Isaac Asimov?

[Allyn Gibson]

Kegg wrote:

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Clarke's pretty much the only one of the Big Three I really enjoyed as an author.

I find myself nodding at this. Of the "Big Three," I think that Clarke's is the work that will endure the most, especially for short stories like "The Star" and "The Nine Billion Names of God."

Heinlein, I think, will be largely ignored and forgotten -- a science-fiction Washington Irving, essentially. (In his time, Irving was a major author, he defined the American voice. Outside of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle," no one reads Irving's work today.)

[Colonel Midnight]

Weird as this sounds, I remember getting hooked on Asimov after reading one of his "About the Author" pages at, I want to say, the end of the first Foundation.

It was intentionally humorous/tongue-in-cheek, but in a good way, with stuff like "Born in [wherever] in XXXX, then quickly moved to correct the situation."

Cheers,
-CM-

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

yeah, that is in most of his books. He was, much to his dismay, born in the Soviet Union, and moved quickly to correct the situation."

There other brilliant asides in that thing.

[Spocktapus]

Just a thought, has anyone read any of the Lucky Starr books?

[Canadave]

Allyn Gibson wrote:

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Heinlein, I think, will be largely ignored and forgotten -- a science-fiction Washington Irving, essentially. (In his time, Irving was a major author, he defined the American voice. Outside of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle," no one reads Irving's work today.)

I tend to agree. I think already, Heinlen is clearly seen as the weak link in the Big Three, and whenever I see Stranger In A Strange Land being discussed, it's always tinged with a feeling of "yeah, it was the 60s, you have to forgive him."

[Owain Taggart]

Spocktapus wrote:

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Just a thought, has anyone read any of the Lucky Starr books?

I read one of them, but I forget which one it was, but I thought it was quite good. Having looked it up, I see it was Pirates of the Asteroid.

[Mistral]

Mysterion wrote:

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^^^
Agreed. I'd group Bradbury with Ellison, and...well, I can't think of a third for that particular group. LeGuin maybe?

More emotional writing as oppossed to the more sweeping/futuristic style of Asimov, Clarke and Heinlein.

Vonnegut

[Silvercrest]

Owain Taggart wrote:

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I read one of them, but I forget which one it was, but I thought it was quite good. Having looked it up, I see it was Pirates of the Asteroid.

I've read all of them and own several today. They're fun, but somewhat inconsistent with each other. They're also written in an intentionally hammy style that seems somewhat out of character for Asimov.

[JRoss]

Colonel Midnight wrote:

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Weird as this sounds, I remember getting hooked on Asimov after reading one of his "About the Author" pages at, I want to say, the end of the first Foundation.

It was intentionally humorous/tongue-in-cheek, but in a good way, with stuff like "Born in [wherever] in XXXX, then quickly moved to correct the situation."

Cheers,
-CM-

It also states that he is very handsome and that everything in the blurb should be taken as fact, given his objective background.

[timothy]

Owain Taggart wrote:

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I read one of them, but I forget which one it was, but I thought it was quite good. Having looked it up, I see it was Pirates of the Asteroid.

I can never find 'em. the nook is slowly putting his books in e form so hopefully they will get around to putting them out. I would love to read them. maybe HBO would do them as a tv series.

[Mistral]

Allyn Gibson wrote:

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I find myself nodding at this. Of the "Big Three," I think that Clarke's is the work that will endure the most, especially for short stories like "The Star" and "The Nine Billion Names of God."

Heinlein, I think, will be largely ignored and forgotten -- a science-fiction Washington Irving, essentially. (In his time, Irving was a major author, he defined the American voice. Outside of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle," no one reads Irving's work today.)

Sad, because he wrote The Moon.... and The Rolling Stones, Podkayne, etc-all fine books. And his collection of Future History stories is great as well....

[Greg Cox]

Mistral wrote:

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Sad, because he wrote The Moon.... and The Rolling Stones, Podkayne, etc-all fine books. And his collection of Future History stories is great as well....

If you're interested, Tor is publishing an authorized two-volume biography of Heinlein by William Patterson.

So he hasn't exactly slipped into obscurity yet!

[Distorted Humor]

I, Robot is most likely the best, most accessible Asimov...Though its been a while, as I discovered C.J.Cherryh and have been reading her books of late.

[Canadave]

timothy wrote:

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I can never find 'em. the nook is slowly putting his books in e form so hopefully they will get around to putting them out. I would love to read them. maybe HBO would do them as a tv series.

Somehow, I can't see HBO being very interested in a moderately obscure, 60-year old young adult property.

[Dr. Chandra]

Klaus wrote:

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I have a signed copy of Foundation that is my proudest geek possession... saw him speak twice. I'd second the Lije Bailey/Daneel Olivaw books for a good start -- start with The Caves of Steel and The Naked Sun.

Nice!