re: And a tribute from the Universe!
Clarke also wrote an essay in the early 1960s about all the novae that seemed
to be coming our way in the galaxy. Turned out to be a statistical fluke, plus
they didn't see all the other novae hidden by interstellar dust at the time, but
I am sure he was thinking what a great SF it would make. Darn reality had to
butt in. :^)
Maybe Clarke just transformed and he's playing with the big ETI out there.