Yes, of course, and I am using the phrase "ripping off" affectionately. Lucas definitely took inspiration from several cultures, but SF/Fantasy is rife with such things even in much celebrated "original" literature.

Well, given that "Alderaan" is the ancient (Arabic) name for the two pairs of stars in Canis Minoris and Geminorum and that "Coruscant" is likely named after the ancient region in the Middle East, "Khorasan", it is obvious that Lucas ripped off the history of the Arabic people. See also "Tatouine", "Palawan" and…

Well, my old friend Jack Williamson made it awesome already with "Terraforming Earth", which any fans of the underdog (and the real grandfather of SF) should appreciate and acknowledge.

Well, it might be slightly more amusing if the two words were pronounced at all the same...

Most excellent.

Well, my parents were aware of their homosexuality, but were married and living as a heterosexual couple (it was the early sixties, and society was not what is is today). Both knew they wanted children, however, and they had the three of us.

As the child of a gay couple, there were times in my life growing up where I had four "parents". My two brothers and I not only accepted this, but benefitted greatly from the presence of the additional adults in our lives.

Are you related to Baba Yaga?

Hmm... Well, in some ways, yes.

Oh, God, not at all... It's one of the most depressing things I've ever read.

*sigh*

Duchovny is not divorced. #correction

Absolutely, positively do not want.

Not sad or pissy, but damned right - clarity and accuracy take a backseat far too often these days.

I wouldn't wish the Hollywood experience on any serious SF writer.

Northern Exposure did a great riff on this many years ago...

It's unfortunate that the FSR crowd lacks the technical skill to put something like this together without capturing (or rendering, perhaps, depending on their workflow) freaking scan lines. Ugh.

Ha! Worse, IMHO. I also find it appalling that they spent 7 million on the project since it looks around a 3 or so.

Not worth it, folks - I was looking forward to this, but it's a disastrous mess, with horrendous writing (replete with stereotypes of all kinds, but an especially egregious racist Black character), some shockingly bad acting, and little to recommend it aside from the visuals.

How do you feel about Asimov's assertion regarding his own Foundation series that, "Nothing happens"?