Isaac Asimov (1920-1992), the author of so many sci-fi books, short stories, and other genres. I loved the Foundation series which I read in my teens (the image on the right is from the first edition dust jacket, thanks to wikipedia). I must get them out of the library and read them again to get my adult perspective on the stories. Another book that I enjoyed is I, Robot which was made into a movie.
He was of Russian Jewish ethnicity, born in the USSR, between October 4, 1919 and January 2, 1920 and he moved with his family to the USA when he was 3 years old.
Asimov and I have one thing in common ... he was afraid of flying. I am too, and only fly because I have to. I am starting to get used to it, but I never really enjoy it. Asimov enjoyed travelling by ship and went on many cruises, even being the "entertainment", giving science themed talks to the passengers.
He was a biochemist by trade and tenured at Boston University, but did not have classes since 1958 when he started writing full-time. He was, however, still associated with the university.
His style of writing is, as quoted by science fiction scholar, James Gunn: "almost all Asimov fiction—play themselves on a relatively bare stage."
Asimov's comeback in the beginning of Nemesis: "I made up my mind long ago to follow one cardinal rule in all my writing—to be clear. I have given up all thought of writing poetically or symbolically or experimentally, or in any of the other modes that might (if I were good enough) get me a Pulitzer prize. I would write merely clearly and in this way establish a warm relationship between myself and my readers, and the professional critics—Well, they can do whatever they wish."
He was married twice, having two children from his first wife. He died in 1992 of complications from an earlier heart operation where he was infected with HIV from a blood transfusion.
He received many awards, was immensely influencial in the pure science fiction genre, and a prolific writer.
Links of interest:
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