From what I understand, the Foundation books are foundational to the development of SF, but also highlight his flaws as a writer. Still worthwhile. But it seems his short fiction's where it's at.

His Robot Novels were apparently mysteries, his "Empire" novels were well-liked (Pebble in the Sky, etc.), End of Eternity is his time travel novel that's also liked, and he had a bunch of other sorta stand-alone novels that could be hit or miss. The Gods Themselves, Nemesis, and whatnot. There's also his mystery stories and all his non-fiction.

His work's fine, I feel like it's good reading. YMMV on the Foundation books as a whole though. He was one of the greats of the Golden Age.

>>24336699

Heinlein and PKD? Sure. Leiber's SF was really kinda odd and wasn't the greatest of his work. Leiber's horror/fantasy were his major strong points.

>>24336641
don't forget that Asimov just slowly tried to connect a lot of his works as time went on, it's why he connected the Foundation and Robots stuff later on, and then tried to figure out how to fold Nemesis/Empire novels.

>>24336562
Krugman's a faggot but I wouldn't let his shitty opinion affect your decision to read Asimov. He's enjoyable. I think his non-fiction's slept on.

Out of the SF writers of the '40s-'50s (Golden Age->Atomic Age, but pre-New Wave), Asimov's solid. But that's considering his impact within his era.

For pure entertainment in SF from that era, I'd prefer Alfred Bester, Poul Anderson, Clifford D. Simak, John W. Campbell Jr., Kuttner/Moore, Brackett/Hamilton, Pohl/Kornbluth, etc.

But Asimov? Fuck. There's a reason the Good Doctor's still one of the heavyweights in the genre. He's not someone who had the raw talent of Vonnegut and transcended into a high-lit author, but he's also someone that needs to be looked at beyond just the Foundation Trilogy. Of the Campbellian authors that swung towards idea-centric SF, he had the most influence.

Love his shorts. Love his old-man sarcasm and humor. I think Samuel R. Delany shoulda died of Aids and not the Good Doctor. (This happened due to a tainted blood transfusion) Fuck man.

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