Luminaries

Every year, io9 pays solemn tribute to actors, directors, artists, composers, writers, creators, and other icons in the realms of horror, sci-fi, and fantasy that have passed. Let us celebrate their everlasting impact on genre together. Here are the luminaries whose work has impacted the lives of so many and will live…Read more... Every year, io9 pays solemn tribute to actors, directors, artists, composers, writers, creators, and other icons in the realms of horror, sci-fi, and fantasy that have passed. Let us…

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the latest scion of the Kennedy clan to seek the presidency, has a set of unusual fans: some of the most influential tech executives and investors in America. Kennedy's strong anti-vaccine views are, for this group, a sideshow. "Tearing down…

Some of Europe’s top technologists today joined a global group of IT luminaries in warning that AI could lead to extinction. At just 22 words long, their statement is short and stark: “Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war.” Issued by the non-profit Center for AI Safety, the message has been signed by an array of business leaders, researchers, and public figures. They include Sam Altman, the…

Angela Lansbury attends a special screening of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast to celebrate the 25th Anniversary Edition release on September 18, 2016 in New York City. Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (Getty Images)Wilko Johnson - A celebrated musician who favored playing “fingerstyle” rather than using a guitar pick, he makes the list of genre luminaries because of his unforgettable turn as Game of Thrones’ terrifying, tongue-less Ser Ilyn Payne—the royal executioner who lops…