Isaac Asimov (born Isaac Yudovich Ozimov; c. January 2, 1920 – April
6, 1992), was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston
University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular
science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having
written or edited about 500 books and over 9,000 letters and postcards. His
works have been published in nine of the ten major categories of the Dewey
Decimal System (the sole exception being the 100s: philosophy and psychology).
Asimov is widely considered a master of the science-fiction genre and, along
with Robert A. Heinlein and Arthur C. Clarke, he was considered one of the "Big
Three" science-fiction writers during his lifetime. Asimov's most famous work is
the Foundation Series; his other major series are the Galactic Empire
series and the Robot series, both of which he later tied into the same
fictional universe as the Foundation Series to create a unified "future history"
for his stories much like those pioneered by Robert A. Heinlein and previously
produced by Cordwainer Smith and Poul Anderson. He penned numerous short
stories, among them "Nightfall", which in 1964 was voted by the Science Fiction
Writers of America the best short science fiction story of all time, an accolade
that many still find persuasive. Asimov wrote the Lucky Starr series of juvenile
science-fiction novels using the pen name Paul French.
The prolific Asimov also wrote mysteries and fantasy, as well as much
non-fiction. Most of his popularized science books explain scientific concepts
in a historical way, going as far back as possible to a time when the science in
question was at its simplest stage. He often provides nationalities, birth
dates, and death dates for the scientists he mentions, as well as etymologies
and pronunciation guides for technical terms. Examples include his Guide to
Science, the three volume set Understanding Physics, Asimov's
Chronology of Science and Discovery, as well as numerous works on astronomy,
mathematics, the Bible, William Shakespeare's works and, of course, chemistry
subjects.
Asimov was a long-time member and Vice President of Mensa International, albeit
reluctantly; he described some members of that organization as "brain-proud and
aggressive about their IQs", but he also stated that the only two people he had
ever met who he would admit were more intelligent than himself were Marvin
Minsky and Carl Sagan. He took more joy in being president of the American
Humanist Association. The asteroid 5020 Asimov, a crater on the planet Mars,[10]
the magazine Asimov's Science Fiction, a Brooklyn, New York elementary
school, and two Isaac Asimov literary awards are named in his honor.
From
www.wikipedia.com
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