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Clarke made a TV series in the UK called "Arthur C. Clarkes Mysterious World". If you've never heard of it, I highly recommend you check it out! https://en.m.w

by ENTP 10y ago

Clarke made a TV series in the UK called "Arthur C. Clarkes Mysterious World". If you've never heard of it, I highly recommend you check it out! https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_C._Clarke's_Mysterious_World https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_C._Clarke's_Mysteriou...

arethuza 10y ago
I loved that program when it first came out because of the episode that mentioned vitrified forts - which are still (AFAIK) a complete mystery: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitrified_fort https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitrified_fort I also love the account of the meeting that Clarke, C.S. Lewis and Tolkien had in a pub: "An extensive correspondence with Dr. Lewis led to the a meeting in a famous Oxford pub, the Eastgate. Seconding me was my friend, Val Cleaver, a space buff from way back (and now chief engineer of the Rolls Royce Rocket Division). Supporting Lewis was Professor J. R. R. Tolkien, whose trilogy, The Lord of the Rings created a considerable stir a few years ago. Needless to say, neither side converted the other, and we refused to abandon our diabolical schemes of interplanetary conquest. But a fine time was had by all, and when, some hours later, we emerged a little unsteadily from the Eastgate, Dr. Lewis’s parting words were "I’m sure you are very wicked people – but how dull it would be if everyone was good."
- at-fates-hands 10y ago
  >> and now chief engineer of the Rolls Royce Rocket Division Did I read that right? Rolls Royce had/has a rocket division?
  - arethuza 10y ago
    Turns that Val Cleaver was quite an interesting chap: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Val_Cleaver https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Val_Cleaver "he became general manager and chief engineer of the Rolls Royce's rocket departments, where he was responsible for the engines which powered the Blue Streak missile and Black Arrow launch vehicle" Sadly the UK did have our own launch capability - but we only ever launched one satellite - Prospero: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prospero_(satellite) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prospero_(satellite)
david-given 10y ago
It's also worth reading his faintly autobiographical and heavily fact-based book about the development of radar-assisted landing systems during the second world war: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/143680.Glide_Path https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/143680.Glide_Path It's one of his best, and quite different from most of his other books, and is worth reading even if you don't normally read historical novels.
- lb1lf 10y ago
  Also, he wrote some non-fiction which is eminently readable; "How the World was One" on the history of telecommunications, for instance.

by ENTP 10y ago

arethuza 10y ago

I loved that program when it first came out because of the episode that mentioned vitrified forts - which are still (AFAIK) a complete mystery: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitrified_fort https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitrified_fort I also love the account of the meeting that Clarke, C.S. Lewis and Tolkien had in a pub: "An extensive correspondence with Dr. Lewis led to the a meeting in a famous Oxford pub, the Eastgate. Seconding me was my friend, Val Cleaver, a space buff from way back (and now chief engineer of the Rolls Royce Rocket Division). Supporting Lewis was Professor J. R. R. Tolkien, whose trilogy, The Lord of the Rings created a considerable stir a few years ago. Needless to say, neither side converted the other, and we refused to abandon our diabolical schemes of interplanetary conquest. But a fine time was had by all, and when, some hours later, we emerged a little unsteadily from the Eastgate, Dr. Lewis’s parting words were "I’m sure you are very wicked people – but how dull it would be if everyone was good."

at-fates-hands 10y ago
>> and now chief engineer of the Rolls Royce Rocket Division Did I read that right? Rolls Royce had/has a rocket division?
- arethuza 10y ago
  Turns that Val Cleaver was quite an interesting chap: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Val_Cleaver https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Val_Cleaver "he became general manager and chief engineer of the Rolls Royce's rocket departments, where he was responsible for the engines which powered the Blue Streak missile and Black Arrow launch vehicle" Sadly the UK did have our own launch capability - but we only ever launched one satellite - Prospero: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prospero_(satellite) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prospero_(satellite)

david-given 10y ago

It's also worth reading his faintly autobiographical and heavily fact-based book about the development of radar-assisted landing systems during the second world war: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/143680.Glide_Path https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/143680.Glide_Path It's one of his best, and quite different from most of his other books, and is worth reading even if you don't normally read historical novels.

lb1lf 10y ago
Also, he wrote some non-fiction which is eminently readable; "How the World was One" on the history of telecommunications, for instance.