Arthur C. Clarke died today...

He was one of my favorite writers, actually my favorite 'hard science' science fiction writer.

There's ordinarily a rule; Scientists aren't good science fiction writers. Oh, many sci-fi writers have some background in science, most notably the late Asimov in Chemistry, but Clarke worked as a Scientist his entire adult life and beyond. He's credited for inventing the communications satellite, for example.

The rule is; Soldiers write puke war stories, virgins write the best porn, historians write horrible historical fiction especially 'romances' and last but not least, scientists are not good science fiction writers.

And Clarke broke that. He has about 100 books in print, and some of the best and enduring science fiction. The one that made him famous was of course the "2001" series. But lots of his other works remained popular in science fiction circles and as technology makes "Special Effects" cheaper, more will see visulization. Most likely his "Rama" series for the next effect.

Towards the latter part of his life, he settled in Sri Lanka and continued to write and think and communicate with a new generation of artists, writers and scientists. One of his best novels, and one I feel will become his most visionary, is "The Fountains of Paradise" set in a fictional Sri Lanka and about the building of a space elevator, a project that will mark the beginning of a true space era should mankind go ahead with it.

Briefly, he had a scandal, when a British Tabloid published a report he was having sex with young boys, but he quickly overcame that, to begin with by pointing out medical proof he hadn't been 'functional' for ten years in that area. The tabloid backed down with him following with a Libel suit, the proceeds to go to children's charities.

But he loved Sri Lanka and its people loved him. Especially after the Tsunami where he used his fame and contacts to get as much charity as he could for his neighbors and he opened the doors of his rather large house to as many refugees as it could hold. If he had been younger, he'd have picked up a hammer to help people re-build, but the charity he raised did much more.

His last message was a call for peace in that country and its neighbors.

I'm really sad that he died, though he lived a long and full life. And for somewhat selfish reasons. One of my "In Development" projects was to use 3DCG to animate one of his short stories, "Exile of the Aeons". My RL schedule, I'm prone to 'vaporware' so for important stuff I talk about them minimally until I finish them. I'd mostly got it storyboarded, just working out the character designs and some 3D models. I was hoping to complete it, or at least show him the first few minutes of it, before he passed away...

I'll do some soul searching and if I'm still in the mood to do it, I'll finish it, though it'll take months. And I'll put it on YouTube and on my website, but the "Tip" jars and such will lead to Clarke's charities.

MirrorMask with an even better, though much darker story.

Just saw "Pan's Labyrinth" today. Took forever to get out to Montana, but finally... Anyways, I won't spoil the film for anyone, just say it was everything I hoped it would be.

Some fanart

Thanking a buddy, Jmsnooks [link] for some fanart [link] he did of "Brad Dougall, the Wampyre Lord" from a story I've written and will soon upload, "No Steaks, Please!" Nice vision of my character, a scientist who cured one disease but created another that mimicked ancient legend, and now finds himself at evil's helm in an ancient struggle, despite being a rationalist agnostic.

Originally, I enviosioned him as a combination of Uncle Fester and Rune, but I'll use some of this design...

Beekeeper

Just got Tori Amos's "The Beekeeper" CD. I'm totally in love again, she has a perfect album that gets better, not worse, with repeated listenings. The whole album grows on you and has a grand message that it would be a disservice to attempt to describe here.

Only got the regular CD, though the deluxe one has flower seeds with it. I'm all for personal plant growing, working on a large tomato garden this year.

I'd guess I'll make a comment about March and stuff. St. Patties and Leprecauns and all that.

Well, spring is emerging though any sprouts had better stay inside till mid-april at least (if you live in Montana) 'cause there are nasty cold snaps when you least expect them.

On this month I'm reflecting about my heritige, a cross of Irish and Celtic primarily. It's pretty funny, 'cause last month I saw a flood of 'black history' with black people whining how 'opressed' they were. Well, I don't mean to be insensitive, but the Britons PRACTICED on my kin for nigh a THOUSAND years before they took a whip to a single African back. Yet, sooner or later, I figure they'll get 'reperations' passed through so I'll have to pay even more taxes that the few remaining wealthy southerners will doubtless find a way to dodge to give someone a check that won't begin to cover the injuries done. And no one in my family EVER owned a slave or held a whip to a black man's back, matter of fact they also avoided hurting Native Americans.

But, hey, get 'reperations'. Maybe I'll write a letter to the Queen asking for land and titles that may have been stolen from my distant relatives. I mean, they toss bombs around in Eire, but has anyone got around to just writing her a nice letter?

St. Patties is a load of Blarney, there NEVER being any Snakes in Eire. Still, people like their green beer and to hold on to what little heritage hasn't been raped away by the Britons. This month is a time to explore it.

Go and download Jethro Tull's "Cup of Wonder", ok? "Songs from the Wood" album.