As much as I enjoy the books of Isaac Asimov, this collection of essays (mostly editorials he wrote for his magazine) wasn't exactly to my tastes.

There are quite a few topics that are covered repeatedly (What is Science Fiction? What were the early days of Science Fiction magazines like? How has the genre changed over time?) and they don't really benefit from the repeated attention.

The most interesting anecdote I gleaned from the book was that in spite of being one of the most prolific and influential authors in the genre, Isaac Asimov spent the first 15 years of his career after being published working full-time as a teacher. And even after he began working full-time as an author, he was not making very good money. ( )

Substance: Interesting, as always, for mostly historical and personal reasons. Current pertinence is debatable, given that the sf field has become even more fractured, with hard sf the distinct minority position and fantasy overwhelmingly dominant. "Speculative fiction" in the mold of Leguin's "Lathe of Heaven", as reviewed by Asimov, occupies a precarious middle-ground; "space opera" dominates the visual arts, as always.
Style: I love Asimov's writing and provocative ideas, but his coy persona and didactic mannerisms are cloying in large doses. His books of collected essays or stories are best read at the rate of a chapter a week, as a do-it-yourself periodical. ( )

http://tpi-reads.blogspot.com/2009/03/asimov-on-science-fiction-by-isaac.html ( )

"A master on his art..." That pretty well describes this fascinating book. Isaac Asimov is one of my "big three" science fiction writers (the other two being Bradbury and Clarke). This is a great collection of essays on various aspects of his craft, including critiques of authors, particular books, movies, concepts in science fiction, and his own memories of the early times, along with some advice for the budding writer. A gem of a book by an amiable master of his art. ( )

4/6/22