Comments on: Sir Arthur and I

By: Dries du Preez

Dries du Preez — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:43:45 +0000

I have just finished The Last Theorem today, and I am still filled with guilt that I only discovered in 2010 that we all had lost Arthur C. Clarke just 2 year prior. I know this sounds horrible, in my defence I was extremely caught up with highschool, and in my part of the world, news doesn’t come to you, you have to go find it yourself.

I regret that I have not read any of your other works Mr. Pohl, but I greatly enjoyed this collaboration. And on more occasions than not, I was genuinely surprised at the direction and turn that the story took, even if I did hear things before hand.

I wish you the best in your future projects,

By: Steve Prowse

Steve Prowse — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:03:21 +0000

I’m really enjoying the last theorem and also wish to vale Arthur C Clarke wh bough tme many hours fo joy .

I’m fascinated by the number theory presented in the book, being a mathophobe and especially phobic of most teaching methods being a dry recitation of know facts without requiring the recipient to think would love real world courses like the ones Ranjit and Joris Vorhulst led. Any references to plain english expositions?

Collatz theory was fascinating, although it doesn’t work for 3 itself (Can’t work out why ), but was wondering if it had corollary theories, eg any odd number + 1 or even number that aren’t squares of two won’t reduce to 1. That seems what the theory is saying but wasn’t sure if my understanding was correct. Any simple english explanations out there anyone knows of?

By: David Pettus

David Pettus — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:38:57 +0000

It’s been a great many years now, but do you remember your visit to Huntsville, Alabama (I guess this must have been 1979, maybe?)at a SF convention where you were our guest of honor… and I remember walking along side you at the SPACE CENTER there, where on that particular occasion, they had a sort of replica of von Braun’s office on display there. So there we were, standing side by side, looking at this, and I said to you “He was a great man, wasn’t he?”, thinking at the time that anyone so closely associated with the space effort must surely be a science fiction writer’s hero… and your response was “HE WAS A GOD DAMNED NAZI!!”.
Well, you might not remember, but I think that I never will forget it. I didn’t take that conversation any further, but reading your commentary here regarding von Braun certainly helps me to understand your point of view.
Now that I think of it, I believe You kindly did an interview with me in 1979- at a con in Louisville- which I used in a fanzine I published titled FAN PLUS. So I guess the Huntsville event I’m talking about here must have been in 1980. In any case, it was quite a long time ago. I’ve interviewed several writers since those days, but the interview we did was, for me, the finest of them all. I’ve enjoyed your work over the years, and I do admire your accomplishments, and no doubt about it, Fred, Arthur C. Clarke couldn’t have asked a better man to collaborate on his final book. Your amazing talent. Your wide experience. Your enthusiasm for science… I’m just really glad that I did once get to meet you. THANK YOU!!!

By: JVjr

JVjr — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:30:50 +0000

Fascinating story, thanks.

A minor typo: the Boxing day tsunami was 2004, not ’6.

By: PeeJ

PeeJ — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 02:51:37 +0000

Good heavens, what a delight! I refer to both the entry about Sir Arthur and my stumbling across your blog.

Forgive me, but I was unaware that your were still around, much less writing. I’m very much looking forward to sending you birthday greetings on your next one! As you are the exact same age as my mother, and since she seems determined to outlive me, I am sure I’ll have many more opportunities to wish you well.

I still recall the giddy feelings when, as a young boy sometime in the 60′s, I read Prelude to Space and Childhood’s End. I was surely destined for skeefee addiction in any case but Sir Arthur’s books were far from prophylactic.

Thanks, Mr. Pohl. Many times over, thanks.

By: Jo Roth

Jo Roth — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 19:21:24 +0000

Thank you so much for the lovely picture of sf writers. You’ve done what you threatened Asimov with: proven the disadvantages of clean living…

I’m glad you’re around because of all the sf writers I like from the golden age, at least one of them is still around. Many more years of work to you!