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Is Wikipedia the start of an actual Encyclopedia Galactica? What we are creating (here, at Wikipedia) could completely overwhelm the rest of the non-comercial internet and make all paper-based reference works obsolete. I imagine it is already close to making Encarta obsolete.

Isn't this fun? Anyway, since there's an external link to the Encyclopedia Galactica, a description of what that site is all about would be appropriate. -- Kizor 08:14, 14 Sep 2004 (UTC)

Dream on, joyboy. Wikipedia is just the dabbling of part-time hobbyists. We have made nothing obsolete.Dogface 19:55, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

I figured that Wikipedia was the start of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, since it is cheaper than an Encyclopedia, it's edited by people from all around, and it's the sort of place you could find a stub that calls an entire planet "Mostly Harmless" --Wingsandsword 20:37, 17 May 2005 (UTC)

I agree with Wingsandword. I think Douglas Adams' books make it quite clear that the Guide is heavily coloquial while the Galactica is starchingly formal. The Guide is to the Galactica as the Wikipedia is to the Britanica. matturn 11:07, 19 May 2005 (UTC)

I recall that the encyclopaedia in question is actually called `Encyclopaedia Galactica' (note British spelling). I don't have Foundation at the moment but if I visit the library in the near future I will check. For now I have made `Encyclopaedia Galactica' redirect to this article.--holizz 23:38, 16 Oct 2004 (UTC)

Update: I located a copy of Foundation in my local library. I was wrong, it seems---the encyclopaedia in question is indeed spelt Encyclopedia Galactica. --holizz 18:26, 8 Nov 2004 (UTC)

But Episode 12 of Cosmos is indeed spelled "Encyclopaedia Galactica". Billions of people have got that wrong. (Yes, I know, there was no way I could resist.) Lee M 01:40, 1 Apr 2005 (UTC)

The Encyclopaedia Galactica is definitely spelt that way in HHGTG... see the screenshot from the TV series I attached. Question is, whether that's the SAME fictional work as the Encyclopedia Galactica in Asimov's book... Stoive 20:52, 19 May 2005 (UTC)

No matter what the spelling is, I really believe that Asimov had predicted the appearance of such vast encyclopedia. I believe that we are actually creating the real enciclopedia galactica in this very moment! So no matter what happens with our planet we can leave great mark to all who are there in the future (humans, aliens or robots). George 11:52, 26 Apr 2005 (UTC)

[edit] "Both are authored by legions of dedicated scholars."

Wikipedia is authored by legions of people, sure, but not primarly scholars, surely.

It was added by in 2004: [1]. Possibly hinting that the "scholars" working on Encyclopedia Galactica are fictional too :) Pavel Vozenilek 21:16, 19 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Unfair use of illustration?

Can anyone provide more information on the 'Superman' illustration and hopefully then, edit the article. The original uploaded by Evmore has been given a licence plate by Tawker, but this indicates that it is a breakfast cereal box cover. If it is so (or part of one), it is not being used to "illustrate the cereal in question", as the "fair use notice" says. It would be useful for someone who knows something about this to link the illustration in with a relevant part of the article. The "Adventures of Superman #617" is mentioned in the "Other instances" section, but I think some information should be included in the text. Or do I just have not enough to think about?! (Tithon 14:48, 22 March 2006 (UTC))

I have removed the link to the image. Its use here does not meet any of the acceptable criteria.Dogface 19:58, 2 June 2006 (UTC)