By José Luis Cordeiro Tribute to Sir Arthur C. Clarke Before his death in March at age 90, Sir Arthur C. Clarke greeted many visitors from around the world. Among them was Venezuelan futurist and transhumanist scholar José Cordeiro, who here recounts his meetings with Clarke in Sri Lanka. COURTESY OF JOSÉ LUIS CORDEIRO ike many people, from the very young to the very old, I was fascinated by the ideas and writings of Sir Arthur C. Clarke. LHe was a very prolific writer, with close to 100 books and more than 1,000 articles. He was also involved in many ways with the film industry, from his landmark 2001: A Space Od- yssey with director Stanley Kubrick in 1968 to numerous documentaries about space and the future. An in- ventor and a futurist who met presi- dents, popes, and entrepreneurs alike, he was also a longtime mem- ber of the World Future Society’s Global Advisory Council. On December 16, 2007, Clarke had “completed 90 orbits around the Sun,” as he would say in his famous Egograms, and a special video was prepared by his personal assistant, Nalaka Gunawardene, for the Inter- net. Clarke’s thoughtful and witty Sir Arthur C. Clarke (seated) hosts author José Luis Cordeiro in Sri Lanka in 2004. 90th Birthday Reflections video became an instant success on the In- 2. Cleaner energy sources for the hopefully, stretched their imagina- ternet. In it, he said that he had “no future of civilization, here and be- tion as well.” regrets and no more personal ambi- yond Earth. Clarke liked the number three, and tions,” but expressed three wishes 3. Lasting peace, both in his ad- his Three Laws of the Future helped for humanity: opted Sri Lanka and in the world. to make him famous. He started with 1. Evidence of extraterrestrial life, He also explained that “I want to just one law in his 1962 book Profiles since he always believed that we are be remembered most as a writer— of the Future. The second law was ini- not alone in the universe: “ET, call us!” one who entertained readers, and, tially just an observation that was © 2008 World Future Society • 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 450, Bethesda, MD 20814, U.S.A. • All rights reserved. THE FUTURIST July-August 2008 www.wfs.org 47 unforgettable experience. One could feel his genius and imagination “Superman” of Futurism when talking to him, listening to On March 18, the Foundation the fiction side of the genre. him, seeing him, reading him. named for him reported with He was also modest; he demon- After setting up a satellite connec- quiet dignity, “After a prolific and strated a graceful integrity when tion to contact him, I had the plea- esteemed career, Sir Arthur has he wrote a letter to the editor to sure to talk to Clarke several times, passed away in Sri Lanka.” THE FUTURIST to correct another and he invited me to visit him in his Best known as the author of the author, who had inadvertently home in Sri Lanka. We met in 2004 short story on which the film 2001: credited him with “inventing” the and 2005 in his “Ego Chamber,” A Space Odyssey was based, Sir solar sail—a sun-powered space- which is decorated with many arti- Arthur C. Clarke was both an in- craft he described in his story facts, from the dinosaur age to the spired writer and a source of in- “Sunjammer.” space age. Here are excerpts from spiration for others. Clarke could justifiably be de- our conversations. In a poll of futurists for the En- scribed as the Superman of futur- José Cordeiro: What do you think cyclopedia of the Future (Macmillan, ism, and not just for his longevity about the future? 1996), Clarke was ranked sixth of against extreme physical chal- Arthur C. Clarke: As others have the 100 most influential futurists lenges. According to newspaper said, the future is no longer what it in history—ahead of Jules Verne obituaries, he had suffered from used to be! and Isaac Newton. post-polio syndrome for the past Cordeiro: What do you think He was an early supporter of two decades, succumbing to respi- about religion? the World Future Society, partici- ratory ailments. Clarke: Religion is the most ma- pating in its first conference, pur- But his forward-looking spirit levolent of all mind viruses. I am chasing books about the future led him to “predict” in his 1999 afraid to be struck by lightning one from the Society’s specialty book- book Greetings, Carbon-Based Bi- day while saying this. [laughing] store, and ultimately joining its peds! that he would celebrate his Cordeiro: Do you think that there Global Advisory Council. one-hundredth birthday as a space might be an afterlife? Society founder Edward tourist, one of the first guests in Clarke: No, I don’t believe in an Cornish noted in his series on the the Hilton Orbiter. afterlife. Society’s founding that “Arthur C. In that regard, Clarke’s goal- Cordeiro: Do you believe in re- Clarke not only joined but sent in driven life calls to mind that of incarnation? a membership for Stanley Kubrick, Superman star Christopher Reeve, Clarke: No, I don’t see any mecha- the producer/director of 2001: A who set a goal to walk again by nism that would make it possible. Space Odyssey.” age 50 after the riding accident However, I’m always paraphrasing Described as a “prophet” for the that paralyzed him. The decision J. B. S. Haldane: “The universe is not space age for his inspiring stories to strive for a goal is, in many only stranger than we imagine, it’s and meticulous scientific perspec- ways, a more heroic act than stranger than we can imagine.” tive, Clarke was one of very few achieving it. Cordeiro: What do you think science-fiction writers equally —Cynthia G. Wagner about physical immortality? gifted on both the science side and Clarke: I have written a lot about it in my books. In fact, in Profiles of the Future, I wrote that we might con- called a law by others, but then, in his friend and colleague Isaac quer death by the end of the twenty- the 1972 edition of Profiles, Clarke Asimov, with whom he sometimes first century. added a third law, rounding out the competed, had his Three Laws of Ro- Cordeiro: Are you writing a new Three Laws of the Future: botics. However, in the 1999 edition book? 1. When a distinguished but el- of Profiles of the Future, Clarke added Clarke: Yes, I have been working derly scientist states that something is an additional law: “For every expert on The Last Theorem. I have written possible, he is almost certainly right. there is an equal and opposite over a hundred pages. It is about When he states that something is im- expert.” Fermat’s theorem, which a young possible, he is very probably wrong. Days before he died, Clarke re- British mathematician, Andrew 2. The only way of discovering the viewed the final manuscript of his Wiles, proved over 300 years after limits of the possible is to venture a last novel, The Last Theorem, co-writ- Fermat. It is quite fascinating that little way past them into the impos- ten with American author Frederik something simple took so long to sible. Pohl and expected to be published prove. 3. Any sufficiently advanced tech- later in 2008. Cordeiro: And are you also writ- nology is indistinguishable from ing a book about science fiction? magic. Clarke: Well, The Last Theorem is Meeting Sir Arthur Clarke often joked that Newton science fiction, in a sense. But what had three laws, and so three were To meet Sir Arthur C. Clarke in is science fiction? That is a good also enough for him. Additionally, person was a real pleasure and an question. And how is it different 48 THE FUTURIST July-August 2008 www.wfs.org WORLD FUTURE SOCIETY ARCHIVE from fantasy? My definition of fan- tasy is something which we would like to happen but it can’t in the real world, and science fiction is some- thing which we would like to hap- pen and it probably will. Cordeiro: Have you revised your famous laws of the future? Clarke: They stand as they are. Some technologies were pure magic only 20 years ago, and they are real- ity today, just like your digital cam- era and recorder. Cordeiro: Would you like to add a new future law now? Clarke: No, I don’t think so. Has Newton added any new laws? Cordeiro: Do you believe in the ac- celerating pace of technology? Clarke: Yes, my best example is the In 1971, Arthur Clarke (center, left) made an unannounced appearance at the World Future CD-ROM. It is my favorite example Society’s First General Assembly as a show of support for the new future- oriented organi- of the first law. I still remember the zation. first tape recorders we had years ago. Another incredible example is mo- bile telephones. will make travel to space cheap. up, but you could get a refund on the Cordeiro: Are you familiar with Bucky [Buckminster Fuller] was a way back! [laughs] the NBIC (Nano-Bio-Info-Cogno) good friend, and the last time I saw Cordeiro: When do you think that idea? him was in this room. this will happen? Clarke: It is quite possible that Cordeiro: How much would it cost Clarke: I will give you the same there will be a convergence of sev- to go to space with such new tech- answer that I give everybody.