"...for every man who has ever lived,

...in this universe, there shines a star."

Epic though Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece '2001: A Space Odyssey' was, it would never have grown without the wonderful mind of Arthur C. Clarke.

The seed, his original short story, 'The Sentinel', was to evolve into a compelling story detailing mankind's desire to discover as much about this universe as was physically possible, and of the enduring goals, challenges and tragedies of our future history.

The movie had an almost overwhelming effect on me when I first watched it. Frightening, awesome, challenging and rewarding, it is a remarkable piece of filmmaking by a man who so obviously had a close, genuinely constructive relationship with its author.

The book is a startling exploration of humanity and its place in the universe and communicates to the reader ideas which may seem difficult to embrace, but which would be impossible to dismiss.

Not that I would want to. The truth, as always, will be far stranger.

Arthur C. Clarke, thank you.