The road to Hollywood is paved with ideas that work. Sure, there are side streets of exploitation movies and potholes of flavor-of-the-month flicks, but generally speaking, it's the consistently good ideas upon which careers are built. So who's coming up with the good ideas in science fiction film and TV and -- more importantly -- who's driving them to masses? Who will be the next Rod Serling or Gene Roddenberry?

Ask this question now and you would invariably hear the names of Ronald D. Moore, Joss Whedon, Steven Moffat and George Lucas. Moore, the creative force behind the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica has received praise not just from previously doubtful scifi fans, but also the uninitiated critics beyond its borders. Whedon, the genius behind Firefly/Serenity and the more recent Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, has one of the largest fan followings anywhere (the super-dedicated browncoats). Moffat, meanwhile, is lead writer for Doctor Who, one of the longest running scifi properties ever, also adored by a massive fan base. Lucas' creds are even more undeniable; Star Wars launched the modern era of science fiction films.

But what about that other relative newcomer has joined these revered ranks of scifi leaders? The one who has leapfrogged most of these well-knowns on his way to the top: J.J. Abrams.

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