Isaac Asimov is celebrated as one of the greatest science fiction writers in history. He won prestigious awards like the Hugo and Nebula and is best known for creating the Foundation series and the concept of Psychohistory. Asimov’s work spans science fiction, mystery novels, essays, non-fiction, and more, with nearly 500 books to his name.
Isaac Asimov was born Izaak Ozymov to a Jewish family in Petrovichi, Russia, between October 4, 1919, and January 2, 1920. His family immigrated to the United States when he was three, settling in Brooklyn, New York. Isaac was a bright child, fluent in Yiddish and English by age five, and he taught himself to read using street signs. His parents owned a general store, where Isaac developed a love for reading, especially science fiction magazines.
Isaac began writing stories at age eleven, though he kept them private. He excelled in school, skipping three grades and graduating high school at fifteen. He then attended Columbia University, earning a Bachelor of Science in chemistry by age nineteen. Initially interested in zoology, he switched to chemistry after a dissection assignment.
In 1941, Asimov wrote “Nightfall,” inspired by a question from editor John W. Campbell about a planet that sees stars only once every thousand years. The story explores the tension between science and religion, a recurring theme in Asimov’s work. “Nightfall” was later voted the best science fiction story of the pre-1965 era.
While serving in the Armed Forces during World War II, Asimov wrote “Runaround,” introducing the term ‘Robotics’ and the Three Laws of Robotics:
Later, Asimov added a Zeroth Law: A robot may not harm humanity or allow humanity to come to harm through inaction. These laws explore the ethical implications of artificial intelligence.
Asimov’s “Foundation” series, starting with the novel “Foundation” in 1951, is about the fall of a Galactic Empire and the rise of a new society through the science of Psychohistory. This series addresses themes like the preservation of knowledge and the manipulation of societies.
Asimov was incredibly prolific, writing hundreds of books over his lifetime. He attributed his success to a restless mind and disciplined habits, writing from early morning until late at night. He advised writers to keep their style simple and to always be learning.
In his later years, Asimov suffered from heart disease and died in 1992. His legacy includes a vast body of work and a lasting impact on science fiction and literature. He warned against anti-intellectualism, emphasizing the importance of knowledge and critical thinking.
Isaac Asimov’s work continues to inspire readers and writers, encouraging the pursuit of knowledge and exploration of complex ideas.
Research and present on one of the recurring themes in Asimov’s work, such as the tension between science and religion or the ethical implications of artificial intelligence. Create a presentation or write an essay discussing how Asimov explores this theme in his stories, using specific examples from his works.
Imagine you are a psychohistorian like Hari Seldon from the Foundation series. Develop a brief outline of a fictional society and predict its future using the principles of psychohistory. Consider factors like politics, economics, and social trends in your analysis.
Participate in a debate about the Three Laws of Robotics. Divide into two groups: one supporting the laws as a framework for ethical AI development, and the other arguing for alternative approaches. Prepare arguments and counterarguments, and engage in a structured debate.
Inspired by Asimov’s “Nightfall,” write your own short science fiction story that explores a unique scientific or philosophical question. Focus on developing a compelling plot and characters while addressing the chosen theme.
Research how Isaac Asimov’s work has influenced modern science fiction writers and filmmakers. Create a visual timeline or infographic that highlights key works and creators who have drawn inspiration from Asimov’s ideas and storytelling techniques.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript, with sensitive content and potentially inappropriate references removed or modified for clarity:
—
Today’s protagonist is universally recognized as one of the greatest science fiction writers in the history of literature. He won the Hugo and Nebula Awards, among many others, and is best remembered as the inventor of Robotics—the brilliant mind that conceived the Foundation series and the concept of Psychohistory.
During his long writing career, Isaac Asimov hopped back and forth between science fiction and mystery novels, essays, non-fiction textbooks, literary commentaries, and dissertations on humor. He authored or edited nearly 500 books in his lifetime, including an average of 10 or more publications every year during his most prolific production period.
He wrote on a variety of topics, including Sherlock Holmes, Shakespeare, the Bible, and the Universe. If I ever had a lazy day in my life, I’d just read all the titles of his many books. But as entertaining as a table of contents video would be, I will resist the temptation to recite dozens of book names and do my best to instead give you a quick introduction to Dr. Asimov’s life, the main concepts behind his work, and the secrets that underpin his writing techniques.
**Early Life**
A baby boy named Izaak Ozymov was born to Anna Rachel Berman and Judah Ozymov, a Jewish family of millers, in the small village of Petrovichi, in modern-day Russia, sometime between October 4, 1919, and January 2, 1920. Even Asimov himself did not know his exact date of birth, though he did select January 2 as his birthday.
At the age of one, Izaak faced a lethal threat: he and 16 other children in his hometown developed severe pneumonia. Only he survived. Two years later, longing for a better life, Anna and Judah took him and his younger sister by the hand and immigrated to the US. Once the family relocated to Brooklyn, New York, they adopted a more Americanized version of their name: ‘Asimov’.
The boy Isaac demonstrated signs of a vivacious intellect from very early on. By the age of five, he was already fluent in Yiddish—his parents’ language—and English. He had also taught himself how to read, using street signs in Brooklyn as his first reading material. When he was seven, he took responsibility for teaching his younger sister how to read.
Judah and Anna were the proud owners of a small general store, where they sold candy and pulp fiction magazines. This environment fostered Isaac’s love for reading. Judah had a strong work ethic, expecting everyone in the family to help in the store. Isaac was no exception; he woke up every morning before 6 a.m., worked at the shop, went to school, and spent hours there doing his homework while helping his parents with their business.
The upside was that he had access to an endless supply of comic books and magazines, with science fiction being his favorite. Spending time in the store, snacking on candy, and devouring sci-fi magazines was Isaac’s idea of bliss. At this stage, he did not yet dream of becoming a writer; his ambition was simply to operate a small kiosk in the New York Subway, where he could spend his days reading.
Around the age of eleven, Isaac began to write his own stories, but he kept them hidden from the world. Despite his demanding routine, Isaac thrived at school, excelling especially in scientific subjects. His progress was such that he was able to skip three grades, graduating from high school at just 15.
This accelerated path continued in higher education. In 1939—barely 19 at the time—Isaac graduated from Columbia University with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. Initially, he had set his sights on zoology, but after discovering he had to dissect an alley cat for an assignment, he switched to chemistry.
During his years at Columbia, Isaac continued to write. In June 1938, he finished a story entitled “Cosmic Corkscrew,” and his father encouraged him to submit it to John W. Campbell, a greatly influential sci-fi writer and editor of Astounding Science Fiction magazine. Delivering the story in person via subway was two cents cheaper than mailing it, so Isaac did just that! To his surprise, Campbell invited him into his office to discuss his story. Two days later, Isaac received a rejection in the post, but it came with an encouraging note from Campbell.
Isaac remained in touch with the editor, and with his guidance, in March of 1939, he succeeded in having one of his stories professionally published for the first time: “Marooned off Vesta.”
**Nightfall**
In March of 1941, John W. Campbell asked Asimov an intriguing question: what would happen if the inhabitants of a planet saw the stars only once every thousand years? Isaac used this idea as the basis for the short story “Nightfall.” He didn’t know it yet, but this was his first step toward legendary literary status.
In 1968, the Science Fiction Writers of America voted “Nightfall” as the best science fiction story of the pre-1965 era. The story is about a planet, Lagash, bathed in the perpetual sunshine of six stars. For the first time in more than a thousand years, an eclipse is predicted to darken the skies. The impending event creates rising tensions between two groups of characters: Scientists and Cultists.
Asimov’s exploration of the dichotomy between Science and Religion became a constant theme in his writings. He stated, “I have never, not for one moment, been tempted toward religion of any kind. The fact is that I feel no spiritual void. I have my philosophy of life, which does not include any aspect of the supernatural and which I find totally satisfying.” Nonetheless, he preferred to be called a ‘humanist’ or a rationalist.
**Father of Robotics**
By 1942, Isaac Asimov had been drafted into the Armed Forces, serving as a chemist at the Naval Air Experimental Station in Philadelphia. The experience did not hinder his creativity. That year, he completed and published another seminal short story, ‘Run Around,’ which would revolutionize the use of robots as characters in literature.
The concept of artificial beings can be traced back to early 19th Century masterpieces such as Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein.’ Asimov was the first to introduce the term ‘Robotics.’ In ‘Run Around’ and subsequent works, sentient robots endowed with ‘positronic’ brains are regulated by the Three Laws of Robotics:
1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.
A fourth (or more precisely a Zeroth law) was later added by Asimov:
0. A robot may not harm humanity, or, by inaction, allow humanity to come to harm.
These imperatives are intended to protect humanity from the threat of a single robot rebelling or from a mass uprising. In his robot stories and novels, Asimov explores the consequences of following these rules to the extreme, such as what would happen if robots were to prevent humans from doing anything at all to protect them from potential harm.
The big theme, however, is the consciousness of the machines. As sentient beings, are they that different from humans? This is explored through a recurring character in the ‘Robotics’ stories, robo-psychologist Dr. Susan Calvin.
**Foundation**
In the meantime, Asimov married Gertrude Blugerman on July 26, 1942. The couple had two children, David and Robyn Joan. After World War II, Asimov was transferred from the Navy to an Army base in Oahu, Hawaii, which meant he had to face his greatest fear: flying. After his honorable discharge at the end of 1946, Isaac returned to his studies, earning a Ph.D. in chemistry at Columbia University in 1948.
His income from writing was not yet enough to sustain a family, so in 1949 he accepted an offer from Boston University’s School of Medicine to teach biochemistry. Twenty years later, he confessed in an interview that he had never had any biochemistry!
In 1951, one of his manuscripts was published as the novel “Foundation,” followed by “Foundation and Empire” in 1952 and “Second Foundation” in 1953. This original trilogy was later expanded with four further prequels and sequels. Asimov himself acknowledged it would be his most enduring piece of fiction.
The series is about the decline of a Galactic Empire after a rule of twelve thousand years. Mathematician Hari Seldon has created a new science called ‘psychohistory,’ which uses mathematical modeling to analyze the aggregate behavioral data of an enormous number of people. This can help deduce the patterns of behavior of the masses. Essentially, Seldon is able to predict the Empire’s future, marked by a dark age of ignorance and warfare that will last thirty thousand years.
To protect mankind’s knowledge, Seldon gathers the best minds of the Empire to a remote planet, a sanctuary he calls ‘The Foundation.’ Over the course of centuries, the Foundation will expand, rivalling the decaying Empire, according to a master plan set in motion by Seldon. The series deals with ambitious themes, such as the preservation of knowledge, the immortality of mankind via the propagation of ideas, and the manipulation of the masses through religion.
**On Writing**
Asimov was renowned for being incredibly prolific, and he improved with age. He wrote his first 100 books over a 20-year period, and his second batch of 100 books took him about 9 ½ years. His third run of 100 books took him only 69 months, or less than 6 years.
While it’s a pity that Asimov never published a book about writing, we can glean the secret of his success from a series of interviews and articles he released. This boils down to a mixture of genetics and good habits. Asimov remarked that, “I have been fortunate to be born with a restless and efficient brain, with a capacity for clear thought and an ability to put that thought into words.”
As per his good habits, Asimov woke up every morning at 6 a.m., sat down at the typewriter by 7:30, and worked without stopping until 10 p.m. He never wrote more than two drafts of a piece of work to avoid lingering too long on a piece he enjoyed particularly.
Asimov never had trouble starting to write. When asked if he had some form of concentration ritual to prepare for his writing session, he replied: “Before I can possibly begin writing, it is always necessary for me to turn on my electric typewriter and to get close enough to it so that my fingers can reach the keys.”
Although he never really stumbled on a creative block, Asimov admitted to getting bored with the work at hand. In that case, his advice was simple: keep a number of open projects at hand and immediately start writing about something else.
Regarding style, Asimov’s advice was to keep things simple: “I make no effort to write poetically or in a high literary style. I try only to write clearly … I never read Hemingway or Fitzgerald or Joyce or Kafka. To this day, I am a stranger to 20th-century fiction and poetry, and I have no doubt that it shows in my writing.”
Despite avoiding the giants of 20th-century literature, Isaac Asimov was a voracious reader and learner, encouraging would-be writers to never stop accumulating knowledge.
**Later Years and Legacy**
In his later years, Isaac Asimov suffered from chronic heart disease, which required him to undergo a triple bypass surgery in 1983. Even though he recovered quite well, his health gradually declined over the following decade. On April 6, 1992, Isaac Asimov died in New York, reportedly due to heart and kidney failure.
Only in 2002 did the real truth emerge: after the 1983 operation, Asimov had received a transfusion of infected blood, contracting HIV and eventually dying of AIDS.
Isaac Asimov’s legacy is immense, quantified through the sheer volume of books, articles, and adaptations of his work. An asteroid and a crater on Mars have been named after him. He also left a legacy that is less quantifiable—an inspiration towards the accumulation and preservation of knowledge, a weapon of empowerment against ignorance and superstition.
Asimov warned us: “The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that ‘my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.’”
—
This version maintains the essence of the original transcript while removing or modifying sensitive content.
Asimo – A humanoid robot designed by Honda, often used to explore advancements in robotics and artificial intelligence. – In the science fiction novel, the protagonist interacts with an Asimo-like robot that assists in daily tasks and provides companionship.
Fiction – A literary genre that involves imaginary events and characters, often used to explore complex themes and human experiences. – The novel’s intricate plot and well-developed characters exemplify the power of fiction to reflect societal issues.
Science – The systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment. – The science behind the novel’s futuristic setting is meticulously detailed, providing a believable backdrop for the story.
Writing – The activity or skill of composing text for various purposes, including storytelling, communication, and expression. – The author’s writing style is both evocative and precise, capturing the reader’s imagination from the first page.
Knowledge – Information, understanding, or skill that one gets from experience or education. – The protagonist’s journey is as much about acquiring knowledge as it is about personal growth and self-discovery.
Robotics – The branch of technology that deals with the design, construction, operation, and application of robots. – In the novel, advancements in robotics lead to ethical dilemmas as machines become increasingly autonomous.
Psychohistory – A fictional science in Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series that combines history, sociology, and mathematical statistics to predict the future of large populations. – The concept of psychohistory challenges the characters to consider the impact of their actions on the future of the galaxy.
Literature – Written works, especially those considered of superior or lasting artistic merit. – The course covers a wide range of literature, from classic novels to contemporary short stories, each offering unique insights into the human condition.
Empire – An extensive group of states or countries under a single supreme authority, often explored in literature as a setting for political and social conflict. – The rise and fall of the empire serve as a backdrop for the novel’s exploration of power and corruption.
Ethics – The moral principles that govern a person’s behavior or the conducting of an activity, often examined in literature through character decisions and societal norms. – The ethical dilemmas faced by the characters force readers to question their own beliefs and values.
