“The poet laurate of Science Fiction” Arthur C. Clarke passed yesterday at his home in Sri Lanka.  While driving last night, I heard a pretty interesting NPR segment on his fascinating and influential life. 

Clarke’s Third Law codifies perhaps the most significant of Clarke’s unique contributions to speculative fiction. A model to other writers of hard science fiction, Clarke postulates advanced technologies without resorting to flawed engineering concepts (as Jules Verne sometimes did) or explanations grounded in incorrect science or engineering (a hallmark of “bad” science fiction), or taking clues from trends in research and engineering (which dates some of Larry Niven’s novels). [ThisIsntHappiness via SeeingIsKnowingThyself]