Isaac Asimov's best works

[Beleg]

Which do you think are Asimov's best works in,

1. Novel
2. Short story
3. Novella

form and what may the reason behind your choice be?

[knivesout]

Novel: The Gods Themselves

It doesn't fit into any of his major sequences - robots or Foundation, but is a very unique standalone. The middle section contains one of the most fascinating depitction of alien society I have ever read, and Asimov himself admitted that this is one book were he was 'writing over my own head', which is to say, where the quality of his prose just a hit an unprecedented, never-repeated high. It also has some interesting observations on the scientific community, and is a comment on our wanton use of natural reserves.

Short Story: Marooned off Vesta
This was the first story he published, I think, and oddly the first I read. Not a particularly outstanding tale by any means, but a sentimental favourite.

Novella: I am not sure which of his works would fall under this categorisation.

[Beleg]

Ah yes, The Gods Themselves. Very entertaining novel, would have been my choice too.

As for your short story choice, have you read its sequel [of sorts] that he published in an anthology of his?

I consider the earlier foundation books to be a collection of Novellas, like The Mule, for example. Bigger then a short story but smaller then a full-fledge novel.

[knivesout]

Originally Posted by Beleg

As for your short story choice, have you read its sequel [of sorts] that he published in an anthology of his?

I may have - what was the title? I liked his Wendell Urth musteries too.

Well, leaving aside the novellas that would comprise the first foundation book, I can't think of any other works in this category.

What would your choices be, Beleg, apart from seconding 'The Gods'? (BTW: We're nearly neighbours, in that I live in India )

[Priestvyrce]

Originally Posted by Beleg

Which do you think are Asimov's best works in,

1. Novel
2. Short story
3. Novella

form and what may the reason behind your choice be?

Well, I've only read his novels,so I almost have to say in his novel form. I love the Elijah Bailey novels and the Foundation trilogy(which read like an anthology with a premise rather than a whole novel).

[confused]

Intellectually, I'd have to agree that 'The gods themselves' is his best novel. On the other hand, Robots of Dawn was the first science fiction book I ever owned (age 10). Took me a couple of years before I actually read it, but it still occupies a specieal place :-) Lots of interesting characters, and so much speculation packed into one (admittedly large book). Remember the zeroth law ? Stand far enough from mankind and you'll hear a hum. Also, it's one of the very first books where somebody pointed out that if all your data is stored, then searching for data will be a useful skill. Shades of google !

[Beleg]

Knives Out posted,

I may have - what was the title? I liked his Wendell Urth musteries too.

From the Foreword to Marooned of Vesta in Mysteries Anthology,

This requires a little explanation. 'Marooned Off Vesta,' the first of this connected pair of stories, is not a mystery in any way. It does, however, happen to be the first story I ever published. When the twentieth anniversary of that first publication approached, the editors of the magazine in which it had appeared asked me if I would write a story to mark the anniversary. I did, and with predictable corniness this second story, 'Anniversary,' dealt with the meeting of the characters of the first story on the twentieth anniversary of the events in that first story. And the pair of stories, taken together, make a mystery.

His Urth mysteries are very nice. They remind me of Tuf Stories by George RR Martin for some reason, although both bear no resemblence at the first glance.

What would your choices be, Beleg, apart from seconding 'The Gods'? (BTW: We're nearly neighbours, in that I live in India )

I haven't read any Asimov Novel other then The Gods Themselves. [I was on the verge of startin Pebbles In the Sky a few days ago.] So I can't really comment.

Hello! Are there other Sub-continent folks here too?

[Priestvyrce]

Originally Posted by Beleg

Knives Out posted,



From the Foreword to Marooned of Vesta in Mysteries Anthology,



His Urth mysteries are very nice. They remind me of Tuf Stories by George RR Martin for some reason, although both bear no resemblence at the first glance.



I haven't read any Asimov Novel other then The Gods Themselves. [I was on the verge of startin Pebbles In the Sky a few days ago.] So I can't really comment.

Hello! Are there other Sub-continent folks here too?

Pebbles In The Sky is, from what I can remember of it, a very satisfying book as the rest of the books set in the same era. I believe that Pebbles is a loose trilogy which tells the story before Sheldon and the Foundation. Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

[Shehzad]

Best Asimov novel:
The Gods Themselves

Simply no contest here. The middle part, especially, is amazing. An engaging story with interesting characters, particularly in the middle third.

Best short story:
The Last Question

Possibly Asimov's finest piece of writing. Ever.

Best novella:
(I'll cheat here a bit)
Search by the Foundation aka "...And Now You Don't"
The second half of the Second Foundation novel, it was originally published as a novella and is my favourite portion of all the Foundation series.

[Archren]

I now feel extremely ashamed that I've never read The Gods Themselves and I will remedy that as soon as possible.

I've always felt that Asimov excelled at the short story form also. My two favorites (and it's hard to choose between all his great ones): "Little Lost robot" and "Nightfall."

[kahnovitch]

The stories I remember the most are the Foundation series.
I read three of them but them wasn't too sure which order the rest should be read in and one of the books in my collection is missing.

The robot stories were good, but more like detective stories set in a sci-fi environment and the three laws of robotics set the yardstick for many other AI related stories.

[Shehzad]

Originally Posted by Beleg

Hello! Are there other Sub-continent folks here too?

Yep. One more here.