Just read the sad news that science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke has died in his adopted home of Sri Lanka at the age of 90. Like many young boys of the space race, my real introduction to Clarke was through his novel 2001: A Space Odyssey. (Which was based of sorts, inspired by an early short story of the writer's called "The Sentinel".) He co-wrote the book with filmmaker Stanley Kubrick in order to lay a foundation from which they could extract a script for the eventual 1968 motion picture. Clarke also functioned as a science consultant on the film. Kubrick declared the screenplay to be the most awkward and cumbersome form of writing developed by mankind. (The screenplay is just a blueprint to shoot film. It is nothing more. Contrary to what some think, it is not a creative form of writing.)Clarke was frustrated by Kubrick's method of working; or at least a schedule of working. The famous director liked to work from 3 p.m. or so to late at night, whereas Clarke much prefered to hit the keys starting in the earlly morning. Part of his frustration stemmed from the fact that Kubrick spent more time working on the film and less on the novel. Compounding this, Kubrick delayed approving the novel -- this cut into any chance of the writer from garnering income from sales of the book until much later.
Clarke was a good sport about the whole affair. He seemed to be the perfect English gentleman. The result was they together made perhaps the greatest motion picture of all time.
I have a radio interview with him on cassette tape. Maybe it is time to give it another listen.
The bad news about Arthur C. Clarke...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23697230/
Top photo: Clarke with director Stanley Kubrick on the set of 2001: A Space Odyssey in 1966.
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