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To: JenB; Bear_in_RoseBear
"Nightfall" was ok. I'm not sure why it's such a classic.

I'm just guessing, but maybe because it's shorter so it gets more widely read than Asimov's other stuff? I haven't read "Bicentennial Man"; will check that out.

BTW I have an Asimov collection I haven't read here yet called The Best of Isaac Asmiov where he lists his favorites of his own stories--here's the contents:

1939: Marooned Off Vesta

1941: Nightfall

1951: C-Chute

1952: The Martian Way

1952: The Deep

1954: The Fun They Had

1956: The Last Question (I've read this one elsewhere)

1956: The Dead Past

1956: The Dying Night

1959: Anniversary

1967: The Billiard Ball

1972: Mirror Image

Here's Asimov's own comments on "Nightfall" there:

"Yet within less than three years of the start of my career it turned out that I had written the best of Asimov. At least, 'Nightfall' has been frequently reprinted, is commonly referred to as a 'clasic. . .One of its advantages is that it has a unique plot. There was nothing resembling it ever published before (as far as I know) and of course, it is now so well known that it can never be published again. . .Yet I was only twenty-one when I wrote it and was still feeling my way. It isn't my favorite. Later on, I'll tell you what my favorite is and you can judge for yourself."

7,446 posted on 05/28/2004 7:15:40 PM PDT by Fedora (Smeagol-Gollum 2004: "We can be our own VP, my Precious")
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To: Fedora
Interesting stuff on Asimov! You know, it's been at least 25 years since I've read any of Asimov's stories, other than the "Foundation" trilogy.

I saw the movie The Bicentennial Man, starring Robin Williams, and enjoyed it. I have no idea if it was close to Asimov's story, since I never read the original story. But, I thought the movie was thought-provoking, and raised some interesting questions concerning what qualifies as "life".

7,448 posted on 05/28/2004 7:20:26 PM PDT by Bear_in_RoseBear (Richard Biggs: 1961-2004, RIP)
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