Isaac Asimov: The Foundations of Science Fiction (Revised Edition) (51 page)

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And the entry ends:

It has been said that Hari Seldon left this life as he lived it, for he died with the future he created unfolding all around him . . .

Asimov might have written that for himself.

Chronology

1920

Isaac Asimov is born in Petrovichi, U.S.S.R., on January 2 (the
date may have been as early as October 4, 1919), first child of
Judah Asimov and Anna Rachel Asimov, née Berman.

1923

The Asimovs emigrate to the United States and settle in
Brooklyn.

1925

Teaches himself to read and begins his career as a child prodigy.

1926

His father buys the first of a series of candy stores in Brooklyn.
His life begins to be shaped by the demands of the store.

1928

Becomes a U.S. citizen.

1929

Discovers science-fiction magazines and becomes a fan.

1931

Attempts his first fiction.

1932

Enters high school.

1935

Enters Seth Low Junior College. His writing increases. Writes a
letter to
Astounding
that is published.

1936

Continues his college education at Columbia University.

1937

Begins writing letters to
Astounding
again.

1938

Begins to keep a diary and joins the Futurians. Takes his first
story to John W. Campbell, Jr., new editor of
Astounding.

1939

First published story, "Marooned Off Vesta," appears in
Amazing
Stories,
"Trends," in
Astounding.
Earns his B.S. degree from
Columbia and enters graduate school there, majoring in chemistry.

1940

Begins writing robot stories.

1941

Writes "Nightfall."

1942

Begins the Foundation series with "Foundation." Suspends his
graduate studies to serve as a chemist at the U.S. Navy Yard in
Philadelphia. Marries Gertrude Blugerman.

1945

Is drafted after V-J Day (and released less than a year later).

1946

Returns to his studies at Columbia.

1948

Earns his Ph.D. and takes up post-doctorate work at Columbia.

1949

Is hired as an instructor in biochemistry at the Boston University
School of Medicine.

1950

Doubleday publishes his first novel,
Pebble in the Sky;
Gnome
Press, his first collection,
I, Robot.

1951

Son David is born. Is promoted to assistant professor.

1952

First non-fiction book,
Biochemistry and Human Metabolism,
is
published. Doubleday publishes first Lucky Starr juvenile. He
continues to alternate science fiction with non-fiction books and
articles, particularly science popularizations.

1955

Daughter Robyn is born.

1956

Is paid $10 for his first talk and begins a career as a popular
speaker.

1957

Begins his first monthly science column for
Venture Science Fiction
(later taken over by
Fantasy and Science Fiction
).

1958

Leaves full-time teaching for full-time freelance writing. After
1958 publishes no new science-fiction novels until the novelization
of the screenplay for
Fantastic Voyage
in 1966 and
The Gods
Themselves
in 1972. Continues writing an occasional science-fiction
short story, but most writing is non-fiction.

1962

Edits
The Hugo Winners,
the first of his anthologies, and begins
the autobiographical comments that characterize the rest of his
collections and anthologies.

1963

Is awarded a "Special Hugo" by the World Science Fiction
Convention for his science articles in
Fantasy and Science Fiction.

1966

Is guest-of-honor at the World Science Fiction Convention.
Foundation series wins a Hugo. A special edition of
Fantasy and
Science Fiction
is dedicated to Asimov and his work.

1969

Publishes his 100th book.

1970

Separates from his wife and moves back to New York.

1972

Doubleday publishes
The Gods Themselves.

1973

Wins a Nebula Award and a Hugo Award for
The Gods Themselves.
Is divorced and marries Dr. Janet Jeppson.

1974

Publishes
Before the Golden Age.

1976

The first issue of
Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine
appears.

1977

"The Bicentennial Man" wins both a Nebula and a Hugo.

1979

Publishes his 200th book, including the first volume of his
autobiography,
In Memory Yet Green.

1980

The second volume of his autobiography,
In Joy Still Felt,
is
Asimov volume 214.

1982

Foundation's Edge
is published, becomes best seller.

1983

Foundation's Edge
wins Hugo;
The Robots of Dawn
is published.
Has triple-bypass operation.

1984

American Humanist Society elects him "Humanist of the Year";
he later becomes president of the Society.

1985

Robots and Empire
is published.

1987

Asimov receives SFWA Grand Master Award;
Prelude to Foundation
is published.

1990

Hospitalized for kidney infection.

1991

Hospitalized for heart and kidney failure.

1992

Dies April 6.

1993

Forward the Foundation
is published.

1994

I. Asimov: A Memoir
is published.

1995

Last science fiction collection,
Gold,
is published.

Checklist of Works by Isaac Asimov

In the following list of short stories some of the titles of magazines in which the stories appeared have been shortened. Common designations such as "Stories" or "Science Fiction" have been omitted or abbreviations such as SF for ''Science Fiction" have been used. Below is a full listing of abbreviations.

Amazing
Amazing Stories

Analog
Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact

Asimov's SF Magazine
Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine

Astonishing
Astonishing Stories

Astounding
Astounding Science Fiction

B.U. Graduate Journal
Boston University Graduate Journal

F&SF
The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction

Fantastic Universe
Fantastic Universe Science Fiction

Future
Future Fiction
(1940),
Future Combined with Science Fiction Stories
(1950),
Future Science Fiction
(after 1952)

Galaxy
Galaxy Science Fiction

If
If, Worlds of Science Fiction
(to 1959),
Worlds of If
(1959-74)

Infinity
Infinity Science Fiction