wrote:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7304004.stm

Wonderful author.

Planetary Radio is podcasting an old interview with Arthur C Clarke.

http://www.planetary.org/radio/show/00000281/

Among other things, Clark refers to his acquaintance with J.R.R. Tolkein
and relates an event where Tolkein and he were seated next to each other
at lunch. Clark says that Tolkein pointed to a smallish man, his book
editor, and said "That's where I got the idea for the Hobbitt." Now we know.