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Contains twenty-four stories and essays written by Isaac Asimov.Tags
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The concept behind this collection is interesting as it pairs Asimov's short fiction and non-fiction. I usually don't consider myself a fan of non-fiction (Asimov's or otherwise). Admittedly, I only read half of the non-fiction stories, and will stay found them well written but at times really unpleasant to read. When Asimov is misogynist in his fiction, at least there is that layer of removal that fiction creates between the author and the narrative voice, but this is just unadulterated Asimovian ickiness.
But the reason I picked up this collection is because I wanted to read a number of his best short stories, which are anthologized here. My two favorites: "Nightfall" and "The Ugly Little Boy." Other, really strong stories in this show more collection: "Found!" "Belief" "The Dead Past" "Breeds There a Man?" and "The Last Question." show less
But the reason I picked up this collection is because I wanted to read a number of his best short stories, which are anthologized here. My two favorites: "Nightfall" and "The Ugly Little Boy." Other, really strong stories in this show more collection: "Found!" "Belief" "The Dead Past" "Breeds There a Man?" and "The Last Question." show less
This collection left me a little bit disappointed. "The Ugly Little Boy" was the only story that I rated as high as an 8/10. Of the rest, there were several that were good, and several that were fairly mediocre. I had expected to really like the very famous story "Nightfall," but I would put it in the "really good concept, not particularly stunning execution" category. "Belief," a story about a professor who can't convince his colleagues of the truth of his laws of physics defying experiences, was my least favorite. I tried about half of the non-fiction essays, and found them very dry and largely uninteresting. If you don't come to them with a great reverence for the accomplishments of famous scientists and mathematicians, I doubt they show more are going to be of much interest. show less
#470 in our old book database. Not rated.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: Forword / Ben Bova -- Introduction -- 1. Unique Is Where You Find It -- 2. The Eureka Phenomenon -- 3. The Feeling of Power -- 4. The Comet That Wasn't -- 5. Found! -- 6. Twinkle, Twinkle, Microwaves -- 7. Paté de Foie Gras -- 8. The Bridge of the Gods -- 9. Belief -- 10. Euclid's Fifth -- 11. The Plane Truth -- 12. The Billiard Ball -- 13. The Winds of Change -- 14. The Figure of the Fastest -- 15. The Dead Past -- 16. The Fateful Lightning -- 17. Breeds There a Man? -- 18. The Man Who Massed the Earth -- 19. Nightfall -- 20. The Planet That Wasn't -- 21. The Ugly Little Boy -- 22. The Three Who Died Too Soon -- 23. The Last Question -- 24. The Nobel Prize That Wasn't
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: Forword / Ben Bova -- Introduction -- 1. Unique Is Where You Find It -- 2. The Eureka Phenomenon -- 3. The Feeling of Power -- 4. The Comet That Wasn't -- 5. Found! -- 6. Twinkle, Twinkle, Microwaves -- 7. Paté de Foie Gras -- 8. The Bridge of the Gods -- 9. Belief -- 10. Euclid's Fifth -- 11. The Plane Truth -- 12. The Billiard Ball -- 13. The Winds of Change -- 14. The Figure of the Fastest -- 15. The Dead Past -- 16. The Fateful Lightning -- 17. Breeds There a Man? -- 18. The Man Who Massed the Earth -- 19. Nightfall -- 20. The Planet That Wasn't -- 21. The Ugly Little Boy -- 22. The Three Who Died Too Soon -- 23. The Last Question -- 24. The Nobel Prize That Wasn't
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Author Information
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
- The Edge of Tomorrow
- Original title
- The Edge of Tomorrow
- Original publication date
- 1985
- Dedication
- Dedicated to the memory of Sally S. Greenberg (1937-1984)
- First words
- When you first meet Isaac Asimov, you get the impression that all the man is interested in is himself. [Foreword]
Emanuel Rubin would have fought to the death rather than admit that the smile on his face was a fatuous one. [Unique Is Where You Find It] - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)We owe it to the good name of science. [The Nobel Prize That Wasn't]
- Original language
- English
- Disambiguation notice
- Contents: Forword / Ben Bova -- Introduction -- 1. Unique Is Where You Find It -- 2. The Eureka Phenomenon -- 3. The Feeling of Power -- 4. The Comet That Wasn't -- 5. Found! -- 6. Twinkle, Twinkle, Microwaves -- 7. Paté de ... (show all)Foie Gras -- 8. The Bridge of the Gods -- 9. Belief -- 10. Euclid's Fifth -- 11. The Plane Truth -- 12. The Billiard Ball -- 13. The Winds of Change -- 14. The Figure of the Fastest -- 15. The Dead Past -- 16. The Fateful Lightning -- 17. Breeds There a Man? -- 18. The Man Who Massed the Earth -- 19. Nightfall -- 20. The Planet That Wasn't -- 21. The Ugly Little Boy -- 22. The Three Who Died Too Soon -- 23. The Last Question -- 24. The Nobel Prize That Wasn't
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- Members
- 484
- Popularity
- 62,350
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (3.82)
- Languages
- English, German
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 8
- ASINs
- 1
