Given its stature and its heavy rotation on cable TV, it is a constant source of amazement that only 12 episodes of John Cleese's comedy Fawlty Towers were ever made. Wisely, the producers decided to quit while they were ahead, and every episode stands as a gem. Thus are legends made: live fast and die young.

In the same way, we and at least some readers have had fun with Futures, our science-fictional jeu d'esprit, which comes to a thumping conclusion this week (see page 913). The series has covered the extinction and transfiguration of humanity; manifestations of divinity; conversations with androids, extraterrestrials and even bacteria; and the total destruction of the Earth (twice). As the inevitable end of the series approached, we began to ask ourselves what we'll be doing for excitement next. Like the Star Child at the conclusion of Arthur C. Clarke's millennial novel, 2001, we're sure we'll think of something.