Science fiction writer Clarke dies aged 90

British astronomer Patrick Moore has paid tribute to his friend, the science fiction writer Arthur C Clarke, after his death in Sri Lanka at the age of 90.

“He was a great visionary, a brilliant science fiction writer and a great forecaster,” he said.

“He foresaw communications satellites, a nationwide network of computers, interplanetary travel, he said there would be a man on the moon by 1970 – while I said 1980 – and he was right.”

The pair had been friends since meeting at the British Interplanetary Society in its early years in the 1930s.

“I spoke to him only a couple of weeks ago – I knew he had been ill and I was rather concerned for him,” Mr Moore said last night.

An aide to the author, Rohan De Silva, told the Associated Press that Clarke died after suffering from breathing problems.

He was the author of more than 100 books, including '2001: A Space Odyssey'.

Originally from Somerset, Clarke went to Sri Lanka to dive in 1954, then two years later made the tropical island his home.

He published his prophetic view of the future, '2001: A Space Odyssey', in 1968 and was co-author of the highly successful screen version with Stanley Kubrick.

Clarke was knighted in 2000 in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo – more than two years after he was conferred with the honour.

The investiture was delayed at Clarke’s request after he was accused of being a child molester by a newspaper.

Sri Lankan police investigated the allegations but took no action.

Clarke said: “Having always had a particular dislike of paedophiles, few charges could be more revolting to me than to be classed as one. My conscience is perfectly clear.”

From 1995, the author was largely confined to a wheelchair, suffering from post-polio syndrome.