I agree with almost everything written by the wise and well-read Pep, other than the rating. I fear my rating of the NPR list wouldn't be a Wayne Rooney. It is probably more along the lines of a Landon Donovan, i.e., viz and to-wit: Everyone tells me how great he is supposed to be, the savior of American soccer, and all that; then I watch and see someone who is blissfully ordinary, nowhere near the caliber of Kasey (sp?) Keller or Tim Howard. The same with the list. A lot of very ordinary work on it–stuff that is famous only for being famous–and I mean that in the most snarky Paris Hilton or Snooki Whatever-her-name-is sense of the word! Gene Wolfe in particular is an inexplicable diss, as he is possibly the most unique and amazing sci-fi/fantasy talent I've read in lo, these many years.
I would've kicked Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell much higher up the list. And where, oh where, is Michael Moorcock? I realize he's not everyone's cup o' tea, but the man should get some notice for sheer quantity!
In summary, not a list on which I would base a sci-fi/fantasy library! For that, I would confer with Senor Pep.
Perhaps I was a bit too soft on the list. Maybe I should turn it into the LA Galaxy. Oh well. At least the SF end did fairly well, though what this list has mainly accomplished is to generate heated discussion.
And I supposed heated discussion is a good thing. At least it proves we're not alone in having strong opinions about an artform we hold dear.
Though the list is still way too heavy on the fantasy-flavor-of-the-month club. A little respect for some of the worthies would not have been out of line!