In Memory of Arthur C. Clarke
Sir Arthur Charles Clarke, CBE (16 December 1917 – 19 March 2008) was a British science fiction author, inventor and futurist, most famous for the novel 2001: A Space Odyssey, which led also to the film of the same name.
While serving in the Royal Air Force, Clarke's proposal for a satellite communication system won him the Franklin Institute Stuart Ballantine Gold Medal in 1963 and a nomination in 1994 for a Nobel Prize. In 1999, Clarke was again nominated for a Nobel Prize, this time for literature. He won the UNESCO-Kalinga Prize for the Popularization of Science in 1961.
Clarke's work is marked by an optimistic view of science empowering mankind's exploration of the Solar System. Clarke's images of the future often feature a Utopian setting with highly developed technology, ecology, and society, based on the author's ideals.
This year, ICON and the Israeli SFF community will be honoring one of the field's greatest visionaries, taking a look at his work and his legacy.