He is best known for his science fiction writing, specifically the short story, The Sentinel, that led to the seminal film “2001:A Space Odyssey.” It is not widely known that Clarke was something of an inventor/technologist having articulated the idea that geostationary satellites would be ideal telecommunications relays — in 1945. To say that this was a good idea — as it lead to them actually being used in that fashion and also set up the conduit used by cable television services like HBO to distribute content all over the world. Another prediction he made is the building of a space elevator, which he believed will make space shuttles obsolete. Clarke wrote about 34 novels, over 12 short story collections numerous non-fiction articles, and worked on several notable television programs.

“The only way to find the limits of the possible is by going beyond them to the impossible.”

Sir Arthur C. Clarke