Trends

by Isaac Asimov

From Astounding Science Fiction July, 1939

Genres: Short Stories, Science Fiction

Unknown Binding

First published July 1, 1939

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

[Per · Rating 2 out of 5]

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[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rather enjoyed this, Asimov’s third published short story. He predicts the Second World War and a resulting surge in conservatism in the United States, both of which happened, if not exactly in the manner he depicts. His mid-twentieth-century conservatism is exceedingly religious and heartedly opposed to space travel. But one scientist is determined to make it to the stars.
So far, every Asimov story I’ve read has felt in some way prescient, with passages that resonate uncomfortably today. This is no exception.

[Andrew Conlon · Rating 4 out of 5]

People seem not to like this one as much, but I enjoyed it. I don't known that young Asimov was fully equipped to handle religion but it's a decent stab at late-20th century values with the shoe mostly on the other foot. He did, as others mentioned, predict WWII - so you can hardly call him a slacker.

[Skjam! · Rating 3 out of 5]

Magazine version reviewed here with the rest of the issue: http://www.skjam.com/2020/06/26/magaz...

[Kareen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muy buena historia en la que un científico planea viajar a la luna pero en una sociedad que no quiere para nada la tecnología, a pesar de todo este científico lo hace ,muy recomendable.

[Stanley Daugherty · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent read, but far from Asimov's best.

[A.B. B. Lucian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Asimov's first real published story. A good read.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a failed attempt in July 1973, the first free-return trajectory is made around the Moon on March 25, 1978. There was also mention of a second world war as well before the main events.