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A Brief Biography of Isaac Asimov (1920-1992)
Isaac AsimovIsaac Asimov 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 born in Petrovichi, Russia, sometime between October 4, 1919 and January 2, 1920. Exactly when he was not sure, but he knew it was no later than the Second of January, which he celebrated as his birthday.

He was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 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, although he did write a foreword for The Humanist Way, which is published in the 100s).

Asimov is widely considered a master of hard science fiction and, along with Robert A. Heinlein and Arthur C. Clarke, he was considered one of the "Big Three" science fiction writers during his lifetime. His most famous work is the Foundation series; other major series being 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 wrote many short stories, among them Nightfall, which in 1964 was voted by the Science Fiction Writers of America to be the best short science fiction story of all time. Asimov wrote the Lucky Starr series of juvenile SF novels using the pen name Paul French and later, with his wife Janet, the Norby Chronicles for younger readers.

The prolific Asimov also wrote mysteries and fantasy, as well as non-fiction. Most of his popular 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 and chemistry.

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." He took more joy in being president of the American Humanist Association. The asteroid 5020 Asimov, a crater on the planet Mars, the magazine Asimov's Science Fiction, a Brooklyn elementary school, and a literary award are all named in his honor.

 

References
- Wikipedia - Isaac Asimov - retrieved 24 June 2011 - the text above is a revised and reduced version of that found on Wikipedia
- The Internet Speculative Fiction Database - Isaac Asimov - Summary Bibliography - retrieved 5 June 2011

 

Lists of the first publications of Isaac Asimov 's non-magazine published fiction appear below along with a selection of autobiographical writings.
Titles in black are novels and chapterbooks, while
those in blue are collections.

An illustrated bibliography is in preparation and will appear in the future.

Asimov's Robots
Year Title Publisher ISBN Notes
1950 I, Robot Gnome Press N/A A collection of short stories, mostly from Astounding
1954 The Caves of Steel Doubleday N/A Previously published as a serial in Galaxy
1957 The Naked Sun Doubleday N/A Previously published as a serial in Astounding
1964 The Rest of the Robots Doubleday N/A A collection of stories from various magazines
1982 The Complete Robot Doubleday 0385177240 Includes virtually all of the Robot short stories
1983 The Robots of Dawn Doubleday 038518400X  
1985 Robots and Empire Doubleday 0385190921  
1986 Robot Dreams Berkley 042509345X Includes some non-Robot stories
1990 Robot Visions Roc 0451450000 A collection of stories from various magazines
1992 The Positronic Man Gollancz 0575047003 Written by Robert Silverberg but based on Asimov's story The Bicentennial Man
1994 I, Robot:
The Illustrated Screenplay
Warner 0446670626 Written by Harlan Ellison but based on Asimov's story collection I, Robot
 
Asimov's Galactic Empire
Year Title Publisher ISBN Notes
1950 Pebble in the Sky Doubleday N/A Also published in Vol.1, No.1 of Two Complete Science-Adventure Books. A shorter version (Grow Old Along With Me) can be found in The Alternate Asimovs (1986)
1951 The Stars, Like Dust Doubleday N/A Also published as a serial in Galaxy
Also appeared as The Rebellious Stars (1954)
1952 The Currents of Space Doubleday N/A Also published as a serial in Astounding
 
Asimov's Foundation
Year Title Publisher ISBN Notes
1951 Foundation Gnome Press N/A A collection of short stories, mostly from Astounding
Also appeared as The 1,000 Year Plan (1955)
1952 Foundation and Empire Gnome Press N/A Two stories from Astounding. Also appeared as
The Man Who Upset the Universe (1955)
1953 Second Foundation Gnome Press N/A Two stories from Astounding. Also appeared as
2nd Foundation: Galactic Empire (1958)
1982 Foundation's Edge Doubleday 0385177259  
1986 Foundation and Earth Doubleday 0385233124  
1988 Prelude to Foundation Doubleday 0385233132  
1993 Forward the Foundation Doubleday 0385247931  
 
Lucky Starr
Year Title Publisher ISBN Notes
1952 David Starr: Space Ranger Doubleday N/A Asimov writing as Paul French
Also appeared as Space Ranger (1972)
1953 Lucky Starr and the
Pirates of the Asteroids
Doubleday N/A Asimov writing as Paul French
Also appeared as Pirates of the Asteroids (1972)
1954 Lucky Starr and the
Oceans of Venus
Doubleday N/A Asimov writing as Paul French
Also appeared as The Oceans of Venus (1972)
1956 Lucky Starr and the
Big Sun of Mercury
Doubleday N/A Asimov writing as Paul French
Also appeared as The Big Sun of Mercury (1972)
1957 Lucky Starr and the
Moons of Jupiter
Doubleday N/A Asimov writing as Paul French
Also appeared as The Moons of Jupiter (1973)
1958 Lucky Starr and the
Rings of Saturn
Doubleday N/A Asimov writing as Paul French
Also appeared as The Rings of Saturn (1973)
 
The Norby Chronicles
Year Title Publisher ISBN Notes
1983 Norby, the Mixed-Up Robot Walker & Co. 0802764959 Written with Janet Asimov
1984 Norby's Other Secret Walker & Co. 0802765254 Written with Janet Asimov
1985 Norby and the Lost Princess Walker & Co. 0802765831 Written with Janet Asimov
1985 Norby and the Invaders Walker & Co. 0802765998 Written with Janet Asimov
1986 Norby & the Queen's Necklace Walker & Co. 0802766595 Written with Janet Asimov
1987 Norby Finds a Villain Walker & Co. 0802767117 Written with Janet Asimov
1988 Norby Down to Earth Walker & Co. 0802768660 Written with Janet Asimov
1989 Norby & Yobo's Great Adventure Walker & Co. 0802768938 Written with Janet Asimov
1990 Norby and the Oldest Dragon Walker & Co. 0802769098 Written with Janet Asimov
1991 Norby and the Court Jester Walker & Co. 0802781314 Written with Janet Asimov
1997 Norby and the Terrified Taxi Walker & Co. 0802786421 By Janet Asimov only
 
Other Novels
Year Title Publisher ISBN Notes
1955 The End of Eternity Doubleday N/A A shorter version can be found in The Alternate Asimovs (1986)
1958 The Death Dealers Avon N/A Also appeared as A Whiff of Death (1968)
1966 Fantastic Voyage Houghton Mifflin N/A  
1972 The Gods Themselves Doubleday 038502701X Also published as a serial in Galaxy and Worlds of If
1976 Murder at the ABA Doubleday 0385113056 Also appeared as Authorised Murder (1976)
1987 Fantastic Voyage II:
Destination Brain
Doubleday 0385239262  
1989 Nemesis Doubleday 0385247923  
1990 Nightfall Gollancz 0575046988 Written by Robert Silverberg but based on Asimov's story of the same name
1991 Child of Time Gollancz 0575046996 Written by Robert Silverberg but based on Asimov's story Lastborn
Also appeared as The Ugly Little Boy (1992)
 
Chapbooks
Year Title Publisher ISBN Notes
1971 The Best New Thing World Publishing 0529008246 Illustrated by Symeon Shimin
1975 The Heavenly Host Walker & Co. 0802765572 Illustrated by Bernard Colonna
1976 Good Taste Apocalypse None  
1977 Little Lost Robot C.U.P. 0521217172 Revised and simplified text
1977 Liar! C.U.P. 0521217180 Revised and simplified text
1979 I, Robot O.U.P. 0194242366 Adapted by David Flickling from Asimov's collection
1985 It's Such a Beautiful Day Creative Education 0886820081 Illustrated by Etienne Delessert
1989 Sally Creative Education 0886822300 Illustrated by David Shannon
1989 Robbie Creative Education 0886822319 Illustrated by David Shannon
1989 Franchise Creative Education 0886822327 Illustrated by David Shannon
1989 All the Troubles of the World Creative Education 0886822335 Illustrated by David Shannon
2011 Youth Aegypan 9781463895952  
 
The Black Widowers
Year Title Publisher ISBN Notes
1974 Tales of the Black Widowers Doubleday 0385083033 A collection of stories from various magazines
1976 More Tales of the Black Widowers Doubleday 0385111762 A collection of stories from various magazines
1980 Casebook of the Black Widowers Doubleday 0385157045 A collection of stories from various magazines
1984 Banquets of the Black Widowers Doubleday 0385195419 A collection of stories from various magazines
1990 Puzzles of the Black Widowers Doubleday 0385262647 A collection of stories from various magazines
2003 Return of the Black Widowers Doubleday 0786712481 A collection of stories from various magazines
 
Other Collections
Year Title Publisher ISBN Notes
1955 The Martian Way & Other Stories Doubleday N/A  
1957 Earth Is Room Enough Doubleday N/A  
1959 Nine Tomorrows Doubleday N/A  
1967 Through a Glass, Clearly Four Square N/A  
1968 Asimov's Mysteries Doubleday N/A  
1969 Nightfall and Other Stories Doubleday N/A  
1969 Opus 100 Houghton Mifflin 0395073510 Excerpts from Asimov's first hundred books
1972 The Early Asimov Doubleday 0385039794  
1973 The Best of Isaac Asimov Sidgwick & Jackson 028397981X  
1974 Have You Seen These? NESFA Press None Produced to celebrate Asimov attending Boskone 11
1975 Buy Jupiter and Other Stories Doubleday 0385050771  
1976 The Bicentennial Man
and Other Stories
Doubleday 0385121989  
1976 The Dream, Benjamin's Dream
& Benjamin's Bicentennial Blast
Privately Printed None? No.23 in the Printing Week Library of Benjamin Franklin Keepsakes
1977 The Key Word & Other Mysteries Walker & Co. 0802763022  
1979 Opus 200 Houghton Mifflin 039527625X Excerpts from Asimov's second hundred books
1981 3 By Asimov:
Three Science Fiction Tales
Targ Editions None? Signed and numbered limited edition
1983 The Winds of Change
and Other Stories
Doubleday 0385180993  
1983 The Union Club Mysteries Doubleday 0385188064  
1984 Opus 300 Houghton Mifflin 0395361087  
1985 The Disappearing Man
and Other Mysteries
Walker & Co. 0802765785 Excerpts from Asimov's third hundred books
1985 The Edge of Tomorrow Tor 0312932006  
1986 The Alternate Asimovs Doubleday 0385197845  
1986 Science Fiction by Asimov Davis None? Freebie for subscribers to Asimov's SF Magazine
1986 The Best Science Fiction
of Isaac Asimov
Doubleday 0385197829  
1986 The Best Mysteries
of Isaac Asimov
Doubleday 0385197837  
1987 Other Worlds of Isaac Asimov Avenel Books 0517643758  
1988 Azazel Doubleday 038524410X  
1989 The Asimov Chronicles:
Fifty Years of Isaac Asimov!
Dark Harvest 0913165441  
1990 The Complete Stories, Vol. 1 Doubleday 038541627X  
1992 The Complete Stories, Vol. 2 Doubleday 0385420781  
1995 Gold: The Final Science Fiction Collection HarperPrism 006105206X  
1996 Magic: The Final Fantasy Collection HarperPrism 0061052051  
 
Autobiographical       (Titles of autobiographies and letters collections are in black, while those in blue are interviews)
Year Title Publisher ISBN Notes
1978 Speaking of Science Fiction Luna 0930346025 Includes an interview with Asimov by Paul Walker
1978 Pulsar 1 Penguin 0140042792 Includes an interview with Asimov by Christopher Evans
1979 In Memory Yet Green Doubleday 038513679X Volume 1 of Asimov's autobiography
1980 In Joy Still Felt Doubleday 0385155441 Volume 2 of Asimov's autobiography
1980 Who Writes Science Fiction? Savoy 0861300483 Includes an interview with Asimov by Charles Platt
1981 Science Fiction Voices #5 Borgo Press 0893701513 Includes an interview with Asimov by Darrell Schweitzer
1983 Omni (December 1983) Omni N/A Includes an interview with Asimov by Robert Malone
1992 Amazing Stories (October 1992) TSR N/A Includes an interview with Asimov by George Zebrowski
1993 Nebula Awards 27 Harcourt Brace 0151649359 Includes an interview with Asimov by George Zebrowski
1994 I. Asimov: A Memoir Doubleday 0385417012 Volume 3 of Asimov's autobiography
1995 Yours, Isaac Asimov:
A Lifetime of Letters
Doubleday 0385476221 Asimov's letters, compiled and edited by Stanley Asimov
2000 Redemolished ibooks 0743407253 Includes an interview with Asimov by Alfred Bester
2002 It's Been a Good Life Prometheus 1573929689 Asimov's autobiography, edited by Janet Asimov
2005 Conversations with Isaac Asimov M.U.P. 1578067375 Interviews with Asimov, compiled and edited by Carl Freedman

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