WRITER · BORN 1917 · DIED 2008
Arthur C. Clarke
- Born
- 16 December 1917
- Died
- 19 March 2008
- Known for
- 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
23 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026
Arthur C. Clarke (16 December 1917 – 19 March 2008) was a screenwriter best known for 2001: A Space Odyssey.
23 Interesting Facts About Arthur C. Clarke
Interesting Facts (16)
- #001
Clarke was engaged in a long-running friendly rivalry with Isaac Asimov, one of the giants of science fiction literature. The two closely followed each other's work and occasionally exchanged jokes in writing. This rivalry created a productive interaction that increased both writers' output and contributed to the development of the genre. Their relationship, filled with respect and humor, is remembered as one of the best-known friendships in the history of science fiction.
- #002
In 1945, Arthur C. Clarke proposed the concept of the geostationary orbit, the orbit needed for satellites to remain at a fixed point around the Earth. This proposal laid the foundation for the orbit in which communication and weather satellites are placed today. Clarke's visionary idea is known as the 'Clarke Belt' in his name and is regarded as a revolutionary step in the development of modern space technology. This concept is one of his most concrete contributions to the real world of science, beyond his science fiction writing.
- #003
According to a report published in the 1980 issue of 'Science Digest' magazine, the Flat Earth Society accused Arthur C. Clarke of writing the scenario for the claim that the Moon landings were fake. This conspiracy theory had led to a false perception that Clarke's success as a science fiction writer meant he could fabricate real events. Clarke's response to these claims was generally humorous and mocking; he emphasized that such theories contradicted scientific facts.
- #004
Arthur C. Clarke was a distinguished member of the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS). The society is considered one of the world's most prestigious organizations in the fields of astronomy and astrophysics. Clarke's membership proves that he was not only a writer but also a serious astronomy enthusiast and researcher. RAS membership gave him the opportunity to closely follow scientific developments and to interact with the leading astronomers of the day. This context was one of the driving forces behind the scientific accuracy and depth in his works.
- #005
Arthur C. Clarke's biography and bibliography appear in the New Revision Series of the reference work 'Contemporary Authors', volume 130, on pages 72-81. The work was published in 2005 by Thomson Gale in Farmington Hills, Michigan. 'Contemporary Authors' is a respected source offering comprehensive information about the lives and works of important figures in the literary world. Clarke's inclusion there shows that his literary legacy is documented by academic circles and passed on to future generations.
- #006
Arthur C. Clarke personally wrote the screenplay for his own novel '2010: Odyssey Two' (1982). The novel was a sequel to the famous '2001: A Space Odyssey', and Clarke wrote the screenplay for the film adaptation of the story. The film, released in 1984, was directed by Peter Hyams, and Clarke's screenplay successfully brought the novel's main themes and characters to the screen.
- #007
Arthur C. Clarke moved to Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, in 1956 and spent the rest of his life there. Living in the island's peaceful atmosphere until his death in 2008, Clarke produced many of his important works during this period. Colombo played a central role in both his personal and professional life; here he pursued his passion for diving and developed the ideas that shaped the world of science fiction.
- #008
Clarke was engaged in a friendly rivalry with Isaac Asimov, one of the giants of science fiction literature, that lasted for many years. The two followed each other's work closely and occasionally exchanged jokes in writing. This rivalry created a productive interaction that increased the productivity of both writers and contributed to the development of the genre. Their relationship, filled with respect and humor, is remembered as one of the best-known friendships in the history of science fiction.
- #009
In 1945, Arthur C. Clarke proposed the concept of the geostationary orbit, which is necessary for satellites to remain at a fixed point around the Earth. This proposal laid the foundation for the orbit in which communication and weather satellites are placed today. Clarke's visionary idea is known as the 'Clarke Belt,' named after him, and is regarded as a revolutionary step in the development of modern space technology. This concept is one of his most concrete contributions to the real world of science, beyond his science fiction writing.
- #010
In 1997, Arthur C. Clarke's 1961 novel 'A Fall of Moondust' was loosely adapted for the screen by screenwriter Chris Soth for a film adaptation. However, this project was never realized and the film was not made. The novel tells the story of a tourist ship stranded on the surface of the Moon and draws attention with Clarke's scientific predictions.
- #011
Arthur C. Clarke was a long-time member of the British Interplanetary Society (BIS), known for its passion for space exploration. This society was an important organization that conducted research and exchanged ideas on spaceflight and interplanetary travel. Clarke's membership here shows his interest in real space science as well as his science fiction writing. His interactions within the society were an important source that shaped his visions of the future and inspired his works.
- #012
According to a report published in the 1980 issue of 'Science Digest' magazine, the Flat Earth Society accused Arthur C. Clarke of writing the script for the claim that the Moon landings were fake. This conspiracy theory led to a false perception that Clarke's success as a science fiction writer meant he could fabricate real events. Clarke's response to these claims was generally humorous and mocking; he emphasized that such theories contradicted scientific facts.
- #013
Arthur C. Clarke was a distinguished member of the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS). This society is considered one of the most prestigious organizations in the world in the fields of astronomy and astrophysics. Clarke's membership proves that he was not only a writer but also a serious astronomy enthusiast and researcher. RAS membership gave him the opportunity to closely follow scientific developments and interact with the leading astronomers of the period. This context was one of the driving forces behind the scientific accuracy and depth in his works.
- #014
In 1987, Arthur C. Clarke was among the first names inducted into the Space and Satellite Hall of Fame. This honor was given to recognize his pioneering contributions to the fields of space technology and satellite communication. Clarke's 1945 proposal of the geosynchronous orbit is considered one of his most important achievements in this field and was crowned with this honor. His induction into the Hall of Fame shows that he is remembered not only as a writer but also as a visionary who played a role in shaping the space age.
- #015
Arthur C. Clarke appeared in three Space Viz astronomy documentaries: 'Contact: The Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence' (1995), 'Odyssey of Survival' (1999) and 'Planetary Defense' (2007). These documentaries dealt with subjects such as space exploration and the search for extraterrestrial life. 'Planetary Defense' was nominated in the best space documentary category at the Arthur Clarke Awards held in the United Kingdom in 2008. These awards, which honour British achievements in space, are a prestigious organisation known as the 'Arthurs'; among the other nominees that year were 'In the Shadow of the Moon' (2007) and names such as Sir Richard Branson and Prof. Stephen Hawking. Clarke's presence in these documentaries shows his contributions to real space science and his efforts to popularise it, beyond his science fiction writing.
- #016
Arthur C. Clarke personally wrote the screenplay for his own novel '2010: Odyssey Two' (1982). This novel was a sequel to the famous '2001: A Space Odyssey', and Clarke penned the screenplay for the film adaptation of the story. Released in 1984, the film was directed by Peter Hyams, and Clarke's screenplay successfully brought the novel's core themes and characters to the screen.
Production Story (1)
- #017
In 1997, Arthur C. Clarke's 1961 novel 'A Fall of Moondust' was loosely adapted into a screenplay by screenwriter Chris Soth for a film version. However, the project was never realized and the film was not made. The novel tells the story of a tourist ship stranded on the surface of the Moon and is notable for Clarke's scientific foresight.
Career & Awards (4)
- #018
In 1989, Clarke appeared on Queen Elizabeth II's Honours List and was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to literature and astronomy. This honor was a sign that he was recognized internationally not only as a writer but also as a scientist and thinker. The CBE is considered one of the most prestigious civil honors awarded in Britain and marks one of the important milestones of Clarke's career.
- #019
In 1998, Clarke appeared once again on the Queen's Honours List, this time knighted as a Knight Bachelor of the Order of the British Empire. This title gave him the right to use the title 'Sir' and was a reward for his outstanding services to literature and astronomy. Clarke's knighthood was one of the highest levels at which his contributions to the science fiction genre and to space exploration were officially recognized.
- #020
In 1987, Arthur C. Clarke was among the first names inducted into the Space and Satellite Hall of Fame. This honor was given to recognize his pioneering contributions to space technology and satellite communications. Clarke's 1945 proposal of the geostationary orbit is regarded as one of his most important achievements in this field and was crowned by this honor. His induction into the Hall of Fame shows that he is remembered not only as a writer but also as a visionary who played a role in shaping the space age.
- #021
Arthur C. Clarke appeared in three Space Viz astronomy documentaries: 'Contact: The Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence' (1995), 'Odyssey of Survival' (1999) and 'Planetary Defense' (2007). These documentaries dealt with topics such as space exploration and the search for extraterrestrial life. 'Planetary Defense' was nominated in the best space documentary category at the Arthur Clarke Awards held in the United Kingdom in 2008. These awards are a prestigious organization that honors British space achievements and is known as the 'Arthurs'; that same year, other nominees included 'In the Shadow of the Moon' (2007) and names such as Sir Richard Branson and Prof. Stephen Hawking. Clarke's presence in these documentaries shows his contributions to real space science and his efforts to popularize it, beyond his science fiction writing.
Life & Family (2)
- #022
Arthur C. Clarke moved to Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, in 1956 and spent the rest of his life there. Until his death in 2008, Clarke lived in the island's peaceful atmosphere, and during this period he produced many of his important works. Colombo played a central role in both his personal and professional life; there he pursued his passion for diving and developed the ideas that shaped the world of science fiction.
- #023
Arthur C. Clarke was a long-time member of the British Interplanetary Society (BIS), known for its passion for space exploration. The society was an important organization that conducted research and exchanged ideas on spaceflight and interplanetary travel. Clarke's membership there shows his interest in real space science as well as his science fiction writing. His interactions within the society were an important source that shaped his visions of the future and inspired his works.
Related pages
- Star Wars — Arthur C. Clarke comes up in the facts on that page
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- Wikipedia
- IMDb
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