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9780006482024

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`Isaac Asimov was one of the great explainers of the age...It will never be known how many practicing scientists today, in how many countries, owe their initial inspiration to a book, article, or short story by Isaac Asimov'Carl Sagan `Asimov displayed one of the most dynamic imaginations in science fiction'Daily Telegraph `Asimov's career was one of the most formidable in science fiction'The Times

'Isaac Asimov was one of the great explainers of the age...It will never be known how many practicing scientists today, in how many countries, owe their initial inspiration to a book, article, or short story by Isaac Asimov' Carl Sagan 'Asimov displayed one of the most dynamic imaginations in science fiction' Daily Telegraph 'Asimov's career was one of the most formidable in science fiction' The Times

A posthumous anthology of previously uncollected science fiction writings from Asimov (1920 - 92; Forward the Foundation, 1993, etc.) comprising 15 stories, 18 nonfiction pieces about science fiction, and 20 essays on the craft of writing science fiction. In the fiction, there are a few nuggets among the less memorable short-shorts - such as the title story, a wonderful account of how a visual artist of genius struggles to represent and dramatize three undescribed alien characters (strongly resembling the aliens in Asimov's The Gods Themselves) from a science fiction novel. And Cal is a robot who yearns to write; given the capacity to do so by his writer owner, Cal so outshines his owner that the latter dismantles him. Part Two, On Science Fiction, consists of magazine editorials, essays - such as The Robot Chronicles, a fascinating exploration of how Asimov conceived and developed his definitive robot stories - and book introductions. These, devoid of context, lack even footnotes to tell us which books are being introduced. Finally, in Part Three, On Writing Science Fiction, Asimov, at his most genial and avuncular, dispenses useful advice on Plotting, Ideas, Suspense, Originality, Symbolism, Revisions, Dialog, and other aspects of the craft. A chance to browse through the prolific Grand Master's last words of, and thoughts about, science fiction. But the pleasure would have been enhanced if somebody had bothered to provide an introduction and some much needed background information. (Kirkus Reviews)

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Isaac Asimov was born in 1920 in Russia and was brought to the USA by his parents three years later. He grew up in Brooklyn and attended Columbia University. After a short spell in the army, he gained a doctorate and worked in academia and chemical research. Asimov's career as a science fiction writer began in 1939 with the short story 'Marooned Off Vesta'. Thereafter he became a regular contributor to the leading SF magazines of the day. Asimov wrote hundreds of short stories and novels, including the iconic I, Robot and Foundation. He won the Hugo Award four times and the Nebula Award once. Apart from his world-famous science fiction, Asimov also wrote highly successful detective mystery stories, a four-volume History of North America, a two-volume Guide to the Bible, a biographical dictionary, encyclopedias, and textbooks, as well as two volumes of autobiography. Asimov died in 1992 at the age of 72.

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