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Mother Earth
Short story set between the early Earth era and the era of the Robot novels, at a time when the Spacer worlds were first being colonised. Contains some minor inconsistencies with later stories
It was written from September 1 to October 10, 1948, and published in the May 1949 issue of Astounding Science Fiction. It was republished in Asimov's 1972 short story collection The Early Asimov.
Earth faces a confrontation with its colonies, the "Outer Worlds." A historian looks back and sees the problem beginning a century-and-a-half earlier, when Aurora got permission to "introduce positronic robots into their community life." No date is given, but fifty years before the story starts, the Outer Worlds established an immigration quota against incoming Terran citizens. The balance of power then tipped. Now war appears likely, and there are rumours that Earth has developed an unknown weapon.
It was written from September 1 to October 10, 1948, and published in the May 1949 issue of Astounding Science Fiction. It was republished in Asimov's 1972 short story collection The Early Asimov.
Earth faces a confrontation with its colonies, the "Outer Worlds." A historian looks back and sees the problem beginning a century-and-a-half earlier, when Aurora got permission to "introduce positronic robots into their community life." No date is given, but fifty years before the story starts, the Outer Worlds established an immigration quota against incoming Terran citizens. The balance of power then tipped. Now war appears likely, and there are rumours that Earth has developed an unknown weapon.
34 pages, Unknown Binding
First published May 1, 1949
1 person is currently reading
129 people want to read
About the author
Isaac Asimov
4,337 books27.6k followersWorks 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...
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...
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 3, 2019
Isaac Asimov wrote the short story 'Mother Earth' sometime between 1948 and 1949. He was 28 or 29 years old. He'd already written in 1941 what has been called the best science fiction short story of the 20th century, 'Nightfall', as a 21 year old wunderkind. If you've not yet read this, do so. I didn't know 'Mother Earth' existed until I wikied 'The Caves of Steel' before reading it again. I'd wanted to find out who'd painted the lovely cover for the edition I was about to read. I found 'Mother Earth' was listed as a prequel of sorts for Caves. This intrigued me. I had to go hunt up an edition of 'The Early Asimov', a 1972 collection of his earliest, and not best, published stories to find it.
The story seems an example of the writer as artist, having an idea, crafting it out, and putting it up for publication. Some time later, again in artist mode, he plucks up the original idea like a raw diamond, recuts and polishes it, crafts a new frame for it, and works it into a novel he then calls 'The Caves of Steel.' 'Mother Earth' shows us his original conception of the Spacer Worlds and Earth, set up in Caves and expanded on in 'The Naked Sun', and presents it to the reader in what I've come to think of as explanatory science fiction: little to no action, dramatic tension established, contrasted, and resolved through expository dialogue. This was Asimov's fiction style throughout his career. It works for me, though better in his latter years as he became a more expert wordsmith.
'Mother Earth' sets forth a question: what is the ultimate conclusion to the collision between the societal wants and needs of the 50 Outer Worlds with those of Mother Earth, the world whose vast population seeded each of the uniquely individual daughter worlds who collectively want little to no interaction with those they consider inferior? The simple answer is war. The more complex answer is the methodology of achieving this goal and what the outcome actually means for both societies. Premises are set forth. They must be accepted without reasoning them through for the very logical extrapolations made from them to make sense. I did.
There is no mistaking the craftsman at work in this story. The frame of the focus is on political intrigue and deception, sociology, psychology, and creative pseudo-historical extrapolation given certain science fiction tropes -- space flight, extra-terrestrial colonization -- becoming facts. The story was introduced, expanded, explained, and concluded via interactions and conversations between six major talking heads and the insertion of a MacGuffin called The Pacific Project, the first cause prime mover for all subsequent events. At times the heads are a bit too talky, but that's Asimov. His tripartite MacGuffin is a trifle bendy, as each part is supposed to build into and support what follows. This is also not uncommon with Mr. A. and others of his generation of writers. But once the aforementioned is accepted by the reader the ride is smooth and enjoyable.
As I was reading, the adolescent part of my mature self easily overlooked and accepted the premise holes and the logical conclusions derived from them and had fun being carried along to story's end. Only then did my current self sit back and look into where I'd been and how I'd been taken through it. That too was fun. If you decide to read this story, my form of post enjoyment summing up might strike you enjoyable as well. This story and Asimov's novels offer up interesting factual information for you, should you choose, to look into and perhaps expand your knowledge base. The 15,000 words of 'Mother Earth' both entertained and intellectually stimulated me, as I believe all good science fiction should. If you like that sort of thing, read it and see.
The story seems an example of the writer as artist, having an idea, crafting it out, and putting it up for publication. Some time later, again in artist mode, he plucks up the original idea like a raw diamond, recuts and polishes it, crafts a new frame for it, and works it into a novel he then calls 'The Caves of Steel.' 'Mother Earth' shows us his original conception of the Spacer Worlds and Earth, set up in Caves and expanded on in 'The Naked Sun', and presents it to the reader in what I've come to think of as explanatory science fiction: little to no action, dramatic tension established, contrasted, and resolved through expository dialogue. This was Asimov's fiction style throughout his career. It works for me, though better in his latter years as he became a more expert wordsmith.
'Mother Earth' sets forth a question: what is the ultimate conclusion to the collision between the societal wants and needs of the 50 Outer Worlds with those of Mother Earth, the world whose vast population seeded each of the uniquely individual daughter worlds who collectively want little to no interaction with those they consider inferior? The simple answer is war. The more complex answer is the methodology of achieving this goal and what the outcome actually means for both societies. Premises are set forth. They must be accepted without reasoning them through for the very logical extrapolations made from them to make sense. I did.
There is no mistaking the craftsman at work in this story. The frame of the focus is on political intrigue and deception, sociology, psychology, and creative pseudo-historical extrapolation given certain science fiction tropes -- space flight, extra-terrestrial colonization -- becoming facts. The story was introduced, expanded, explained, and concluded via interactions and conversations between six major talking heads and the insertion of a MacGuffin called The Pacific Project, the first cause prime mover for all subsequent events. At times the heads are a bit too talky, but that's Asimov. His tripartite MacGuffin is a trifle bendy, as each part is supposed to build into and support what follows. This is also not uncommon with Mr. A. and others of his generation of writers. But once the aforementioned is accepted by the reader the ride is smooth and enjoyable.
As I was reading, the adolescent part of my mature self easily overlooked and accepted the premise holes and the logical conclusions derived from them and had fun being carried along to story's end. Only then did my current self sit back and look into where I'd been and how I'd been taken through it. That too was fun. If you decide to read this story, my form of post enjoyment summing up might strike you enjoyable as well. This story and Asimov's novels offer up interesting factual information for you, should you choose, to look into and perhaps expand your knowledge base. The 15,000 words of 'Mother Earth' both entertained and intellectually stimulated me, as I believe all good science fiction should. If you like that sort of thing, read it and see.
August 13, 2023
This short story fills the historical gap between the positronic man, Andrew Martin, and Elijah Baley a few thousand years later. There are small hints of the future idea of psychohistory, in the psychology that underpins the Pacific Project on Earth.
February 8, 2024
Este relato corto se sitúa aproximadamente 1000 años antes de la Saga de los Robots ('Bóvedas de acero', 'El sol desnudo' y 'Los robots del amanecer'). Narra un conflicto entre la Tierra y los 50 Mundos Exteriores debido a la sobrepoblación de ésta. Es muy interesante porque se ve perfectamente lo diferentes que son los terrícolas de los habitantes de los otros mundos, y lo mal que opinan los segundos de los primeros. Son dos sociedades completamente distintas, cosa que choca bastante al principio.
No me cuadra mucho el final de 'Madre Tierra' con la Saga de los Robots, por lo que habrá que leer más relatos intermedios para saber cómo se unen los dos.
No me cuadra mucho el final de 'Madre Tierra' con la Saga de los Robots, por lo que habrá que leer más relatos intermedios para saber cómo se unen los dos.
January 31, 2024
It's been a while since my last Asimov book, and I'm astounded by the vision of the author! It was a pleasant surprise to find a Galactic Empire book I hadn't read, and I'm on my way to read many more!
October 6, 2024
It's in the collection, The Early Asimov. Don't spend a lot of money on it because you should be able to find a copy of this novella on it's own around the internet somewhere.
After all the robot stories, we skip forward many years until humans have colonised lots of far flung systems.
Earth is overcrowded and under resourced so many people are wanting to go to the new frontiers, but the frontier has banned all immigration and won't accept any more people from Earth.
But someone on Earth has a plan, the "Pacific Project".
Another good story.
Next up is The Caves of Steel
After all the robot stories, we skip forward many years until humans have colonised lots of far flung systems.
Earth is overcrowded and under resourced so many people are wanting to go to the new frontiers, but the frontier has banned all immigration and won't accept any more people from Earth.
But someone on Earth has a plan, the "Pacific Project".
Another good story.
Next up is The Caves of Steel
October 18, 2025
4'5
Siguiendo en la línea de sus cuentos previos, Asimov nos deleita con el que es uno de los nexos entre sus cuentos cortos más importantes de los robots y sus novelas de robots (separadas, dentro de la cronología interna, por unos 1000 años).
Personalmente me ha encantado, breve pero lleno de intriga e intensidad, además de dejar establecido un contexto maravilloso para sus futuras obras.
Una de las pocas cosas que no le encantan de este cuento corto es que me perdía un poco con el nivel de tecnicismos cuando se habla de temas biológicos, físicos y psicológicos (muy respetable por el autor de querer dar ese nivel de detalle que, aún sin tener ni idea, a priori, suenan bastante convincentes y dan a entender que el autor estaba enterado de bastantes campos, no sólo en el de la física), pero a nivel de usuario puede llegar a ser algo pesado y acabar saltándose esas partes.
Siguiendo en la línea de sus cuentos previos, Asimov nos deleita con el que es uno de los nexos entre sus cuentos cortos más importantes de los robots y sus novelas de robots (separadas, dentro de la cronología interna, por unos 1000 años).
Personalmente me ha encantado, breve pero lleno de intriga e intensidad, además de dejar establecido un contexto maravilloso para sus futuras obras.
Una de las pocas cosas que no le encantan de este cuento corto es que me perdía un poco con el nivel de tecnicismos cuando se habla de temas biológicos, físicos y psicológicos (muy respetable por el autor de querer dar ese nivel de detalle que, aún sin tener ni idea, a priori, suenan bastante convincentes y dan a entender que el autor estaba enterado de bastantes campos, no sólo en el de la física), pero a nivel de usuario puede llegar a ser algo pesado y acabar saltándose esas partes.
October 20, 2017
A good, albeit brief, introduction to the Asimov 'Spacer' race, along with mention of robots and the positronic brain which would form the basis for the bulk of Asimov's future writings. For true fans of Asimov, this short from the May 1949 issue of Astounding Science Fiction is well worth looking up. A quote from Asimov sums it up well for me:
"What interests me most about "Mother Earth" is that it seems to show clear premonitions of the novels Caves of Steel and The Naked Sun, which I was to write in the 1950s." - Isaac Asimov
"What interests me most about "Mother Earth" is that it seems to show clear premonitions of the novels Caves of Steel and The Naked Sun, which I was to write in the 1950s." - Isaac Asimov
October 4, 2022
Earth faces a confrontation with its colonies, the "Outer Worlds." A historian looks back and sees the problem beginning a century-and-a-half earlier, when Aurora got permission to "introduce positronic robots into their community life." No date is given, but fifty years before the story starts, the Outer Worlds established an immigration quota against incoming Terran citizens. The balance of power then tipped. Now war appears likely, and there are rumors that Earth has developed an unknown weapon...
January 24, 2025
Although this is very early Asimov and you can see the beginnings of many of his longer arc storylines and his predictions for the future - AI, Nuclear Power, Anti-Immigration movements, Elitism of the 1% - I found this short story too much, in the detail of lengthy conversations (that just were not natural and flowing) - used as a authors device to impart a lot of information in a short time. And a happy ending.... not really an Asimov thing.
April 16, 2018
El planteamiento de la trama es exquisito. Que los descendientes de los colonos espaciales se hayan convertido en racistas de los terricolas y que por diversos motivos se desate una guerra me parece maravilloso. Lo que no me convence es que el final es muy Asimov. No me desagrada, pero ya he visto casos muy similares.
September 3, 2022
I don't like how the thing in the end about the local alien bacteria making the outer worlders no longer Homo sapiens sapiens, and therefore more favourable towards earthmen, became a complete non-factor in the Elijah Baley novels and the Empire and Foundation series. But if you ignore those, this is a pretty great book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2023
3/5 stars. A quick, one-sitting job, but with exactly zero robots in the story, the charm, innocence and naïveté is gone. It’s still interesting to read about how the Outer Worlders separated from the Earth-dwellers, and I liked the idea behind the Pacific Project, but as a standalone story, this wasn’t the best.
May 23, 2021
Mother Earth is one of the rare cases of Asimov, a biologist, talking biology. It's a great story, but there's also a lot of very useful science in it. A must for terraforming and exoplanet enthusiasts. This is arguably Asimov at his thoughtful best, approaching a tough subject very clearly.
May 1, 2025
A good short story that links The Naked Sun and The Robots of Dawn. It’s quite important if you want to understand the full sequence of events in Asimov’s amazing universe. Not just a side tale — it adds meaningful context to the relationship between Earth and the Spacer worlds.
September 14, 2024
This is a fantastic bridge from I, Robot to the wider universe of his foundation and robot novels. The way he can weave these grand world events into character focused stories is masterful.
April 19, 2025
amazzzing
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July 7, 2025Read in original magazine format in PDF
September 3, 2025
It was an interesting short story to set up the rest of the series. Quick read political drama.
December 22, 2025
Непоганий вступ перед основними романами з серії про роботів. Пояснює чому відносини між Землею та Зовнішнім Світом такі як вони є.
October 28, 2017
Paperback - First Edition - THUS. Slight wear. Pages are clean and crisp and binding is tight. Solid Book.
**
June 25, 2020
Mother Earth is one of the starting stories within the Asimov Robots Universe and helps to set the stage for the development of the space colonies, their separation from Earth and Earth's push to turn away from the stars and to begin looking inward into promoting the quality of their own planet. If one plans to read the Asimov Robot Series then it is imperative that they start with this book as the xenophobic nature of the robot novels will not be adequately explained on their own.
The ending to the novel and the reasoning behind many of the actions taken on the part of Earth completely blindsided me and was an interesting narrative to undergo.
The theme centers around the destruction of hope and the effect that has on people. In the case of this short story, it forces them to turn elsewhere for their hope of a better existence (which is inwards towards the bettering of themselves and their condition). The hope is adequately destroyed by the Earth making a number of decisions that force all the Spacer colonies into closing off their "borders" to Earth men. Considering that Earth men refused to take control of their destinies and bettering their planet because they believed they could always just abandon it, the move from the Earth authorities to get themselves closed off is more than a good one.
The ending to the novel and the reasoning behind many of the actions taken on the part of Earth completely blindsided me and was an interesting narrative to undergo.
The theme centers around the destruction of hope and the effect that has on people. In the case of this short story, it forces them to turn elsewhere for their hope of a better existence (which is inwards towards the bettering of themselves and their condition). The hope is adequately destroyed by the Earth making a number of decisions that force all the Spacer colonies into closing off their "borders" to Earth men. Considering that Earth men refused to take control of their destinies and bettering their planet because they believed they could always just abandon it, the move from the Earth authorities to get themselves closed off is more than a good one.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews