Asimov was a professor of biochemistry who achieved immense success as an author. He is regarded as one of the greatest writers of all time, having penned more than 500 books and approximately 90,000 letters and postcards. Remarkably, he published works in nine out of the ten major categories of the Dewey Decimal System, with the sole exception of Philosophy (100).
He is considered one of the masters of science fiction alongside Robert A. Heinlein and Arthur C. Clarke, collectively known as the “Big Three.” He later interconnected his Galactic Empire and Robot series within the same universe as his most famous series, creating a unified “Future History,” similar to the frameworks established by Heinlein and others like Cordwainer Smith and Poul Anderson.
He wrote the short story “Nightfall,” which was voted the greatest science fiction story of all time in 1964 and continues to hold that high esteem. In addition to science fiction, he wrote mystery novels, fantasy, and a vast amount of non-fiction. He also used the pseudonym “Paul French” for his young adult novel series, Lucky Starr.
Asimov’s books often begin with a simple question or concept, which he then expands upon historically and scientifically, meticulously noting nationalities, dates of birth and death, etymologies, and the pronunciation of technical terms. Notable examples of these works include The Intelligent Man’s Guide to Science, Understanding Physics, and Asimov’s Chronology of Science and Discovery.
A long-standing member of Mensa International, Asimov reluctantly served as its vice president, though he was often critical of some of its members. He preferred his role as president of the American Humanist Association. His legacy is honored through the asteroid (5020) Asimov, the magazine Asimov’s Science Fiction, an elementary school in Brooklyn, New York, and two prestigious awards named after him.
