Beyond Literary Landscapes—Arthur C. Clarke

From my early beginnings as a young introvert, the public library has always been a bit of a refuge. Years later, not much has changed, albeit with an additional affinity for endless hours spent scouring second-hand bookstores to add to my ever-growing “to-read” pile.

From one bookworm to another, this column will be underscoring and outlining various literary genres, authors, and recent reads and can serve as an introduction for those unfamiliar with these works, as a refresher for long-time aficionados, and maybe as an inspiration for readers to share their own suggested topics. Do you have a topic that you would like covered in this column?  Feel free to contact me for an interview and a feature in an upcoming column.

Who

This week, we focus on famed English science fiction writer, Arthur C. Clarke.

Clarke was born on December 16, 1917, in Minehead, Somerset, England and died on March 19, 2008, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, where he had lived since 1956.

Although Clarke was a prolific writer of hard science fiction (novels and short stories) and non-fiction (scientific and technical works), he is best remembered for the multiple Oscar-winning film script (directed by notable US director Stanley Kubrick) and influential novel 2001: A Space Odyssey.

(Hard science fiction is defined as a subgenre within science fiction that focuses on “hard” sciences, such as physics, mathematics, and astronomy, as opposed to soft science fiction, which is concerned with “soft” sciences, such as politics, anthropology, and sociology, among others.)

During his lifetime, Clarke received numerous Hugo, Nebula, and Locus awards, which honour the best writing in science fiction.

What

Some examples of Clarke’s notable works include the Space Odyssey series (2001: A Space Odyssey, 2010: Odyssey Two, 2061: Odyssey Three, and 3001: The Final Odyssey), the Rama series (Rendezvous with Rama, Rama II, The Garden of Rama, and Rama Revealed), and Childhood’s End.

Other influential works include The City and The Stars, The Fountains of Paradise, A Fall of Moondust, and The Sands of Mars.

Where

Most of Clarke’s works take place throughout the solar system, including Earth, Mars, and the Moon.

When

The majority of Clarke’s works were published in the 20th century.

Why

Clarke’s fiction and non-fiction may be of interest to AU students who enjoy the hard sciences, such as physics, astrophysics, and mathematics, as the works often focus on a great deal of scientific detail. However, these works may be of interest to AU students who enjoy soft sciences as well, including psychology, sociology, and political science.

In addition, these works may appeal to AU students who would like a brief introduction to what is known as the Golden Age of Science Fiction (from the late 1930s to late 1940s). Other notable authors from this period include Isaac Asimov and Robert A. Heinlein.

How

AU’s wide range of diverse courses make it easy to study this topic in depth. Courses related to the works of Arthur C. Clarke are available in a variety of disciplines, including those that may fit into your Degree Works. (Always check with an AU counsellor to see if these particular courses fulfill your personal graduation requirements!)

AU students interested in learning more about this topic may enroll in PHYS 204: Physics for Scientists and Engineers I, a junior-level, three-credit course, which is “an introductory calculus-based physics course recommended for science, engineering, and pre-med students.”  (Please note that this course requires MATH 260: Calculus for Social Sciences and Economics or MATH 265: Introduction to Calculus I ( as prerequisites.

In addition, students may also be interested in ENGL 387: Writing Speculative Fiction, a senior-level, three-credit course, which “develops speculative fiction (SF) writing skills through a combination of strategic study and writing activity.”  (Please note that this course requires ENGL 381: Creative Writing in Prose and course coordinator approval. as prerequisites.)  Happy reading!