S P A C E L I G H T
INDEX
VITAL STATISTICS
Name: ASIMOV, Isaac
Aged: 72
Born: January 2, 1920
Where: Petrovichi, Russia
Died: April 6, 1992
Where: New York, NY
Interred: Cremated
Married: Gertrude Blugerman
When: July 26, 1942 (div 1973)
Married 2: Janet Opal Jeppson
When: November 30, 1973
Awarded: 7 Hugos for: F&SF Science Articles (1963 Special Achievement); the Foundation Series (1966 Best All-time Series); The Gods Themselves (1973 Novel); "The Bicentennial Man" (1977 Novelette); Foundation's Edge (1983 Novel); "Gold" (1992 Novelette); and, I. Asimov: A Memoir (1995 Non-Fiction). Nebulas for 1972's Novel (The Gods Themselves) and 1976's Novelette "The Bicentennial Man." The 1986 SFWA award for Grand Master; and the 1967 Skylark Award. A 1997 inductee into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.
Isaac Asimov
I don't believe in personal immortality.
Asimov received a doctorate in chemistry from Columbia University and taught biochemistry (1949-58) at Boston University, remaining on the faculty there until his death. Although a scientist, Isaac would be best known for his works of science fiction. The most famous include: I Robot (1950), The Foundation Trilogy (1951-52), The Gods Themselves (1972), and Foundation's Edge (1982). A member of the Futurians, Asimov was always heavily connected to the pulps, most notably his years as a columnist for Fantasy & Science Fiction.
But in his life, Asimov's scientific preferences prevailed and he wrote hundreds of text-books and essays. Carl Sagan, the astronomer, writer, and lecturer associated with Cornell University, described Isaac Asimov as "One of the master explainers of the age . . . I think millions of people owe their knowledge of science, their familiarity with some scientific fact, to reading either the fact or fiction of Isaac Asimov."
Asimov claimed 477 published book titles while alive . . . about half dealt with subjects in areas that Asimov decided the population at large required astute and correct enlightenment. And about half of these were young adult and children's books that did not talk down to the younger audience.
There were also nonscientific works that ranged from Shakespearean interpretations to biblical studies. Among them were A Choice of Catastrophes (possible ways of human self-annihilation), In The Beginning (an exploration of the biblical book of Genesis), The Measure of the Universe, and Nemesis. Asimov allowed his mind to gather whatever interested him; be it Gilbert & Sullivan, Gulliver's Travels, or collecting Sherlock Holmes limericks. His autobiography required several volumes: In Memory Yet Green, In Joy Still Felt, and I, Asimov.
Asimov was an information vacuum cleaner and sucked up everything available on a given subject and occasionally chose to ignore those sources. His claim to have invented/created 'robots' (possibly a misreading of his "Robotics, a word I created") was overstated to say the least. Bear in mind: Frank Baum's Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz, Karel Capek's 1920's play "R. U. R.," silent movie robots, and even Eando Binder's short story, "I, Robot." The ego that drove and supported him, was also Asimov's worst enemy. But he did create a new form of robot, no question.
"I have been fortunate to be born with a restless and efficient brain, with
a capacity of clear thought and an ability to put that thought into words
. . . I am the beneficiary of a lucky break in the genetic sweepstakes."
So say you one, so say we all.
THUMBNAIL from a photo by Alex Gotfryd.
PEN NAMES: Paul French, George E. Dale
BIBLIOGRAPHY: PART 1:
Collections & Short Stories, PART 2:
Novels & Anthologies, PART 3:
Science & Non-Fiction Books.
BIOGRAPHY: Who Was Who in America, Vol X, p13. Or try here.
OBITUARY: The New York Times here. Tricky link, requires patience . . . worth it. Or for the Buffalo News here. L.A. Times, Apr 7, 1992, pA1. VARIETY, Apr 13, 1992, p78.
