Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site mmintl.UUCP 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