Asimov on Science Fiction

by Lacey Kat
This work is copyrighted by the author (c)2003

One of the advantages of being a prolific writer is, that given enough time, you will have written something about everything. Then if someone comes to you and says, "we need a book on 14th-century drink coasters," all you have to do is go through your files and pull the appropriate past works.

In the late 70's Isaac Asimov, already a prolific writer and noted author of Science Fiction, had written about a very large host of subjects (though not 14th-century drink coasters). One subject that was remarkably absent from his list of works was a book about science fiction. Not that he had never written about science fiction. In fact, though a series of essays in a number of magazines, Asimov had written extensively on the subject. It just never occurred to him to assemble these wayward musings into one central location.

Fortunately, for those of us in the reading public, Asimov had a good friend and business associate named Martin H. Greenberg. It was he who suggested that the good doctor put together a group of essays that would make a book that could be called "Asimov on Science Fiction." 

This is an entertaining and educational collection of fifty-five essays on almost all factions of science fiction. It is divided into eight sections that separate the field into areas such as "Science Fiction in General," "Writing of Science Fiction," "History of Science Fiction," along with sections on Science Fiction Writers, fans, reviews, and finally Science Fiction and Asimov himself. 

Some of the essays are a bit dated, and some originally had references which only made sense in the context of the place of publication. Fortunately, Asimov, as he was wont to do, recognized this minor problem and included prologs and afterwards to help smooth out any of these rough edges. 

Any science fiction fan should take the time to read this collection. Not only does it include a brief history of the genre, but suggestions on becoming a writer, a look at the giants of the field, a look at the "current" state of the art, and reviews of "Star Trek," "Star Wars," (which he liked), and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (which he did not). There is also an extensive review of George Orwell’s "1984." Asimov answers the question, "what makes good science fiction," why he and Hollywood have never connected, and why you may not wish to become a prolific writer. As with most collections of Asimov essays, this work is an education well worth the cost of the book.


Published in 1981 by Doubleday & Company, it is currently out of print but can be found on most used books sites that deal with science fiction in general, and Asimov in particular.