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Isaac Asimov

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Isaac Asimov was a famous American writer and a professor of biochemistry.

Heinlein-decamp-and-asimov
Heinlein-decamp-and-asimov

He was known as one of the "Big Three" science fiction writers. This group included authors Robert A. Heinlein and Arthur C. Clarke. Asimov was incredibly productive during his life. He wrote or edited more than 500 books. He also wrote over 380 short stories. He even wrote about 90,000 letters and postcards. His work covered many different subjects. He wrote mysteries, fantasy, and popular science. He even wrote guides about the Bible and Shakespeare.

Asimov is most famous for his science fiction stories. His Foundation series is his most well-known work. The first three books in that series won a Hugo Award. This was a special prize for the "Best All-Time Series" in 1966. He also wrote the Robot series. This series includes books like The Caves of Steel and The Naked Sun. These stories were written in the mid-1950s. Later, he wrote Foundation and Earth in 1986. This book linked his Robot stories to his Foundation stories. He created a single "future history" for all his works.

Asimov's life began in a place called Petrovichi, in Russia. He was born between October 4, 1919, and January 2, 1920. His parents were Russian Jews named Anna Rachel and Judah Asimov. In 1921, Asimov and 16 other children became very sick. They all had double pneumonia. Asimov was the only child who survived. His family moved to the United States in 1923. They arrived on a ship called the RMS Baltic. Asimov was only three years old at that time.

Weird Tales September 1950
Weird Tales September 1950

Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, helped shape his love for reading. His family owned candy stores. These stores sold newspapers and magazines. Asimov could read all these new things for free. He taught himself to read when he was five. He even helped his sister learn to read. He began reading science fiction at age nine. Asimov went to many New York City public schools. He graduated from high school at age 15. He later earned a PhD in chemistry from Columbia University in 1948.

Galaxy 195310
Galaxy 195310

Asimov spent much of his career at Boston University. He started as an instructor of biochemistry in 1949. By 1952, he made more money from writing than from teaching. He eventually became a full professor of biochemistry in 1979. Many things are named to honor his great work. There is an asteroid named (5020) Asimov. There is also a crater on Mars named after him. A school in Brooklyn is named P.S. 099 Isaac Asimov. Even the Honda ASIMO robot carries his legacy.

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