Predictions?
When preparing to head for the south I grabbed one of my old SiFi books from my collection so I would have something to read on the trip. It was “Redezvous with Rama” written by Arthur C. Clarke in 1973. Considered one of the best books he wrote, better even than “2001”, my enjoyment from reading the book was as great now as it was the first time and, if you’ve never read it, I recommend it highly. Clarke was a prolific author during his lifetime and one of the best in the SiFi genre. But, he was also a true scientist - an astro-physicist and the inventor of the communication satellite.
So, what’s my reason for writing about him? Most of the great SiFi authors were also noted for their predictions. That has held true for such authors as Jules Verne and H.G. Wells, and I have now found, to some degree, also to Clarke.
When I read one of the opening chapters of “Rendezvou” the hairs on my neck started to rise. It starts out, “At 0946 GMT on the morning of September 11 in the exceptionally beautiful summer of 2077, etc.” Then he goes on to describe the worst catastrophe ever to afflict earth. A meteor strike destroys the Italian cities of Padua, Verona and Venice causing the death of 600,000. Of course the 9/11 date caught my attention. A quick check of Wikipedia revealed the North Tower was struck at 0846, the South Tower at 0903, the Pentagon at 0937 and the flight recorder of Flight 93 stopped at 1003. So the date is right on, the time is close, the years are off a bit but it still seems eerie,
If you care to know a little more about SiFi authors check out:
http://www.mania.com/top-15-greatest-science-fiction-writers-alltime_article_112611.html
When preparing to head for the south I grabbed one of my old SiFi books from my collection so I would have something to read on the trip. It was “Redezvous with Rama” written by Arthur C. Clarke in 1973. Considered one of the best books he wrote, better even than “2001”, my enjoyment from reading the book was as great now as it was the first time and, if you’ve never read it, I recommend it highly. Clarke was a prolific author during his lifetime and one of the best in the SiFi genre. But, he was also a true scientist - an astro-physicist and the inventor of the communication satellite.
So, what’s my reason for writing about him? Most of the great SiFi authors were also noted for their predictions. That has held true for such authors as Jules Verne and H.G. Wells, and I have now found, to some degree, also to Clarke.
When I read one of the opening chapters of “Rendezvou” the hairs on my neck started to rise. It starts out, “At 0946 GMT on the morning of September 11 in the exceptionally beautiful summer of 2077, etc.” Then he goes on to describe the worst catastrophe ever to afflict earth. A meteor strike destroys the Italian cities of Padua, Verona and Venice causing the death of 600,000. Of course the 9/11 date caught my attention. A quick check of Wikipedia revealed the North Tower was struck at 0846, the South Tower at 0903, the Pentagon at 0937 and the flight recorder of Flight 93 stopped at 1003. So the date is right on, the time is close, the years are off a bit but it still seems eerie,
If you care to know a little more about SiFi authors check out:
http://www.mania.com/top-15-greatest-science-fiction-writers-alltime_article_112611.html
