Isaac Asimov

Author

• Born: January 2, 1920
• Birthplace: Petrovichi, Soviet Union (now in Russia)
• Died: April 6, 1992
• Place of death: New York, New York

Russian-born writer, educator, and scientist

A prolific writer and an innovator in science fiction, Asimov developed the Three Laws of Robotics, changing the convention that robots were dangerous and destructive.

Areas of achievement: Literature; science and technology

Early Life

Isaac Asimov (I-zak AZ-ih-mawv) was born in Petrovichi, in the Soviet Union, on January 2, 1920, to Judah and Anna Rachel (Berman) Asimov. He was their oldest child. The family immigrated to Brooklyn, New York, in February, 1923, and Asimov became a United States citizen five years later. Though his father was a gentle man who introduced Asimov to literature, his mother was a strong-tempered disciplinarian. Despite their different temperaments, Asimov had a close relationship with both. He taught himself to read before he began school by asking neighborhood children to explain the letters and sounds that he saw on signs. He went to public schools that were populated primarily with Jewish students. He also went to Hebrew school for a short time, but he had a hard time learning the Hebrew language. His religious training was limited to lessons from the Talmud on how to behave. He did have a Bar Mitzvah; however, there were no other strong ties, and he declared himself an atheist at an early age. The family business was candy stores, and Asimov developed a strong work ethic there under his father’s tutelage. He was also introduced to science-fiction magazines on the shelves of these stores, and at nine years old he became an immediate enthusiast.

His writing career began in earnest in 1937 with a story titled “Cosmic Corkscrew.” “Marooned off Vesta,” written and published in 1939, came out in the same year that he graduated from Columbia University with a bachelor of science degree, began graduate school, and started writing robot stories. The next year, “Robbie” (published as “Strange Playfellow”) came out; it was the first story of his positronic robot series. He also developed the Three Laws of Robotics with John W. Campbell, Jr., his editor at Astounding Science Fiction (a leading science-fiction magazine of the time). Asimov also earned his master’s degree in chemistry in 1941. He continued to write and publish short stories for the next two years; however, after marrying Gertrude Blugerman on July 25, 1942, he stopped writing for a short time.

Life’s Work

The next decade was a busy one for Asimov. He published six short stories, including the final pieces of what would become known as the Foundation series and several more robot stories. He was drafted into the Army but served less than a year (1945); he completed his doctorate from Columbia (1948); he started teaching at Boston University School of Medicine (1949); and he published his first three novels: Pebble in the Sky (1950), The Stars Like Dust (1951), and The Currents of Space (1952). I, Robot, his first collection, was also published in 1950.

Asimov’s family life was challenging during many periods in his first marriage. He and Gertrude were not particularly compatible, and according to his autobiography, although she was a good wife, he did not think she ever loved him. Despite Asimov’s dislike of children, the couple did have a son, David, born August 20, 1951, and a daughter, Robyn Joan, born on February 19, 1955. After almost thirty years of marriage, Asimov decided to divorce Gertrude, although she would not agree to more than a legal separation. Though the court awarded Gertrude a significant amount of money, Asimov raised the settlement to half of his savings and their paid-for family home.

Upon arriving in New York after leaving his first wife, Asimov pursued a relationship with Janet Jeppson, a woman with whom he had been corresponding for years. He convinced her to marry him as soon as his divorce, which took three years, was final, and they wed on November 30, 1973. His second marriage was consistently happy.

No matter what his life circumstances were, Asimov found joy in writing and produced at least one book per year. He broadened his publication horizons by moving away from his almost exclusive association with Campbell and Astounding Science Fiction. In 1960, Asimov finally won the critical acclaim that he deserved, and his books were reviewed in national publications. He was also nominated for the National Book Award that year. In 1965, he grew in recognition with a larger audience when he began writing humorous pieces for TV Guide. During the next ten years, he tackled a number of different writing challenges, producing two biblical reference books, a number of children’s texts, a literary guide to the works of William Shakespeare, an autobiography, and critical essays. In 1978, he began his own magazine, Asimov’s SF Adventure Magazine, but it lasted only four issues. He interspersed new endeavors with a steady stream of the science-fiction novels and short stories that made him famous.

Asimov began to have health problems in 1977. At fifty-seven years old, he had a heart attack. He suffered from angina for a number of years before he agreed to medical intervention. On December 14, 1983, he had a triple bypass operation. He went on with his life for the next few years, ignoring symptoms. At seventy, he sought help for his growing health issues. Doctors told him he had a leaky mitral heart valve and kidney problems as a result of his bypass surgery. He had also received a blood transfusion that resulted in a diagnosis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Asimov finished the final volume of his autobiography in May, 1990; it was published in 1994. On April 6, 1992, he died from complications of AIDS, heart problems, and kidney failure.

Significance

One of the most prolific writers of his day, Asimov is known not only for his innovative science fiction—which has introduced readers to unforgettable characters, places, philosophies, and social commentaries—but also for the range of work he published during his lifetime: a children’s book, a mystery novel, a humorous piece, a critical examination of Shakespeare, textbooks in science, history, and mathematics. His interests and expertise were so varied that he has at least one piece listed in the ten main sections of the Dewey decimal system. Fearless in his topic choices, Asimov confronted Jewish and Christian critics, tackled the realm of literary criticism, and taught science to laypersons. His constant exploration of ideas and philosophies challenges readers to think more critically while keeping them enthralled in the worlds he creates.

Bibliography

Asimov, Isaac. In Memory Yet Green: The Autobiography of Isaac Asimov, 1920-1954. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1979. Asimov’s initial autobiography gives great detail about the first thirty-four years of his life. Amusing tone and rambling conversational style make this a must read.

‗‗‗‗‗‗‗. In Joy Still Felt: The Autobiography of Isaac Asimov, 1954-1978. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1980. Asimov’s second autobiography chronicles the middle years of his life. Includes detailed information about his personal life and his writings.

‗‗‗‗‗‗‗. I. Asimov. New York: Doubleday, 1994. The last installment of Asimov’s autobiography includes information from his whole life span. Provides a retrospective on his life, beliefs, relationships, and works

Asimov, Janet. Notes for a Memoir: On Isaac Asimov, Life, and Writing. Amherst, N.Y.: Prometheus Books, 2006. Nonfiction narrative of Isaac Asimov’s life as observed by his wife. Includes details of their daily lives together and amusing stories that he did not share in his autobiographies.

Freedman, Carl, ed. Conversations with Isaac Asimov. Jackson: University of Mississippi Press, 2005. Collection of interviews with Asimov. Valuable and unusual in content since Asimov gave few interviews during his life.

Gunn, James E. Isaac Asimov: The Foundations of Science Fiction. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press, 2005. Updated version of the critical tome about Asimov’s science fiction. This book won the Hugo Award for its analysis of Asimov’s works.

Touponce, William F. Isaac Asimov. Boston: Twayne, 1991. Reader-friendly critical essays on Asimov’s most famous science-fiction pieces, including the Foundation series and the robot stories.