Sir Arthur C Clarke

Arthur C Clarke
Bio Notes

Looking for quick introductions to Arthur C Clarke? Here are three versions. For details, see Life and Works sections of this website.

80 words

Sir Arthur C Clarke (1917 – 2008) was a writer of science fiction and science fact who authored 100 books and over a thousand articles. He was the first to propose satellite communications in 1945. One of his short stories inspired the World Wide Web, while another was expanded to make the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, which he co-wrote with director Stanley Kubrick. Born in England, he settled down in Ceylon in 1956 where he lived for half a century.

150 words

Sir Arthur C Clarke (1917 – 2008) was best known as a leading writer of ‘hard’ science fiction that was based on scientific plausibility. Formally trained in physics and mathematics, he also wrote many non-fiction books on space travel, communication technologies, underwater exploration and future studies. Both his fiction and factual books have inspired generations of scientists, innovators and astronauts.

In a career spanning over six decades, Clarke authored 100 books as well as over 200 short stories and numerous essays on a broad range of topics. He was the first to propose satellite communications in 1945. One of his short stories inspired the World Wide Web, while another was expanded to make the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, which he co-wrote with director Stanley Kubrick. Born in England, he later settled down in Ceylon where he lived for half a century.

420 words

At the time of his death in March 2008, Sir Arthur C Clarke was the world’s best known writer of science fiction. In a literary career spanning over six decades, he wrote 100 books and more than 1,000 short stories and essays. Among his best-selling novels are Childhood’s End, 2001: A Space Odyssey and Rendezvous with Rama.

One of his short stories (‘Dial F for Frankenstein’, 1964) inspired British computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee to invent the World Wide Web. Another short story (‘The Sentinel’, 1948) was expanded into the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, which Clarke co-wrote with director Stanley Kubrick.

Trained in physics and mathematics, Clarke also wrote non-fiction on space travel, communication technologies, underwater exploration and future studies. In a technical paper titled “Extra-terrestrial Relays” published in 1945, he first outlined the principles of global broadcasting via communication satellites in geostationary orbit. He never patented the idea, and derived no financial benefits from his invention. The geostationary orbit is now called ‘Clarke Orbit’.

Born in Minehead, Somerset, England, in 1917, Clarke was educated at Huish’s Grammar School, Taunton, and King’s College, London. He worked in the British Exchequer and Audit Department and served as a radio instructor in the Royal Air Force during World War II. He became a full time author in 1950.

Clarke made numerous appearances on TV, and covered the Apollo Moon landings with Walter Cronkite on CBS. From 1980 to 1995, he hosted three popular TV series — “Mysterious World”, “Strange Powers” and “Mysterious Universe” – which were seen by tens of millions of viewers around the world.

His interest in diving and underwater exploration led him to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), where he settled down in 1956. He pioneered diving and underwater tourism through his company Underwater Safaris, and played an active role as a public intellectual and a patron of art, science and higher education. He was Chancellor of Sri Lanka’s University of Moratuwa from 1979 to 2002.

Although he became the island nation’s first Resident Guest in 1975, Clarke always remained a British citizen. Queen Elizabeth II honoured him with a Knighthood in 1998 ‘for services to literature’. The Sri Lankan government presented him the country’s highest civilian honour in 2005. Clarke received many other honours including honorary doctorates, awards and fellowships from literary, scientific and academic bodies worldwide.

In 1996, the International Astronomical Union named asteroid No 4923 in his honour, while scientists at the University of Monash, Australia, named a newly discovered dinosaur species as Serendipaceratops arthurcclarkei in 2003.

80 words

Sir Arthur C Clarke (1917 – 2008) was a writer of science fiction and science fact who authored 100 books and over a thousand articles. He was the first to propose satellite communications in 1945. One of his short stories inspired the World Wide Web, while another was expanded to make the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, which he co-wrote with director Stanley Kubrick. Born in England, he settled down in Ceylon in 1956 where he lived for half a century.

150 words

Sir Arthur C Clarke (1917 – 2008) was best known as a leading writer of ‘hard’ science fiction that was based on scientific plausibility. Formally trained in physics and mathematics, he also wrote many non-fiction books on space travel, communication technologies, underwater exploration and future studies. Both his fiction and factual books have inspired generations of scientists, innovators and astronauts.

In a career spanning over six decades, Clarke authored 100 books as well as over 200 short stories and numerous essays on a broad range of topics. He was the first to propose satellite communications in 1945. One of his short stories inspired the World Wide Web, while another was expanded to make the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, which he co-wrote with director Stanley Kubrick. Born in England, he later settled down in Ceylon where he lived for half a century.

420 words

At the time of his death in March 2008, Sir Arthur C Clarke was the world’s best known writer of science fiction. In a literary career spanning over six decades, he wrote 100 books and more than 1,000 short stories and essays. Among his best-selling novels are Childhood’s End, 2001: A Space Odyssey and Rendezvous with Rama.

One of his short stories (‘Dial F for Frankenstein’, 1964) inspired British computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee to invent the World Wide Web. Another short story (‘The Sentinel’, 1948) was expanded into the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, which Clarke co-wrote with director Stanley Kubrick.

Trained in physics and mathematics, Clarke also wrote non-fiction on space travel, communication technologies, underwater exploration and future studies. In a technical paper titled “Extra-terrestrial Relays” published in 1945, he first outlined the principles of global broadcasting via communication satellites in geostationary orbit. He never patented the idea, and derived no financial benefits from his invention. The geostationary orbit is now called ‘Clarke Orbit’.

Born in Minehead, Somerset, England, in 1917, Clarke was educated at Huish’s Grammar School, Taunton, and King’s College, London. He worked in the British Exchequer and Audit Department and served as a radio instructor in the Royal Air Force during World War II. He became a full time author in 1950.

Clarke made numerous appearances on TV, and covered the Apollo Moon landings with Walter Cronkite on CBS. From 1980 to 1995, he hosted three popular TV series — “Mysterious World”, “Strange Powers” and “Mysterious Universe” – which were seen by tens of millions of viewers around the world.

His interest in diving and underwater exploration led him to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), where he settled down in 1956. He pioneered diving and underwater tourism through his company Underwater Safaris, and played an active role as a public intellectual and a patron of art, science and higher education. He was Chancellor of Sri Lanka’s University of Moratuwa from 1979 to 2002.

Although he became the island nation’s first Resident Guest in 1975, Clarke always remained a British citizen. Queen Elizabeth II honoured him with a Knighthood in 1998 ‘for services to literature’. The Sri Lankan government presented him the country’s highest civilian honour in 2005. Clarke received many other honours including honorary doctorates, awards and fellowships from literary, scientific and academic bodies worldwide.

In 1996, the International Astronomical Union named asteroid No 4923 in his honour, while scientists at the University of Monash, Australia, named a newly discovered dinosaur species as Serendipaceratops arthur c clarke in 2003.