Words of Science [Omnibus]
by Isaac Asimov
Words of Science (Collections and Selections — Omnibus of 1-2)
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In the preface Isaac Asimov states "From year to year more words are invented to convey new concepts and new discoveries. In 1960 no one had ever heard the words quasar, pulsar, mascon, laser or transfer-RNA. Those words did not exist because they represent findings made since 1960".
Now, consider how many new terms have made their way into our language since this book was published in its original two volumes back in 1959 and 1972 respectively.
My edition was updated and fully revised in one volume in 1974. So, as you can imagine no mention of biotechnology, supercolliders or string theory, and the section on quantum theory is not even worth mentioning really. This is not a criticism of the book itself, it may have even been updated show more since - for all I know.
At the end of the day, it will provide the reader with a good grounding in the general sciences that can always be expanded on by further reading.
Both Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke used a lot of hard science in their fantasy/science fiction stories. As a fan of Sci-Fi myself, I initially bought this book with that in mind. show less
Now, consider how many new terms have made their way into our language since this book was published in its original two volumes back in 1959 and 1972 respectively.
My edition was updated and fully revised in one volume in 1974. So, as you can imagine no mention of biotechnology, supercolliders or string theory, and the section on quantum theory is not even worth mentioning really. This is not a criticism of the book itself, it may have even been updated show more since - for all I know.
At the end of the day, it will provide the reader with a good grounding in the general sciences that can always be expanded on by further reading.
Both Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke used a lot of hard science in their fantasy/science fiction stories. As a fan of Sci-Fi myself, I initially bought this book with that in mind. show less
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2,400+ Works 293,093 Members
Isaac Asimov was born in Petrovichi, Russia, on January 2, 1920. His family emigrated to the United States in 1923 and settled in Brooklyn, New York, where they owned and operated a candy store. Asimov became a naturalized U.S. citizen at the age of eight. As a youngster he discovered his talent for writing, producing his first original fiction at show more the age of eleven. He went on to become one of the world's most prolific writers, publishing nearly 500 books in his lifetime. Asimov was not only a writer; he also was a biochemist and an educator. He studied chemistry at Columbia University, earning a B.S., M.A. and Ph.D. In 1951, Asimov accepted a position as an instructor of biochemistry at Boston University's School of Medicine even though he had no practical experience in the field. His exceptional intelligence enabled him to master new systems rapidly, and he soon became a successful and distinguished professor at Columbia and even co-authored a biochemistry textbook within a few years. Asimov won numerous awards and honors for his books and stories, and he is considered to be a leading writer of the Golden Age of science fiction. While he did not invent science fiction, he helped to legitimize it by adding the narrative structure that had been missing from the traditional science fiction books of the period. He also introduced several innovative concepts, including the thematic concern for technological progress and its impact on humanity. Asimov is probably best known for his Foundation series, which includes Foundation, Foundation and Empire, and Second Foundation. In 1966, this trilogy won the Hugo award for best all-time science fiction series. In 1983, Asimov wrote an additional Foundation novel, Foundation's Edge, which won the Hugo for best novel of that year. Asimov also wrote a series of robot books that included I, Robot, and eventually he tied the two series together. He won three additional Hugos, including one awarded posthumously for the best non-fiction book of 1995, I. Asimov. "Nightfall" was chosen the best science fiction story of all time by the Science Fiction Writers of America. In 1979, Asimov wrote his autobiography, In Memory Yet Green. He continued writing until just a few years before his death from heart and kidney failure on April 6, 1992. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Words of Science [Omnibus]
- Original publication date
- 1974
- Quotations
- "In 1960 no one had ever heard the words quasar, pulsar, mascon, laser or transfer-RNA. Those words did not exist because they represent findings made since 1960."
- Disambiguation notice
- This is for the Words of Science 'omnibus' published from 1974 onwards. Do not combine with part one of a two volume set with the same name, published in 1959.
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- Czech, English, French, Italian
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- Paper
- ISBNs
- 4
- ASINs
- 7
