You may already know this — in fact, if you are any kind of SF fan, I know you know this — but Arthur C. Clarke has passed away. He was 90 years old. That’s how old my maternal grandpa was when he died.
I’m not sure why I made that connection, but I did. This leads me to the idea behind all good stories. You know the ones I’m talking about. Those stories that you remember for years after reading them, almost as if you read them last week.
Why is that?
It is because you connected with the story. Something in the tale reminded you of something in your life, obvious or otherwise. The message behind the story struck a chord and spoke to you.
And this point brings me full circle to Arthur C. Clarke. Why is he so remembered? Because he wrote stories that people could connect with. He was so good at it that people who claim not to like science fiction liked his work.
Of course, that thought makes me think of one of my pet peeves. A good story is a good story is a good story, regardless of where or when it takes place, or what species (real or imagined) populate it. But I’ll stop here, or I’ll just rant on forever.
Farewell Arthur, I hope you rest in peace You earned it.
