Clarke

As a prepubescent, teen age boy I developed an affinity for science-fiction. I think it's some kind of nerd right of passage. I found out pretty quickly that I preferred novels that stick to plausible science rather than the more fantasy and magic based stories. So when I first started reading the works of Arthur C. Clarke I was hooked. His stories explored the fringes of our knowledge but were always based actual laws of physics. The idea that Clarke's spaceships, space elevators, worlds, and aliens were technically plausible was a mind expanding concept.
I was hooked. In a few years I'd read every book by Clarke that I could find. 2001, Childhood's End, Rendezvous with Rama, The Fountains of Paradise, etc, etc. I also found that he would write short stories for a science fiction magazine so I got a subscription and began checking out every back issue I could find. I also followed Clarke's research on science. There was a PBS show called Arthur C. Clarke's universe. I eagerly awaited every episode.
The world lost a true visionary today. Clarke's love of science left permanent impacts on our planet. I will do my best to assure that his impact is not forgotten. Victoria and I read books every night to the kids. We're expanded out of some of the typical children's books and they've taken it pretty well. Last week we finished the Andromeda Strain and this week we're reading the Black Hole. I'm going to suggest we add a few Clarke books in for the kids next. Perhaps Rendezvous with Rama.