Isaac Asimov

Isaac Asimov ( – April 6, 1992) was a  writer of science fiction. He was also a biochemist with a PhD from Columbia University.

 Life 
Asimov was born in Petrovichi, Smolensk Oblast, Russian SFSR to a Jewish family, on an unknown date between October 4, 1919 and January 2, 1920. Asimov celebrated his birthday on January 2. He was taken to the United States when he was three, and learned English and Yiddish as his native languages.Asimov, Isaac 2002. It's been a good life. Janet Asimov, ed. Amherst, New York: Prometheus Books. p12 .Asimov, Isaac 1994. I. Asimov: a memoir. Bantam Books. p2–3 Asimov, Isaac 1979. In memory yet green. Avon Books. p32  He wrote many books. People know about Isaac Asimov because of his science fiction books and his science books for non-scientists.

 Writing 
Asimov's most famous books were the Foundation series. He also wrote the Galactic Empire, the Robot Series, mystery, fantasy, and non-fiction books. He wrote the Norby series with his wife, Janet Asimov. He wrote or edited over 500 books and about 90,000 letters. Other subjects he wrote about were history, the Bible, literature, and sexuality.

Many of Asimov's early writings were short stories published in cheap science fiction and fantasy magazines. Years later, most of them were collected and republished as collections. Well-known collections include I, Robot, The Rest of the Robots, Earth is Room Enough and The Early Asimov.

 Asimov's reading list 
Asimov made a list of 15 of his science fiction books, which he advised should be read in this order:
 I, Robot (1950). Alternatively, The Complete Robot (1982).
 Caves of Steel (1954).
 The Naked Sun (1957).
 The Robots of Dawn (1983).
 Robots and Empire (1985).
 The Currents of Space (1952).
 The Stars, Like Dust (1951).
 Pebble in the Sky (1950).
 Prelude to Foundation (1988).
 Forward the Foundation (1993).
 Foundation (1951).
 Foundation and Empire (1952).
 Second Foundation (1953).
 Foundation's Edge (1982).
 Foundation and Earth (1986).

Numbers 1–5 are 'Robot' books; 6–8 are 'Galacticos Empire' books; 9–15 are Foundation series books.15-Book reading order as suggested by Asimov  From "Author's Note" of Prelude to Foundation Doubleday 1988 hardcover edition.

Asimov's novels have influenced science fiction on television and movie. Especially his 'Three Laws of Robotics' is a lasting contribution to our thinking.

 A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
 A robot must obey any orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
 A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

 Beliefs 
Although ethnically a Jew, Asimov was an atheist:
"I am an atheist, out and out. It took me quite a long time to say it. I've been an atheist for years and years, but somehow ... it was better to say one was a humanist or an agnostic".Free Inquiry (Spring 1982). Wikiquote

 Death 
When he had heart surgery in 1983, he received blood infected with HIV. He developed AIDS, and died of the effects of the medical condition in 1992. His widow did not speak of this until years later.

 Related pages 
 Arthur C. Clarke

 Notes 

 References 

Category:1919 births
Category:1920 births
Category:1992 deaths
Category:American atheists
Category:American biochemists
Category:Columbia University alumni
Category:Deaths from AIDS
Category:Jewish American writers
Category:Writers from New York City
Category:Scientists from New York (state)