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Book by Asimov, Isaac
350 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 2, 1984
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About the author
Isaac Asimov
4,353 books28k followersWorks of prolific Russian-American writer Isaac Asimov include popular explanations of scientific principles,
The Foundation Trilogy
(1951-1953), and other volumes of fiction.
Isaac Asimov, a professor of biochemistry, wrote as a highly successful author, best known for his books.
Asimov, professor, generally considered of all time, edited more than five hundred books and ninety thousand letters and postcards. He published in nine of the ten major categories of the Dewey decimal classification but lacked only an entry in the category of philosophy (100).
People widely considered Asimov, a master of the genre alongside Robert Anson Heinlein and Arthur Charles Clarke as the "big three" during his lifetime. He later tied Galactic Empire and the Robot into the same universe as his most famous series to create a unified "future history" for his stories much like those that Heinlein pioneered and Cordwainer Smith and Poul Anderson previously produced. He penned "Nightfall," voted in 1964 as the best short story of all time; many persons still honor this title. He also produced well mysteries, fantasy, and a great quantity of nonfiction. Asimov used Paul French, the pen name, for the Lucky Starr, series of juvenile novels.
Most books of Asimov in a historical way go as far back to a time with possible question or concept at its simplest stage. He often provides and mentions well nationalities, birth, and death dates for persons and etymologies and pronunciation guides for technical terms. Guide to Science, the tripartite set Understanding Physics, and Chronology of Science and Discovery exemplify these books.
Asimov, a long-time member, reluctantly served as vice president of Mensa international and described some members of that organization as "brain-proud and aggressive about their IQs." He took more pleasure as president of the humanist association. The asteroid 5020 Asimov, the magazine Asimov's Science Fiction, an elementary school in Brooklyn in New York, and two different awards honor his name.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_As...
Isaac Asimov, a professor of biochemistry, wrote as a highly successful author, best known for his books.
Asimov, professor, generally considered of all time, edited more than five hundred books and ninety thousand letters and postcards. He published in nine of the ten major categories of the Dewey decimal classification but lacked only an entry in the category of philosophy (100).
People widely considered Asimov, a master of the genre alongside Robert Anson Heinlein and Arthur Charles Clarke as the "big three" during his lifetime. He later tied Galactic Empire and the Robot into the same universe as his most famous series to create a unified "future history" for his stories much like those that Heinlein pioneered and Cordwainer Smith and Poul Anderson previously produced. He penned "Nightfall," voted in 1964 as the best short story of all time; many persons still honor this title. He also produced well mysteries, fantasy, and a great quantity of nonfiction. Asimov used Paul French, the pen name, for the Lucky Starr, series of juvenile novels.
Most books of Asimov in a historical way go as far back to a time with possible question or concept at its simplest stage. He often provides and mentions well nationalities, birth, and death dates for persons and etymologies and pronunciation guides for technical terms. Guide to Science, the tripartite set Understanding Physics, and Chronology of Science and Discovery exemplify these books.
Asimov, a long-time member, reluctantly served as vice president of Mensa international and described some members of that organization as "brain-proud and aggressive about their IQs." He took more pleasure as president of the humanist association. The asteroid 5020 Asimov, the magazine Asimov's Science Fiction, an elementary school in Brooklyn in New York, and two different awards honor his name.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_As...
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 19, 2018
The book was one I stumbled across while looking for another (how many times I have done that I have lost count) anyway there is the book itself and what it represents
So the book - its a compilation of stories taken from the great and good of Science fictions hall of fame. There are stories there I have heard of but not read, others I have read many times in other anthologies - so I really enjoyed others I struggled with, but in general its a solid anthology on the subject of Supermen (and technically on woman).
But what of the book - well this was when I was just starting to find my feet as a bibliophile - where I would read up and study an author (yes before the days of the internet) and then set out in to the world to find their books.
A British publisher by the name of Robinson started to publish the books of Isaac Asimov who I was wildly in to at the time. And I went mad for them - but Robinson also started to branch out in to other books namely anthologies (They started the "Mammoth book of.." series) and this was part of the Isaac Asimovs wold of science fiction (rather than the US title which is listed above)
I will admit that on one hand it was a blatant cashing in on the name as I guess Asimov didnt choose these stories himself - he only presented them - but on the other hand it introduced me to so many new authors I had never heard of and instantly wanted to read more about.
The interesting thing for me years later is that this book was part of a much larger series which never got over to the UK - yes there were a number of other books I have from Robinson from this series but no where near as many as that are listed here.
I feel a mixture of child like determination and nostalgia may be in order!
So the book - its a compilation of stories taken from the great and good of Science fictions hall of fame. There are stories there I have heard of but not read, others I have read many times in other anthologies - so I really enjoyed others I struggled with, but in general its a solid anthology on the subject of Supermen (and technically on woman).
But what of the book - well this was when I was just starting to find my feet as a bibliophile - where I would read up and study an author (yes before the days of the internet) and then set out in to the world to find their books.
A British publisher by the name of Robinson started to publish the books of Isaac Asimov who I was wildly in to at the time. And I went mad for them - but Robinson also started to branch out in to other books namely anthologies (They started the "Mammoth book of.." series) and this was part of the Isaac Asimovs wold of science fiction (rather than the US title which is listed above)
I will admit that on one hand it was a blatant cashing in on the name as I guess Asimov didnt choose these stories himself - he only presented them - but on the other hand it introduced me to so many new authors I had never heard of and instantly wanted to read more about.
The interesting thing for me years later is that this book was part of a much larger series which never got over to the UK - yes there were a number of other books I have from Robinson from this series but no where near as many as that are listed here.
I feel a mixture of child like determination and nostalgia may be in order!
October 13, 2013
** Roger Zelazny - Angel, Dark Angel. In a utopian/dystopian future, society is manged by planned deaths, carried out by teleporting modified civil servants. But human emotion can interfere with the most carefully-laid plans. It's not a bad idea, but I didn't love the writing style - never been a huge Zelazny fan, so if you are, mileage may vary.
** Harlan Ellison - Worlds to Kill. A mercenary, aided by a super-computer, guarantees military domination to his select clients. But a larger plan may lurk behind the public facade. Y'know, one gets the impression here that Ellison really truly doesn't see the sexism inherent in his idea that
* Gordon R. Dickson - In the Bone. Hmm. A lone spaceman has a pointless conflict with an alien on a faraway, earth-like planet. I really didn't care for it; not only because the details of the story strained suspension of disbelief, and not only because I might disagree with the story's essential premise that Man can be 'broken down' to a violent, primal, self: certainly humans are violent, and have caused extinctions and do engage in unnecessary violence. But the story felt like it had a self-congratulatory tone about this theorized 'essential nature' that I found quite repugnant. Perhaps it wasn't intended by Dickson - I'm not sure.
**** Damon Knight - What Rough Beast. A poignant and disturbing tale of an 'ordinary' man with the extraordinary ability to swap things between alternate realities. One might think that 'super' powers would make a 'super' man, but here the 'superman' is weak and frightened... but able to cause terrible consequences.
*** Larry Niven - Death By Ecstasy. A Sci-fi noir murder mystery. A policeman's former partner turns up dead, an apparent suicide. But the pieces don't all fit together, and a tale unfolds that involves psi powers, the habits of asteroid miners, black market organ sales, and the quotidien details of life in rather-dystopic apartment buildings unfolds.
* Poul Anderson - Un-Man. This is a very, very boring novella. Quotes like this are contributing to my disinterest: "Funny thing, friendship. It has nothing to do with the love of women - which is why they never understand it." "Treat 'em rough and tell 'em nothing and they'll come running. These modern women aren't as emancipated as they think." Really? OK, if you want to spend time with characters who think/behave like this, your mileage may vary. But I could barely drag myself all the way through this tedious story of a bunch of cloned United Nations agents (Un-Men, get it?) versus extreme Nationalists.
*** Dean R. Koontz - Muse. I usually don't care for Koontz, but I quite liked this story of an alien/human symbiote, prejudice and misunderstanding.
** A.E. van Vogt - Resurrection. A bunch of invading/colonizing aliens arrive at a dead Earth, and resurrect some humans to find out what happened. The last one the choose is a super-powerful being who may seek to end the alien's empire. Too many unanswered questions leave this story feeling unfinished.
** Philip E. High - Pseudopath. The government has an agent that they have decided to advertise to the enemy as a telepath. But, he admits, he doesn't actually have telepathy - although he can accurately identify undercover members of the enemy. How does he do it? Eh, this didn't really enthuse me.
** Robert Silverberg - After the Myths Went Home. I usually do like Silverberg, but I didn't feel that this was one of his best. A far-future human society summons up tales of ancient legend into living, breathing incarnations, for their entertainment. But they get bored with this - and then, there's a hastily tacked on ending.
** Henry Siesar - Before the Talent Dies. A man has preternatural talents which he only hopes to use to help humanity. But a distrustful government does him with a slow-acting poison. His only hope is to use his talent to trick a woman into getting pregnant with his child before he dies, so that his gifts can be passed on, genetically. Not the best idea, and the story is rather awkwardly constructed.
*** Perry A. Chapdelaine - Brood World Barbarian. Spartacus in Space! An alien gladiator fights his way to a position as Champion, offered freedom and rewards - but he is suffused with hatred for the man who captured him and put him in this position, and seeks only to gain revenge.
** Harlan Ellison - Worlds to Kill. A mercenary, aided by a super-computer, guarantees military domination to his select clients. But a larger plan may lurk behind the public facade. Y'know, one gets the impression here that Ellison really truly doesn't see the sexism inherent in his idea that
* Gordon R. Dickson - In the Bone. Hmm. A lone spaceman has a pointless conflict with an alien on a faraway, earth-like planet. I really didn't care for it; not only because the details of the story strained suspension of disbelief, and not only because I might disagree with the story's essential premise that Man can be 'broken down' to a violent, primal, self: certainly humans are violent, and have caused extinctions and do engage in unnecessary violence. But the story felt like it had a self-congratulatory tone about this theorized 'essential nature' that I found quite repugnant. Perhaps it wasn't intended by Dickson - I'm not sure.
**** Damon Knight - What Rough Beast. A poignant and disturbing tale of an 'ordinary' man with the extraordinary ability to swap things between alternate realities. One might think that 'super' powers would make a 'super' man, but here the 'superman' is weak and frightened... but able to cause terrible consequences.
*** Larry Niven - Death By Ecstasy. A Sci-fi noir murder mystery. A policeman's former partner turns up dead, an apparent suicide. But the pieces don't all fit together, and a tale unfolds that involves psi powers, the habits of asteroid miners, black market organ sales, and the quotidien details of life in rather-dystopic apartment buildings unfolds.
* Poul Anderson - Un-Man. This is a very, very boring novella. Quotes like this are contributing to my disinterest: "Funny thing, friendship. It has nothing to do with the love of women - which is why they never understand it." "Treat 'em rough and tell 'em nothing and they'll come running. These modern women aren't as emancipated as they think." Really? OK, if you want to spend time with characters who think/behave like this, your mileage may vary. But I could barely drag myself all the way through this tedious story of a bunch of cloned United Nations agents (Un-Men, get it?) versus extreme Nationalists.
*** Dean R. Koontz - Muse. I usually don't care for Koontz, but I quite liked this story of an alien/human symbiote, prejudice and misunderstanding.
** A.E. van Vogt - Resurrection. A bunch of invading/colonizing aliens arrive at a dead Earth, and resurrect some humans to find out what happened. The last one the choose is a super-powerful being who may seek to end the alien's empire. Too many unanswered questions leave this story feeling unfinished.
** Philip E. High - Pseudopath. The government has an agent that they have decided to advertise to the enemy as a telepath. But, he admits, he doesn't actually have telepathy - although he can accurately identify undercover members of the enemy. How does he do it? Eh, this didn't really enthuse me.
** Robert Silverberg - After the Myths Went Home. I usually do like Silverberg, but I didn't feel that this was one of his best. A far-future human society summons up tales of ancient legend into living, breathing incarnations, for their entertainment. But they get bored with this - and then, there's a hastily tacked on ending.
** Henry Siesar - Before the Talent Dies. A man has preternatural talents which he only hopes to use to help humanity. But a distrustful government does him with a slow-acting poison. His only hope is to use his talent to trick a woman into getting pregnant with his child before he dies, so that his gifts can be passed on, genetically. Not the best idea, and the story is rather awkwardly constructed.
*** Perry A. Chapdelaine - Brood World Barbarian. Spartacus in Space! An alien gladiator fights his way to a position as Champion, offered freedom and rewards - but he is suffused with hatred for the man who captured him and put him in this position, and seeks only to gain revenge.
July 16, 2015
I finally got my hands on this intriguing-sounding paperback anthology, that had been on my Wish List for many years, and I was pleased to find I did indeed enjoy it a great deal.
Compiled and edited by Isaac Asimov and some others, it has twelve short stories, each featuring a super human being of some description. The oldest story was written in 1948 while the most recent was written in 1969. I thought the book was very cool overall, with some stories I liked more than others of course. I was primarily interested in the supermen themselves and was anxious to see how each author would handle the concept.
1.) Angel, Dark Angel by Roger Zelazny - The supermen in this story were highly-advanced cyborgs in the role of assassins. They were pretty much coldly invincible in the story (as well as frightening) and no human could possibly be a match for them.
2.) Worlds to Kill by Harlan Ellison - This story had but one superman and he was a Planet Killer for Hire. Literally. He owned a world-sized technological fortress complete with his own alien servants, soldiers, highly-advanced super-weapons and a super-computer (A.I.). Physically he was Captain America/Punisher-level but he also had a great, brilliant mind that got him along well for untold centuries before his computer was built.
3.) In the Bone by Gordon R. Dickson - The superman in this story was actually an astronaut in the far future. He was the sole pilot of a remarkable space craft that was more like Iron-Man's armor, but much bigger and far more powerful.
4.) What Rough Beast by Damon Knight - The superman in this story was a middle-aged polish immigrant in early 20th century New York. He had the unrestricted ability to traverse through the unlimited alternate dimensions of the Multiverse. He could either go into any of them at will, or he could take specific objects or beings from any of them at will. For example, he could put a one hundred dollar bill on the table and then take a million of that one hundred dollar bill's counterparts-counterparts from the corresponding one million alternate realities and place them all next to it on his table. Such a feat could take him roughly 4-5 hours.
5.) Death by Ecstasy by Larry Niven - The supermen in this story are people with various psionic abilities... none particularly powerful... with the protagonist possessing a weak third "arm" made out of invisible psychic energy.
6.) Un-man by Poul Anderson - This supermen from this story are a secret army of clones, each working as a special, highly-trained agent for a secret government organization. They function during their greater mission as a single man, legendary in the role of the unkillable Un-man that can't be stopped. When you think you killed him he will be back to hound you once more! (Kinda like the 5 Chinese Brothers set-up.)
7.) Muse by Dean R. Koontz - In the future when mankind starts exploring other worlds, eventually they bring back these slimy, leech-like symbiotes that attach themselves onto a host's spine. They are huge and actually deform the hosts' clothing. They require some kind of mental energy as food in order to thrive and in return... they provide something SUPER. I can't tell you without messing up the tale, but it is fun.
8.) Resurrection by A. E. van Vogt - In the very far future, mankind's technology has achieved a state that can only be described as Cosmic Power. Completely doing away with machinery in their technological expression, these supermen freely manipulate the full force of atomic energy, gravity, the electromagnetic spectrum, space/time, etc. with the power of their wills alone.
9.) Pseudopath by Philip E. High - The superman in this story is a highly-trained soldier with "profiling" abilities so acutely well-developed, that combined with his impressive, Jet Li-level physical abilities, seems as if he has unlimited access to the inner minds of men.
10.) After the Myths Went Home by Robert Silverberg - The supermen in this story are another super-advanced, far future version of mankind. But these are a few eons before the beings in Resurrection by A. E. van Vogt and have little offensive capabilities. Instead they use their otherwise unlimited super-tech to freely manipulate the weather as easily as you rearrange your curtains, and even bring to life entities from the distant past that may or may not have actually lived... and sometimes both versions of an ancient being in both his/her true and legendary forms.
11.) Before the Talent Dies by Henry Slesar - The superman in this story is a telepath on Emma Frost's level of skill.
12.) Brood World Barbarian by Perry A. Chapdelaine - The superman in this story is a savage barbarian (who apparently looks like Fabio) from a world with higher gravity and much harsher living conditions. The creature is forced to fight other alien beings including his own world's brothers in gladiator games. Some parts of the slave harness he wears functions as impervious armor and he also has use of a magnetic energy-type weapon.
Compiled and edited by Isaac Asimov and some others, it has twelve short stories, each featuring a super human being of some description. The oldest story was written in 1948 while the most recent was written in 1969. I thought the book was very cool overall, with some stories I liked more than others of course. I was primarily interested in the supermen themselves and was anxious to see how each author would handle the concept.
1.) Angel, Dark Angel by Roger Zelazny - The supermen in this story were highly-advanced cyborgs in the role of assassins. They were pretty much coldly invincible in the story (as well as frightening) and no human could possibly be a match for them.
2.) Worlds to Kill by Harlan Ellison - This story had but one superman and he was a Planet Killer for Hire. Literally. He owned a world-sized technological fortress complete with his own alien servants, soldiers, highly-advanced super-weapons and a super-computer (A.I.). Physically he was Captain America/Punisher-level but he also had a great, brilliant mind that got him along well for untold centuries before his computer was built.
3.) In the Bone by Gordon R. Dickson - The superman in this story was actually an astronaut in the far future. He was the sole pilot of a remarkable space craft that was more like Iron-Man's armor, but much bigger and far more powerful.
4.) What Rough Beast by Damon Knight - The superman in this story was a middle-aged polish immigrant in early 20th century New York. He had the unrestricted ability to traverse through the unlimited alternate dimensions of the Multiverse. He could either go into any of them at will, or he could take specific objects or beings from any of them at will. For example, he could put a one hundred dollar bill on the table and then take a million of that one hundred dollar bill's counterparts-counterparts from the corresponding one million alternate realities and place them all next to it on his table. Such a feat could take him roughly 4-5 hours.
5.) Death by Ecstasy by Larry Niven - The supermen in this story are people with various psionic abilities... none particularly powerful... with the protagonist possessing a weak third "arm" made out of invisible psychic energy.
6.) Un-man by Poul Anderson - This supermen from this story are a secret army of clones, each working as a special, highly-trained agent for a secret government organization. They function during their greater mission as a single man, legendary in the role of the unkillable Un-man that can't be stopped. When you think you killed him he will be back to hound you once more! (Kinda like the 5 Chinese Brothers set-up.)
7.) Muse by Dean R. Koontz - In the future when mankind starts exploring other worlds, eventually they bring back these slimy, leech-like symbiotes that attach themselves onto a host's spine. They are huge and actually deform the hosts' clothing. They require some kind of mental energy as food in order to thrive and in return... they provide something SUPER. I can't tell you without messing up the tale, but it is fun.
8.) Resurrection by A. E. van Vogt - In the very far future, mankind's technology has achieved a state that can only be described as Cosmic Power. Completely doing away with machinery in their technological expression, these supermen freely manipulate the full force of atomic energy, gravity, the electromagnetic spectrum, space/time, etc. with the power of their wills alone.
9.) Pseudopath by Philip E. High - The superman in this story is a highly-trained soldier with "profiling" abilities so acutely well-developed, that combined with his impressive, Jet Li-level physical abilities, seems as if he has unlimited access to the inner minds of men.
10.) After the Myths Went Home by Robert Silverberg - The supermen in this story are another super-advanced, far future version of mankind. But these are a few eons before the beings in Resurrection by A. E. van Vogt and have little offensive capabilities. Instead they use their otherwise unlimited super-tech to freely manipulate the weather as easily as you rearrange your curtains, and even bring to life entities from the distant past that may or may not have actually lived... and sometimes both versions of an ancient being in both his/her true and legendary forms.
11.) Before the Talent Dies by Henry Slesar - The superman in this story is a telepath on Emma Frost's level of skill.
12.) Brood World Barbarian by Perry A. Chapdelaine - The superman in this story is a savage barbarian (who apparently looks like Fabio) from a world with higher gravity and much harsher living conditions. The creature is forced to fight other alien beings including his own world's brothers in gladiator games. Some parts of the slave harness he wears functions as impervious armor and he also has use of a magnetic energy-type weapon.
May 24, 2020
Decent collection of short stories. Asimov can be a bit long-winded sometimes I find, but it was enjoyable to have his work in a shorter format.
March 5, 2022
This is a fairly decent collection of Sci-Fi/Fantasy stories. There are a few weak links but I don't expect them all to be homeruns.
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August 22, 2008Supermen by Isaac Asimov
August 28, 2012
Classic Sci-Fi anthology. I really enjoyed Worlds to Kill, In the Bone, and Resurrection. Un-man was too long and boring, and Brood World Barbarian too confusing.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews