death, and life

[lagilman]

Came home to news that Arthur C Clark has died. Sad news, but not terribly unexpected -- he was 90, and not in good health, and it was a gift that we had him with us as long as we did. The last of the Big Three* has left terra firma. *raises glass* Your memory, sir.

EtA: Over on makinglight, the following quote struck me: unlike many other writers who've wrestled with that wrenching frame shift, for Clarke it was rarely terrifying, rarely an engine of alienation and despair. He was all about the transformational reframe, the cosmic perspective, that step off into the great shining dark. He believed it would improve us. He rejoiced to live in a gigantic universe of unencompassable scale, and he thought the rest of us should rejoice, too.

I thihk that is why I don't enjoy much of the SF being written now. The "woe, the universe is vast and we are small" attitude does not appeal to me as much as the "wow, the universe is vast and we are small" 'tude I grew up reading.


On slightly related but much better news, thanks to those who sent good vibes for my mom: everything went well, she's in recovery now, and we should be able to collect her tomorrow morning. Much relieved.

And that's all I got. It's been a long and very draining day, and all I want to do right now is kick back with a bottle of wine and be a lump...

ETA: I love NYC. The ability to have a lamb kabab platter delivered at 10pm is just so...civilized.



*Heinlein, Asimov and Clarke. I only knew Asimov personally, but they all kicked my then-teenaged brain into places that would not have been possible, otherwise

Comments

[webmonkeyjr.livejournal.com]

I am also in favor of "wow, the universe is vast and we are small" but add my own "let's see what restaurants we can visit" to the end of that.

If you're a fan, or just want to experience it, McDonald's delivers in NY too... freaked me out the first time.

[lagilman]

I remember pointing out to dianora2 many years ago that Arby's (?) delivered. I think she threw something at me.

IMO, life as we knew it died the day Mickey Dees and BK started taking credit cards. Fast food should not cost so much you have to whip out the plastic! Whipping out the plastic should not be a reflex!

*shakes cane* you kidz! Get offa my lawn!

[webmonkeyjr.livejournal.com]

I couldn't agree more.

I took my niece to a Mickey Dees last week and watched her pay for her Happy Meal, with pride, with the Visa Gift Card she got for her birthday. I shook my head, pulled out my wallet and gave over the cash. The girl behind the counter actually had to look at the screen to figure out how to give me change.

What's this world coming to?

(Ponders the day he walked 10 miles up hill both ways with no shoes in a blizzard just to milk the cow)

[handlebar605.livejournal.com]

but by doing this, they make it possible to use debit cards & eventually get away from carrying cash at all (at all)

I remember going to Mickey Dees out in CA & getting 15 cent burgers.

[otterdance.livejournal.com]

I thihk that is why I don't enjoy much of the SF being written now. The "woe, the universe is vast and we are small" attitude does not appeal to me as much as the "wow, the universe is vast and we are small" 'tude I grew up reading.

That really sums up my feelings, too. I love Clarke because I could identify with his characters, and the scale of the story being told. After cutting my baby teeth on the likes of him, Bradbury, Kutner, Niven, and Dick, the "harder" stuff just never worked for me.

[otterdance.livejournal.com]

And good news about your mom!

[windrose.livejournal.com]

The "woe, the universe is vast and we are small" attitude does not appeal to me as much as the "wow, the universe is vast and we are small" 'tude I grew up reading.

Yes, exactly. The vastness of the universe is humbling, but it needn't be terrifying. It should be a source of wonder, not fear.

[fakefrenchie.livejournal.com]

Yes, but I'm always imagining the vast universe in the hands of people like Bush. *shudder*

[windrose.livejournal.com]

Oh, the universe is far too big a place for we humans to screw it up. We might make a mess of things in one tiny corner of a single galaxy, but the rest of the universe will keep chugging right along, completely indifferent to our shenanigans.

[lagilman]

Yep. If I have a religious philosophy it can best be summed up as: "I am a part of the greater universe. The universe takes a long view. I am part of the long view."

[handlebar605.livejournal.com]

"Doc" Ed Smith had a different philosophy on how humans interacted with the universe. While emotionally I would prefer to have an effect on the universe, I recognize that in all probability, I'm not going to have much effect at all.

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

Glad your mum is OK.

[infiniteviking]

The "woe, the universe is vast and we are small" attitude does not appeal to me as much as the "wow, the universe is vast and we are small" 'tude I grew up reading.

Knew there was a reason I love golden-age fiction. Thank you for articulating it. And though I don't know your mom, have some good vibes on principle -- best of health to her.


(I was one of those who asked to friend your journal after the Pitfalls and Pratfalls panel at Lunacon; you wrote it on the back of my program. Thank you!)

[lagilman]

you're welcome, and be well come! You will already have determined that much and many gets discussed here....

[ianrandalstrock.livejournal.com]

Whoops. Guess I've been reading lj in the not-logged-in state again; missed whatever it was with your mother. Belated good vibes; glad to hear it went well.