He was a visionary and an actor, able to both see the future and shape it. He used narrative as a tool to open our eyes to the possibilities open to us, and has inspired countless numbers to respect the power and possibility inherent in our continually advancing technology.
As gamers, we see his mark on every space opera ever created. He dealt with the issues facing a space-faring race thoroughly, exploring scenarios ranging from the alienating effects of time dilation to the horror of our own tools turning against us. As humans, we owe a debt to him for the revolution in satellite communications that he worked so hard to bring about.
The world has lost Sir Arthur C. Clarke, a pioneer in the truest sense of the word. He blazed a trail into unfamiliar territory, leaving behind a map by which we might find our way through the times ahead. One would hope we have the sense to use it.
CNET post
Awesome header though...