Thanks. My conception of what this list is about comes from the post's introduction: "We're not including people who are really well known for doing one thing, and one thing only — this is a list of creators who've done a number of projects, each of them with a unifying set of distinctive characteristics."

Thanks for the perspective. Pardon my liberal use of the "space opera" label. (Again, see above.)

"Space opera" has changed. Used to connote bad sci-fi writing, but I take the more modern, expansive meaning to include hard science and anything in between. Frank Herbert's Dune: serious, good space opera. Brian Herbert's and Kevin J. Anderson's bastardized, zombie Dune novels: campy, bad space opera.

Please see my response to Josh. And I wouldn't want to put words in Asimov's mouth — he'd probably deny himself that he'd ever invented the genre, even if I maintained the contention. Regardless, the nature of Asimov's impact is so extensive and variegated that, unlike Smith (or Hamilton, for that matter), he's earned…

Granted, but it's worth noting that neither Smith nor any of the others impacted the genre (and its sub-genres) as much as Asimov did with his stellar prose. He was one of the first; but if he was not the first, he was certainly the best. (If you have a different opinion, I won't gainsay you — whatever brings you the…

I appreciate the point of the post: you didn't fail to list Tolkien despite the fact that he forever change Fantasy or Sci-Fi literature; rather, you chose not to list him because the significance of his work is limited in scope. But then, why is Douglas Adams up there? How about Issac Asimov? He ought to be up there…

I admit, this occurred to me too.

Advisers are informing Dear Leader that the launch was a success, and that this image, broadcast on North Korean state television, is in fact a satellite photo of Pyongyang's very own Glorious Workers Happy Lucky Victory Square.

My two tiels are evacuating their digestive track just thinking about the prospect of a feathered dinosaur. My two conures on the other hand would still totally pick a fight with a T-Rex, and win.

The shutter speed was set at 30 seconds.

Here, allow me to fill up your cup of half empty.

Correction: there is hope for puppies. Humans are more than willing to let other humans perish.

Totally getting laid.

I was thinking the same thing! Especially the one on the sunglasses-toting actor, with the shoulder guards, matte finish, carbon fiber, and color piping. I'm really excited about the costume and art design.

Stringer Bell v Omar

I'm just glad that they handed Prometheus off to Ridley Scott.

Much harder to track the MTA's cash flow.

"New York City uses it to power systems for swiping fare cards."

That headline is awfully disingenuous. Bullying would fetch a fine or as much as 6 mos in your local jail. Felonious stalking by violent offenders with a record would fetch 25 years in a state prison.

Point taken.