A Stamp for Asimov?

[dwndrgn]

I don't see why not. Here's the info from http://www.scifi.com:

"Asimov Stamp Urged
[font=Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Sans Serif]Gordon Van Gelder, editor of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, is urging fans to come together in a letter-writing campaign to get legendary SF author Isaac Asimov on a U.S. postage stamp. Van Gelder has already received a letter from the U.S. Postal Service saying that it is considering an Asimov stamp for 2006, the Fantastica Daily Web site reported.[/font]

[font=Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Sans Serif]Van Gelder's editorial on the matter will appear in the May issue of the magazine. "Just as Albert Einstein became a familiar icon as a physicist, so too did Dr. A represent the genre of science fiction to the world at large—more so than any other individual, I'd say," Van Gelder writes.[/font]

[font=Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Sans Serif]Van Gelder urges that Asimov be included in the ongoing series of stamps called the Literary Arts series, which has included Ayn Rand, Ogden Nash and Zora Neale Hurston. He suggests that letters be sent to: Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee, c/o Stamp Development, 475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW Room 5670, Washington, D.C. 20260-2437."[/font]

 

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy]

Ah nice to see Asimov's name featuring in a more positive light. Although, taking Asimov as 'the face of sf' I feel he works as a barrier as much as a bridge - too many people 'read Asimov, but none of that other sf stuff'.

Still, a good idea and I hope it works.

I suppose it is too much to expect a Cordwainer Smith stmp in the near future though.

 

[Foxbat]

I cut my SF teeth on Asimov so I think this is a good idea also.He was a prolific writer in both fiction and non-fiction and, although he's not the only one, he was a major figure in 20th century SF.

 

[Brian G Turner]

If the stamp was part of a set, then who else would be in the rest of the set?

 

[dwndrgn]

Depends on how big the set was! I'd include Clarke, Saberhagen, Adams, Dick, Bradbury and Pohl at least and in keeping it scifi oriented. If we were to include scifi's readheaded stepchild, fantasy , I'd add Tolkien, Donaldson, Anthony, Martin, Alan Dean Foster (although he fits both) and lots more, I'm sure.

 

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy]

What about Robert Heinlein!!!

He is THE Grand Master of SF after all. Hugo Gernsback deserves a stamp for his contributions in shaping the genre as does John Campbell the editor who nurtured Asimov, Heinlein, van VOgt and virutally the whole Golden Age stable.

I dont believe fantasy is a stepchild of fantasy in any way but a (redheaded if you insist) sibling, as is horror.

 

[dwndrgn]

Sorry, I forgot Heinlein!

Ignore my sensitivity over fantasy - I'll get over it in a millenium or so...

 

[zorka]

What about Robert Heinlein!!!

He is THE Grand Master of SF after all. Hugo Gernsback deserves a stamp for his contributions in shaping the genre as does John Campbell the editor who nurtured Asimov, Heinlein, van VOgt and virutally the whole Golden Age stable.

If you are going to include these four writers, then I think you also need to consider Theodore Sturgeon. He doesn't always get the respect he deserves and I believe his star is in ascendency with regard to his place in 20th c. SF.

He took risks where other SF writers did not. His short story "The World Well Lost" touches homosexuality and homophobia. Another story "Mister Costello, Hero" focused on the effect that Senator Joe McCarthy's hearings were having on this country.

And novels - "More Than Human" "Dreaming Jewels/Synthetic Man" and "Baby Is Three."

But if Asimov gets his stamp, then probably next up will be Clarke because he is still fresh in the public's mind and his remarkable predictive inventions. Deserved or not.

 

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy]

I once read a very good summing up of Sturgeon somewhere: he wrote with love, and care about love, and care.