The significant science fiction author, Arthur C. Clarke, has died. In a 2001 Reader’s Digress–I mean, Digest–article, Clarke listed several predictions for future developments. Several he hoped would not occur, but these perhaps he did hope for.

In 2012, he suggested “Aerospace-planes [would] enter commercial service.” Prince Harry would be the first of Britain’s royalty to fly in space the following year, and in 2014, “Construction of Hilton Orbiter Hotel [would] begin by converting the giant shuttle tanks previously allowed to fall back to Earth.”

All of that would lead to this prediction for 2017: “On his hundred birthday, December 16, Sir Arthur C. Clarke is one of the first guests in the Hilton Orbiter.”