In recent months the science fiction and fantasy genres have begun to change their long tradition of ignoring uncomfortable truths. For example, the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer was recently renamed the Astounding Award after 2019 winner Jeannette Ng pointed out the many issues surrounding Campbell’s beliefs and actions. And the renaming of the James Tiptree Jr. Award is also being considered because of actions taken by Alice Sheldon.
But missing from these discussions has been any concerns about the name of the Arthur C. Clarke Award, one of our genre’s biggest honors.
I began writing about this after hearing the award named for Clarke was sponsoring a national science fiction competition for young people. The problem? Clarke appears to have been a pedophile.
PEŁEN TEKST MOŻNA PRZECZYTAĆ NA STRONIE PATREON SANFORDA.
Fot. Arthur C. Clarke na planie „2001: Odysei kosmicznej”. Źródło: James Vaughan via Flickr