Isaac Asimov

Isaac Asimov (1920-1992) was a well-known American science fiction writer with Russian roots active during the golden age of science and beyond. He has been described as one of the Big Three classic English language SF writers, along with Arthur C. Clarke and Robert A. Heinlein. He also wrote mysteries and nonfiction, including commentary on science fiction fandom.See: Wikipedia:Isaak Asimov
In SF he is best known for his Foundation series, his robot stories, inventing the word robotics, and inventing "the three laws of robotics". 
He was also briefly a member of the Futurians, although he was not apparently involved in the drama.
==Some Asimov Fan Poetry==
Shortly after Asimov's death, a fan wrote a tribute:
==Asimov: Star Trek Supporter==
From an official second season promotion pamphlet for Star Trek: TOS:
Fan response to Spock was immediate and overwhelming. As early as April 1967, science fiction author (and fan) Isaac Asimov wrote a tongue-in-cheek article called "Mr. Spock is Dreamy!" for TV Guide, in which he described and tried to explain the female reaction to Spock:
Asimov's speech at the 1972 Star Trek Lives! con was about Asimov's interest and support of Star Trek, with a focus on the character of Spock. The transcript of that speech can be read in Ragnarok #1.
==Asimov: K/S== 
The foundations for K/S were actually laid by Isaac Asimov along with some of the Star Trek creators, including Robert Justman and Gene Roddenberry Himself. 
According to Justman in Inside Star Trek: The Real Story, Captain Kirk had been intended from the beginning as the central, focal character in the series, and William Shatner was paid accordingly; but fan response to Mr. Spock was much greater. In order to turn audience attention back toward the Captain, Roddenberry asked for ideas. In a November 1966 letter reprinted in 'Inside Star Trek see at , Isaac Asimov suggested that the scripts and actors should show the two men becoming close friends, including incidents where they save each other's lives. That way, when viewers thought of Spock, they would also think of Kirk, and they would think highly of him because Spock did. Asimov also suggested that Kirk be given lots of intriguing, interesting things to do, e.g. solving mysteries, going incognito, etc. Roddenberry and Gene Coon worked this out, and wrote to Asimov: "Shatner will come off ahead by showing he is fond of the teenage idol; Spock will do well by displaying great loyalty to his Captain. In a way it will give us one lead, the team."Marc Cushman, These are the Voyages: Season Two. Jacobs Brown 2014. 
Kirk did get many opportunities after that to dress up and to have plenty of adventures with dashing, heroic deeds. The idea of solving mysteries also seems to have been passed on to Jean-Luc Picard.
While Solow and Justman do not speak of fan fiction at all, let alone K/S; but it is possible that this is what fans picked up on as they began to speculate about just how close they were.
==Asimov: Star Trek Conventions==
Asimov was a guest of honor at:
* Star Trek Lives! (convention)/1972
* Star Trek Lives! (convention)/1973
* Star Trek Lives! (convention)/1974
* Star Trek Lives! (convention)/1975
* Star Trek Lives! (convention)/1976 (transcript of Asimov's speech is in The Prime Directive #3)
* Schuster Star Trek Conventions/1977 (September) New York City Schuster Star Trek Convention (1977)
* Schuster Star Trek Conventions/1978 (February) New York City Schuster Star Trek Convention
* Schuster Star Trek Conventions/1981 (February) New York City Schuster Star Trek Convention
 
Isaac Asimov wrote a piece for the program book about his experiences at the Star Trek Lives! cons and at the Schuster Star Trek Conventions in New York City. In 1979, the article was revised and published in the first issue of Starlog Magazine in an article called The Conventions as Asimov Sees Them.
===Asimov's Comments About Con Fees===
 
===Asimov's Reputation at Cons as "Dirty Old Man"===
In 1971, Asimov wrote a book called "The Sensuous Dirty Old Man," which was a response to the bestseller, "The Sensuous Woman." What to Make of Isaac Asimov, Sci-Fi Giant and Dirty Old Man? by Jay Gabler (May 14, 2020)
Asimov himself embraced the label. In his speech at the 1972 Star Trek Lives! con, he said: 
====1974====
====1975====
 
====1976====
====1978====
====1981====
==Sparring with Harlan Ellison==
Asimov and Harlan Ellison had a con schtick:
==Also See==
* "An Expert's Verdict: Trek Wins" by Asimov, printed in Pastak #3 (1976)
==References==
Category:Science Fiction Authors
Category:Professional Authors