Wahl.ES@Xerox.ARPA (09/26/85)
From: Wahl.ES@Xerox.ARPA I have to agree with Jim Brunet's opinion of Asimov's recent books. Too many fans seem to react to names rather than content. Asimov is a great SF writer, therefore he only writes great SF. *bull* Actually, I think Asimov died years ago, but Doubleday is making so much money off of his famed prolificity, that they hired a staff of writers to continue to put out Asimov books. Certainly, this bit about tying all the books together sounds like fan fiction. --Lisa
oleg@birtch.UUCP (Oleg Kiselev x258) (10/03/85)
> From: Wahl.ES@Xerox.ARPA > [some "munch,munch,munch"] Actually, I think > Asimov died years ago, but Doubleday is making so much money off of his > famed prolificity, that they hired a staff of writers to continue to put > out Asimov books. [more "munch,munch,munch"] > > --Lisa LIES! I've seen him on Radio Shack commercials just a year ago! Oh, I will not argue with a complete talant attrophy....
mr@hou2h.UUCP (M.RINDSBERG) (10/11/85)
>> Asimov died years ago, but Doubleday is making so much money off of his >> famed prolificity, that they hired a staff of writers to continue to put >> out Asimov books. [more "munch,munch,munch"] >> --Lisa Asimov is NOT dead. In fact he is (I think) up to about number 320. Mark
jimb@ISM780B.UUCP (10/15/85)
>> Asimov died years ago, but Doubleday is making so much money off of his >> famed prolificity, that they hired a staff of writers to continue to put >> out Asimov books. [more "munch,munch,munch"] >> --Lisa >Asimov is NOT dead. In fact he is (I think) up to about number 320. > Mark Wait a minute, Mark. Aside from the fact that Lisa's tongue is planted firmly in her cheek, the issue of "death" being discussed is of literary quality, not continued output. Unlike Davis Tucker, I bear no ill will against Asimov, the person. If I was his age, had a quad heart by-pass operation within the past two years, and was staring my own mortality directly in the face while being a sincere atheist, I would probably be indulging a few foibles, too. As to his humility, I dare not provoke the gods by commenting -- my wife says that I can pontificate with the best of them and I respect her opinion. However, as regards Asimov, the writer, pain, Pain, PAIN. I honor him for what he has done, both in terms of individual works and for his contributions to the field. There *was* a time when Asimov was one whose work was helping the field mature. But you put your finger on the problem when you answered Lisa literally by saying he's up to number 320. Yes, he's churning out paper with words on it at an alarming rate -- but so does a line-printer gone mad. I can't recall an outstanding, or even good, work of his (in fiction) since THE GODS THEMSELVES. (The problem of going dry is not his alone. Take Bradbury, for instance. Please.) Asimov's fiction today is as painful to contemplate as watching a great, over-the-hill ballplayer (like Willie Mays?) trying to hang on. Sad. -- NOW, said the dragon, will somebody give me some flaming room? -- Jim Brunet decvax!cca!ima!jimb ucbvax!ucla-cs!ism780!jimb ihnp4!vortex!ism780!jimb