Harvard's George C. Simpson called the late Isaac Asimov "one of our natural wonders and national resources," for his hundreds of nonfiction works on science, mathematics, history, and literature. Asimov, however, is best known as a science fiction writer. This second edition, Isaac Asimov: The Foundations of Science Fiction, updates and expands science fiction scholar James Gunn's definitive, Hugo Award-winning critical volume about Asimov and his contributions to the science fiction genre. A concluding chapter analyzes Asimov's best-sellers. Those interested in Asimov and science fiction will want Gunn's study, with its insider's look at the most prolific author of the twentieth century, its chronology, selected list of critical works, and bibliography. Paperback version available 2005.
James Gunn is a retired professor of English at the University of Kansas and Director of the Center for the Study of Science Fiction. He has written twelve novels, five collections of short stories, and Alternate Worlds: The Illustrated History of Science Fiction. Gunn is the 24th writer recognized by the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America as a Grand Master.
Table of Contents
Part 1 Epigraph Part 2 Preface Chapter 3 1. I, Asimov Chapter 4 2. The Foundations of Science Fiction Chapter 5 3. Variations upon a Robot Chapter 6 4. The Short Stories Chapter 7 5. The Robot Novels Chapter 8 6. The Other Novels Chapter 9 7. The Stuff Itself Chapter 10 8. The Best-Selling Author Part 11 Chronology Part 12 Checklist of Works by Isaac Asimov Part 13 Select List of Works about Isaac Asimov Part 14 An Interview with Asaac Asimov Part 15 Index Part 16 About the Author
