SIR ARTHUR C. CLARKE - PRINTED LETTER SIGNED IN INK 07/25/1995 - HFSID 202457

ARTHUR C. CLARKE
Clarke signed, dated and annotated this form letter, printed on his personalized letterhead, in 1995. It includes information about his health problems and how he looked forward to 2001. Accompanied by original mailing envelope, resume and biography.
Printed letter signed: "Att C Clarke", 1 page, 8¼x11½, on Clarke's personalized letterhead. February 25, 1995. Addressed to "Alan". In this form letter, Clarke regrets not being able to personally answer the recipient's mail. Clarke was diagnosed with post-polio syndrome, which forced him to use a wheelchair; he writes about how the disease has affected him in this letter and how this, and the attendant physical therapy, takes up too much of his time to answer letters personally. He adds that he "can only manage a 10-hour working day" and that he's looking forward to 2001: "Nevertheless, if I can conserve my energies I look forward to 2001 - which I can't believe is only seven years away..." According to a file listing at the bottom of this letter, the text was written in 1994. Clarke has annotated the letter in many places, crossing out the printed "Dear Correspondent" salutation and writing in "Alan" and adding a postscript near the bottom: "Look for my MYSTERIOUS UNIVERSE/TO [illegible] on DISCOVERY CHANNEL." Accompanied by: 2-page (1 sheet front and verso) resume, 1-page biography and original mailing envelope on Clarke's personalized envelope to Master Alan Burke, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, postmarked July 30, 1995. Clarke (1917-2008) was a researcher and science fiction author perhaps best known for 2001: A Space Odyssey. In 1964, the popular science fiction writer had been approached by director Stanley Kubrick, who wanted to make "the proverbial good science fiction movie." Clarke simultaneously wrote his novel, which spanned man's exploration of his universe from the savannahs of Africa to the rings of Saturn, as Kubrick was creating the film. Both debuted in 1968. Besides his sequels to 2001, Clarke has produced some of science fiction's most celebrated novels, including Childhood's End and Rendezvous with Rama, thought-provoking short stories like The Nine Billion Names of God, and many essays. A resident of Sri Lanka since 1946, Clarke won two Hugo and one Nebula award, and he shared an Oscar nomination with Kubrick for 2001 in 1968. Letter, resume and biography are lightly toned and creased. Folded twice and unfolded. Envelope is lightly creased and torn open neatly at top. Otherwise, fine condition.