Announcing..National Science Fiction Day..January 2.. Isaac Asimov's Birthday

[Stuart G]

http://www.sciencefictionfantasyhorror.com/article.mgi2?article=science-fiction-day-2006


Isaac Asimov was born January 2, 1920–officially, that is. Unofficially, of course, is another matter. He was born in Russia, and I imagine that in those turbulent times people were more concerned about living to see another day than recording the exact day a baby joined the living. However, when the Asimovs arrived in America in 1923, little Isaac’s date of birth had to be declared. It was probably January 2, but who could be sure? What better day to select, the Asimovs may have thought, than the day after the New Year is celebrated? As the year begins, so does our son’s life.

During his lifetime, Asimov received numerous degrees, awards, and other emblems of distinction. I bet that one of his favorite modes of recognition, though, was having his official birthday function as National Science Fiction Day. Of course, Isaac did more than scientifically imagine and create works of science fiction. He wrote between 400 and 500 works of fact, fiction, criticism, religion, and everything in between. (Even Asimov lost count.) Nevertheless, the architects of National Science Fiction Day knew what they were doing. Asimov may have been a PhD chemist, professor, and a member of Mensa (R), but envisioning the future seemed to fire up his imagination more than science, teaching, and interactions with geniuses. He must have been proud of his scientifically fictitious images of space and robots–which sometimes turned out to be more truth than fiction.

To tell the truth, Asimov’s beginnings as a writer were humble. He actually started his career as an author of infamous pulp fiction. He was paid by the word rather than the work, but he had the company of Robert Heinlein and Arthur C. Clarke. Sci-fi fans certainly know those names

[BootinUp]

1. Asimov is my favorite sci fi writer

[Motown_Johnny]

6. he is my favorite writer of any sort

and since he has at least one title published in every classification of the Dewy decimal system I hesitate to classify him as a "sci fi" writer.

His non-fiction is also very interesting and even his mystery stories are pretty good.

[exboyfil]

3. Happy Birthday Dr. Asimov

You gave me so much pleasure as a child. Foundation Trilogy, I Robot, The Bicentennial Man, and Nightfall. You were not my favorite SF writer, but your stories were excellent. Your science writing was also informative and enjoyable. Rest In Peace.

[Odin2005]

4. I grew up reding his Foundation and Robot novels.

[Quartermass]

5. I'm a sci-fi enthusiast myself, so I heartedly endorse the idea of a National Science Fiction day!

but I'd rather it be on a neutral day, ebcause Arthur C Clarke is my favorite sci-fi author. There are many other highly skilled writers out there as well.

[Motown_Johnny]

7. my 24 second salute to The Good Doctor.