Isaac Asimov was a prolific science fiction and popular science writer, born in Belarus in 1919 or 1920. He wrote over 500 books, including the Foundation, Galactic Empire, and Robot series. Asimov was a member of Mensa and a vice president of the American Humanist Association. He earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Columbia University and died of AIDS in 1992. Asimov introduced the words positronics, psychohistory, and robotics into the public vocabulary and has a literary magazine, two awards, and an asteroid named after him.
Isaac Asimov was a very prolific science fiction writer and a popular science writer. His exact date of birth is unknown, although it is estimated to be between October 4, 1919 and January 22, 1920. Born in what is now known as the Republic of Belarus, this American Jew was also a professor of biochemistry as well as an occasional editor. Asimov has over 500 books (both written and edited) credited to his name.
Asimov was considered one of the “Big Three” of science fiction along with Robert A. Heinlein and Arthur C. Clarke. He is most famous for his Foundation series, to which his other two notable series are also related: the Galactic Empire series and the Robot series. His short story Nightfall is widely acclaimed as the best science fiction story of all time. He also wrote periodically under the pseudonym Paul French. Most of the work under this name is considered youth science fiction.
A genius by most accounts, Asimov was a longtime member of Mensa, including as a vice president of the esteemed high-IQ company. He was famously quoted as describing group members as “intellectually combative” and was said to derive most pleasure from his presidential tenure with the American Humanist Association.
Isaac Asimov grew up in Brooklyn, New York, attending public schools until entering Columbia University. He graduated in 1939, married Gertrude Blugerman in 1942, and was drafted into the Army in 1945. He rose to the rank of corporal before being honorably discharged just 9 months after starting his service.
Asimov then returned to Columbia, earning a Ph.D. in biochemistry from that institution in 1948, after which he joined the staff of Boston University’s School of Medicine. Asimov and his first wife Gertrude divorced in 1973, which allowed him to marry Janet Jeppson later that year. On April 6, 1992, Isaac Asimov died of AIDS, contracted during a blood transfusion. His second wife, Janet Jeppson, and his children survive him.
Asimov is credited with introducing three words into the public vocabulary: positronics, psychohistory, and robotics. He has a literary magazine (Asimov’s Science Fiction), two awards and an asteroid (Asteroid 5020 Asimov) in his honor.
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