Arthur C. Clarke

Birth Name:

Arthur Charles Clarke

Birth Place:

Minehead, Somerset, England, United Kingdom

Profession

Writer, Actor, Art department

Was honored with a knighthood for his contributions to both science and literature by Queen Elizabeth II in 1998
His first science fiction work, a short story called "Rescue Party," was published in 1945 in the magazine Astounding Science Fiction, the same publication that had sparked his love for science when he was a boy
Published his first science fiction novel, "Against the Fall of Night," in 1953
Quote: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic․"
Quote: "Most technological achievements were preceded by people writing and imagining them ․․․ I'm rather proud of the fact that I know several astronauts who became astronauts through reading my books․"
Quote: "The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible․"
Best known as a science fiction author of almost 100 books who co-wrote the screenplay for "2001: A Space Odyssey" with director Stanley Kubrick
His influence on public opinions about space exploration was acknowledged by several American astronauts and Russian cosmonauts, as well as the astronomer Carl Sagan
Gene Roddenberry, the creator of "Star Trek," credited his writings with giving him the courage to face ridicule from television executives who scoffed at his project
Served in the British Royal Air Force during World War II, where his assignment working with a team of American scientists on the first radar-controlled airplane landing system inspired his only non-science fiction novel, 1963's "Glide Path․"

1969Oscar - Best Writing, Story and Screenplay - Written Directly for the Screen:Nominated
1969Hugo - Best Dramatic Presentation:Winner
1969Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award - Best British Original Screenplay:Nominated
1985Hugo - Best Dramatic Presentation:Winner

Arthur C. Clarke

Fast Facts

Awards