Asimov had Aids!

Foxnews ^ | 3/12/02 | metacognate

[metacognate]

Asimov book reveals he died from AIDS By JAM! Books A forthcoming posthumous autobiography of Isaac Asimov reveals that the science fiction legend's death 10 years ago was due to AIDS, according to the New York Post.

Asimov, whose works include "I, Robot," reveals in "It's Been A Good Life" that he contracted the disease via tainted blood while undergoing a 1983 heart bypass operation.

The Post said Asimov's wife, Jane, compiled the new book from essays and notes her husband left behind when he died at 72.

[metacognate]

Is the source of the infection doubtful to anyone else?

[WillaJohns]

I don't understand your question. Are you implying he was homosexual? Was he?

The article says, "he contracted the disease via tainted blood while undergoing a 1983 heart bypass operation."

A lot of people have died from AIDS from tainted blood.

[riley1992]

No, not to me it isn't. Do you have information you would like to share with the class?

[gcruse]

I don't understand your question.

You have to go back to the article
listing in the threads column to understand
the question.  The keyword is anticreationist.

[RLK]

Asimov's science fiction didn't interest me. However his books on mathematics and physics were gems.

[Young Rhino]

Asimov's book on algebra saved my bacon in high school. Sorry to hear he died in such a horrible manner.

[Burkeman1]

Whatever- I had hours of entertainment from his "Foundation" books which are truly the best sci- fi ever written and upon which has been ripped off so much (like the "Dune" novels) and many other sci fi plot lines. Asimov was a great writer. If he corn holled that is his business- he never tried to tell me it was right in his writing.

[general_re]

Absolutely. If this is true, it's hardly a stretch to imagine, especially as 1983 was well before the blood supply was screened for HIV.

[JenB]

Hmmm... I enjoy Asimov a bit, particularly the Foundation novels and also his early works for the magazines. He wasn't the world's greatest sci-fi writer (that was Heinlein) but he was fairly good. After a while he seemed to lose something, but his last novel, Forward the Foundation was very touching in many ways. Also he seemed to know a great deal about a great many subjects - I believe he has a book in every Dewey category? But the one thing I would never have suspected him of is any of the common AIDS-causing behaviors.

[Billthedrill]

1983 was a reeeeeal bad year to get a blood transfusion. I don't think Asimov was an intravenous drug abuser, if that's what you're implying...

[JenB]

Ooops, I meant to state that I am in no doubt that he got the disease through a blood transfusion as this claims.

[boris]

Dune was largely plagiarized from Cordwainer Smith. See, in particular, Smith's only published novel, Norstrillia, the "Underpeople" stories, and the "Casher O'Neill" stories.

For example:

SMITH...............HERBERT
Sand Planet.........Desert Planet
"Underpeople".....Fremen
Stroon (life-prolonging drug)........Spice (life-prolonging drug)
Giant Sheep........Giant Worms (source of drug)
Superbeing.........Superbeing (Casher O'Neill vs Maud Dib)
Telepathy used.....Telepathy used.
"Planoforming"...."Traveling Without Moving"
Etc., etc.

Nobody who reads both Smith and Herbert can avoid the conclusion that the big ideas in Dune were lifted from Smith's universe.

--Boris

[boris]

"I don't understand your question. Are you implying he was homosexual? Was he?"

Asimov was not homosexual. But he was a "dirty old man". I watched him in action with young girls who were fans. Hands moving all the time, and everywhere...while their proud moms looked on. I kid you not.

--Boris

[Burkeman1]

INteresting.

[Vladiator]

Get a life you piece of human garbage.

You have proof?

Put up proof.

But stop the insinuation.

This is not the Drudge Report.

Yet.

[Salgak]

You expected any different from the author of "The Sensuous Dirty Old Man" ???? I met Asimov in college: he was a college room-mate of one of my professors, and after a guest lecture, he came to a party at my professor's place, to which I (actually, my entire Freshman Honors English class.. . .) was invited.

Yes, he drank, and yes, he pawed the girls. But the wild part was the Pun Battle Royale. . . Asimov started punning, and the rest of us tried to top him. . . it went on for HOURS. . . I'm still proud to say that I was one of the last two standing in the battle, and the OTHER was a professor. . . Asimov won, of course. . . at about 5:00 AM. . . .

[Samwise]

Asimov had a genius for explaining complex scientific theory and mathematics so well that even dunderheads could understand. He was a great writer, one of the three greats from the golden age of science fiction. He wrote hundreds of books on numerous topics.

His books gave me and millions of fellow readers much joy. He introduced us to robots and the future. He helped teach me to think, and he helped me pass astronomy.

He brought happiness and inspiration to millions. In his time on this Earth, he made it a better place. To imply that his life is in any way diminished by what killed him is disgusting.

[Samwise]

I'm still proud to say that I was one of the last two standing in the battle, and the OTHER was a professor. . . Asimov won, of course. . . at about 5:00 AM. . .

I'm jealous.

[PJ-Comix]

Asimov figured out during WWII that there was a secret atomic bomb project going on because he noticed that all references in the news and in the library periodical guides to the subject of atomic energy suddenly vanished shortly after the war began.

[another cricket]

His mysteries were very good as well. So sad if it's true. A horrible way to die. (Not that I can think of any pretty way off hand}.

A. Cricket