Arthur C. Clarke
A visionary writer who imagined the future of space travel with such clarity that his ideas became a blueprint for reality.
1917–2008 (age 91)·British science fiction writer·Birthday: December 16·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Arthur C. Clarke began as a radar specialist for the Royal Air Force, an experience that fueled his fascination with technology and the cosmos. After the war, he published the technical paper proposing communication satellites in geostationary orbit—a concept so foundational it now bears his name. While his scientific contributions were profound, he reached a global audience through his fiction. Books like 'Childhood's End' and the screenplay for '2001: A Space Odyssey,' created with Stanley Kubrick, blended philosophical wonder with plausible science. He spent the latter half of his life in Sri Lanka, diving on coral reefs and continuing to write, his optimistic vision of humanity's potential in space remaining a guiding light for scientists, engineers, and dreamers alike.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Arthur was born in 1917, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Arthur Was Born
The biggest hits of 1917
#1 Movie
Cleopatra
Arthur's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1917Born
Russian Revolution overthrows the tsar; US enters WWI
President: Woodrow Wilson
1922Started school
King Tut's tomb discovered in Egypt
President: Warren G. Harding"April Showers" — Al Jolson
1930Became a teenager
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1933Could drive
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1935Could vote
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1938Turned 21
Kristallnacht and the escalation toward WWII
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $2,850Min wage: $0.25/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Begin the Beguine" — Artie ShawBest Picture: You Can't Take It with You
1947Turned 30
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1957Turned 40
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1967Turned 50
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1977Turned 60
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 70
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 80
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2008Died at 91
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
Key Achievements
- Published the seminal 1945 paper proposing geostationary communications satellites, a cornerstone of modern global telecoms.
- Co-wrote the screenplay for Stanley Kubrick's groundbreaking film '2001: A Space Odyssey,' defining the aesthetics of sci-fi cinema.
- Authored 'Rendezvous with Rama,' which swept the major science fiction awards for its year.
- Received the UNESCO-Kalinga Prize for his exceptional skill in popularizing science for the public.
Did You Know?
The orbit used by telecommunications satellites is officially called the Clarke Orbit by the International Astronomical Union.
He moved to Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) in 1956 and lived there for the rest of his life, pursuing his passion for scuba diving.
He served as the Chancellor of Moratuwa University in Sri Lanka from 1979 to 2002.
Alongside Isaac Asimov and Robert Heinlein, he was considered one of the 'Big Three' of science fiction in the mid-20th century.
“Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.”
