[verga]

Asimov was Jewish by birth but described himself as agnostic and later as an atheist.

On the other hand Arthur C. Clarke, who actually wrote 2001 A space Odyssey and it's sequels, described himself as a Secular Humanist.

[Arthur McGowan]

Did Asimov have any connection with 2001 at all?

I saw 2001 at age 14 in 1967. Not a sci-fi aficionado.

[Elsie]

A black phallic symbol