Arthur C. Clarke, the prolific science fiction writer of 2001: A Space Odyssey and the visionary who thought up communications satellites, died today at 90 in his home in Sri Lanka.

Read his obit in the Chicago Tribune here.

Clarke, who wrote 2001 in the famous Chelsea Hotel, was long rumored to be gay by sci fi lovers, especially after his Firstborn series, written with Stephen Baxter, introduced a major gay character  - but when asked about his sexual orientation,  his standard reply was, “not gay, just cheerful.”