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Writer Arthur C Clarke dies at 90 | Writer Arthur C Clarke dies at 90 |
(30 minutes later) | |
British science fiction writer Sir Arthur C Clarke has died in Sri Lanka at the age of 90. | |
He came to fame in 1968 when a short story called The Sentinel was made into the film 2001: A Space Odyssey by director Stanley Kubrick. | |
Once called "the first dweller in the electronic cottage", his vision captured the popular imagination. | Once called "the first dweller in the electronic cottage", his vision captured the popular imagination. |
Sir Arthur was born in Minehead, Somerset. A close aide said he died after a cardio-respiratory attack. | |
'Vision' | 'Vision' |
Sir Arthur's vivid - and detailed - descriptions of space shuttles, super-computers and rapid communications systems were enjoyed by millions of readers around the world. | Sir Arthur's vivid - and detailed - descriptions of space shuttles, super-computers and rapid communications systems were enjoyed by millions of readers around the world. |
He was the author of more than 100 fiction and non-fiction books, and his writings are credited by many observers with giving science fiction - a genre often accused of veering towards the fantastical - a human and practical face. | |
A farmer's son, he was educated at Huish's Grammar School in Taunton before joining the civil service. | A farmer's son, he was educated at Huish's Grammar School in Taunton before joining the civil service. |
During World War II, Clarke volunteered for the Royal Air Force, where he worked in the, then highly-secretive, development of radar. | |
I was very fond of him indeed. A man of integrity, a man of vision, a man you could trust Sir Patrick Moore Obituary of Arthur C Clarke | |
The British astronomer, Sir Patrick Moore, had known Sir Arthur since they were teenagers. | |
He paid tribute to his friend, remembering him as "a very sincere person" with "a strong sense of humour." | |
Sir Patrick said: "So I was very fond of him indeed. A man of integrity, a man of vision, a man you could trust, and a very dear friend." | |
Future thinker | |
George Whitesides, the executive director of the National Space Society, on which Clarke served on the board of governors, also paid tribute to Sir Arthur. | |
He told BBC News 24: "That particular enthusiasm of his was what I think made him so popular in many ways. | He told BBC News 24: "That particular enthusiasm of his was what I think made him so popular in many ways. |
"He was always thinking about what could come next but also about how life could be improved in the future. | "He was always thinking about what could come next but also about how life could be improved in the future. |
"It's a vision that I think we could use more of today." | "It's a vision that I think we could use more of today." |
After a failed marriage Sir Arthur moved to Sri Lanka, then Ceylon, in 1956, where he lived, with a business partner and his family, and pursued his interest in scuba-diving. | |
His status as the grand old man of science fiction was threatened when, in 1998, allegations of child abuse, which he strenuously denied, caused the confirmation of a knighthood to be delayed. | |
Although cleared by an investigation, Sir Arthur's unconventional lifestyle continued to cause some raised eyebrows. | Although cleared by an investigation, Sir Arthur's unconventional lifestyle continued to cause some raised eyebrows. |
What are your memories of Arthur C Clarke? Did you ever meet him? Send us your comments using the form below. | What are your memories of Arthur C Clarke? Did you ever meet him? Send us your comments using the form below. |