Arthur C. Clarke has been a household name since 1968, when the film 2001: A Spacee Odyssey rocketed him to popular fame. But science fiction fans had already long appreciated Clarke's ability to stretch readers' imaginations as well as forecast real scientific developments in his futuristic tales. This authorized biography explores Clarke's personal vision and his career as one of the twentieth century's most popular and influential writers.Clarke is the author of more than sixty books, which have sold more than fifty million copies in thirty languages. He has received numerous awards for both his nonfiction science writing and his science fiction, including the Kalinga Prize, the Bradford Washburn Award, and the Hugo, Nebula, and John W. Campbell awards - science fiction's three highest tributes.In 1968 he shared an Oscar nomination with Stanley Kubrick for the screenplay of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Honors for his invention of the communication satellite in 1945 include a Fellowship at King's College, London, and the 1982 Marconi International Fellowship, and in 1989 Clarke received the CBE (Commander of the British Empire) honor from Queen Elizabeth.Through candid interviews with Clarke himself, as well as with his friends, colleagues, and family members, Neil McAleer reveals the life experiences and creative forces that have shaped the man behind the legend. The result is a fascinating portrait sure to enlighten and enhance the reading pleasure of Arthur C. Clarke's countless followers. Read Less