The astronomer and science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke has died:
Science fiction writer Sir Arthur C Clarke has died aged 90 in his adopted home of Sri Lanka, it was confirmed tonight.
Clarke, who had battled debilitating post-polio syndrome since the 1960s and sometimes used a wheelchair, died at 1:30am after suffering breathing problems, his personal secretary Rohan De Silva said.
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In 1998, his lifetime work was recognised when he was honoured with a Knighthood – formally conferred by Prince Charles in Sri Lanka two years later.
In recent years, he has been largely confined to a wheelchair due to post-polio syndrome, but his output as a writer continued undiminished.
Marking his “90th orbit of the sun†in December, the author said he did not feel “a day over 89” and made three birthday wishes: for ET to call, for man to kick his oil habit and for peace in Sri Lanka.
Although to most Clarke will be remember as the author of the novel on which the movie, 2001: A Space Odyssey was based, to me he’ll always be the author of The Sands of Mars, one of the first science fiction novels I ever read just a few years after it was first published, and Rendezvous With Rama, one of the finest science fiction novels I’ve ever read.
Rest in peace, Sir Arthur.
