# Isaac Asimov: Today January 2, 2020 is 100th Anniversary of his Birth **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 2, 2020, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isaac-asimov-today-january-2-2020-is-100th-anniversary-of-his-birth/845798 "2020-01-02T19:32:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2020, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isaac-asimov-today-january-2-2020-is-100th-anniversary-of-his-birth/845798/41 "2020-01-04T14:39:45Z")
His Shakespeare commentaries are also very good. After I see any Shakespeare play, I read Asimov’s explanation of it. Always interesting, always useful. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2020, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isaac-asimov-today-january-2-2020-is-100th-anniversary-of-his-birth/845798/42 "2020-01-04T19:31:39Z")
I liked his locked room mysteries, but could never get into his sci-fi. I don’t recall much about it, except feeling it was dry and boring. Also, he had a knack for bad, bad names. “R. Daneel Olivaw”. . . really? That’s just annoying to me. I came to the character without any previous knowledge of him, and every time I read the name, it was kind of a literary speed-bump. I’d hit it and stumble for a moment. I couldn’t tell you why exactly, but the name itself took me out of the book and I had to work to get back into it. I think about halfway through, I gave up. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2020, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isaac-asimov-today-january-2-2020-is-100th-anniversary-of-his-birth/845798/43 "2020-01-04T20:26:22Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Din’t Know if it’s on Kindle, but the collection is “Nine Tomorrows”. In addition to “The Last Question”, it has two other really good short stories: “Spell My Name with an S” and “The Gentle Vultures”. Thank you. It’s not available for Kindle and seems generally out of print, but there are used copies sold for a reasonable price on amazon. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2020, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isaac-asimov-today-january-2-2020-is-100th-anniversary-of-his-birth/845798/44 "2020-01-04T20:53:29Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > I think that Foundation has four characters who are well-developed : Salvor Hardin, Bayta Darrell and Bobo/Magnifico, and Preem Palver. Arkady is a memorable character, and reasonably well developed. > [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > I liked his locked room mysteries, but could never get into his sci-fi. I don’t recall much about it, except feeling it was dry and boring. Also, he had a knack for bad, bad names. “R. Daneel Olivaw”. . . really? That’s just annoying to me. I came to the character without any previous knowledge of him, and every time I read the name, it was kind of a literary speed-bump. I’d hit it and stumble for a moment. I couldn’t tell you why exactly, but the name itself took me out of the book and I had to work to get back into it. I think about halfway through, I gave up. I don’t know. “Daneel Olivaw” is easily pronounced, and a name that wouldn’t be unusual on Earth today (“Daneel” is some form of “Daniel” and “Olivaw” sounds like a real last name). Now Asimov’s invented terminology was sometimes awful (“globodollars” is the one that sticks in my mind as a term that no one is going to use as an everyday term - they’ll just say “dollar”). ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isaac-asimov-today-january-2-2020-is-100th-anniversary-of-his-birth/845798/45 "2020-01-05T19:29:31Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > Arkady is a memorable character, and reasonably well developed. I found her a bit of a stereotypical teenager (except for her moment of intuitive wisdom when she understands that the Kalgan lord’s mistress is not to be trusted). But Bayta - when we first meet her, there is no way she could commit a cold blooded killing. Yet when it happens, based on her experiences through the story, it’s perfectly understandable. And Bobo’s response also shows a change in his psyche, by refusing to retaliate. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isaac-asimov-today-january-2-2020-is-100th-anniversary-of-his-birth/845798/46 "2020-01-05T19:35:14Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > I found her a bit of a stereotypical teenager (except for her moment of intuitive wisdom when she understands that the Kalgan lord’s mistress is not to be trusted). > > But Bayta - when we first meet her, there is no way she could commit a cold blooded killing. Yet when it happens, based on her experiences through the story, it’s perfectly understandable. And Bobo’s response also shows a change in his psyche, by refusing to retaliate. Point taken. Arkady develops a little (from someone who is looking for a more exciting life to someone who learns about the downside of that), but Bayta really moves. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isaac-asimov-today-january-2-2020-is-100th-anniversary-of-his-birth/845798/47 "2020-01-08T17:44:26Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > His Shakespeare commentaries are also very good. After I see any Shakespeare play, I read Asimov’s explanation of it. Always interesting, always useful. He wrote a monograph on feminism right around the time he was researching Shakespeare that began with a recounting of the many strong, clever women in Shakespeare who are far superior to the men in character and intellect. He then went on to say, “yet, no one ever accuses Shakespeare of not understanding human nature, do they?” He then went on to describe why women are not only equal but perhaps better than men - he pointed out that increasing use of technology will require increasing dexterity and women are generally more dextrous, whereas the areas where men tend to have the edge (like brute strength) are becoming steadily less important. The monograph is at least 40 years old or so - I wish I had kept it as I can’t find a copy of it now. At the time I read it, he became my absolute hero. Would that monograph stand the test of time? I don’t know, but boy, I sure wish I could read it again and see. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isaac-asimov-today-january-2-2020-is-100th-anniversary-of-his-birth/845798/48 "2020-01-10T21:50:54Z")
It is obvious where I stand on Asimov. I recently reread the entire Foundation trilogy along with the two prequels and two sequels. I don’t think those last four (written decades later) stand up to the trilogy. We had a moderator called Asimovian for a short time. Where has he gone? ---
**Author:** ![Nightfall1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@Nightfall1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightfall1)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2020, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isaac-asimov-today-january-2-2020-is-100th-anniversary-of-his-birth/845798/49 "2020-01-11T20:13:33Z")
Obvious where I stand also, lol. I’m 66. Every five years I reread the Foundation Trilogy. If I want a quick read in bed I’d grab one of his short story collections. He is in the top three of favorite authors for me. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2020, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isaac-asimov-today-january-2-2020-is-100th-anniversary-of-his-birth/845798/50 "2020-01-11T20:35:10Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > I can’t find a copy of it now. At the time I read it, he became my absolute hero. Would that monograph stand the test of time? I don’t know, but boy, I sure wish I could read it again and see. Was it [this](https://archive.org/stream/Fantasy_Science_Fiction_v036n02_1969-02_PDF/Fantasy__Science_Fiction_v036n02_1969-02_PDF_djvu.txt)? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2020, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isaac-asimov-today-january-2-2020-is-100th-anniversary-of-his-birth/845798/51 "2020-01-11T20:52:04Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > It is obvious where I stand on Asimov. I recently reread the entire Foundation trilogy along with the two prequels and two sequels. I don’t think those last four (written decades later) stand up to the trilogy. I concur. His later SF wasnt as good as his earlier. One thing, he was able later to shake of Campbell’s “rule” about having smoking in SF. Campbell was a great editor but he was seriously weird. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2020, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isaac-asimov-today-january-2-2020-is-100th-anniversary-of-his-birth/845798/52 "2020-01-11T21:22:18Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > He wrote a monograph on feminism… At the time I read it, he became my absolute hero. Would that monograph stand the test of time? I don’t know, but boy, I sure wish I could read it again and see. And yet…: [https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=888096](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=888096) ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2020, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isaac-asimov-today-january-2-2020-is-100th-anniversary-of-his-birth/845798/53 "2020-01-11T21:50:09Z")
I used to love his stuff. Especially the Foundation cycle. But recently I learned things about him that will make it unlikely I’ll re-read him again any time soon. [https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=888096](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=888096) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2020, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isaac-asimov-today-january-2-2020-is-100th-anniversary-of-his-birth/845798/54 "2020-01-12T00:24:27Z")
> [@Isosleepy](#): > > I used to love his stuff. Especially the Foundation cycle. But recently I learned things about him that will make it unlikely I’ll re-read him again any time soon. [https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=888096](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=888096) Exactly what is the point of bringing this up? You think Issac might read it and change? (Actually he did change after his marriage) . Or you felt a NEED to point out that just about any man from that generation wasnt as “woke” as you are? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2020, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isaac-asimov-today-january-2-2020-is-100th-anniversary-of-his-birth/845798/55 "2020-01-12T03:56:16Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Exactly what is the point of bringing this up? You think Issac might read it and change? (Actually he did change after his marriage) . Or you felt a NEED to point out that just about any man from that generation wasnt as “woke” as you are? That can be turned around on you–why do you care to defend the reputation of a dead man? The answer obviously is that the guy’s legacy still matters today. He wasn’t “not woke.” He was a serial sexual harasser and abuser. He victimized many, many women. And knowing that can dampen people’s ability to enjoy his work–which is what **Isosleepy** said. If you must have a moral reason for her post, then it’s pretty simple. Do we want to be a culture that sweeps sexual harassment under the rug, ignoring it in the people we honor? Do we want to send the message to people today that, if they are actually good enough in their chosen field, no one will care about how they treat women? Or do we want to both acknowledge the good work while also holding the man himself to scrutiny? Do we want to make sure that doing bad things will leave a mark on your legacy no matter how great you are? It’s not like the time in which he lived people didn’t know that what he was doing was inappropriate. It was just that he was so famous that no one did anything about it. And that’s something we want to communicate to everyone has changed today–no longer will you get a pass. Of course, I don’t allege that is why IsoSleepy posted it. She posted to say that it dampened her ability to enjoy Asimov’s work. But you were trying to argue it was pointless to acknowledge the bad things people had done because they are already dead, while minimizing what the man did to “not being work.” Neither are good arguments. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2020, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isaac-asimov-today-january-2-2020-is-100th-anniversary-of-his-birth/845798/56 "2020-01-12T06:30:13Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > That can be turned around on you–why do you care to defend the reputation of a dead man? The answer obviously is that the guy’s legacy still matters today. > … As a author, not as a personal role model. That sort of thing was considered “fun” in that era and those circles. And, he changed, too. ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2020, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isaac-asimov-today-january-2-2020-is-100th-anniversary-of-his-birth/845798/57 "2020-01-12T15:28:17Z")
[quote=“DrDeth, post:54, topic:845798”] Exactly what is the point of bringing this up? [\QUOTE] The question in the OP was if people still read him - I qualify as people, and because of what I very recently learned, I won’t. The question wasn’t: “do you still read him, but don’t answer if it involves uncomfortable stuff”. Feel free to make that thread. > [@](#): > > You think Issac might read it and change? (Actually he did change after his marriage) . Or you felt a NEED to point out that just about any man from that generation wasnt as “woke” as you are? As an Atheist, I am confident to the point of certainty that Asimov will not ever read anything ever again. Nor do I feel the NEED to contrast my “wokeness” with anyone. This was about my disappointment that a man whom I enjoyed reading, turned out to be a bully. Serially sexually harassing vulnerable and powerless people is not a lack of wokeness, it is bullying clear and simple. The notion that this was somehow entirely accepted in that generation is silly, as most of that generation did not engage in it, and apparently Asimov was notorious for this behavior. Now that I’ve answered your questions, can you tell me why you felt the need to react as you did? ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2020, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isaac-asimov-today-january-2-2020-is-100th-anniversary-of-his-birth/845798/58 "2020-01-12T15:35:08Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > If you must have a moral reason for her post, then it’s pretty simple. Do we want to be a culture that sweeps sexual harassment under the rug, ignoring it in the people we honor? Do we want to send the message to people today that, if they are actually good enough in their chosen field, no one will care about how they treat women? > . I agree with much of your post (the unquoted bits). But my comment wasn’t about what culture we want to be. It was solely my personal reaction: I can’t enjoy reading a fiction writer of whom I know this. Also, I am (identify, I guess, as) a he. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2020, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isaac-asimov-today-january-2-2020-is-100th-anniversary-of-his-birth/845798/59 "2020-01-12T19:44:19Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > That sort of thing was considered “fun” in that era and those circles. And, he changed, too. No, it was not considered “fun,” not back then, not now, not ever. Not in those circles or indeed in any circles. What it was is something that HAPPENED a LOT and women were conditioned to put up with it because of power imbalances and social criticism and ostracism. As a big SF fan from childhood it was apparent to me that Asimov was NOT a nice guy, I didn’t like his work and would have actively avoided meeting him and if by some chance I did find myself in a position where that creepy old shit grabbed any portion of my anatomy I’d have fucking kicked him in his wrinkly old nutsack. So gross. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2020, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isaac-asimov-today-january-2-2020-is-100th-anniversary-of-his-birth/845798/60 "2020-01-12T19:46:18Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > That sort of thing was considered “fun” in that era and those circles. That’s a great example of how using the passive voice creates problems! Could you rewrite that sentence in the active voice? > [@](#): > > And, he changed, too. Did he make amends, or did he just stop doing the shitty things he never should’ve done in the first place? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isaac-asimov-today-january-2-2020-is-100th-anniversary-of-his-birth/845798.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isaac-asimov-today-january-2-2020-is-100th-anniversary-of-his-birth/845798.md?page=4)