I feel like I lost someone dear. I loved his work so much. I always felt very connected to at least one of the characters and he always seemed to have a knack of enveloping you in his vision of the Future.

It's very sad to not have him in the world with us now but he lived long and brought us so many wonderful things. Whatever happens to us when we die, I hope it is kind to him.

*salute*

Right shame, that is

"Rachael Ray does to food what Hitler did to Poland"-Anthony Bourdain

I wasn't sure how to react when I heard the news, and I still don't.

I can't believe it.

I always thought his stories were interesting - not the "usual" Star Wars/Star Trek-type of Sci Fi, but much more plausible and thought-provoking. I especially loved "The Songs of Distant Earth." In fact, my story this year is based on the Earth he describes in the beginning of that story. "Childhood's End" was good too.

I've got several "favorite" stories and authors, but Clarke had the intangible "it" factor.

Now that I think about it, I feel that SEVERAL of his short stories would make incredible movies.

Somehow I think we'll still be reading Clarke well into the future.

Oh yes we will. Along with Heinlein, Asimov, and the rest of the Old Masters (if I may use a term from painting).

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Two-Time Consecutive Come-From-Behind NaNoWriMo Winner
2006: Black Science/The Jennifer Theory
2007: Bad Company

SF 2008: Spanner