Favourite Short Story? (Isaac Asimov)

[J-Sun]

Why on earth is Agence France-Presse telling me what astrologers are claiming? Under the theory that it "takes one to know one" when talking about superstitious people?

Still, the gynaecologist at the hospital talking about presumably statistically confirmable changes in dates for operations underlines that the astrological con men know that there is something there to prey on.

And it definitely does relate to the story. Interesting. Thanks.

 

[j d worthington]

Why on earth is Agence France-Presse telling me what astrologers are claiming? Under the theory that it "takes one to know one" when talking about superstitious people?

Well, just out of curiosity, I looked, and it seems there are a fair number of reports of such responses, by no means all from astrologers or the astrologically-inclined. I'd say it is a prime example of how ignorance and superstition about such things flourish even in areas where the people make wide use of the technological benefits of science.

I must admit that my own response is that it is easy to understand and even forgive such superstitious nonsense in areas where such knowledge is not made available, but when this is not the case, I find the combination staggeringly ill-matched, to say the least....


Still, the gynaecologist at the hospital talking about presumably statistically confirmable changes in dates for operations underlines that the astrological con men know that there is something there to prey on.

And it definitely does relate to the story. Interesting. Thanks.[/QUOTE]

 

[AE35Unit]

I remember one story involving a billiards or pool table,and also Asimov's description of how it came about. Someon said something like,here's my idea,now write a story around it. And he did! It was quite amazing how he could create a story out of any situation!

 

[J-Sun]

I must admit that my own response is that it is easy to understand and even forgive such superstitious nonsense in areas where such knowledge is not made available, but when this is not the case, I find the combination staggeringly ill-matched, to say the least....

Yep. Though, y'know, on further reflection, you could file this under "consensus reality" vs. superstition. Again, you'd want some sort of verification but there could easily be self-fulfilling prophecies at work. Even a doctor may be superstitious (as ill-matched as that may be) and, if he's distracted by worrying about things going wrong, something might indeed go wrong. Some women who had rescheduled their operations might be doing so for pragmatic reasons. In other words, you could non-superstitiously move to avoid the real effects of other peoples' superstitions.

Sorry, though: this is getting off the main point of the article in relation to this thread.

I remember one story involving a billiards or pool table,and also Asimov's description of how it came about. Someon said something like,here's my idea,now write a story around it. And he did! It was quite amazing how he could create a story out of any situation!

"The Billiard Ball"? (Asimov's Mysteries) I know he's written stories like that, but I don't remember that in connection with this one, but it may be.

 

[CatBar]

I must say Asimov's short stories are truly great, and have motovated me to write more of my own.

Sorry if this seems off-topic to the thread but, as a small-time story-writer myself, I was interested by your mentioning a motivation to write your own stories - would these be based on Asimov's?

 

[CBellenis]

I think you mean "Azazel".

That's the one! I'm headed for gentle senility I think - I'd be at home in that club listening to the stories!

 

[Contrary Mary]

I personally think some of Asimov's best work was in short stories.

In order, my top three are 1) The Ugly Little Boy 2)Nightfall and 3) Eyes do more than see.'

But with very, very exceptions I like almost all of Asimov's stories--jsut some more than others of course. But he wrote very few absolute losers.

 

[pnerd]

I personally think some of Asimov's best work was in short stories.

I totally agree with you on that.

 

[Daisy-Boo]

I love just about everything of his that I've read but The Ugly Little Boy stands out for me. I also loved The Bicentennial Man and pretty much any story with Susan Calvin.

Has anyone read his autobiographies? They're massive tomes but loads of fun to read.

 

[pnerd]

I love just about everything of his that I've read but The Ugly Little Boy stands out for me. I also loved The Bicentennial Man and pretty much any story with Susan Calvin.

Loved both The Bicentennial Man and The Ugly Little Boy. And Susan Calvin is one of my favourite characters.

Has anyone read his autobiographies? They're massive tomes but loads of fun to read.

I've only read I. Asimov (couldn't find the other too). Loved it.

 

[Daisy-Boo]

<<hugz>> pnerd for being a Susan Calvin fan too

 

[pnerd]

<<hugz>> pnerd for being a Susan Calvin fan too

<<hugs>>
She's such a fascinating character.

 

[Daisy-Boo]

She's such a fascinating character.

I agree 100%. When I first read a Susan Calvin story I felt a strong sense of kinship with her. I'm also a spinster (I'm quite fond of that word) who is inclined to understand tech better than I understand people. Susan lives life on her own terms and I admire that.

 

[pnerd]

Susan lives life on her own terms and I admire that.

I also like her for that reason (I'm not a spinster though. In fact, I'm a guy ). She is such a strong female character.

 

[CatBar]

I totally envy Susan Calvin too - getting to be with all those gorgeous robots! I would LOVE to have her brains and abilities, and to have been able to create a complete world for oneself as she could.

I find her an unattractive character but that doesn't stop me liking her honesty that, yes, she prefers robots to humans - as I feel I do.
("A cleaner better breed than we [humans] are")

Nor does she give a damn about being unattractive either. (Well neither do her robots either).

 

[Ian The Poet]

Any of the Robot stories are my favourites.

 

[CatBar]

Mine would have to be Satisfaction Guaranteed because of that dishy humaniform Tony making a show of having it off with poor shy Gladys so as to give her status over her bitchy peers! When they look through the window they see this gorgeous man who they assume to be a lover of Gladys's.

But I also loved Christmas Without Rodney just for its loveable absurdity. Even the little prat in it is made amusing.

But much as I adore Daneel and Elijah I have to say I found Mirror Image completely boring - guess it just went over my un-brainy un-mathematical head!

 

[manephelien]

Mirror Image was psychology at its simplest rather than mathematics. The solution was rather obvious though.

 

[dask]

"The Ugly Little Boy"

 

[Star Girl]

'The Last Question' - One of my favourite stories (not just out of Asimov).
'Profession' - Another great story from Nine Tomorrows.
'The Ugly Little Boy' - Loved the characters and the story was so gentle yet tragic.
'The Fun They Had' - It's short, very short - but very sweet. With the growing electronic books, Ipads and other items which take away from the pages of a book this short story makes me think about the future the generations to come will have.