Sir Arthur Charles Clarke ( born December 16 , 1917 ; died Colombo 19 March , 2008 ) was a British author and inventor , most famous for his science fiction novel 2001 : A Space Odyssey , and for working with director Stanley Kubrick on the film of the same name . Sri Lankabhimanya Sir Arthur Charles Clarke , CBE , FRAS <!----> ( 16 December 1917 â `` 19 March 2008 ) was a British science fiction author , inventor , and futurist , most famous for the novel 2001 : A Space Odyssey , written in parallel with the script for the eponymous film , co-written with film-director Stanley Kubrick ; and as a host and commentator in the British television series Mysterious World .