Chinese writer Ye Yonglie died from an illness in Shanghai on Friday, aged 79.

Born in Wenzhou in 1940, Ye started writing at the age of 11. He published over 180 works all through his life. He came to fame in his early years by writing science fiction works, while he shifted his focus to documentary writing and novel creation later.

After graduating from China’s prestigious Peking University with a degree in chemistry, Ye published his well-loved children’s science book “One Hundred Thousand Whys” at the age of 20. The series has become a must-read for children. His sci-fi novel "Xiao Lingtong's Travels in the Future," published in 1978, even caused a “sci-fi fever” in the 1980s.

Book reviewers and critics say Ye’s books focus on the bright side of the technology and the vivid way of telling stories brings readers hope and confidence for the future.

“Ye Yonglie was one of the most representative and the most important writers during the 1980s when sci-fi literature witnessed a booming development. I myself has been deeply influenced by his work,” said Liu Cixin, the multi-awarded writer behind the sci-fi masterpiece “Three Bodies.”