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Magic: The Final Fantasy Collection
A collection of original short fantasy stories assembles previously uncollected tales, stories about the two-centimeter demon Azazel, several fairy tales, and a humorous adventure about Batman's old age
275 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1995
18 people are currently reading
635 people want to read
About the author
Isaac Asimov
4,337 books27.7k 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 - 30 of 60 reviews
January 20, 2013
At some level of reading, the line between Sci-Fi and Fantasy seems to merge is what I have been given to understand. My reading into both these genres has not been extensive enough to validate this theory either. Both these genres to me are flights of fantasy in varied levels. When Tolkien tells us that Gandalf banishes the trolls with his staff we called it fantasy and when Crichton told us that Dinosaurs could be created again through cloning we called it Sci-Fi. Each has its own share of fans and detractors and life goes on. What then happens when a much renowned and well grounded author of Sci-Fi tries his hand at fantasy ? If I were to go with what Asimov came up with here, then the results are not very interesting to look at !
The book is divided into three parts with the first dealing out eleven short tales.Asimov builds a series called the George-and-Azazel stories in which a jolly good gentleman named George summons an extraterrestrial imp named Azazel to deal with domestic problems in the lives of individuals he is acquainted with. These stories are straight as arrows and barring this imp in them who while having an important role is still a cameo appearance, there is nothing that makes them a fantastic tale. Eight of the eleven tales are of this plot. Of the remaining three, my pick would be the tale 'Northwestward'. This has zero connection to fantasy and only the publishers would know how this tale found its way here. This is a tale of Asimov's amateur ( and arm chair) detectives, the black widowers and is quite a delightful one. The remaining two tales are standard fable material - princes, kings, dragons, princesses and happily ever after. Coming from a seasoned writer as Asimov, these were not what I anticipated and as far as unsupported expectations go they all left me dissatisfied.
The second half of essays deals with topics as Tolkien, Howard's Conan series, criticism of Spielberg's Close Encounters , Space Opera and other such points on Sci-Fi and Fantasy. Here is where the book comes really close to fantasy but then again none of this can be attributed to Asimov for he talks about the works of others. The third part of the book are the essays on topics as the Bible, theory of evolution, space travel, IQ, superstition in America and quite a lot of such topics which have absolutely zero connection with fantasy. Interesting to read but not what I was looking for.
The rating of two stars is for the absolutely misleading title and the contents which are as far from fantasy as can be. Asimov is too much of a lover of logic that he cannot take that plunge into fantasy is what I felt.
The following line at the start of the book should have warned me off but failed to :
Even his [Asimov's] wizards were logicians, even his dragons obeyed the laws of thermodynamics.
The book is divided into three parts with the first dealing out eleven short tales.Asimov builds a series called the George-and-Azazel stories in which a jolly good gentleman named George summons an extraterrestrial imp named Azazel to deal with domestic problems in the lives of individuals he is acquainted with. These stories are straight as arrows and barring this imp in them who while having an important role is still a cameo appearance, there is nothing that makes them a fantastic tale. Eight of the eleven tales are of this plot. Of the remaining three, my pick would be the tale 'Northwestward'. This has zero connection to fantasy and only the publishers would know how this tale found its way here. This is a tale of Asimov's amateur ( and arm chair) detectives, the black widowers and is quite a delightful one. The remaining two tales are standard fable material - princes, kings, dragons, princesses and happily ever after. Coming from a seasoned writer as Asimov, these were not what I anticipated and as far as unsupported expectations go they all left me dissatisfied.
The second half of essays deals with topics as Tolkien, Howard's Conan series, criticism of Spielberg's Close Encounters , Space Opera and other such points on Sci-Fi and Fantasy. Here is where the book comes really close to fantasy but then again none of this can be attributed to Asimov for he talks about the works of others. The third part of the book are the essays on topics as the Bible, theory of evolution, space travel, IQ, superstition in America and quite a lot of such topics which have absolutely zero connection with fantasy. Interesting to read but not what I was looking for.
The rating of two stars is for the absolutely misleading title and the contents which are as far from fantasy as can be. Asimov is too much of a lover of logic that he cannot take that plunge into fantasy is what I felt.
The following line at the start of the book should have warned me off but failed to :
Even his [Asimov's] wizards were logicians, even his dragons obeyed the laws of thermodynamics.
October 26, 2016
Every so often, I run across a book that is so good that before I am halfway through, I am already mourning the fact that it must eventually end. This is one such book.
The first half is devoted to short stories, and they are some of his most amusing, the "George and Azazel" collection, an excellent homage to the works of tongue-in-cheek masters such as P.G. Wodehouse and Jerome K. Jerome. The second half comprises nonfiction, with essays drawn from his various editorial columns. It is unnerving how many of his commentaries on politics, race, education, and society generally are relevant today, at least two decades after they were written.
This is Asimov at his best (although, really, when isn't he?): witty, enthusiastic, insightful, intelligent (even as he debates the definition and relevance of intelligence), and outspoken. I am terribly sad that I never got to meet the guy.
Quotes:
"What characterizes the value of science, however, is /not/ the particular conclusions it comes to. Those are sharply limited in number and guesswork will get you the 'right' answer with better odds than you'll find at the racetrack.
"What characterizes the value of science is its /methodology/, the system it uses to arrive at those conclusions...
"Scientists... begin with observations and measurements and deduce or induce their conclusions from that. They do so in the open and nothing is accepted unless the observation and measurement can be repeated independently. Even then the acceptance is only tentative, pending further, better, and and more extensive observations and measurements. The result is that despite controversy in the preliminary findings, a consensus is arrived at eventually." p238-9, in "The Right Answer"
"No one wants to search out superiors to one's self-- only inferiors." p256, in "Knock Plastic!"
"The whole world over, there are confrontations between sections of humanity defined by race, nationality, economic philosophy, religion, or language as belonging to different groups, so that one is not "neighbor" [in the Biblical "love they neighbor" sense] to the other.
"These more or less arbitrary differences among peoples who are members of a single biological species are terribly dangerous and nowhere more so than here in the United States where the most perilous confrontation (I need not tell you) is between white and black." p270-1, "Lost in Non-translation"
I'd like to quote almost the entirety of "Thinking about Thinking" too, but let's see if I can pick just the best bits:
"What, after all, does such an intelligence test measure but those skills that are associated with intelligence by the individuals designing the test? And those individuals are subject to the cultural pressures and prejudices that force a subjective definition of intelligence." p 295
"This is similarly true of tests of mathematical knowledge, of logic, of shape visualization, and all the rest. You are tested in what is culturally fashionable-- in what educated men consider to be the criteria of intelligence-- i.e., minds like their own." p295
"The whole thing is a self-perpetuating device. Men in intellectual control of a dominating section of society define themselves as intelligent, then design tests that are a series of clever little doors that can let through only minds like their own..." p295
In response to a study showing Black students to have lower IQs: "What we are saying is that black culture is substantially different from the dominant White subculture and that the Black values are sufficiently different from dominant white values to make blacks do less well on the carefully designed intelligence tests produced by the whites." p297
The first half is devoted to short stories, and they are some of his most amusing, the "George and Azazel" collection, an excellent homage to the works of tongue-in-cheek masters such as P.G. Wodehouse and Jerome K. Jerome. The second half comprises nonfiction, with essays drawn from his various editorial columns. It is unnerving how many of his commentaries on politics, race, education, and society generally are relevant today, at least two decades after they were written.
This is Asimov at his best (although, really, when isn't he?): witty, enthusiastic, insightful, intelligent (even as he debates the definition and relevance of intelligence), and outspoken. I am terribly sad that I never got to meet the guy.
Quotes:
"What characterizes the value of science, however, is /not/ the particular conclusions it comes to. Those are sharply limited in number and guesswork will get you the 'right' answer with better odds than you'll find at the racetrack.
"What characterizes the value of science is its /methodology/, the system it uses to arrive at those conclusions...
"Scientists... begin with observations and measurements and deduce or induce their conclusions from that. They do so in the open and nothing is accepted unless the observation and measurement can be repeated independently. Even then the acceptance is only tentative, pending further, better, and and more extensive observations and measurements. The result is that despite controversy in the preliminary findings, a consensus is arrived at eventually." p238-9, in "The Right Answer"
"No one wants to search out superiors to one's self-- only inferiors." p256, in "Knock Plastic!"
"The whole world over, there are confrontations between sections of humanity defined by race, nationality, economic philosophy, religion, or language as belonging to different groups, so that one is not "neighbor" [in the Biblical "love they neighbor" sense] to the other.
"These more or less arbitrary differences among peoples who are members of a single biological species are terribly dangerous and nowhere more so than here in the United States where the most perilous confrontation (I need not tell you) is between white and black." p270-1, "Lost in Non-translation"
I'd like to quote almost the entirety of "Thinking about Thinking" too, but let's see if I can pick just the best bits:
"What, after all, does such an intelligence test measure but those skills that are associated with intelligence by the individuals designing the test? And those individuals are subject to the cultural pressures and prejudices that force a subjective definition of intelligence." p 295
"This is similarly true of tests of mathematical knowledge, of logic, of shape visualization, and all the rest. You are tested in what is culturally fashionable-- in what educated men consider to be the criteria of intelligence-- i.e., minds like their own." p295
"The whole thing is a self-perpetuating device. Men in intellectual control of a dominating section of society define themselves as intelligent, then design tests that are a series of clever little doors that can let through only minds like their own..." p295
In response to a study showing Black students to have lower IQs: "What we are saying is that black culture is substantially different from the dominant White subculture and that the Black values are sufficiently different from dominant white values to make blacks do less well on the carefully designed intelligence tests produced by the whites." p297
July 16, 2022
Isaac Asimov takes us on a satirical fictional journey through what he terms as the divide between science and fiction. A lot of wonderful analogies, theories and discourse throughout the book. A must-read for anyone in the field of science or technology and looking for inspiration for their next venture or project!
July 20, 2025
A bit of an oddball compilation. Not bad but only a mild/medium recommendation for Asimov fans. He has better stuff. I prefer his mystery collection as a change of pace but there are some similarities here. The fantasy stories are mostly a singular template: a guy summons a demon he happens to know in order to solve problems, but they always go awry in ironically amusing ways. Most of them are honestly uproarious, Ike channels an atypically playful style that was surprising and quite fun. There are also a couple of fairy-tale-ish ones that probably could've been left in the rejected-from-other-magazines pile.
The editors throw in a handful of Asimov's essays about the fantasy genre, as well as a mixed bag of general essays that have nothing to do with fantasy. I have no idea why those are in here. They aren't bad (some are quite good in fact) but they also go after dead easy targets: people don't read anymore, racism is bad, people don't understand the Bible stories they use to justify being smegheads.
The editors throw in a handful of Asimov's essays about the fantasy genre, as well as a mixed bag of general essays that have nothing to do with fantasy. I have no idea why those are in here. They aren't bad (some are quite good in fact) but they also go after dead easy targets: people don't read anymore, racism is bad, people don't understand the Bible stories they use to justify being smegheads.
January 27, 2020
Like several later collections, this one resembled a hodgepodge rather than a coherent anthology. As a result, we had eleven short stories (several of which are hardly fantastic - in any sense), combined with lots of non-fiction. I found the non-fiction pieces to be more enjoyable than the stories, which had drifted between overlong pieces and too short dazzlers.
Nevertheless, an Asimov collection is always value-for-money. If you can find a readable copy, the time wouldn't be entirely misspent.
Nevertheless, an Asimov collection is always value-for-money. If you can find a readable copy, the time wouldn't be entirely misspent.
June 30, 2022
Ogni volta che leggo qualcosa di Asimov la sento sempre molto vicina, come se mi stesse parlando faccia a faccia e credo che pochi autori possano vantare una franchezza e una chiarezza di contenuti come il buon Isaac. Detto ciò ho reputato la prima parte di racconti, tranne le due favole finali, leggermente sottotono e a tratti noiosa. La seconda metà del libro, invece, presenta interessanti teorie sul pensiero di Asimov e divertenti aneddoti sulla vita dell'autore, una figura di certo sopra le righe, ma pur sempre uno dei migliori scrittori del suo tempo. Consigliato soltanto a chi vuole davvero approfondire la figura di Isaac Asimov.
September 20, 2025
per i racconti avrei dato circa una stella.
i saggi, alcuni invecchiati non benissimo, alzan la media.
i saggi, alcuni invecchiati non benissimo, alzan la media.
November 30, 2015
A strange mashup of a series of fantasy short stories and critical essays. I personally enjoyed the analysis of what is fantasy and Tolkien, but the addition of just Asimov's essays on American and education, while interesting, just didn't mesh with the other material. Still, it's Asimov and fun to read through it all.
January 20, 2021
This book is worth reading if you are an Isaac Asimov fan. Not only does it include several short fantasy stories, but parts 2 and 3 of the book contain several essays, written by Asimov, dealing with a variety of issues (fantasy, science fiction, Tolkien, America, racism, evolution, science, intelligence, etc.). Surprisingly, these essays also include a lot of biblical elements, though Asimov doesn’t seem to be a theist.
Asimov is a very talented writer with a very broad vocabulary. I found myself having to look up certain words in the dictionary as I stumbled across words I never knew existed. He seems to be very intelligent, though he would argue that term is merely subjective and holds little to no value.
If I’m honest, I would tell anyone, don’t hold your breath for the fantasy stories themselves. With the exception of one short story, The Fable of the Three Princes, I found his fantasy stories in the first part of the book to be quite boring and unsatisfying. I was always flipping through and counting how many pages were left of the story because I just wanted it to be over. That seems harsh, but I think Asimov is much more talented at writing essays (and perhaps science fiction though I’ve never read his science fiction) than he is at writing fantasy. The essays in parts 2 and 3, as I mentioned, are exceptional and worth reading if you are simply an American. Not to be nationalistic, but he makes some very good arguments about the ignorance that exists in America and the division that is so prominent between different groups of people in our nation. He argues that we should value our differences and come together to accomplish one goal, not to allow our differences to divide us and individualize us.
I’m happy I read this book, though it’ll probably be a long time before I come back to it. I think there’s much better fantasy to be read. If I do come back to it, it will most likely be for the essay portions as they speak to very relevant issues in the 2020’s, despite being written in the 1990’s.
Asimov is a very talented writer with a very broad vocabulary. I found myself having to look up certain words in the dictionary as I stumbled across words I never knew existed. He seems to be very intelligent, though he would argue that term is merely subjective and holds little to no value.
If I’m honest, I would tell anyone, don’t hold your breath for the fantasy stories themselves. With the exception of one short story, The Fable of the Three Princes, I found his fantasy stories in the first part of the book to be quite boring and unsatisfying. I was always flipping through and counting how many pages were left of the story because I just wanted it to be over. That seems harsh, but I think Asimov is much more talented at writing essays (and perhaps science fiction though I’ve never read his science fiction) than he is at writing fantasy. The essays in parts 2 and 3, as I mentioned, are exceptional and worth reading if you are simply an American. Not to be nationalistic, but he makes some very good arguments about the ignorance that exists in America and the division that is so prominent between different groups of people in our nation. He argues that we should value our differences and come together to accomplish one goal, not to allow our differences to divide us and individualize us.
I’m happy I read this book, though it’ll probably be a long time before I come back to it. I think there’s much better fantasy to be read. If I do come back to it, it will most likely be for the essay portions as they speak to very relevant issues in the 2020’s, despite being written in the 1990’s.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2024
Book: Magic: The Final Fantasy Collection
Author: Isaac Asimov
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars
This is my first Asimov book. I don’t know if this is a good place to start with him, but I found this book second-hand and thought why not try him? The title is very misleading. There are more essays than short stories and the short stories that are included, at least to me, felt more science fiction than fantasy. There are a few that are fantasy, but many of them feel more like science fiction.
This book is broken up into three parts. One is short stories and the other two are essays. Not everything was a hit for me, but there were several that I did enjoy. I enjoyed Asimov’s writing. Some of his essays have not aged the best though. He is very good at writing what he knows. The problem is sometimes he comes across as arrogant and sometimes gets on my nerves. It’s fine though; it shows us that he was not afraid to be himself.
It did feel like Asimov could not take the full plunge into fantasy. Now, keep in mind that I have not read anything else by him. His short stories felt very science fiction. They were not bad, but it felt like he could not let certain elements go. There was a lot of logic to the stories. I am not saying that fantasy does not have logic, but it was very clear that his preferred genre was science fiction. Despite all of this, I still found myself wanting to keep reading and keep getting a taste of his writing.
One thing that I do agree with Asimov on is fantasy and science fiction are not the same thing. While they do have some things in common, they are both different genres. I don’t get why these two are looped into one. Both are very different types of stories. Science fiction does have things that could happen, while fantasy does not. There are times that they do blend, but, again, they are two different genres.
Overall, I did enjoy reading this. I know my review isn’t put together very well, but this is a hard book to describe. I do encourage you not to go into this one thinking that it is just fantasy because you will end up being disappointed.
Author: Isaac Asimov
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars
This is my first Asimov book. I don’t know if this is a good place to start with him, but I found this book second-hand and thought why not try him? The title is very misleading. There are more essays than short stories and the short stories that are included, at least to me, felt more science fiction than fantasy. There are a few that are fantasy, but many of them feel more like science fiction.
This book is broken up into three parts. One is short stories and the other two are essays. Not everything was a hit for me, but there were several that I did enjoy. I enjoyed Asimov’s writing. Some of his essays have not aged the best though. He is very good at writing what he knows. The problem is sometimes he comes across as arrogant and sometimes gets on my nerves. It’s fine though; it shows us that he was not afraid to be himself.
It did feel like Asimov could not take the full plunge into fantasy. Now, keep in mind that I have not read anything else by him. His short stories felt very science fiction. They were not bad, but it felt like he could not let certain elements go. There was a lot of logic to the stories. I am not saying that fantasy does not have logic, but it was very clear that his preferred genre was science fiction. Despite all of this, I still found myself wanting to keep reading and keep getting a taste of his writing.
One thing that I do agree with Asimov on is fantasy and science fiction are not the same thing. While they do have some things in common, they are both different genres. I don’t get why these two are looped into one. Both are very different types of stories. Science fiction does have things that could happen, while fantasy does not. There are times that they do blend, but, again, they are two different genres.
Overall, I did enjoy reading this. I know my review isn’t put together very well, but this is a hard book to describe. I do encourage you not to go into this one thinking that it is just fantasy because you will end up being disappointed.
January 18, 2020
After Asimov passed, it seems that various publishers were doing anything they could to squeeze a few more dollars from the late Grandmaster's oeuvre. Magic, a follow-up to Gold, ostensibly collects the unpublished fantasy stories and essays from Asimov. What fantasy stories, you ask? Well, that's just the problem. There are 11 short stories included here and of those, eight belong to the Azazel series. There has already been one collection of these tales, about a tiny demon from another dimension who screws up the domestic lives of human beings, and I've always thought they were a bit silly. They're mildly amusing, but the formula dries up quickly, and you can often see the "twist" in the story coming early on. So if you like the Azazel stories, you'll like the fiction included here, but if not, you're kind of out of luck.
The remaining two sections of the book include essays "On Fantasy" and then "Beyond Fantasy," most of which seem to have come from editorials in Asimov's magazine. They touch on topics ranging from praise of Tolkien, to the origins of the word "knight," to the history of the unicorn as a mythical creature, to defining what makes a fantasy story a fantasy. A number of them really have nothing to do with magic or fantasy at all and seem out of place here.
Don't get me wrong: Asimov was almost always an entertaining writer, and the perceptiveness of his mind and the clarity of his prose make these essays consistently interesting and frequently educational. But the collection doesn't hold together in any meaningful way. There's no through line. So in the end, one is left feeling like they're eating a meal made of leftovers and table scraps. This book can fill your mind for a few hours, but if you're like me, you'll be hungry for something more satisfying not long after.
The remaining two sections of the book include essays "On Fantasy" and then "Beyond Fantasy," most of which seem to have come from editorials in Asimov's magazine. They touch on topics ranging from praise of Tolkien, to the origins of the word "knight," to the history of the unicorn as a mythical creature, to defining what makes a fantasy story a fantasy. A number of them really have nothing to do with magic or fantasy at all and seem out of place here.
Don't get me wrong: Asimov was almost always an entertaining writer, and the perceptiveness of his mind and the clarity of his prose make these essays consistently interesting and frequently educational. But the collection doesn't hold together in any meaningful way. There's no through line. So in the end, one is left feeling like they're eating a meal made of leftovers and table scraps. This book can fill your mind for a few hours, but if you're like me, you'll be hungry for something more satisfying not long after.
October 3, 2023
Isaac Asimov was one of the most prolific authors ever. Other authors may have written more books in one genre, but he wrote in so many genres as well as nonfiction. This collection of his fantasy works is both fiction and ending with essays.
The fiction entries are mostly George and Azazel stories which are satirical. All present a problem someone is having which Azazel is supposed to help with. Except the help isn't usually the help expected.
I found the essays the best part of the book, especially one called "Knock Plastic" on six security beliefs of people. Although written decades ago, these are so true today. Even those on illiteracy and education sound like they were written yesterday.
The book is very readable. The satire is good, if mostly lost on me. The other stories were fun. The essays were very thought provoking, if a bit sad as the same problems of then are still plaguing us today.
The fiction entries are mostly George and Azazel stories which are satirical. All present a problem someone is having which Azazel is supposed to help with. Except the help isn't usually the help expected.
I found the essays the best part of the book, especially one called "Knock Plastic" on six security beliefs of people. Although written decades ago, these are so true today. Even those on illiteracy and education sound like they were written yesterday.
The book is very readable. The satire is good, if mostly lost on me. The other stories were fun. The essays were very thought provoking, if a bit sad as the same problems of then are still plaguing us today.
July 27, 2023
This is a mixed anthology of three parts - fantasy stories, essays on fantasy and some general essays (on science and otherwise).
The fantasy stories are some of his most whimsical stories. He plays with the boundary between sci-fi and general fantasy in these stories and the themes are most amusing and weird.
The essays on fantasy are a good commentary on what should be the definition of different genres of storytelling. The latter general essays are a good insight into the master storyteller's own brain and a huge variety of subjects from history to biology.
A must read for any Asimov fan.
The fantasy stories are some of his most whimsical stories. He plays with the boundary between sci-fi and general fantasy in these stories and the themes are most amusing and weird.
The essays on fantasy are a good commentary on what should be the definition of different genres of storytelling. The latter general essays are a good insight into the master storyteller's own brain and a huge variety of subjects from history to biology.
A must read for any Asimov fan.
July 18, 2018
the only book by Isaac Asimov that I read and didn't like, it's the first time I read other than his science fiction stories and I was disappointed, the puns on critics are the only funny parts when comedy was intended, the mystical creatures created and the popular-tales-like stories were naive and never amused me.
sorry Isaac, you still are my favorite author though!
sorry Isaac, you still are my favorite author though!
January 24, 2020
This man had an amazing mind. Such a grasp on the conflicts that we face and will be facing. I beleive that he was Hari Seldon in the flesh!!! The first part of this book is a few fantasy stories that he wrote and the second half is a series of essays that He wrote that were published in His Magazine in the late eighties. All spot on and still very relevant today.
January 25, 2021
This isn't a separate book in itself, but a collection of his short stories centering around George and Azazel (A modern take on a genie and a magic lamp) as well as numerous essays on the topic of magic.
I am a huge fan of Asimov's writing and his quick wit. He seemed to have been an incredibly clever man and it always is a pleasure to consume his penmanship.
I am a huge fan of Asimov's writing and his quick wit. He seemed to have been an incredibly clever man and it always is a pleasure to consume his penmanship.
September 19, 2021
This final collection by Asimov is divided into three parts. The first part consists of short stories, which I fully read and enjoyed. Part 2 is on fantasy elements, you might find it interesting if you are either a fantasy or sci- fi writer. Part 3 is interesting for anyone, it talks about different topics from the faults of the education system in USA to the superstitions people have.
January 27, 2023
High quality short stories in the first-third, meh essays in the last two-thirds (although the essay titled “Concerning Tolkien” was worth sharing). The short stories contained the best wordplay I’ve read in a long time.
August 15, 2023
I enjoyed the format of this, where the book was separated into sections of short stories, Asimov’s views on fantasy as a genre, and then some random ramblings at the end.
However, none of the stories especially gripped me, and I found the ramblings somewhat tedious and long-winded at times.
However, none of the stories especially gripped me, and I found the ramblings somewhat tedious and long-winded at times.
October 16, 2024
The collection of short stories (roughly half of it) is hilarious. The remaining portion of the book (Asimov's thoughts on Fantasy, Tolkien, and other topics) is mildly interesting but not what I signed up for.
May 13, 2025
An enjoyable collection of works by Asimov, I listened to the audio version the narrator (William Hope) did a fine job.
The collection is a little messy, but appears to contain essays and other pieces that I, a keen Asimov fan, had never read before.
The collection is a little messy, but appears to contain essays and other pieces that I, a keen Asimov fan, had never read before.
July 19, 2025
The short stories show that Asimov is clearly a better writer of science fiction than of fantasy. The essays are better. Definitely worth reading for the Asimov fan, and should be read before reading Gold (Asimov's final collection of science fiction and essays).
July 2, 2018
Repetitive in the fiction side. The analysis side is better but still not up to his usual standards. And he dwells too much on the problem of critics.
June 4, 2019
Enjoyed the non fiction part more.
December 9, 2019
It's always a pleasure to read Asimov. I really enjoy how he thinks.
September 3, 2020
There is a reason Asimov is not known for his Fantasy writings, he is not good at it.
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His articles about Fantasy and Fantasy writing are very informative and good reading.
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but
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His articles about Fantasy and Fantasy writing are very informative and good reading.
October 3, 2020
An interesting mix of shorty stories and essays. In particular Prince Delightful and the Flameless Dragon is possibly the most wonderful short fantasy story I have ever read.
October 22, 2023
Interesting short tales involving the main character and a magical creature which end on witty notes.
December 17, 2023
Asimov and I have always gotten on well, and this was no exception. Enjoyed the fiction and essays equally.
January 20, 2024
De reelle fantasyhistorier med Azazel er til 5 stjerner. Resten af bogen med Asimov’s meninger om diverse, er ikke så vigtige, og trækker bogen ned på tilsammen 3 stjerner.
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