My first three novels were Asimov's The Martian Way, then two Clarkes: Islands in the Sky and The Sands of Mars. Clarke's personal papers are to be held under lock and key until 50 years following his death; roll on 2058.
Clarke was a great favourite of mine but it was to be expected (sadly). His is the Sci Fi that I prefer. Not too romantic but neither was it too depressingly apocalyptic. But, most importantly, creative enough and still held within the bounds of possibilty.
Arthur C Clarke's Mysterious World (later Universe) which differed from most such themed documentaries of the time by adopting a sceptical tone. The Goodies devoted an episode of their ITV year to a parody of it, in which the title character didn't believe in anything, including that he was Arthur C Clarke (and indeed it was actually Graeme in a bald wig). Which I found a strangely conflicting experience.
