RIP, Arthur C. Clarke

Arguably the trippiest of the first generation of SF writers - setting the stage for Brunner, Vinge, Spinrad, Gibson, Sterling, Stephenson and Stross - Arthur C. Clarke has passed away at his home in Sri Lanka at the age of 90:

Mr. Clarke’s influence on public attitudes toward space was acknowledged by American astronauts and Russian cosmonauts, by scientists like the astronomer Carl Sagan and by movie and television producers. Gene Roddenberry credited Mr. Clarke’s writings with giving him courage to pursue his “Star Trek” project in the face of indifference, even ridicule, from television executives.

Hmm, let's see: 2001: A Space Odyssey and global communication satellites? That's a legacy that's going to be very hard to beat.