Arguably the greatest science fiction writer who ever lived, Isaac Asimov also possessed one of the most brilliant and original minds of our time. His accessible style and far-reaching interests in subjects ranging from science to humor to history earned him the nickname "the Great Explainer." I. Asimov is his personal story--vivid, open, and honest--as only Asimov himself could tell it. Here is the story of the paradoxical genius who wrote of travel to the stars yet refused to fly in airplanes; who imagined alien universes and vast galactic civilizations while staying home to write; who compulsively authored more than 470 books yet still found the time to share his ideas with some of the great minds of our century. Here are his wide-ranging thoughts and sharp-eyed observations on everything from religion to politics, love and divorce, friendship and Hollywood, fame and mortality. Here, too, is a riveting behind-the-scenes look at the varied personalities--Campbell, Ellison, Heinlein, Clarke, del Rey, Silverberg, and others--who along with Asimov helped shape science fiction. As unique and irrepressible as the man himself, I. Asimov is the candid memoir of an incomparable talent who entertained readers for nearly half a century and whose work will surely endure into the future he so vividly envisioned.

A collection of twenty classic short stories by Isaac Asimov, author of the Foundation series, featuring the definitive version of "Nightfall". From one of history's most influential writers of science fiction comes this collection of twenty short works of fiction, arranged in order of publication from 1941 to 1967. Compiled by Asimov himself, who prefaced each story with an introduction.

From the world's greatest science writer, a history of the world from the Big Bang to 1945, told in irresistible short takes and highlighted by a timeline.Author To list Isaac Asimov's honors, as to list his books, would be excessive. Let it simply be noted that Isaac Asimov was the most famous, most honored, most widely read, and most beloved science fiction author of all time. In his five decades as an author, he wrote more than four hundred books, won every award his readers and colleagues could contrive to give him, and provided pleasure and insight to millions. He died in 1992, still at work.

Two minutes before he disappeared forever from the face of the Earth he knew, Joseph Schwartz was strolling down the pleasant streets of a Chicago suburb, thinking about his family, He was a simple man, a kind man, a practical man not given to wild flights of imagination. So when he saw the old Raggedy Ann doll lying in his path, he merely smiled and lifted his foot to step over it... That was the only thing he remembered. He did not know that it marked the last act of his life on this earth - and the beginning of a terrifying journey into a strange new world where the twentieth century was already ancient history.

A collection of essays by a master of science fiction is devoted to a discussion of the nature, characteristics, and function of science-fiction writing, including information on authors, works, and themes

"Here is a lifetime harvest of Isaac Asimov's favorite anecdotes, jokes, puns, and scandalous verse--640 selections in all. Everything is included, from the original shaggy-dog story (in mercifully truncated form) to famous put-downs from ancient history, from the cerebral whimsies of Talmudic wit to the bawdiness of the barracks ... The author has interwoven the tales with very personal running commentary, providing much informed advice on how to tell them effectively. He offers further anecdotes from his own experiences, both on the lecture platform and at parties great and small, as well as gleanings from his philosophy of what humor (and life) is all about." --

What’s in a word? Did you know that a lens is named for the lentil seed it resembles? That a straight line actually comes from the words stretched linen? or that a hippopotamus is literally a “river horse”? That oxygen means “giving birth to sharpness” because Lavoisier, who named it, mistakenly thought it was in all acids? (And acid, by the way, comes from the Latin word for vinegar). That alcohol is the word for an ancient Arabic cosmetic? That petroleum in Latin is “olive oil from a rock”? That a nucleus is a "little nut” or that deoxyribonucleic acid simply means . . . ? Well, read the book and see. The vocabulary of Science has always been a forbidding one, bristling with many-syllabled words and odd, unfamiliar terms. Now Professor Asimov has opened up this language to the ordinary reader by conducting an informal exploration into the roots and histories of hundreds of scientific terms. The result is a really fascinating book that combines a vast quantity of scientific information with an equal amount of language history. Even the longest tongue-twisters have simple origins if you go back far enough; and Professor Asimov makes each discovery of the origins of a word a sort of detective story that can’t fail to stimulate the reader’s interest. This is a perfect book to dip into again and again. Not only is it entertaining in its own right, but it is also a wonderful introduction to what should become the popular indoor sport of word-chasing. A complete index to the more than 1500 terms covered makes it a unique reference book as well.

Egypt's enduring civilization described in fourteen stages which progress from ancient beginnings to contemporary time.

The history of a small, semicivilized tribe who rose from obscurity and in 500 years created the greatest and most peaceful empire in the Western world

A study of all the ancient civilizations that developed in the Near East and of the contributions they made

Traces United States history from the Reconstruction through World War I.

Collects forty-three articles in which the prolific science writer examines, speculates on, and evaluates various aspects, achievements, and impacts of science and technology in the past and in the future

An interpretive history of the major events, figures, issues, conflicts, and sectional divisions of the forty-five years preceding and leading to the Civil War and those of the War itself, concluding with the death of Lincoln

Reviewing the major events, trends, and personalities of world history from 8000 BC to the present, the authors offer forecasts about what lies ahead in the next millennium

Explanations of mathematical techniques and principles are combined with the history of mathematics. Includes simple arithmetic, square root, logarithms, and even imaginary numbers.

VERY GOOD/GOOD- HARDCOVER LIBRARY BOOK/ no dust jacket. Book has minor shelf, rubbing and light edge wear. Book is in very good, lightly read condition, text is unmarked, and, not remainder marked, highlighted, underlined, or notated in the margins. Cover has minor shelf, rubbing and light edge wear. Book is NOT SIGNED OR AUTOGRAPHED. Seller is a lifelong book collector and each edition comes directly from his 35,000+ volume collection (To see a complete list of books currently available on Amazon from this dealer click on the blue dealer name in the heading of this listing. That will open the dealer page, then double-click on the header, “products”, and that will open a complete listing of all products available from Grants Tomes)! Orders are shipped every business day using USPS Media Mail, WITH FREE TRACKING, for all U S. orders. Thank You! DEZ 4120 Q2