Kistler's Thoughts On Arthur C. Clarke

"Fundamentally, I'm an optimist, and I believe that the future is not predetermined, that to some extent we can determine our own destiny. By thinking about the future and its possibilities, we do have a chance of averting the more disastrous one. This is why I believe that the interest in the future that is so common now is a good thing ... The purpose of the universe, Alan, is the perpetual astonishment of mankind."

- Arthur C. Clarke speaking to theologian Alan Watts

Arthur C. Clarke has died. Many of us who are science fiction fans are still trying to absorb that. It isn't unexpected. But it is humbling.

There are a few people who've been considered giants or "grandfathers" of the science fiction genre. Along with Clarke, two such people were Isaac Asimov and Robert Heinlein (collectively, they were the Big Three of the genre). Asimov was not only my first major science fiction writer, he was my introduction into the genre itself, after I read a Norby novel he wrote with his wife Janet and then his collection of short stories entitled I, Robot.

The next three years of my life were spent primarily devouring anything that had the name Asimov on it, with the exception of books I had to read for school, a few volumes that dealt with African myths and Arthurian legends, and a novel called 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke. My mother gave it to me, having been told that it was a very intelligent and advanced novel (which, I guess, was her way of telling me to step it up and not just read about robots and magic).

And so I finally discovered Asimov's good friend Clarke and even learned about the "Clarke-Asimov Treaty of Park Avenue." The two used to share a cab and would argue that each other was indeed the best science fiction writer. Hence, we had dedications such as what Clarke wrote in Report on Planet Three, which read:

 "In accordance with the terms of the Clarke-Asimov treaty, the second-best science writer dedicates this book to the second-best science-fiction writer."

Seriously, how adorable is that?

It's funny that last week I was speaking about ignorance that occurs because some people don't have the drive to seek knowledge or some teachers don't convey the drive to learn, to explore. Clarke had something to say about that very thing:

"Somewhere in me is a curiosity sensor. I want to know what's over the next hill. You know, people can live longer without food than without information. Without information, you'd go crazy."

You may not have liked his stuff. I'm not saying you all should. But you can't deny his presence and his influence. He touched people everywhere, whether they were creating homages to his ideas or making movies based on his work or simply using him to explain how magic could exist in the universe of Doctor Who (specifically, the episode "Battlefield"). He was named Commander of the Order of the British Empire and was made a Knight Bachelor "for services to literature." He was labeled as a Grand Master by the Science Fiction Writers of America. And he provided a video message the Cassini probe sent by NASA.

"I've often quoted it: 'He never grew up; but he never stopped growing.' "

- Arthur C. Clarke, when asked about his own epitaph

Asimov is known for his Three Laws of Robotics. Likewise, Clarke created three laws of his own.

1. "When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong."
2. "The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible."
3. "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."

The third law is quoted quite often in various different stories and essays. The first law is, I think, given less attention simply because, in this day and age, it may seem a bit obvious to us (or at least those of us who are young enough and open enough in heart to always remember that there is no way we could possibly know everything). Yet it is just as important.

How many times are we told by people who've become very set in their ways that what we imagine is impossible, that what we dream of simply isn't "realistic"? The greatest scientists in the world are not those who followed what their colleagues always told them. The great scientists, the great explorers, the great civil rights leaders and people who changed the world all had a basic thing in common: they were going to prove that the impossible could happen. Clark's first law may be the most obvious but it's also the most universal.

"The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible."

Arthur C. Clarke has left us. I like to think that right now, he is following this second law, venturing past the possibilities of  the tangible and the corporeal and exploring a strange new world that will inspire new laws and new possibilities.

Here's to you, sir. We'll try to keep dreaming.

- Alan Kistler ...

   ... still watches the stars.

Quote of the Week: "The very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in common. They don't alter their views to fit the facts. They alter the facts to fit their views. Which can be very uncomfortable if you happen to be one of the facts that needs altering."

(The quote from my previous column was Homer Simpson from The Simpsons)

NEXT COLUMN: Cruise on over to ComicMix.com and check out my thoughts on The Six Worst Moments In Skrull History! Or jump ahead to the next column I had on this particular web-site concerning Women In Marvel Comics.

Comments

[Lisa]

I was so sad to hear that he had passed. His contributions to science and science fiction cant be numbered. He meant so much not only to you, but to the sci-fi community as a whole.
Thanks for writing this.

[Doctor TOC]

I'm still trying to come to terms with this loss, but you put how I'm feeling very neatly into words. Thank you.

KISTLER'S RESPONSE:
And thank YOU for the kind remark.

[Chris]

I surprisingly don't think I ever read any Clarke, but I'm intrigued based on these quotes. He seems like a really remarkable guy with a wonderful perspective on life. I love his epitaph - he summed up in words how I attempt to live my own.