Science Fictional Olympics: Isaac Asimov's Wonderful Worlds of Science Fiction, Vol. 2

Isaac Asimov's Wonderful Worlds of Science Fiction #2

by Isaac Asimov (Editor), Charles G. Waugh (Editor), Martin H. Greenberg (Editor)

An anthology edited by Isaac Asimov, Martin H. Greenberg andCharles G. Waugh.From interstellar matches that could decide the fate of planets, to a time when top athletes are built not born, to a future where only the best or the luckiest survive an afternoon spin on the freeway—here is your ticket to a universe where the events, the rules, and the contestants are always changing, so that one microsecond’s loser can become the next millennium’s champion.Includes the- Competition! (1984) essay by Isaac Asimov- Run to Starlight (1974) novelette by George R. R. Martin- The Mickey Mouse Olympics (1979) short story by Tom Sullivan- Dream Fighter (1977) short story by Bob Shaw- The Kokod Warriors [Magnus Ridolph] (1952) novelette by Jack Vance- Getting Through University [Dr. Dillingham] (1968) novelette by Piers Anthony- For the Sake of Grace [Coyote Jones] (1969) novelette by Suzette Haden Elgin- The National Pastime (1973) novelette by Norman Spinrad- A Day for Dying (1969) short story by Charles Nuetzel- The People Trap (1968) short story by Robert Sheckley- Why Johnny Can't Speed (1971) short story by Alan Dean Foster- Nothing in the Rules (1939) novelette by L. Sprague de Camp- The Olympians (1982) short story by Mike Resnick- The Wind from the Sun (1964) novelette by Arthur C. Clarke- Prose Bowl (1979) novelette by Bill Pronzini and Barry N. Malzberg- From Downtown at the Buzzer (1977) novelette by George Alec Effinger- A Glint of Gold (1980) short story by Simon Hawke [as by Nicholas V. Yermakov]- The Survivor (1965) novelette by Walter F. Moudy

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Short Stories, Anthologies, Science Fiction Fantasy

356 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Works of prolific Russian-American writer Isaac Asimov include popular explanations of scientific principles, The Foundation Trilogy (1951-1953), and other volumes of fiction.

Isaac Asimov, a professor of biochemistry, wrote as a highly successful author, best known for his books.

Asimov, professor, generally considered of all time, edited more than five hundred books and ninety thousand letters and postcards. He published in nine of the ten major categories of the Dewey decimal classification but lacked only an entry in the category of philosophy (100).

People widely considered Asimov, a master of the genre alongside Robert Anson Heinlein and Arthur Charles Clarke as the "big three" during his lifetime. He later tied Galactic Empire and the Robot into the same universe as his most famous series to create a unified "future history" for his stories much like those that Heinlein pioneered and Cordwainer Smith and Poul Anderson previously produced. He penned "Nightfall," voted in 1964 as the best short story of all time; many persons still honor this title. He also produced well mysteries, fantasy, and a great quantity of nonfiction. Asimov used Paul French, the pen name, for the Lucky Starr, series of juvenile novels.

Most books of Asimov in a historical way go as far back to a time with possible question or concept at its simplest stage. He often provides and mentions well nationalities, birth, and death dates for persons and etymologies and pronunciation guides for technical terms. Guide to Science, the tripartite set Understanding Physics, and Chronology of Science and Discovery exemplify these books.

Asimov, a long-time member, reluctantly served as vice president of Mensa international and described some members of that organization as "brain-proud and aggressive about their IQs." He took more pleasure as president of the humanist association. The asteroid 5020 Asimov, the magazine Asimov's Science Fiction, an elementary school in Brooklyn in New York, and two different awards honor his name.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_As...

Reviews

[Simin Yadegar · Rating 4 out of 5]

تخیل فوق العاده ایزاک آسیموف تحسین برانگیز است او ضمن اینکه بسیاری از آرمانهای انسانی رابه مرحله عمل میرساند , معایب آن را نیز گوشزد می کند . کتاب از 12 داستان کوتاه تشکیل شده که هر یک به نحوی انسان را به آینده می برد و پیش از اینکه خواننده در آن غرق شود , یادآوری می کند که چگونه پیشرفتهای علمی و تکنولوژیکی که آرمان بسیاری از انسانهاست اگر بدون تفکر کافی به مرحله عمل برسد , می تواند عواقب نا گوار و یا حتی ترسناکی نیز داشته باشد. این داستانها عبارت هستند از : المپیک کهکشانها , احساس قدرت , مرگ شب , لاشخورهای نجیب , تمام مشکلات این دنیا , نام مرا با سین تلفظ کنید , آخری سوال و پسرک زشت

[Hadii · Rating 5 out of 5]

این کتاب یکی از عجیب ترین کتاب های علمی تخیلی بود که خوندم ، زاویه نگاه آسیموف به رویدادهای مختلف به قدری برام جذاب بودن که به این کتاب بالاترین میزان امتیاز رو دادم ، توی فصل های این کتاب به فصول اول ، پنجم و دو فصل آخر میتونم اشاره کنم که بشدت برام هیجان انگیز هستن

[bogo_lode · Rating 3 out of 5]

Couple great stories, mostly a little dated.

For the Sake of Grace is one that's stuck with me for a long time.

[Janet Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, fast little Asimov sci fi / sports mashup anthology from the mid 80s. Worth the reread just to discover that contributor #1, George R. r. Martin, apparently liked the nickname "Railroad" so much he included it in bios back in the day ;)

[Katherine]

9/4/86. No library and iBooks.

[AndrewP · Rating 3 out of 5]

An anthology edited by Asimov.