J. R. Ewing subterfuges to plunder his foes' wealth. The original series concept was a blend of "Bonanza" with a rich, western patriarch and his three dissimilar sons, "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" with its rival brothers, and their scheming wives, and "Romeo and Juliet" with two star-crossed lovers whose families are sworn enemies. The focus of the series was initially the feuding families, with J.R. just a supporting character, but his popularity grew and the producers acknowledged he became the breakout character. Two highly rated 1980 episodes became part of a cultural phenomenon that year known as "Who shot J.R.?". In
Star Names basic astrological references are scattered throughout the book, although downplayed. Frederik Pohl in 1965 called "Star Names" "a fine book (but hardly 'hammock reading')". It was criticized by Paul Kunitzsch and Gary D. Thompson for using obsolete sources, and thereby being unreliable on star names and their derivation. Thompson maintains that the discussion on star names is especially unreliable as regards to Arabic star names, and otherwise also to Mesopotamian, and Egyptian constellations and star names. There is no direct modern equivalent, although Ian Ridpath deals with traditional Greek and Roman constellation mythology, while "Short Guide to Modern Star Names"