Isaac Asimov

Author: Lida added 7-10-2012, 09:13

Isaac Asimov was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000 letters and postcards.

Writer Isaac Asimov was born sometime between October 4, 1919 and January 2, 1920 in the village Petrovichi, Mogilev region (Belarus) and at birth was named Isaac Ozimov. He was the first of three children of Juda and Anna Rachel Asimov. Although his father made a good living, changing political conditions led the family leave for the United States in 1923. Asimovs settled in Brooklyn, New York, where they owned and operated a candy store.

Growing up in Brooklyn, Asimov taught himself to read at the age of five and remained fluent in Yiddish as well as English. Asimov was an excellent student who skipped several grades.

Isaac grew up, a professional biochemist unique specialist, multifaceted science fiction writer, whose works synthesize all styles and genres of science and literature: detective, humor, astronomy, genetics, chemistry, history. It is worth mentioning the fact that Asimov invented the concept that only after many years appeared in real life and have been named with words that he invented: robots, robotics, positronic, psychohistory.

Isaac Asimov along with Arthur C. Clarke and Robert Heinlein are three best science fiction writers in the world. Most of Asimov's popularized science books explain scientific concepts in a historical way, going as far back as possible to a time when the science in question was at its simplest stage. He often provides nationalities, birth dates, and death dates for the scientists he mentions, as well as etymologies and pronunciation guides for technical terms. Examples include his Guide to Science, the three volume set Understanding Physics, and Asimov's Chronology of Science and Discovery.

Asimov was a long-time member and Vice President of Mensa International, albeit reluctantly; he described some members of that organization as "brain-proud and aggressive about their IQs". He took more joy in being president of the American Humanist Association. The asteroid 5020 Asimov, the magazine Asimov's Science Fiction, a Brooklyn, NY elementary school, and two different Isaac Asimov Awards are named in his honor.

Asimov suffered a heart attack in 1977, and had triple bypass surgery in December 1983. He died in New York City on April 6, 1992.

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