Writer Arthur C Clarke dies at 90
Last Updated: Wednesday, 19 March 2008, 16:21 GMT
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Writer Arthur C Clarke dies at 90
Sir Arthur C Clarke
Sir Arthur C Clarke was famous for his science fiction writing
British science fiction writer Sir Arthur C Clarke has died in his adopted home of Sri Lanka at the age of 90.
The Somerset-born author achieved his greatest fame in 1968 when his short story The Sentinel was turned into the film 2001: A Space Odyssey.
His visions of space travel and computing sparked the imagination of readers and scientists alike.
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse paid tribute, hailing the writer as a "great visionary".
Since 1995, the author had been largely confined to a wheelchair by post-polio syndrome.
He died at 0130 local time (2000 GMT) of respiratory complications and heart failure, according to his aide, Rohan De Silva.
