Isaac Asimov -vs- Arthur C. Clarke

[Impaler[WrG]]

I was inspired by the preceding Sci-Fi sugjestions thread and figured I would pose the question to Poly (oh great oricle of wisdom that thou art).

Who is THE definitive Literary Sci-Fi Master?

Now I know that many of us have someone else who is your "favorite" author but I think we can all agree that these two and by far and away the most famous and widly read in the genra. I have been reading both mens work for a long time now (indeed just one would keep a man entertained for years at even at the fastest pace). Yet I cant say witch I prefer. To help the great oracle-o-Poly I will briefly list some of the high points of each mans works.

Issac Asimov

Created the word Robotics
Created the 3 Laws of Robotics
Foundation Series
Caves of Steel Series
Numerous robot short stories and lone novels

Wikipedia


Arthur C. Clarke

Concived the Geosyncronus Satalite and Space Elevator
2001 Series
Rama Series
Childhoods End
Numerous short stories and lone novels

Wikipedia

[Zoid]

It´s a close call. Both are more scientists than storytellers. Both are quite crappy at character development and plot lines. Both are also very good at writing popular science. But in the end I think Clarke wins. I enjoyed the Rama and 2001 books more than Asimovs Foundation and Robot books.

Clarke

Asimov

[alva]

Clarke.
Because energy matters!!

[Jon Miller]

neither are my favorite..

Clark might have an edge on short stories

Asimov on novels

Jon Miller

[JohnT]

Clarke, for his satellite and elevator ideas have practical application, as opposed to Asimov and his utopian 3 laws crapola.

[el freako]

I prefer Asimov.

Yes his three laws of Robtics might have been utopian, but they were designed to make the usual robot stories of them attempting to supplant us impossible.

You have to respect an author who goes out of his way to make storywriting difficult for himself.

[Zoid]

Asimov 5 Clarke 2, but only one post that explains why? Come on Asimov fans

[Hueij]

Asimov wrote Nightfall, and for that alone he is the master of them all.

[Zoid]

Meh... It wasn´t all that IMO

[Jon Miller]

I am surprised that "Some other Shmo" only has 1 vote (which was mine)

I hope that means that people feel that they are saying which is better, now how is the definitive master..

Jon Miller

[reds4ever]

Asimov wrote the Foundation series, one or two of the books were patchy, but on the whole its the best popular SciFi series ever written,

[Hueij]

Asimov also introduced me to 30's and 40's pulp SF

[Immortal Wombat]

Originally posted by Jon Miller
Clark might have an edge on short stories

Asimov on novels

I'd put them the other way round, but I wouldn't like to pick either as better than the other.

[Jon Miller]

most of clarks novels I have read were the rama ones

and I only liked one of those..

Jon Miller

[Whoha]

Clarke Did Richter 10 as well.