur C. Clarke Died on March 18, 2008 at Age 90 – An Appreciation |volume=46 |number=5 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150410082528/http://issuu.com/atheists/docs/25 |archive-date=10 April 2015}}</ref>

A few days before he died, he had reviewed the manuscript of his final work, ''The Last Theorem'', on which he had collaborated by e-mail with contemporary Frederik Pohl.<ref>{{cite web |last=Pohl |first=Frederik |title=Sir Arthur and I |work=The Way the Future Blogs |date=5 January 2009 |url=http://www.thewaythefutureblogs.com/2009/01/sir-arthur-and-i/ |access-date=22 January 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123111018/http://www.thewaythefutureblogs.com/2009/01/sir-arthur-and-i/ |archive-date=23 January 2009 }}</ref> The book was published after Clarke's death.<ref name="AFP">{{cite news |title=Last odyssey for sci-fi guru Arthur C. Clarke |url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jWab-TXO_DymFmU13CzSNVObE6FQ |quote=Just a few days before he died, Clarke reviewed the final manuscript of his latest novel, "The Last Theorem" co-written with American author Frederik Pohl, which is to be published later this year. |agency=Agence France-Presse |date=18 March 2008 |access-date=6 February 2010 |archive-date=24 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080324162234/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jWab-TXO_DymFmU13CzSNVObE6FQ |url-status=live }}</ref> Clarke was buried in Colombo in traditional Sri Lankan fashion on 22 March. His younger brother, Fred Clarke, and his Sri Lankan adoptive family were among the thousands in attendance.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sci-fi writer Clarke laid to rest |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7309598.stm |publisher=BBC |date=22 March 2008 |access-date=22 March 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080325085435/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7309598.stm |url-status=live |archive-date=25 March 2008}}</ref>

Clarke's papers were donated to the National Air and Space Museum in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sir Arthur C. Clarke Collection Arrives at National Air and Space Museum |url=http://airandspace.si.edu/newsroom/press-releases/sir-arthur-c-clarke-collection-arrives-national-air-and-space-museum?id=377 |website=National Air and Space Museum | date=20 April 2015 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution |access-date=22 March 2022 |archive-date=9 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210409080939/https://airandspace.si.edu/newsroom/press-releases/sir-arthur-c-clarke-collection-arrives-national-air-and-space-museum?id=377 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Love |first1=Tyler |title=Arthur C. Clarke Collection of Sri Lanka |url=http://sova.si.edu/record/NASM.2015.0010 |website=Smithsonian Institution Virtual Archives |access-date=22 March 2022 |archive-date=5 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305112507/https://sova.si.edu/record/NASM.2015.0010 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 8 January 2024 Clarke's ashes were launched on the [[Astronomy:Peregrine Mission One|Peregrine Mission One]] to the Moon.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/vulcan-peregrine-us-mission-first-land-moon-astrobotic-human-remains-2024-1?r=US&IR=T|title=The first US moon lander in more than 50 years launched with human remains on board, paving the way for space burials|date=8 January 2024|publisher=Business Insider}}</ref> The Peregrine spacecraft failed to land on the moon, and the spacecraft disintegrated in the Earth's atmosphere on January 19, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wattles |first=Jackie |date=2024-01-15 |title=The first US lunar lander to launch in over 50 years is headed for a fiery end. Here's what it got done in space |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/15/world/peregrine-moon-lander-failure-nasa-scn/index.html |access-date=2024-01-17 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |author1=Rich Stanton |date=2024-01-19 |title=The ashes of Arthur C. Clarke and Star Trek creator Gene Rodenberry just burned up on re-entry to Earth's atmosphere after a failed moonshot |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/the-ashes-of-arthur-c-clarke-and-star-trek-creator-gene-rodenberry-just-burned-up-on-re-entry-to-earths-atmosphere-after-a-failed-moonshot/ |access-date=2024-01-20 |work=PC Gamer |language=en}}</ref>

==Science fiction writer==
[[File:Two complete science adventure books 1951spr n2.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Clarke's novella "The Road to the Sea" was originally published in ''Two Complete Science-Adventure Books'' in 1951 as "Seeker of the Sphinx".]]

===Beginnings===
While Clarke had a few stories published in fanzines, between 1937 and 1945, his first professional sale appeared in ''Astounding Science Fiction'' in 1946: "Loophole" was published in April, while "Rescue Party", his first sale, was published in May.{{efn|ISFDB catalogues one "Letter" to ''Amazing Stories'' published in 1935, 10 more nonfiction items ("Essays") published 1938 to 1945, and five "Shortfiction" published 1937 to 1942.<ref name=isfdb/>}} Along with his writing, Clarke briefly worked as assistant editor of ''Science Abstracts'' (1949) before devoting himself in 1951 to full-time writing.

Clarke began carving out his reputation as a "scientific" science fiction writer with his first science fiction novel, ''Against the Fall of Night'', published as a novella in 1948. It was very popular and considered ground-breaking work for some of the concepts it contained. Clarke revised and expanded the novella into a full novel, which was published in 1953. Clarke later rewrote and expanded this work a third time to become ''The City and the Stars'' in 1956, which rapidly became a definitive must-read in the field. His third science fiction novel, ''Childhood's End'', was also published in 1953, cementing his popularity. Clarke capped the first phase of his writing career with his sixth novel, ''A Fall of Moondust'', in 1961, which is also an acknowledged classic of the period.

During this time, Clarke corresponded with [[Biography:C. S. Lewis|C. S. Lewis]] in the 1940s and 1950s and they once met in an Oxford pub, the Eastgate, to discuss science fiction and space travel. Clarke voiced great praise for Lewis upon his death, saying ''The Ransom Trilogy'' was one of the few works of science fiction that should be considered literature.<ref>{{cite web|title=C.S. Lewis and Arthur C. Clarke |url=http://www.shawnsmallstories.com/tomes-of-lewis/c-s-lewis-and-arthur-c-clarke/ |publisher=Shawn Small Stories |access-date=1 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921060924/http://www.shawnsmallstories.com/tomes-of-lewis/c-s-lewis-and-arthur-c-clarke/ |archive-date=21 September 2013 }}</ref>

==="The Sentinel"===
[[File:If 195305.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Clarke's novelette "Jupiter Five" was cover-featured on the May 1953 issue of ''If''.]]

In 1948, he wrote "The Sentinel" for a BBC competition. Though the story was rejected, it changed the course of Clarke's career. Not only was it the basis for ''2001: A Space Odyssey'', but "The Sentinel" also introduced a more cosmic element to Clarke's work. Many of Clarke's later works feature a technologically advanced but still-prejudiced mankind being confronted by a superior alien intelligence. In the cases of ''Childhood's End'', and the ''2001'' series, this encounter produces a conceptual breakthrough that accelerates humanity into the next stage of its evolution. This also applies in the far-distant past (but our future) in ''The City and the Stars'' (and its original version, ''Against the Fall of Night'').

In Clarke's authorised biography, Neil McAleer writes: "many readers and critics still consider ''Childhood's End'' Arthur C. Clarke's best novel."<ref name="McAleer"/><!--p. 88--> But Clarke did not use [[Unsolved:Extrasensory perception|ESP]] in any of his later stories, saying, "I've always been interested in ESP, and of course, ''Childhood's End ''was about that. But I've grown disillusioned, partly because after all this time, they're still arguing about whether these things happen. I suspect that telepathy does happen."<ref>{{cite web |title=Arthur C. Clarke Interview |url=https://futurism.media/arthur-c-clarke-interview |website=Futurism |access-date=28 September 2017 |archive-date=28 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170928150217/https://futurism.media/arthur-c-clarke-interview |url-status=live }}</ref>

A collection of early essays was published in ''The View from Serendip'' (1977), which also included one short piece of fiction, "When the Twerms Came". Clarke also wrote short stories under the pseudonyms of E.&nbsp;G.&nbsp;O'Brien and Charles Willis.<ref>{{cite web |date=26 March 2018 |title=Clarke, Arthur C |url=http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/clarke_arthur_c |website=SFE: The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction |access-date=15 March 2015 |archive-date=17 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317094319/http://sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/clarke_arthur_c |url-status=live }}</ref> Almost all of his short stories can be found in the book ''The Collected Stories of Arthur C. Clarke'' (2001).

==="Big Three"===
[[File:Arthur C, Clarke Amazing 5306.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Clarke as depicted in ''Amazing Stories'' in 1953]]
[[File:If 195806.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Clarke's novelette "The Songs of Distant Earth", the cover story for the June 1958 issue of ''If'', was expanded to novel length almost three decades later.]]

For much of the later 20th century, Clarke, [[Biography:Isaac Asimov|Isaac Asimov]], and [[Biography:Robert A. Heinlein|Robert A. Heinlein]] were informally known as the "Big Three" of science fiction writers.<ref name=bigthree /> Clarke and Heinlein began writing to each other after ''The Exploration of Space'' was published in 1951, and first met in person the following year. They remained on cordial terms for many years, including during visits to the United States and Sri Lanka.

Clarke and Asimov first met in New York City in 1953, and they traded friendly insults and gibes for decades. They established an oral agreement, the "Clarke–Asimov Treaty", that when asked who was better, the two would say Clarke was the better science fiction writer and Asimov was the better science writer. In 1972, Clarke put the "treaty" on paper in his dedication to ''Report on Planet Three and Other Speculations''.<ref name="McAleer"/><!--pp. 265–269--><ref>{{cite web |first1= Edward |last1= Seiler |first2= John H. |last2= Jenkins |name-list-style= amp |title= Isaac Asimov FAQ |work= Isaac Asimov Home Page |year= 1994–2009 |url= http://www.asimovonline.com/asimov_FAQ.html#others5 |access-date= 26 January 2010 |archive-date= 16 October 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121016074817/http://www.asimovonline.com/asimov_FAQ.html#others5 |url-status= live }}</ref>

In 1984, Clarke testified before Congress against the [[Engineering:Strategic Defense Initiative|Strategic Defense Initiative]] (SDI).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hartwell |first1=David G. |last2=Cramer |first2=Kathryn | author-link2= Kathryn Cramer |date= 2002 |title=The Hard SF Renaissance |isbn= 0-312-71129-8 }}</ref> Later, at the home of Larry Niven in California, a concerned Heinlein attacked Clarke's views on United States foreign and space policy (especially the SDI), vigorously advocating a strong defence posture. Although the two later reconciled formally, they remained distant until Heinlein's death in 1988.<ref name="McAleer"/><!--pp. 81, 290, 326–329-->

===''2001'' series of novels===
''2001: A Space Odyssey'', Clarke's most famous work, was extended well beyond the 1968 movie as the Space Odyssey series. In 1982, Clarke wrote a sequel to ''2001'' titled ''2010: Odyssey Two'', which was made into a film in 1984. Clarke wrote two further sequels which have not been adapted into motion pictures: ''2061: Odyssey Three'' (published in 1987) and ''3001: The Final Odyssey'' (published in 1997).

''2061: Odyssey Three'' involves a visit to [[Astronomy:Halley's Comet|Halley's Comet]] on its next plunge through the Inner Solar System and a spaceship crash on the Jovian moon [[Astronomy:Europa (moon)|Europa]]. The whereabouts of astronaut Dave Bowman (the "Star Child"), the artificial intelligence HAL 9000, and the development of native life on Europa, protected by the alien Monolith, are revealed.

Finally, in ''3001: The Final Odyssey'', astronaut Frank Poole's freeze-dried body, found by a spaceship beyond the orbit of [[Astronomy:Neptune|Neptune]], is revived by advanced medical science. The novel details the threat posed to humanity by the alien monoliths, whose actions are not always as their builders had intended.

====''2001: A Space Odyssey''====
Clarke's first venture into film was ''2001: A Space Odyssey'', directed by Stanley Kubrick. Kubrick and Clarke had met in New York City in 1964 to discuss the possibility of a collaborative film project. As the idea developed, they decided to loosely base the story on Clarke's short story, "The Sentinel", written in 1948 as an entry in a BBC short-story competition. Originally, Clarke was going to write the screenplay for the film, but Kubrick suggested during one of their [[Social:Brainstorming|brainstorming]] meetings that before beginning on the actual script, they should let their imaginations soar free by writing a novel first, on which they would base the film. "This is more or less the way it worked out, though toward the end, novel and screenplay were being written simultaneously, with feedback in both directions. Thus, I rewrote some sections after seeing the movie rushes{{snd}}a rather expensive method of literary creation, which few other authors can have enjoyed."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-me-clarke19mar19,1,1990610,full.story |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604222033/http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-me-clarke19mar19%2C1%2C1990610%2Cfull.story |archive-date= 4 June 2011 |work=Los Angeles Times |first=Dennis |last=McLellan |title=Arthur C. Clarke, 90; scientific visionary, acclaimed writer of '2001: A Space Odyssey' |date=19 March 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The novel ended up being published a few months after the release of the movie.

Due to the hectic schedule of the film's production, Kubrick and Clarke had difficulty collaborating on the book. Clarke completed a draft of the novel at the end of 1964 with the plan to publish in 1965 in advance of the film's release in 1966. After many delays, the film was released in the spring of 1968, before the book was completed. The book was credited to Clarke alone. Clarke later complained that this had the effect of making the book into a novelisation, and that Kubrick had manipulated circumstances to downplay Clarke's authorship. For these and other reasons, the details of the story differ slightly from the book to the movie. The film contains little explanation for the events taking place. Clarke, though, wrote thorough explanations of "cause and effect" for the events in the novel. [[Biography:James Randi|James Randi]] later recounted that upon seeing the premiere of ''2001'', Clarke left the theatre at the intermission in tears, after having watched an eleven-minute scene (which did not make it into general release) where an astronaut is doing nothing more than jogging inside the spaceship, which was Kubrick's idea of showing the audience how boring space travels could be.<ref name="jamesrandionclarke">{{cite web |url=http://itricks.com/randishow/?p=21 |title= Randi shares some stories regarding his friend Arthur C. Clarke and compares Stanley Kubrick to Steve Jobs |access-date=24 April 2008 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080430211458/http://itricks.com/randishow/?p=21| archive-date= 30 April 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>

In 1972, Clarke published ''The Lost Worlds of 2001'', which included his accounts of the production, and alternative versions of key scenes. The "special edition" of the novel ''A Space Odyssey'' (released in 1999) contains an introduction by Clarke in which he documents the events leading to the release of the novel and film.

====''2010: Odyssey Two''====
In 1982, Clarke continued the ''2001'' epic with a sequel, ''2010: Odyssey Two''. This novel was also made into a film, ''2010'', directed by Peter Hyams for release in 1984. Because of the political environment in America in the 1980s, the film presents a [[History:Cold War|Cold War]] theme, with the looming tensions of nuclear warfare not featured in the novel. The film was not considered to be as revolutionary or artistic as ''2001'', but the reviews were still positive.

Clarke's email correspondence with Hyams was published in 1984.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w_KPAAAACAAJ |title=The Odyssey File |last1=Clarke |first1=Arthur C. |last2=Hyams |first2=Peter |date=1984 |publisher=Ballantine Books |isbn=978-0-345-32108-4 |access-date=11 January 2024}}</ref> Titled ''The Odyssey File: The Making of 2010'', and co-authored with Hyams, it illustrates his fascination with the then-pioneering medium of email and its use for them to communicate on an almost daily basis at the time of planning and production of the film while living on opposite sides of the world. The book also included Clarke's personal list of the best science fiction films ever made.

Clarke appeared in the film, first as the man feeding the pigeons while Dr. Heywood Floyd is engaged in a conversation in front of the White House. Later, in the hospital scene with David Bowman's mother, an image of the cover of ''{{wipe|Time (magazine)}}'' portrays Clarke as the American President and Kubrick as the Soviet Premier.

===''Rendezvous with Rama''===
In 1996, Sierra Entertainment created ''[[Software:Rama (video game)|Rama]]'' as a point and click adventure game in the style of ''[[Software:Myst|Myst]]''. Along with highly detailed graphics, Arthur C. Clarke also appeared in the game as the guide for the player. This game featured details from Rendezvous with Rama and characters from the Rama II novel.<ref name="pcdate">{{cite newsgroup |title=Sierra WebNews, November 17, 1996 |author=Sierra On-Line |date=1996-11-17 |newsgroup=alt.anonymous.messages |url=https://groups.google.com/forum/#!original/alt.anonymous.messages/qMyZYb0nmgI/2HXh69Gzf6sJ |language=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231231142527/https://groups.google.com/forum/#!original/alt.anonymous.messages/qMyZYb0nmgI/2HXh69Gzf6sJ |archive-date=2023-12-31 |access-date=2024-01-30}}</ref> 

Rendezvous with Rama was optioned for filmmaking in the early 21st century<ref name= freeman>{{cite web|title= Freeman Still Pushes ''Rama'' |url= http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/art-main.html?2003-03/14/12.00.film |work= Sci Fi Wire |publisher= The Sci Fi Channel |date=14 March 2003 |access-date=12 February 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090117032453/http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/art-main.html?2003-03%2F14%2F12.00.film |archive-date=17 January 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name= revelations>{{cite web|title= Rendezvous with Rama |url= http://www.revelationsent.com/movie_page.php?movieId=12 |website=Revelations Entertainment |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715175504/http://www.revelationsent.com/movie_page.php?movieId=12 |archive-date=15 July 2011}}</ref> but this motion picture was in "[[Software:Development hell|development hell]]" {{as of|2014|lc=y}}. In the early 2000s, actor Morgan Freeman expressed his desire to produce a movie based on ''Rendezvous with Rama''. After a drawn-out development process, which Freeman attributed to difficulties in getting financing, it appeared in 2003 that this project might be proceeding, but this was very dubious.<ref name= freeman/> The film was to be produced by Freeman's production company, Revelations Entertainment, and David Fincher has been touted on Revelations' ''Rama'' web page as far back as 2001 as the film's director.<ref name= revelations/> After years of no progress, Fincher stated in an interview in late 2007 (in which he also opined the novel as being influential on the films ''Alien'' and ''Star Trek: The Motion Picture'') that he is still attached to helm.<ref name="AICN1">{{cite web |url= https://aintitcool.com/node/35179 |title= David Fincher and Quint talk about everything from A(lien3) to Z(odiac)!!! |author=quint |date=1 January 2008 |access-date=7 March 2009 |work= Ain't It Cool News |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090319122237/http://www.aintitcool.com/node/35179 |archive-date= 19 March 2009}}</ref> Revelations indicated that Stel Pavlou had written the adaptation.

In late 2008, Fincher stated the movie is unlikely to be made. "It looks like it's not going to happen. There's no script and as you know, Morgan Freeman's not in the best of health right now. We've been trying to do it but it's probably not going to happen."<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.firstshowing.net/2008/10/13/david-finchers-rendezvous-with-rama-officially-dead/
| title = David Fincher's Rendezvous with Rama Officially Dead
| access-date =7 March 2009
| first = Alex
| last = Billington
| date = 13 October 2008
| publisher = First Showing
| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090301161549/http://www.firstshowing.net/2008/10/13/david-finchers-rendezvous-with-rama-officially-dead/
| archive-date= 1 March 2009
| url-status= live}}</ref> In 2010, though, the film was announced as still planned for future production and both Freeman and Fincher mentioned it as still needing a worthy script.<ref>{{cite web |website= Collider |url= https://collider.com/david-fincher-interview-social-network-girl-with-dragon-tattoo/67432/ |title= Exclusive: David Fincher Talks 'Social Network', 'Zodiac', His Filmmaking Process, and More |author= Steve "Frosty" Weintraub |date= 30 December 2010 |access-date= 5 January 2011 |archive-date= 6 January 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110106033336/http://collider.com/david-fincher-interview-social-network-girl-with-dragon-tattoo/67432/ |url-status= live }}</ref>

In late 2021, it was announced that Denis Villeneuve would direct the adaptation of ''Rendezvous with Rama'', following the successful and critically praised release of Villeneuve's adaption of Frank Herbert's ''Dune''. Freeman is listed as a producer.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Galuppo|first=Mia|date=2021-12-15|title=Denis Villeneuve Tackling Adaptation of Sci-Fi Classic 'Rendezvous With Rama' (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/denis-villeneuve-rendezvous-with-rama-movie-1235062337/|access-date=2021-12-16|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US|archive-date=1 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301224141/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/denis-villeneuve-rendezvous-with-rama-movie-1235062337/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Science writer==
Clarke published a number of nonfiction books with essays, speeches, addresses, etc. Several of his nonfiction books are composed of chapters that can stand on their own as separate essays.

===Space travel===
In particular, Clarke was a populariser of the concept of space travel. In 1950, he wrote ''Interplanetary Flight'', a book outlining the basics of space flight for laymen. Later books about space travel included ''The Exploration of Space'' (1951), ''The Challenge of the Spaceship'' (1959), ''Voices from the Sky'' (1965), ''The Promise of Space'' (1968, rev. ed. 1970), and ''Report on Planet Three'' (1972) along with many others.

===Futurism===
His books on space travel usually included chapters about other aspects of science and technology, such as computers and bioengineering. He predicted telecommunication satellites (albeit serviced by astronauts in space suits, who would replace the satellite's [[Physics:Vacuum tube|vacuum tube]]s as they burned out).<ref>{{cite book | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=dTwIDun4MroC&pg=PA604 | title= Handbook of Space Engineering, Archaeology, and Heritage | editor1= Darrin, Ann | editor2= O'Leary, Beth L. | publisher= CRC Press | date= 26 June 2009 | page= 604 | isbn= 9781420084320 | access-date= 31 October 2015 | archive-date= 7 May 2021 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210507231847/https://books.google.com/books?id=dTwIDun4MroC&pg=PA604 | url-status= live }}</ref>

His many predictions culminated in 1958 when he began a series of magazine essays which eventually became ''Profiles of the Future,'' published in book form in 1962.<ref name="profiles"/> A timetable<ref name="digitallantern">{{cite web |url=http://www.digitallantern.net/McLuhan/course/spring96/profiles.gif |title=Chart of the Future |access-date=8 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070224092756/http://www.digitallantern.net/mcluhan/course/spring96/profiles.gif |archive-date=24 February 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> up to the year 2100 describes inventions and ideas including such things as a "global library" for 2005. The same work also contained "Clarke's First Law" and text that became [[Clarke's three laws]] in later editions.<ref name="McAleer"/><!--p. 169-->

In a 1959 essay, Clarke predicted global satellite TV broadcasts that would cross national boundaries indiscriminately and would bring hundreds of channels available anywhere in the world. He also envisioned a "personal transceiver, so small and compact that every man carries one". He wrote: "the time will come when we will be able to call a person anywhere on Earth merely by dialing a number." Such a device would also, in Clarke's vision, include means for global positioning so "no one need ever again be lost". Later, in ''Profiles of the Future'', he predicted the advent of such a device taking place in the mid-1980s.<ref name="profiles"/> [[File:ABC Clarke predicts internet and PC.ogv|thumb|1974 ABC interview with Clarke in which he describes a future of ubiquitous computing reminiscent of the modern Internet]] Clarke described a global computer network similar to the modern [[World Wide Web]] in a 1964 presentation for the BBC's ''Horizon'' programme, predicting that, by the 21st century, access to information and even physical tasks such as surgery could be accomplished remotely and instantaneously from anywhere in the world using internet and satellite communication.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wC3E2qTCIY8|title=Arthur C Clarke predicts the internet in 1964|via=www.youtube.com|access-date=21 May 2021|archive-date=21 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521035035/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wC3E2qTCIY8|url-status=live}}</ref>

In a 1974 interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the interviewer asked Clarke how he believed the computer would change the future for the everyday person, and what life would be like in the year 2001. Clarke accurately predicted many things that became reality, including [[Software:Online banking|online banking]], [[Finance:Online shopping|online shopping]], and other now commonplace things. Responding to a question about how the interviewer's son's life would be different, Clarke responded: "He will have, in his own house, not a computer as big as this, [points to nearby computer], but at least, a console through which he can talk, through his friendly local computer and get all the information he needs, for his everyday life, like his bank statements, his theatre reservations, all the information you need in the course of living in our complex modern society, this will be in a compact form in his own house&nbsp;... and he will take it as much for granted as we take the telephone."<ref>{{YouTube|OIRZebE8O84|Arthur C. Clarke Predicts the Internet & PC}}</ref>

An extensive selection of Clarke's essays and book chapters (from 1934 to 1998; 110 pieces, 63 of them previously uncollected in his books) can be found in the book ''Greetings, Carbon-Based Bipeds!'' (2000), together with a new introduction and many prefatory notes. Another collection of essays, all previously collected, is ''By Space Possessed'' (1993). Clarke's technical papers, together with several essays and extensive autobiographical material, are collected in ''Ascent to Orbit: A Scientific Autobiography'' (1984).

==Geostationary communications satellite==
{{Main|Astronomy:Geostationary orbit}}
[[File:Geostat.gif|thumb|[[Astronomy:Geostationary orbit|Geostationary or Clarke orbit]]]]

Clarke contributed to the popularity of the idea that geostationary satellites would be ideal telecommunications relays. He first described this in a letter to the editor of ''Wireless World'' in February 1945<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Arthur C. |last=Clarke |title=Peacetime Uses for V2 |url=http://lakdiva.org/clarke/1945ww/1945ww_058.jpg |access-date=8 February 2007 |format=JPG |magazine=Wireless World |date=February 1945 |page=58 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070315181210/http://lakdiva.org/clarke/1945ww/1945ww_058.jpg| archive-date= 15 March 2007}}</ref> and elaborated on the concept in a paper titled ''Extra-Terrestrial Relays{{snd}}Can Rocket Stations Give Worldwide Radio Coverage?'', published in ''Wireless World'' in October 1945.<ref name="etrelays"/> The [[Astronomy:Geostationary orbit|geostationary orbit]] is sometimes known as the ''Clarke orbit'' or the ''Clarke belt'' in his honour.<ref>{{cite web |publisher= NASA |url= http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/basics/bsf5-1.php |title= Basics of Space Flight Section 1 Part 5, Geostationary Orbits |access-date= 13 July 2010 |archive-date= 11 June 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120611064749/http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/basics/bsf5-1.php |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last= Earl |first= Michael A. |title= A sea of satellite dishes |publisher= The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada |date= 9 January 2006 |url= http://ottawa-rasc.ca/articles/earl_mike/Satellite_Tracking/Dishes/Satellite_Dishes.html |access-date= 13 July 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120402024729/http://ottawa-rasc.ca/articles/earl_mike/Satellite_Tracking/Dishes/Satellite_Dishes.html |archive-date= 2 April 2012 |url-status= dead |df= dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="lakdiva"/>

It is not clear that this article was actually the inspiration for the modern telecommunications satellite. According to John R. Pierce, of [[Organization:Bell Labs|Bell Labs]], who was involved in the Echo satellite and [[Engineering:Telstar|Telstar]] projects, he gave a talk upon the subject in 1954 (published in 1955), using ideas that were "in the air", but was not aware of Clarke's article at the time.<ref>{{cite web |last= Pierce |first= John R. |title= ECHO – America's First Communications Satellite |work= Reprinted from SMEC Vintage Electrics Volume 2 No. 1 |publisher= Southwest Museum of Engineering, Communications and Computation |date= December 1990 |url= http://www.smecc.org/john_pierce___echoredo.htm |access-date= 13 July 2010 |archive-date= 28 April 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100428022350/http://www.smecc.org/john_pierce___echoredo.htm |url-status= live }}</ref> In an interview given shortly before his death, Clarke was asked whether he had ever suspected that one day communications satellites would become so important; he replied: "I'm often asked why I didn't try to patent the idea of a communications satellite. My answer is always, 'A patent is really a licence to be sued.{{'"}}<ref>{{cite web | url = https://spectrum.ieee.org/podcast/aerospace/space-flight/interview-with-arthur-c-clarke | title = Final Thoughts from Sir Arthur C. Clarke | date = March 2008 | access-date = 17 September 2010 | archive-date = 21 July 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120721172220/http://spectrum.ieee.org/podcast/aerospace/space-flight/interview-with-arthur-c-clarke | url-status = live }}</ref>

Though different from Clarke's idea of telecom relay, the idea of communicating via satellites in geostationary orbit itself had been described earlier. For example, the concept of geostationary satellites was described in [[Biography:Hermann Oberth|Hermann Oberth]]'s 1923 book ''Die Rakete zu den Planetenräumen'' (''The Rocket into Interplanetary Space''), and then the idea of radio communication by means of those satellites in Herman Potočnik's (written under the pseudonym Hermann Noordung) 1928 book ''Das Problem der Befahrung des Weltraums{{snd}}<ref>der Raketen-Motor ([http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4026/contents.html The Problem of Space Travel{{snd}}The Rocket Motor] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229140929/http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4026/contents.html |date=29 December 2021 }}</ref>)'', sections: ''Providing for Long Distance Communications and Safety'',{{efn|name=a}} and (possibly referring to the idea of relaying messages via satellite, but not that three would be optimal) ''Observing and Researching the Earth's Surface'', published in Berlin.<ref name="celestrak">{{cite web |url=http://celestrak.com/columns/v04n07/ |title=Basics of the Geostationary Orbit |access-date=8 February 2007 |last=Kelso |first=T. S. |date=1 May 1998 |work=Satellite Times | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070203021703/http://celestrak.com/columns/v04n07/| archive-date= 3 February 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref>{{efn|name=b}} Clarke acknowledged the earlier concept in his book ''Profiles of the Future''.{{refn|group=lower-alpha|"INTELSAT, the International Telecommunications Satellite Organisation which operates the global system, has started calling it the Clarke orbit. Flattered though I am, honesty compels me to point out that the concept of such an orbit predates my 1945 paper 'Extra Terrestrial Relays' by at least twenty years. I didn't invent it, but only annexed it."<ref name="profiles"/>{{rp|205}}}}

==Undersea explorer==
Clarke was an avid scuba diver and a member of the Underwater Explorers Club. In addition to writing, Clarke set up several diving-related ventures with his business partner Mike Wilson. In 1956, while scuba diving, Wilson and Clarke uncovered ruined masonry, architecture, and idol images of the sunken original Koneswaram temple{{snd}}including carved columns with flower insignia, and stones in the form of elephant heads{{snd}}spread on the shallow surrounding seabed.<ref name="reluctant">{{cite book |last=Greig |first=Doreen E. |year=1987 |title=The Reluctant Colonists: Netherlanders Abroad in the 17th and 18th Centuries |publisher=Assen, The Netherlands; Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, United States |oclc=14069213 |page=227 |isbn=978-9-02322-227-9}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |year=1965 |title=Expedition in the waters of Ceylon |journal=Science Digest |location=Chicago |issn=0036-8296 |oclc=1624458 |volume=57 |page=142 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i9QCAAAAIAAJ&q=konesar |quote=One of the major achievements in Ceylon was the discovery of the ruins of the sunken Konesar Temple, which as located with the wrecked treasure ship&nbsp;... |access-date=7 September 2020 |archive-date=7 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507231916/https://books.google.com/books?id=i9QCAAAAIAAJ&q=konesar |url-status=live }}</ref> Other discoveries included Chola bronzes from the original shrine, and these discoveries were described in Clarke's 1957 book ''The Reefs of Taprobane''.<ref name="reef">{{cite book | last = Clarke | first = Arthur C. | title = The Reefs of Taprobane; Underwater Adventures around Ceylon| publisher = Harper | year = 1957 | location = New York | isbn = 0-7434-4502-3}}</ref>

In 1961, while filming off Great Basses Reef, Wilson found a wreck and retrieved silver coins. Plans to dive on the wreck the following year were stopped when Clarke developed paralysis, ultimately diagnosed as polio. A year later, Clarke observed the salvage from the shore and the surface. The ship, ultimately identified as belonging to the Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb, yielded fused bags of silver [[Finance:Rupee|rupee]]s, cannon, and other artefacts, carefully documented, became the basis for ''The Treasure of the Great Reef''.<ref name="McAleer"/><ref>{{cite journal |last=Throckmorton |first=Peter |title=The Great Basses Wreck |url=http://www.penn.museum/documents/publications/expedition/PDFs/6-3/The%20Great.pdf |journal=Expedition |volume=6 |issue=3, Spring |pages=21–31 |issn=0014-4738 |access-date=3 February 2010 |archive-date=23 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110223192746/http://www.penn.museum/documents/publications/expedition/PDFs/6-3/The%20Great.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Living in Sri Lanka and learning its history also inspired the backdrop for his novel ''[[Unsolved:The Fountains of Paradise|The Fountains of Paradise]]'' in which he described a [[Astronomy:Space elevator|space elevator]]. This, he believed, would make rocket-based access to space obsolete, and more than geostationary satellites, would ultimately be his scientific legacy.<ref name="Stone">Personal e-mail from Sir Arthur Clarke to Jerry Stone, Director of the Sir Arthur Clarke Awards, 1{{nbsp}}November 2006</ref> In 2008, he said in an interview with IEEE Spectrum, "maybe in a generation or so the space elevator will be considered equally important" as the geostationary satellite, which was his most important technological contribution.<ref>{{cite web|title=Full Page Reload|url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/podcast/aerospace/space-flight/interview-with-arthur-c-clarke|access-date=2021-02-04|website=IEEE Spectrum: Technology, Engineering, and Science News|archive-date=21 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120721172220/http://spectrum.ieee.org/podcast/aerospace/space-flight/interview-with-arthur-c-clarke|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Views==
===Religion===
Themes of [[Religion:Religion|religion]] and spirituality appear in much of Clarke's writing. He said: "Any path to knowledge is a path to God{{snd}}or Reality, whichever word one prefers to use."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article3582978.ece|title=Sir Arthur C. Clarke: The Times obituary|date=19 March 2008|work=The Times|location=London|access-date=6 August 2008|first=Lech|last=Mintowt-Czyz|archive-date=15 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015184921/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article3582978.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> He described himself as "fascinated by the concept of God". [[Biography:J. B. S. Haldane|J.&nbsp;B.&nbsp;S. Haldane]], near the end of his life, suggested in a personal letter to Clarke that Clarke should receive a prize in theology for being one of the few people to write anything new on the subject, and went on to say that if Clarke's writings had not contained multiple contradictory theological views, he might have been a menace.<ref name=credo>{{cite book |last= Clarke |first= Arthur C. |others= First appearing in ''Living Philosophies'', Clifton Fadiman, ed. (Doubleday) |title= Greetings, Carbon-Based Bipeds! |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=GbNi8Si_O4UC |access-date= 8 January 2010 |orig-year= 1991 |year= 1999 |publisher= St. Martin's Griffin |location= New York |isbn= 978-0-312-26745-2 |pages= 358–363 |chapter= Credo |archive-date= 21 June 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130621202745/http://books.google.com/books?id=GbNi8Si_O4UC |url-status= live }}</ref> When he entered the Royal Air Force, Clarke insisted that his dog tags be marked "[[Philosophy:Pantheism|pantheist]]" rather than the default, Church of England,<ref name="McAleer"/><!--chapter 5--> and in a 1991 essay entitled "Credo", described himself as a logical positivist from the age of 10.<ref name=credo /> In 2000, Clarke told the Sri Lankan newspaper, ''The Island'', "I don't believe in God or an afterlife",<ref>{{cite web |title=Life beyond 2001 |url=http://www.island.lk/2000/12/20/midwee01.html |work=Midweek Review |access-date=20 March 2008 |archive-date=5 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080205035429/http://www.island.lk/2000/12/20/midwee01.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and he identified himself as an atheist.<ref>{{cite book |quote=...&nbsp;Stanley [Kubrick] is a Jew and I'm an atheist |editor-first=Jeromy |editor-last=Agel |year=1970 |title=The Making of Kubrick's 2001 |url=https://archive.org/details/makingofkubricks00agel |url-access=registration |page=[https://archive.org/details/makingofkubricks00agel/page/306 306]}}</ref> He was honoured as a Humanist Laureate in the International Academy of Humanism.<ref name="humanist_laureate">{{cite web |url=http://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php?section=iah&page=index |title=The International Academy Of Humanism |website=Council for Secular Humanism |access-date=18 October 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070314093115/http://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php?section=iah&page=index |archive-date=14 March 2007}}</ref> He has also described himself as a "crypto-Buddhist", insisting [[Religion:Buddhism|Buddhism]] is not a religion.<ref name="freeinquiry">{{Cite news
| last = Cherry
| first = Matt
| year = 1999
| title =God, Science, and Delusion: A Chat With Arthur C. Clarke
| periodical = Free Inquiry
| volume = 19
| issue = 2
| location = Amherst, New York
| publisher = Council for Secular Humanism
| issn = 0272-0701
| url = http://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php?section=library&page=clarke_19_2
| access-date =16 April 2008
| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080403051040/http://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php?section=library&page=clarke_19_2
| archive-date= 3 April 2008
| url-status= live}}</ref> He displayed little interest about religion early in his life, for example, only discovering a few months after marrying that his wife had strong Presbyterian beliefs.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}

Later in his life, Clarke began to hold a more hostile view of religion. A famous quotation of Clarke's is often cited: "One of the great tragedies of mankind is that morality has been hijacked by religion."<ref name="freeinquiry" /> He was quoted in ''Popular Science'' in 2004 as saying of religion: "Most malevolent and persistent of all mind viruses. We should get rid of it as quick as we can."<ref>{{Cite news |title= Childhood's End: A too-brief encounter with Arthur C. Clarke, the grand old man of science fiction visionaries |first= Teague |last= Matthew |periodical= Popular Science |issn= 0161-7370 |date= 1 August 2004 |url= http://www.popsci.com/node/2858 |access-date=29 December 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130516165947/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-120915711.html |archive-date= 16 May 2013}}</ref> In a three-day "dialogue on man and his world" with [[Biography:Alan Watts|Alan Watts]], Clarke said he was biased against religion and could not forgive religions for what he perceived as their inability to prevent atrocities and wars over time.<ref>{{Cite magazine
| last1 = Clarke
| first1 = Arthur C.
| last2 = Watts
| first2 = Alan
| date = January 1972
| title = At the Interface: Technology and Mysticism
| periodical = Playboy
| volume = 19
| issue = 1
| place = Chicago, Ill.
| publisher = HMH Publishing
| page = 94
| issn= 0032-1478
| oclc = 3534353
}}</ref> In his introduction to the penultimate episode of ''Mysterious World'', entitled "Strange Skies", Clarke said, "I sometimes think that the universe is a machine designed for the perpetual astonishment of astronomers", reflecting the dialogue of the episode, in which he stated this concept more broadly, referring to "mankind". Near the very end of that same episode, the last segment of which covered the [[Unsolved:Star of Bethlehem|Star of Bethlehem]], he said his favourite theory<ref name="youtube">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IN1yvdYx0HU|title=Mysterious world strange skies 3 of 3|publisher=YouTube|date=24 November 2007|access-date=6 August 2008|archive-date=7 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507232211/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IN1yvdYx0HU|url-status=live}}</ref> was that it might be a [[Astronomy:Pulsar|pulsar]]. Given that pulsars were discovered in the interval between his writing the short story, "The Star" (1955), and making ''Mysterious World'' (1980), and given the more recent discovery of pulsar PSR B1913+16, he said: "How romantic, if even now, we can hear the dying voice of a star, which heralded the Christian era."<ref name="youtube"/>

Despite his atheism, themes of deism are a common feature within Clarke's work.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mysteriousuniverse.org/2019/01/a-mind-for-the-future-arthur-c-clarke-and-the-search-for-alien-life/|title=A Mind For the Future: Arthur C. Clarke and the Search for Alien Life {{!}} Mysterious Universe|website=mysteriousuniverse.org|language=en-US|access-date=21 January 2020|archive-date=26 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726102312/https://mysteriousuniverse.org/2019/01/a-mind-for-the-future-arthur-c-clarke-and-the-search-for-alien-life/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/20/books/20clar.html|title=For Clarke, Issues of Faith, but Tackled Scientifically|last=Rothstein|first=Edward|date=20 March 2008|work=The New York Times|access-date=21 January 2020|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=12 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212034659/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/20/books/20clar.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Clarke left written instructions for a funeral: "Absolutely no religious rites of any kind, relating to any religious faith, should be associated with my funeral."<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/quotes/0,26174,1723669,00.html |title=Quotes of the Day |access-date=20 March 2008 |date=19 March 2008 |magazine=Time |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080324005027/http://www.time.com/time/quotes/0%2C26174%2C1723669%2C00.html |archive-date=24 March 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Politics===
Regarding freedom of information Clarke believed, "In the struggle for freedom of information, technology, not politics, will be the ultimate decider."<ref name=v/> Clarke also wrote, "It is not easy to see how the more extreme forms of nationalism can 
long survive when men have seen the Earth in its true perspective as a single small 
globe against the stars."<ref name="v">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keplerspaceinstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/JSP-Spr-2014-12_Krone-Clarke-Final.pdf |title=Arthur C. Clarke's Philosophy for the 21st Century |access-date=13 August 2018 |archive-date=24 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224220140/http://www.keplerspaceinstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/JSP-Spr-2014-12_Krone-Clarke-Final.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Clarke opposed claims of sovereignty over space stating "There is hopeful symbolism in the fact that flags do not wave in a vacuum."<ref name="v" /> Clarke was an anti-capitalist, stating that he did not fear automation because, "the goal of the future is full unemployment, so we can play. That's why we have to destroy the present politico-economic system."<ref>{{cite web|title=Los Angeles Free Press4/25/1969 — Independent Voices|url=https://voices.revealdigital.org/?a=d&d=BGJFHJH19690426.1.15&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN---------------1|access-date=2021-02-11|via=revealdigital.org|archive-date=7 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507231849/https://voices.revealdigital.org/?a=d&d=BGJFHJH19690426.1.15&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN---------------1|url-status=dead
|website=Los Angeles Free Press}}</ref>

===Technology===
Regarding human jobs being replaced by [[Engineering:Robot|robot]]s, Clarke said: "Any teacher that can be replaced by a machine should be!"<ref name=v/> Clarke supported the use of [[Engineering:Renewable energy|renewable energy]], saying: "I would like to see us kick our current addiction to oil, and adopt clean energy sources{{nbsp}}... Climate change has now added a new sense of urgency. Our civilisation depends on energy, but we can't allow oil and coal to slowly bake our planet."<ref name="v" />

===Intelligent life===
About intelligent life and the [[Astronomy:Fermi paradox|Fermi paradox]], Clarke stated: {{cquote|The best proof that there's intelligent life in outer space is the fact that it hasn't come here{{nbsp}}... the fact that we have not yet found the slightest evidence for life{{emdash}}much less intelligence{{emdash}}beyond this Earth does not surprise or disappoint me in the least. Our technology must still be laughably primitive; we may well be like jungle savages listening for the throbbing of tom-toms, while the ether around them carries more words per second than they could utter in a lifetime.<ref name=v/> Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not... Both are equally terrifying.<ref name=v/>}}

===Paranormal phenomena===
Early in his career, Clarke had a fascination with the [[Unsolved:Paranormal|paranormal]] and said it was part of the inspiration for his novel ''Childhood's End''. Citing the numerous promising paranormal claims that were later shown to be fraudulent, Clarke described his earlier openness to the paranormal having turned to being "an almost total sceptic" by the time of his 1992 biography.<ref name="McAleer"/><!--chapter 8--> Similarly, in the prologue to the 1990 Del Rey edition of ''Childhood's End'', he writes "...after ... researching my ''Mysterious World'' and ''Strange Powers'' programmes, I am an almost total skeptic. I have seen far too many claims dissolve into thin air, far too many demonstrations exposed as fakes. It has been a long, and sometimes embarrassing, learning process."<ref name="Childhoodv">''Childhood's End'', Del Rey, New York, 1990, pp. v</ref> During interviews, both in 1993 and 2004–2005, he stated that he did not believe in [[Philosophy:Reincarnation|reincarnation]], saying there was no mechanism to make it possible, though "I'm always paraphrasing J. B. S. Haldane: 'The universe is not only stranger than we imagine, it's stranger than we ''can'' imagine.'"<ref>{{Cite news |first= Jeff |last= Greenwald |title= Arthur C. Clarke on Life |url= https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/1.03/clarke.html |access-date= 17 August 2009 |magazine= Wired |volume= 1 |date= July–August 1993 |issue= 3 |publisher= Condé Nast |location= San Francisco |issn= 1059-1028 |archive-date= 28 October 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091028081931/http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/1.03/clarke.html |url-status= live }}</ref><!--Q on p. 2, A on p. 3--><ref>{{Cite magazine |author= José Luis Cordeiro|author-link= José Luis Cordeiro |title= Tribute to Sir Arthur C. Clarke |url= http://wfs-email.org/Sept-Oct08/July-AugustBKUP.htm |access-date=16 August 2009 |volume= 42 |magazine= The Futurist |issue= 4 |date=July–August 2008|publisher= World Future Society |location= Bethesda, Maryland |issn= 0016-3317 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818061754/http://wfs-email.org/Sept-Oct08/July-AugustBKUP.htm |archive-date=18 August 2016}}</ref> He described the idea of reincarnation as fascinating, but favoured a finite existence.<ref>{{Cite news |first= Andrew |last= Robinson |date= 10 October 1997 |title= The cosmic godfather |periodical= Times Higher Education |location= London |publisher= TSL Education Ltd. |issn= 0049-3929 |url= http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=103989&sectioncode=26 |access-date= 17 August 2009 |archive-date= 8 January 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120108044006/http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=103989&sectioncode=26 |url-status= live }}</ref>

Clarke was known for hosting several television series investigating the unusual: ''Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious World'' (1980), ''Arthur C. Clarke's World of Strange Power'' (1985), and ''Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious Universe'' (1994). Topics examined ranged from ancient, man-made artifacts with obscure origins (e.g., the Nazca lines or [[Unsolved:Stonehenge|Stonehenge]]), to cryptids (purported animals unknown to science), or obsolete scientific theories that came to have alternate explanations (e.g., [[Astronomy:Martian canals|Martian canals]]).

In ''Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious World'', he describes three kinds of "mysteries":
* Mysteries of the First Kind: Something that was once utterly baffling but is now completely understood, e.g. a rainbow.
* Mysteries of the Second Kind: Something that is currently not fully understood and can be in the future.
* Mysteries of the Third Kind: Something of which we have no understanding.<ref>Arthur C Clarke's Mysterious Universe</ref>

Clarke's programmes on unusual phenomena were parodied in a 1982 episode of the comedy series ''The Goodies'', in which his show is cancelled after it is claimed that he does not exist.

==Themes, style, and influences==
Clarke's work is marked by an optimistic view of science empowering mankind's exploration of the Solar System and the world's oceans. His images of the future often feature a Utopian setting with highly developed technology, ecology, and society, based on the author's ideals.<ref>{{cite journal|first = Guy|last= Riddihough|title = Cities Not Built to Last|journal = Science|date = 4 July 2008|volume = 321|issue = 5885|pages = 42–43 |doi = 10.1126/science.1161705|s2cid= 161480315|quote =What marks the book out are Clarke's sweeping vistas, grand ideas, and ultimately optimistic view of humankind's future in the cosmos.}}</ref> His early published stories usually featured the extrapolation of a technological innovation or scientific breakthrough into the underlying decadence of his own society.

A recurring theme in Clarke's works is the notion that the evolution of an intelligent species would eventually make them something close to gods. This was explored in his 1953 novel ''Childhood's End'' and briefly touched upon in his novel ''Imperial Earth''. This idea of transcendence through evolution seems to have been influenced by [[Biography:Olaf Stapledon|Olaf Stapledon]], who wrote a number of books dealing with this theme. Clarke has said of Stapledon's 1930 book ''[[Unsolved:Last and First Men|Last and First Men]]'' that "No other book had a greater influence on my life&nbsp;... [It] and its successor ''Star Maker'' (1937) are the twin summits of [Stapledon's] literary career."<ref name="testermanscifi">{{cite web|url=http://www.testermanscifi.org/ClarkeQuotesPart2.html |title=Arthur C. Clarke Quotes |access-date=8 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070123183810/http://www.testermanscifi.org/ClarkeQuotesPart2.html |archive-date=23 January 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Clarke was well known as an admirer of Irish fantasy writer Lord Dunsany, also having corresponded with him until Dunsany's death in 1957. He described Dunsany as "one of the greatest writers of the century".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sfsite.com/09a/cor40.htm|title=The SF Site Featured Review: Arthur C. Clarke & Lord Dunsany: A Correspondence|website=www.sfsite.com|access-date=12 December 2019|archive-date=18 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718042329/https://www.sfsite.com/09a/cor40.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> He also listed [[Biography:H. G. Wells|H. G. Wells]], Jules Verne, and Edgar Rice Burroughs as influences.<ref name="obitnyt" />

==Awards, honours, and other recognition==
Clarke won the 1963 Stuart Ballantine Medal from the Franklin Institute for the concept of satellite communications,<ref name="ley196510">{{Cite magazine
 |last=Ley
 |first=Willy
 |date=October 1965
 |title=Fifteen Years of Galaxy – Thirteen Years of F.Y.I.
 |department=For Your Information
 |url=https://archive.org/stream/Galaxy_v24n01_1965-10#page/n83/mode/2up
 |magazine=Galaxy Science Fiction
 |pages=84–94
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title= Arthur C. Clarke | date= 10 January 2014 | url= https://www.fi.edu/laureates/arthur-c-clarke | publisher= The Franklin Institute | access-date= 25 October 2014 | archive-date= 29 November 2014 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141129020828/https://www.fi.edu/laureates/arthur-c-clarke | url-status= live }}</ref> and other honours.<ref>{{cite journal | url= http://www.asi.org/adb/06/09/03/02/092/clarke-nobel-prize.html | publisher= Artemis Society International | journal= Moon Miners' Manifesto | title= Arthur C Clarke nominated for Nobel | issue= #92 | date= February 1996 | access-date= 20 March 2008 | archive-date= 10 October 2008 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081010183429/http://www.asi.org/adb/06/09/03/02/092/clarke-nobel-prize.html | url-status= live }}</ref> He won more than a dozen annual literary awards for particular works of science fiction.<!--and five lifetime awards compiled by this source--><ref name=SFAwards>
{{cite web |url=http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/NomLit28.html#954 |title=Clarke, Arthur C. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920035654/http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/NomLit28.html |archive-date=20 September 2012 |website=The Locus Index to SF Awards: Index of Literary Nominees |publisher=Locus Publications |access-date=24 March 2013}}</ref>
* In 1956, Clarke won a Hugo Award for his short story, "The Star".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/1956-hugo-awards/ |title=1956 Hugo Awards |date=26 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110507164531/http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/1956-hugo-awards/ |url-status=live |archive-date=7 May 2011 }}</ref>
* Clarke won the [[Organization:UNESCO|UNESCO]]–Kalinga Prize for the Popularization of Science in 1961.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0011/001111/111158e.pdf|title=Summary List of UNESCO Prizes: List of Prizewinners, p. 12|access-date=11 April 2008|archive-date=24 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100524165803/http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0011/001111/111158E.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
* He won the Stuart Ballantine Medal in 1963.<ref>{{cite web |title= Franklin Laureate Database |url= http://www.fi.edu/winners/detail.faw?winner_id=2522 |access-date=6 May 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100529234038/http://www.fi.edu/winners/detail.faw?winner_id=2522| archive-date= 29 May 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref>
* Shared a 1969 Academy Award nomination with Stanley Kubrick in the category Best Writing, Story and Screenplay{{snd}}Written Directly for the Screen for ''2001: A Space Odyssey''.
* The fame of ''2001'' was enough for the Command Module of the [[Engineering:Apollo 13|Apollo 13]] craft to be named "Odyssey".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://epizodsspace.testpilot.ru/bibl/spaceflight/20/names.html |title=Names of US manned spacecraft |last=Peebles |first=Curtis |work=Spaceflight, Vol. 20, 2, Fev. 1978 |publisher=Spaceflight |access-date=6 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081225020629/http://epizodsspace.testpilot.ru/bibl/spaceflight/20/names.html |archive-date=25 December 2008 }}</ref>
* Clarke won the Nebula<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nebulas.sfwa.org/award-year/1972/|title=1972 Nebula Awards|website=The Nebula Awards®|access-date=4 September 2018|archive-date=21 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721102910/https://nebulas.sfwa.org/award-year/1972/|url-status=live}}</ref> (1973) for his novella, "A Meeting with Medusa".
* Clarke won both the Nebula (1973)<ref name="WWE-1973">{{cite web |url=http://www.worldswithoutend.com/books_year_index.asp?year=1973 |title=1973 Award Winners & Nominees |work=Worlds Without End |access-date=30 June 2009 |archive-date=22 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722202630/https://www.worldswithoutend.com/books_year_index.asp?year=1973 |url-status=live }}</ref> and Hugo (1974)<ref name="WWE-1974">{{cite web |url=http://www.worldswithoutend.com/books_year_index.asp?year=1974 |title=1974 Award Winners & Nominees |work=Worlds Without End |access-date=30 June 2009 |archive-date=12 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190312195551/https://www.worldswithoutend.com/books_year_index.asp?year=1974 |url-status=live }}</ref> awards for his novel, ''Rendezvous with Rama''.
* Clarke won both the Nebula (1979)<ref name="WWE-1979">{{cite web |url=http://www.worldswithoutend.com/books_year_index.asp?year=1979 |title=1979 Award Winners & Nominees |work=Worlds Without End |access-date=30 June 2009 |archive-date=23 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223045305/https://www.worldswithoutend.com/books_year_index.asp?year=1979 |url-status=live }}</ref> and Hugo (1980)<ref name="WWE-1980">{{cite web |url=http://www.worldswithoutend.com/books_year_index.asp?year=1980 |title=1980 Award Winners & Nominees |work=Worlds Without End |access-date=30 June 2009 |archive-date=30 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730133301/https://www.worldswithoutend.com/books_year_index.asp?year=1980 |url-status=live }}</ref> awards for his novel, ''[[Unsolved:The Fountains of Paradise|The Fountains of Paradise]]''.
* In 1982, he won the Marconi Prize for innovation in communications and [[Earth:Remote sensing|remote sensing]] in space.<ref>{{cite web |title=Arthur C. Clarke |url=http://marconisociety.org/fellows/arthur-c-clarke/ |website=The Marconi Society |access-date=30 May 2017 |archive-date=8 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008203903/http://marconisociety.org/fellows/arthur-c-clarke/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* In 1985 the Science Fiction Writers of America named him its 7th SFWA Grand Master.<!--presented 1986--><ref name=SFWA>
{{cite web |url=http://www.sfwa.org/nebula-awards/nebula-weekend/events-program/grandmaster/ |title=Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110701114233/http://www.sfwa.org/nebula-awards/nebula-weekend/events-program/grandmaster/ |archive-date=1 July 2011 |website=Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) |access-date=24 March 2013}}</ref>
* In 1986, he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering ''For conception of geosynchronous communications satellites, and for other contributions to the use and understanding of space''
* In 1988, he was awarded an Honorary Degree (Doctor of Letters) by the [[Organization:University of Bath|University of Bath]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bath.ac.uk/ceremonies/hongrads/older.html|title=Corporate Information|website=www.bath.ac.uk|access-date=17 February 2012|archive-date=25 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160525041553/http://www.bath.ac.uk/ceremonies/hongrads/older.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Readers of the British monthly ''Interzone'' voted him the all-time second best science fiction author in 1988–1989.<ref name=SFAwards/>
* He received a CBE in 1989,<ref name=CBE /> and was knighted in 2000.<ref name=BBCsfknight /><ref name=LP /><ref name=Kt /> Clarke's health did not allow him to travel to London to receive the latter honour personally from the Queen, so the United Kingdom's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka invested him as a Knight Bachelor at a ceremony in Colombo.<ref name=BBCknighted />
* In 1994, Clarke was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize by law professor Glenn Reynolds.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C07EEDF1330F93BA15752C1A962958260 |last=Burns |first=John F. |title=Colombo Journal; A Nonfiction Journey to a More Peaceful World |work={{wipe|The New York Times}} |date=28 November 1994 |access-date=14 February 2017 |archive-date=1 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080401025720/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C07EEDF1330F93BA15752C1A962958260 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* The Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame inducted Clarke in 1997, its second class of two deceased and two living persons. Among the living, Clarke and Andre Norton followed A. E. van Vogt and Jack Williamson.<ref name="sfhof-old">
{{cite web |title=1997 Inductees |url=http://www.midamericon.org/halloffame/ |website=Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521070009/http://www.midamericon.org/halloffame/ |archive-date=21 May 2013 |publisher=Mid American Science Fiction and Fantasy Conventions |access-date=24 March 2013}}</ref>
* In 2000, he was named a Distinguished Supporter of the British Humanist Association.<ref>{{cite web|title=BHA Expresses Sadness at Death of Arthur C Clarke|url=https://humanism.org.uk/2008/03/18/news-92/|publisher=Humanists UK|date=18 March 2008|access-date=29 August 2017|archive-date=30 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830021746/https://humanism.org.uk/2008/03/18/news-92/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* The ''[[Astronomy:2001 Mars Odyssey|2001 Mars Odyssey]]'' orbiter is named in honour of Clarke's works.
* In 2003, Clarke was awarded the Telluride Tech Festival Award of Technology, where he appeared on stage via a 3-D hologram with a group of old friends including [[Biography:Jill Tarter|Jill Tarter]], Neil Armstrong, Lewis Branscomb, Charles Townes, [[Biography:Freeman Dyson|Freeman Dyson]], [[Biography:Bruce C. Murray|Bruce Murray]], and Scott Brown.
* In 2004, Clarke won the Heinlein Award for outstanding achievement in hard or science-oriented science fiction.<ref>{{cite press release | title = Sir Arthur Clarke Named Recipient of 2004 Heinlein Award | date = 22 May 2004 | url = http://www.heinleinsociety.org/pressreleases/clarkeheinleinaward.html | access-date =20 June 2009 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090622021243/http://www.heinleinsociety.org/pressreleases/clarkeheinleinaward.html| archive-date= 22 June 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref>
* On 14 November 2005 Sri Lanka awarded Clarke its highest civilian award, the Sri Lankabhimanya ''(The Pride of Sri Lanka)'', for his contributions to science and technology and his commitment to his adopted country.<ref name=SriLankabhimanya>{{cite web|url=http://www.priu.gov.lk/news_update/Current_Affairs/ca200511/National_Honours_Gazette_Notification.pdf |title=Government Notification – National Honours |access-date=20 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100724105414/http://www.priu.gov.lk/news_update/Current_Affairs/ca200511/National_Honours_Gazette_Notification.pdf |archive-date=24 July 2010 }}, November 2005. Retrieved 20 October 2008</ref>
* Clarke was the Honorary Board Chair of the Institute for Cooperation in Space, founded by Carol Rosin, and served on the Board of Governors of the [[Organization:National Space Society|National Space Society]], a [[Engineering:Space advocacy|space advocacy]] organisation founded by [[Biography:Wernher von Braun|Wernher von Braun]].

===Named after Clarke===
====Awards====
* Arthur C. Clarke Award for science fiction writing, awarded annually in the United Kingdom.
In 1986, Clarke provided a grant to fund the prize money (initially £1,000) for the Arthur C. Clarke Award for the best science fiction novel published in the United Kingdom in the previous year. In 2001 the prize was increased to £2001,<!--by Clarke?--> and its value now matches the year (e.g., £2005 in 2005).
* Sir Arthur Clarke Award, for achievements in space, awarded annually in the United Kingdom.
In 2005 he lent his name to the inaugural Sir Arthur Clarke Awards{{snd}}dubbed the "Space Oscars". His brother attended the awards ceremony, and presented an award specially chosen by Arthur (and not by the panel of judges who chose the other awards) to the [[Organization:British Interplanetary Society|British Interplanetary Society]].
* Arthur C. Clarke Foundation<!--should itself be covered in the next subsection--> awards: "Arthur C. Clarke Innovator's Award" and "Arthur C. Clarke Lifetime Achievement Award"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.clarkefoundation.org/about-us/awards/ |title=Awards |publisher=The Arthur C. Clarke Foundation |date=12 August 2014 |access-date=18 August 2014 |archive-date=17 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517135524/http://www.clarkefoundation.org/about-us/awards/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* The Sir Arthur C. Clarke Memorial Trophy Inter School Astronomy Quiz Competition, held in Sri Lanka every year and organised by the Astronomical Association of Ananda College, Colombo. The competition started in 2001 as "The Sir Arthur C. Clarke Trophy Inter School Astronomy Quiz Competition" and was renamed after his death.<ref>{{cite web|title=Arthur C. Clarke Memorial Trophy Interschool Astronomy Quiz Competition|url=http://www.skylk.com/index.php?option=com_eventlist&view=details&id=12:arthur-c-clarke-memorial-trophy-interschool-astronomy-quiz-competition |publisher=SKYLk|access-date=8 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210225050/http://www.skylk.com/index.php?option=com_eventlist&view=details&id=12:arthur-c-clarke-memorial-trophy-interschool-astronomy-quiz-competition |archive-date=10 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://astroananda.wordpress.com/2011/06/14/sir-arthur-c-clarke-challenge-trophy-2011/ |title=Sir Arthur C Clarke Challenge Trophy 2011 |website=Astro ananda |date=14 June 2011 |access-date=11 January 2024 |archive-date=29 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221229070218/https://astroananda.wordpress.com/2011/06/14/sir-arthur-c-clarke-challenge-trophy-2011/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
* Arthur C. Clarke Award for Imagination in Service to Society

====Other====
* An [[Astronomy:Asteroid|asteroid]] was named in Clarke's honour, [[Astronomy:4923 Clarke|4923 Clarke]] (the number was assigned prior to, and independently of, the name{{snd}}[[Astronomy:2001 Einstein|2001]], however appropriate, was unavailable, having previously been assigned to [[Biography:Albert Einstein|Albert Einstein]]).
* A species of ceratopsian dinosaur, discovered in Inverloch in Australia, was named after Clarke, ''Serendipaceratops arthurcclarkei''. The genus name may also be an allusion to his adopted country, Sri Lanka, one of whose former names is ''Serendib''.
* The Learning Resource Centre at Richard Huish College, Taunton, which Clarke attended when it was Huish Grammar School, is named after him.
* Clarke was a distinguished vice-president of the H. G. Wells Society, being strongly influenced by [[Biography:H. G. Wells|Wells]] as a science fiction writer.
* [[Organization:Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies|Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies]], one of the major research institutes in Sri Lanka, is named after him.
* The main protagonist of the ''[[Software:Dead Space (video game)|Dead Space]]'' series of video games, Isaac Clarke, takes his surname from Arthur C. Clarke, and his given name from Clarke's friendly rival and associate [[Biography:Isaac Asimov|Isaac Asimov]].
* An outer-circular orbital beltway in Colombo, Sri Lanka, was named 'Arthur C. Clarke Expressway' in honour of Clarke.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2011/08/16/fea14.asp |title=A Speedy and safe journey to Galle |first=Hemanthi |last=Guruge |date=16 August 2011 |newspaper=Daily News |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021045406/http://www.dailynews.lk/2011/08/16/fea14.asp |archive-date=21 October 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2011/07/31/fea04.asp |title=First phase opens in August |first=Shirajiv |last=Sirimane |date=31 July 2011 |newspaper=Sunday Observer |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110801013110/http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2011/07/31/fea04.asp |archive-date=1 August 2011}}</ref>
* 'The Clarke Event' is a proposed name for [[Astronomy:GRB 080319B|GRB 080319B]], a gamma-ray burst detected just hours before Clarke's death which set a new record for the most intrinsically bright object ever observed by humans in the universe. The name would honour Clarke and his award-winning short story "The Star".
* Clarke Montes, a mountain on [[Astronomy:Pluto|Pluto]]'s moon [[Astronomy:Charon (moon)|Charon]], is named after Clarke.<ref name="IAU">{{cite press release |title=Pluto's Largest Moon, Charon, Gets Its First Official Names |date=11 April 2018 |url=https://www.iau.org/news/pressreleases/detail/iau1803/ |website=International Astronomical Union |access-date=12 April 2018 |archive-date=12 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412082822/https://www.iau.org/news/pressreleases/detail/iau1803/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Selected bibliography==

===Novels===
* ''Against the Fall of Night'' (1948, 1953), original version of ''The City and the Stars''
* ''Prelude to Space'' (1951)
* ''The Sands of Mars'' (1951)
* ''Islands in the Sky'' (1952)
* ''Childhood's End'' (1953)
* ''Earthlight'' (1955)
* ''The City and the Stars'' (1956)
* ''The Deep Range'' (1957)
* ''A Fall of Moondust'' (1961)
* ''Dolphin Island – A Story of the People of the Sea'' (1963)
* ''Glide Path'' (1963)
* ''2001: A Space Odyssey'' (1968), film with Stanley Kubrick
* ''Rendezvous with Rama'' (1973)
* ''Imperial Earth'' (1975)
* ''[[Unsolved:The Fountains of Paradise|The Fountains of Paradise]]'' (1979)
* ''2010: Odyssey Two'' (1982)
* ''The Songs of Distant Earth'' (1986)
* ''2061: Odyssey Three'' (1987)
* ''Cradle'' (1988) (with [[Biography:Gentry Lee|Gentry Lee]])
* ''The Ghost from the Grand Banks'' (1990)
* ''The Hammer of God'' (1993)
* ''Richter 10'' (1996) (with Mike McQuay)
* ''3001: The Final Odyssey'' (1997)
* ''The Trigger'' (1999) (with Michael P. Kube-McDowell)
* ''The Light of Other Days'' (2000) (with Stephen Baxter)
* ''The Last Theorem'' (2008) (with Frederik Pohl)

===Short stories and short story collections===
* ''Travel by Wire!'' (1937)
* ''How We Went to Mars'' (1938)
* ''The Awakening'' (1942)
* ''Loophole'' (1946)
* ''Expedition to Earth'' (1953)
* ''Reach for Tomorrow'' (1956)
* ''Tales from the White Hart'' (1957)
* ''The Other Side of the Sky'' (1958)
* ''Tales of Ten Worlds'' (1962)
* ''The Nine Billion Names of God'' (1967)
* ''Of Time and Stars'' (1972)
* ''The Wind from the Sun'' (1972)
* ''The Best of Arthur C. Clarke'' (1973)
* ''The Sentinel'' (1983)
* ''Tales From Planet Earth'' (1990)
* ''More Than One Universe'' (1991)
* ''The Collected Stories of Arthur C. Clarke'' (2001)

===Non-fiction===
* ''Interplanetary Flight: an introduction to astronautics'' (1950), London: Temple Press, {{ISBN|0-425-06448-4}}
* ''The Exploration of Space'' (1951), New York: Harper & Brothers
* ''The Exploration of the Moon'' (1954), with R. A. Smith, New York: Harper Brothers
* ''The Coast of Coral'' (1955), London: Frederick Muller
* ''Boy Beneath the Sea'' (1958), New York: Harper, {{ISBN|0060212667}}
* ''Voice Across the Sea'' (1958), New York: Harper
* ''Profiles of the Future: An Inquiry into the Limits of the Possible'' (1962), New York: Harper & Row
* ''The Treasure of the Great Reef'' (1964), with Mike Wilson, New York: Harper & Row
* ''Man and Space'' (1964), Life Science Library, New York: Time Life
* ''Voices from the Sky: Previews of the Coming Space Age'' (1965), New York: Harper & Row
* ''The Promise of Space'' (1968), New York: Harper & Row
* ''[[Engineering:Mars and the Mind of Man|Mars and the Mind of Man]]'' (1971), New York: Harper & Row {{ISBN|978-0-06-010443-6}}
* ''Report on Planet Three And Other Speculations'' (1972), New York: Berkley, {{ISBN|0-425-07592-3}}
* ''The View from Serendip'' (1977), New York: Random House, {{ISBN|0-394-41796-8}}
* ''1984: Spring / A Choice of Futures'' (1984), collected non-fiction writings, New York: Del Rey / Ballantine, {{ISBN|0-345-31357-7}}
* ''Astounding Days: A Science Fictional Autobiography'' (1989), London: Gollancz, {{ISBN|0-575-04446-2}}
* ''How the World Was One: Beyond the Global Village'' (1992), London: Gollancz, {{ISBN|0-575-05226-0}}
* ''Greetings, Carbon-Based Bipeds! : Collected Essays, 1934–1998'' (1999), New York: St. Martin's Press, and London: Voyager

==Media appearances==
* ''The City in the Image of Man: Ideas and Work of Paolo Soleri'' (1972)
* ''2010: The Odyssey Continues'' (1984)
* ''The Day of Five Billion'' (1987)
* ''Fractals: The colors of infinity'' (1995), narrated documentary
* ''Future Fantastic'' (BBC, 1996)<ref>{{citation |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115180 |title=Future Fantastic |date=1996 |type=Documentary |access-date=11 January 2024 |archive-date=24 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224150700/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115180/ |url-status=live |website=IMDb}}</ref>
* ''Arthur C. Clarke: The Man Who Saw the Future'' (1997)
* ''Odyssey of Survival'' (1999)
* ''2001: HAL's Legacy'' (2001)
* ''Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures'' (2001)
* ''To Mars by A-Bomb: The Secret History of Project Orion'' (BBC, 2003)<ref>{{Citation |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1039992/ |title=To Mars by A-Bomb: The Secret History of Project Orion |last=Sykes |first=Christopher |date=26 March 2003 |type=Documentary |access-date=11 January 2024 |archive-date=5 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105195914/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1039992/ |url-status=live |website=IMDb}}</ref>
* ''The Martians and Us'' (2006)
* ''Planetary Defense'' (2007)
* ''Vision of a Future Passed: The Prophecy of 2001'' (2007)

==See also==

==Notes==
{{notelist |notes=
{{efn|name=a |1=Full text: {{cite web |url=http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4026/noord45.html |title=Providing for Long Distance Communications and Safety |access-date=23 December 2008 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090114110636/http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4026/noord45.html| archive-date= 14 January 2009 | url-status= live}} }} 
{{efn|name=b |1=Full text: {{cite web |url=http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4026/noord51.html |title=Observing and Researching the Earth's Surface |access-date=23 December 2008 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090114110531/http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4026/noord51.html| archive-date= 14 January 2009 | url-status= live}} }}
}}

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name=isfdb>{{Cite web |title=Summary Bibliography: Arthur C. Clarke |url=https://isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ea.cgi?17 |website=Internet Speculative Fiction Database (ISFDB) |access-date=11 January 2024 |archive-date=29 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221229070218/https://isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ea.cgi?17 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name=pegasos>{{cite web|url=http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/aclarke.htm |title=Arthur C. Clarke |website=Books and Writers (kirjasto.sci.fi) |first=Petri |last=Liukkonen |publisher=Kuusankoski Public Library |location=Finland |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080306032832/http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/aclarke.htm |archive-date= 6 March 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<ref name="profiles">{{cite book |title=Profiles of the Future: An Inquiry Into the Limits of the Possible |last=Clarke |first=Arthur C. |year=1984 |orig-year=1st pub. 1962, rev. 1973, 1984, 1999 |publisher=Holt, Rinehart & Wilson |location=New York |isbn=0-03-069783-2}}</ref>
<ref name="lakdiva">{{cite web |url= http://lakdiva.org/clarke/1945ww |title=The 1945 Proposal by Arthur C. Clarke for Geostationary Satellite Communications |website=lakdiva.org |access-date=26 April 2018 |url-status=live |archive-date=9 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409155435/http://lakdiva.org/clarke/1945ww}}</ref>
<ref name="etrelays">{{cite magazine |first=Arthur C. |last=Clarke |title=Extra-Terrestrial Relays – Can Rocket Stations Give World-wide Radio Coverage? |magazine=Wireless World |volume=51 |number=10 |date=October 1945 |pages=305–308}}
<br/>{{cite web |url=http://www.lsi.usp.br/~rbianchi/clarke/ACC.ETRelaysFull.html |title=– via lsi.usp.br.org |access-date=8 February 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205220703/http://www.lsi.usp.br/~rbianchi/clarke/ACC.ETRelaysFull.html }}
<br/>{{cite web |url=http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/on-line/clarke/ww2.asp |title=– via sciencemuseum.org |access-date=8 February 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 November 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061107121143/http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/on-line/clarke/ww2.asp }}
<br/>{{cite web|url=http://clarkeinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/ClarkeWirelessWorldArticle.pdf|title=– via clarkeinstitute.org|publisher=Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Space Education|date=October 1945|access-date=1 January 2021|archive-date=20 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320020919/http://clarkeinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/ClarkeWirelessWorldArticle.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}

==External links==
{{Library resources box|by=yes|about=no}}
* of Arthur C. Clarke
* of the Arthur C. Clarke Foundation
* [http://www.iafastro.org/index.php?id=567 Arthur C. Clarke (1917–2008)] [[Organization:International Astronautical Federation|International Astronautical Federation]]
* {{ISFDB name|17}}
* {{IBList|type=author|id=2|name=Arthur C. Clarke}}
* {{IMDb name|2009}}
* [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/25361500/arthur-c.-clarke Grave]
* {{Internet Archive author |sname=Arthur C. Clarke}}
* {{Librivox author |id=958}}
* {{OL author}}
* {{cite web| url = http://www.scifi.com/transcripts/aclarke.txt | title = Arthur C. Clarke and Gentry Lee | publisher = Official transcript, Sci Fi Channel chat | date = 1 November 1996 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20021201214228/http://www.scifi.com/transcripts/aclarke.txt | archive-date=1 December 2002}}

{{Retro Hugo Award Best Short Story}}{{Nebula Award Best Novel}}{{Space Odyssey|state=autocollapse}}{{Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Awards}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Clarke, Arthur C.}}
[[Category:Critics of religions]]
[[Category:Futurologists]]
[[Category:Search for extraterrestrial intelligence]]
[[Category:Space advocates]]

{{Sourceattribution|Arthur C. Clarke}}