The Year of Death Continues: Arthur C. Clarke is Gone

[Crafty_Pat]

Writer Arthur C Clarke dies at 90

[Agent 333]

Damn, I was kinda hoping he'd make it to at least 2010. He will be missed.

[TheAuldGrump]

Mr. Clarke was one of the writers that made me a science fiction reader. Tales From the White Hart was the first of his books that I can remember reading, about 1970 or so. It remains one of my favorites to this day.
I will miss his dry style, and optimistic outlook. And his skeptical examinations and observations of the strange. Pretty much all of the writers I began with are now gone - Arthur Clarke, Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein, James Blish, Hal Clement, L. Sprague deCamp, Jack Williamson, Andre Norton, Clifford Simak,Manly Wellman, each year it seems that the number grows smaller.

The Auld Grump
Childhood's End
Rendezvous With Rama
The Fountains of Paradise
2001
Tales from the White Hart
Against the Fall of the Night
A Fall of Moondust (which made it into a Reader's Digest compilation)

[Wolverine]

Aw man, I know he was old and all, but still.

I'm rather tempted to get stoned and watch 2001 again.

[NekoMouser]

I'm familiar with him more through his scientific contribution than his science fiction, although it's hard to divide the two certainly. I got a chance to speak to him once, back in '92. Awed is the word. While not surprising in the least, his passing is more of a loss than any of the other recent who's who. Clarke was a visionary...and we can't afford the loss of those right now.

This definitely calls for a stiff drink. I have some hope that Sir Arthur is having one now somewhere, perhaps with Roy Scheider.

[LordKruelos]

Let's not forget Kurt Vonnegut on this list.

[OverNinja]

Death has been doing some serious overtime lately.
Adding to the list:

Anthony Minghella (director, Oscar-winner The English Patient) http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/03/19/minghella.legacy/index.html
Paul Scofield (actor, Oscar-winner A Man for All Seasons) http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/03/20/scofield.death.ap/index.html

And a couple of Finns:

Jyrki Hämäläinen (long time editor of Suosikki magazine 1963-2003 and an entertainment icon) http://finnish.imdb.com/name/nm0405532/
Mia Permanto (19, musician, Idols contestant) http://finnish.imdb.com/name/nm2568789/
Mandi Lampi (19, musician & actress) http://finnish.imdb.com/name/nm1300866/

[Desertpuma]

I lit a candle for many these on the night of their deaths, especially Minghella and Scofield. If you haven't seen A Man For All Seasons, you must. A riveting statement on standing by your principles when it is inconvenient.