Description:

A.C. Clarke ALS Re: TV/Movie Schedule Including "3001: The Final Odyssey," "Hammer of God," & Early Novels

A 1p autograph letter signed by feted British science fiction writer Sir Arthur C. Clarke (1917-2008), signed as "Ath Clarke" on the reverse of the author's busy August 1997 television and movie production schedule. Clarke's handwritten letter runs approximately 30 words verso, and he has also apparently inscribed "P.T.O!" recto at the bottom of the schedule page, as well as drawn an arrow next to a schedule item entitled "Happy Birthday!" A note next to that item, relating to the Discovery Channel, is presumably in the hand of Clarke's letter recipient. Clarke's television and movie schedule is dated August 18, 1997 but Clarke's letter on the reverse is dated September 1, 1997. Expected light transmittal folds, else near fine. 8.125" x 11.625."

Clarke wrote, in full:

"Dear Karl -

Many thanks for your letter of 9 Jan - recd 30 Aug!!

Recd the Biniri (?) piece with great interest. Will take it up with my producer next week!! (See over.)

All good wishes

Ath Clarke

1 Sept 97."

Clarke's television and movie schedule from the summer of 1997 divides his projects into the following categories: "Completed," "In Production," "Contracted," "Optioned" and "Under Discussion." About halfway down the schedule is the announcement, "80th Birthday: 16 Dec," reminding us that Clarke was still incredibly active and vigorous even at the age of 79. The thirty items on the schedule reflected Clarke's involvement in book publishing, television programming, film production, and children's literature, as well as his participation in international conferences and charitable appeals.

Clarke's multimedia projects related to many of his most famous novels, including:

- "3001: The Final Odyssey" (1997)

On the top of the list is a promotion relating to Clarke's recently published book, the fourth and last novel of the author's "Space Odyssey" series, "3001: The Final Odyssey" (1997). In the final novel, cryogenically frozen and revived astronaut Frank Poole explores the Jovian moon Europa, where a settlement named Tsienville has been established.

- "The Hammer of God" (1993)

Also on the list is the Steven Spielberg adaption of Clarke's 1993 science-fiction thriller "The Hammer of God" (1993), a story about scientists orchestrating the destruction of an Earth-bound asteroid with fusion thermal rockets. The resultant movie, Paramount Picture's "Deep Impact" (1998) was so radically altered from Clarke's original premise that the author was not credited in the movie.

- Early Novels (1953-1979)

Clarke's early novels "Childhood's End" (1953); "Fall of Moondust" (1961); "Rendezvous with Rama" (1973); and "Fountains of Paradise" (1979) were all optioned for the silver screen. "Rendezvous with Rama" is listed in conjunction with American actor Morgan Freeman, who had expressed a desire to produce a film adaptation. The "Rendezvous with Rama" project was derailed for more than 20 years, but it was announced that it would finally proceed in December 2021.

Sir Arthur C. Clarke is considered one of the greatest science fiction and futurist fantasy writers of the twentieth century, alongside Isaac Asimov and Robert Heinlein. Clarke co-wrote the 1968 screenplay for "2001: A Space Odyssey" with director Stanley Kubrick, using material from his 1951 pulp fiction short story "The Sentinel," along with other novelized material from the 1960s. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's seminal movie about space exploration, "2001: A Space Odyssey" was released one year prior to the Apollo XI moon landing, and a full ten years before the "Star Wars" franchise began. The movie normalized the idea of space travel, exploration, and colonization, and also introduced disturbing dystopian tropes, like malignant artificial intelligence, into mainstream popular culture. "2001: A Space Odyssey" proved hugely influential.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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