h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

A great article!
I realize this was not meant to be an exhaustive list, but I have to say I think Lt. Commander Data from Star Trek TNG is notably absent. Growing up with that show as a kid I had always considered Data to be the quintessential, and oddly most believable, man/machine.
The depth of character that Brent Spiner was able to develop in new subplots offers much food for thought: the fact that he lived with a cat, the relationship with his 'father' and Lore, his curious drive to develop his 'sense of humour', and even his brief stint as an actor.
But thanks for the well-researched article. A real pleasure to read.

Not to mention his stint as a stand-up comedian, his paintings, and his little fling with Tasha Yar.

"Data! Report! What is that thing?"

"I don't know, Sir."

"That's hardly a scientific answer."

"All scientific inquiry begins with ignorance, sir."

"Hmmph."

Perhaps the author considers Data to be an android and not a cyborg.

Hm. Yes, good point. That's probably the case, now that you mention it.

Android and cyborg are terms that allow for a certain ambiguity. We will have to see what the author writes about androids to be sure.

One of the earliest quotes about Data still ranks among the best, when Riker sees Data and Geordi in front of an easel. Riker tells Geordi to keep notes, and when asked why....

"A blind man teaching an android how to paint. Should be worth a few lines in someone's book...."