A.C. Clarke AN Re: Edgar Mitchell's "Way of the Explorer" & NASA Mars Rock

Two autograph notes in the hand of feted British science fiction writer Sir Arthur C. Clarke (1917-2008), found in the margins of a letter addressed to Clarke. The two inscriptions together total 17 words in Clarke's hand, including the first note: "not seen - / no time / to read / anything! / (5' shelf / of unread / books!)"; and the second note: "Exciting - / but far / from / conclusive!" The manuscript letter on "Kenyon College … Cambier, Ohio" letterhead is in the hand of an unknown correspondent, almost certainly a faculty member of the college's science department, and addressed to Clarke on October 28, 1996. Expected surface wear including isolated gentle wrinkles. No folds. Else near fine. 8.5" x 11."

"not seen - / no time / to read / anything! / (5' shelf / of unread / books!)"

Clarke's first margin note is related to the question of whether he had read Apollo XIV astronaut Edgar Mitchell's book co-written with Dwight Williams, "The Way of the Explorer: An Astronaut's Journey Through the Material and Mystical World," just published in June 1996. The book elaborated on ideas that Mitchell had explored in a 1995 essay called "The Dyadic Model of Consciousness." Mitchell's experience in space fundamentally changed the way that he viewed himself, others, and the universe, and eventually sparked his interest in metaphysical and paranormal studies.

From Mitchell's essay abstract: "The proposed model for consciousness, called a dyadic model … proposes that the antecedent attributes of anthropic consciousness find their roots in the field of zero point quantum potential which gave rise to the Big Bang … Physical existence evolved through natural process into ever more complex organizations of matter; so also must anthropic consciousness have evolved from more fundamental antecedent characteristics."

Clarke was 78 years old in 1996, but he was still so busy that he could not read all of the books which interested him.

"Exciting - / but far / from / conclusive!"

Clarke's second margin note was in response to a controversial theory advanced by leading NASA researchers in August 1996 that they had uncovered evidence of life on Mars. The scientists, including Kathie Thomas-Keprta, Everett Gibson, and David McKay, had closely examined a meteorite that had been blasted off the surface of Mars onto Earth about 13,000 years previously. The meteorite showed possible evidence of microbial fossils. This would mean that a life form, perhaps one as primitive as bacteria, was once present on Mars.

Clarke's measured comments about the NASA Mars rock show the dual forces at work in his intellect: on the one hand, the science fiction writer in him enthused about a potential new discovery, and all of its potential impact; on the other hand, the scientist in Clarke required a good deal of skepticism.

In addition, the unknown correspondent congratulated Clarke on recently winning the Theodore Von Kármán Award, issued from the International Academy of Astronautics in Beijing in 1996.

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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