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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!pwa-b!mmintl!franka
From: franka@mmintl.UUCP (Frank Adams)
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: Re: Later Asimov
Message-ID: <740@mmintl.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 28-Oct-85 12:30:13 EST
Article-I.D.: mmintl.740
Posted: Mon Oct 28 12:30:13 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 31-Oct-85 22:53:07 EST
References: <216@caip.RUTGERS.EDU>
Reply-To: franka@mmintl.UUCP (Frank Adams)
Organization: Multimate International, E. Hartford, CT
Lines: 31
Summary: Plug for _The Gods Themselves_


[Not food]

In article <216@caip.RUTGERS.EDU> JWHITE%MAINE.BITNET@WISCVM.ARPA writes:
>I believe, that like any writer, Asimov is entitled to hot and cold spells.
>
> [Damning of _Foundations Edge_ with faint praise]
>
>I like the Robots of Dawn however....really liked it.
>
>To be fair to Isaac in his declining years, I think that it should be noted
>that some of his 'Golden years' stuff were duds or near duds. Take the
>'Stars Like Dust' for example, or the 'God's Themselves' (yes I know it was
>later, but really, if you think sex with robots is wierd) . Yes, I would
>put Foundations Edge well ahead of each.

You've got to be kidding.  (You're not?  Oh, well...)  _The God's Themselves_
is easily the best novel Asimov has written.  (In my opinion, of course.)

Actually, I don't think Asimov has so much fallen off lately, as failed to
keep up.  What was fresh and innovative in the 50's is dry and stale in the
80's.

I don't agree with those who disparage Asimov's characterization.  I think
a lot of the believability of characters depends on what characters you
believe in.  Personally, I find Asimov's characters more real and believable
than, for example, the characters in _Stars in My Pocket Like Grains of
Sand_ (which I think is a very good book, by the way).  The problem is that
he doesn't have any new *ideas*.

Frank Adams                           ihpn4!philabs!pwa-b!mmintl!franka
Multimate International    52 Oakland Ave North    E. Hartford, CT 06108