You could make the argument that when Java introduced the interesting parts of CLU (gc, iterators, generics/parameterized times), that Lisp was the only reasonable place to go next.

It also helped that Sun and Microsoft got into a ‘dueling VM’ battle.

http://blog.splittist.com/2008/04/22/eclm-mmviii/

from John Q Splittist.

Thank you

First, that there is so much Lisp activity now, when it was given up for dead a decade ago. Admittedly these are all “marginal applications,” not “mainstream,” but most seem very real for all that.

Second, that there is so much new development, especially in the area of libraries and frameworks. If I wanted to make a living as a Lisp guy again, I would not be able to do it without starting with an awful lot of learning.

Finally, that in 25 years nobody has come up with anything so clearly better than Common Lisp as to replace it. Could be another case of “worse is better,” really meaning “good enough is good enough.”