Article: Science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke dies at 90: ; Author penned more than 100 books, including the famous '2001: A Space Odyssey'

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - Even in death Arthur C. Clarke would not compromise his vision.

The famed science fiction writer, who once denigrated religion as "a necessary evil in the childhood of our particular species," left written instructions that his funeral be completely secular, according to his aides.

"Absolutely no religious rites of any kind, relating to any religious faith, should be associated with my funeral," he wrote.

Clarke died early today at the age of 90 and was to be buried in a private funeral over the weekend in his adopted home of Sri Lanka. Clarke, who had battled debilitating post-polio syndrome for years, had suffered breathing problems in recent days, aide Rohan De Silva ...

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