Editing E. E. Smith (section)

==Critical opinion==

Smith's novels are generally considered to be classic [[space opera]]s,<ref>{{cite book|author=Clarke, Sir Arthur C.|author-link=Arthur C. Clarke|title=[[Astounding Days]]|pages= 102–3 ff}}</ref> and he is sometimes called the first of the three "[[nova]]s" of 20th-century science fiction (with [[Stanley G. Weinbaum]] and [[Robert A. Heinlein]] as the second and third novas).<ref>Clarke, ''op. cit.'' p. 120, citing and agreeing with Isaac Asimov in his introduction to ''The Best of Stanley G. Weinbaum'', who was the second nova.</ref>

Heinlein credited him for being his main influence:

<blockquote>I have learned from many writers—from [[Jules Verne|Verne]] and [[H. G. Wells|Wells]] and [[John W. Campbell|Campbell]] and [[Sinclair Lewis]], et al.—but I have learned more from you than from any of the others and perhaps more than for all the others put together{{nbsp}}...<ref>William H. Patterson. ''Robert A. Heinlein: In Dialogue with His Century''. New York: Tor Books, 2014, p. 200</ref></blockquote>

Smith expressed a preference for inventing fictional technologies that were not strictly impossible (so far as the science of the day was aware) but highly unlikely: "the more highly improbable a concept is—short of being contrary to mathematics whose fundamental operations involve no neglect of infinitesimals—the better I like it" was his phrase.<ref>{{cite book|author=Smith, E.E.|title=[[Of Worlds Beyond]]|page= 84|edition= Advent }}</ref>

<!-- 2013-03-26 these two new paragraphs don't fit section heading "Critical opinion" but neither does the old content -->''Lensman'' was one of five finalists when the 1966 [[World Science Fiction Convention]] judged [[Foundation (book series)|Isaac Asimov's ''Foundation'']] the Best All-Time Series.<ref name=SFAwards>
{{cite web|url=http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/NomLit125.html#4842|author=Smith, Edward E.|title=The Locus Index of SF Awards: Index of Literary Nominees|website=[[Locus Publications]]|access-date=March 26, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016201144/http://locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/NomLit125.html#4842|archive-date=October 16, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

The [[EMP Museum#Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame|Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame]] inducted Smith in 2004.<ref name=sfhof-old>
{{cite web
 |url=http://www.midamericon.org/halloffame/ 
 |title=Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame 
 |website=Mid American Science Fiction and Fantasy Conventions, Inc. 
 |access-date=March 26, 2013 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521070009/http://www.midamericon.org/halloffame/ 
 |archive-date=May 21, 2013 
 |df=mdy 
}} This was the official website of the hall of fame to 2004.</ref>