Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Garden City, N.Y. : Doubleday, 1975.
Description
A masterly collection of 24 stories by the world's greatest SF writer From backyard miracles to cosmic conundrums, enter the incredible world of Isaac Asimov. Spanning twenty-three years of Asimov's amazing career, these stories display to the full the exhilarating power of one of science fiction's most astonishing writers. Each tale is accompanied by Asimov's own intriguing account of how and why it came to be written.
User reviews
LibraryThing member StormRaven
Buy Jupiter and other Stories is a collection of Asimov's short fiction published in 1975. Included in the collection are several works that are classic examples of Asimov's work such as Does a Bee Care?, Each an Explorer, Light Verse, and Buy Jupiter. Many other stories are quite obscure, such as
Many classic Asimov motifs are present in this volume. There is an explicit Multivac story, as well another story involving a society controlled by computers. There are a couple of time travel stories. There are stories involving the use of word play and puns in their resolution (Asimov was an unabashed punster). Several of the stories reflect Asimov's fears of nuclear war, and the inherent foolishness of using nuclear technology to make weapons (for example, the stories Silly Asses and The Pause).
Overall, this collection provides a good selection of Asimov's fiction. I wouldn't recommend it as one of the first collections of Asimov's work for someone to read, but for someone who had read his more famous collections (such as I, Robot, or Nine Tomorrows) this is a good follow-up.
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Everest, having only been published once in an obscure format. Interspersed through the volume are comments provided by Asimov concerning the background behind each story, and commentary on the stories themselves.Many classic Asimov motifs are present in this volume. There is an explicit Multivac story, as well another story involving a society controlled by computers. There are a couple of time travel stories. There are stories involving the use of word play and puns in their resolution (Asimov was an unabashed punster). Several of the stories reflect Asimov's fears of nuclear war, and the inherent foolishness of using nuclear technology to make weapons (for example, the stories Silly Asses and The Pause).
Overall, this collection provides a good selection of Asimov's fiction. I wouldn't recommend it as one of the first collections of Asimov's work for someone to read, but for someone who had read his more famous collections (such as I, Robot, or Nine Tomorrows) this is a good follow-up.
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LibraryThing member iftyzaidi
A collection which includes a fair number of Dr. Asimov's more off-the-wall stories. There are a few standouts, but generally most are okay-ish. Of course, the little biographical introductions that the good Doctor writes for each story are all immensely entertaining (often more so than the stories
1) Darwinian Pool Room: 2/5
A conversation between a few scientists about how evolution and mass extinction events were all part of God’s plan comes to a chilling conclusion.
2) Day of the Hunters: 2/5
While shooting the breeze in a bar, the author and his friends come across someone who explains the real reason the dinosaurs died out. I remember being really impressed by this idea when I was a wee kid but it really seems very goofy now.
3) Shah Guido G. 3/5
A ‘Sha-ggy Do-G’ story about the fall of Atlantis with a truly awful pun as the punch line (which I admit I didn’t see coming at all).
4) Button, Button: 3/5
A comedy story that does prompt a chuckle or two about a gentleman who is able to recover copies of very small amounts of matter from the past. Obvious surprise ending though.
5) The Monkey’s Finger: 2/5
Another comedy story about an author and editor arguing over the structure of a short story. They decide to consult a scientist who has created an experimental monkey who is able to write according to all the rules of literature. The story being discussed seems suspiciously like the Asimov story ‘C-chute’ (printed in Nightfall).
6) Everest: 2/5
A throw-away story about Martians living atop Everest. Written before Everest was climbed (though was published afterwards).
7) The Pause: 3/5
An alien being intervenes to remove radioactivity and all knowledge of it from Earth as the first step in trying to cure humanity of its self-destructive pathology. Only a handful know about what has happened. But is this done out of a sense of philanthropy, or are there more sinister motives afoot?
8) Let’s Not: 2/5
Despairing professors try to motivate themselves to keep knowledge alive following a nuclear holocaust and the survival of only a handful.
9) Each an Explorer: 4/5
A two-man exploration team comes across a strange two-planet star system where the planets have similar plant life that is cultivated by two very different species. An interesting look at first contact with a great ending.
10) Blank!: 2/5
An attempt to time travel goes awry.
11) Does A Bee Care: 3/5
Human scientific progress over the centuries was a result of the influence of an immortal alien being in its larval stage, who takes advantage of the first space flight to make its way home. An interesting concept.
12) Silly Asses: 3/5
A short, short story about the stupidity of nuclear testing on Earth.
13) Buy Jupiter: 4/5
Aliens seek to buy Jupiter now that the opening up of a distant planet has but the solar system along a major trade route. Fairly clever.
14) A Statue for Father: 3/5
An amusing story about a son recounting his father, the now world-famous inventor’s greatest invention which arose from a failed attempt to create a time-travel machine: fried dino-steaks!
15) Rain, Rain, Go Away: 4/5
There’s something odd about the new neighbours next door. A fun take on a common SF trope of the 50s.
16) Founding Father: 3/5
A story written to go with a magazine cover, which does not sound promising, but it actually kind of works. 5 astronauts crash land on an alien planet and live out the rest of their lives with no hope of rescue, but determined to leave a monument behind for mankind.
17) Exile to Hell: 2/5
Damaging vital equipment is a crime that can get you exiled to Hell (or Earth as the case may be).
18) The Key Item: 3/5
Even Super-computers can get surly and go into a sulk sometimes.
19) The Proper Study: 2/5
A scientist wants the military to allow him to reveal his discovery of telepathy to the global scientific community so he sets out to “convince” the general in charge.
20) 2340 A. D.: 2/5
A dystopia where the world is in fine ecological balance – carefully managed to support its trillions of people, with no room for animals, plants or quirky people.
21) The Greatest Asset: 3/5
Another world in fine ecological balance, where it is realised that people need to have quirks and intellectual challenges if the human race is not to grow stale.
22) Take a Match: 3/5
A pretty good tale with a poor ending about a spaceship that cannot navigate because it is stuck in a gas cloud in space, and running low on fuel.
23) Thiotimoline to the Stars: 2/5
Another story that suffers from dr. Asimov’s goofy sense of humour at the end. Thiotimoline is something that allows material to travel through time and accelerate to any speed.
24) Light Verse: 4/5
A great robot story. A harmless old lady murders a harmless gentleman after he manages to unwittingly destroy the very thing that has brought her fame and fortune.
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themselves!) and because of them, this gets bumped up a half star. Not an essential collection, but one that most Asimov fans will probably find satisfying enough.1) Darwinian Pool Room: 2/5
A conversation between a few scientists about how evolution and mass extinction events were all part of God’s plan comes to a chilling conclusion.
2) Day of the Hunters: 2/5
While shooting the breeze in a bar, the author and his friends come across someone who explains the real reason the dinosaurs died out. I remember being really impressed by this idea when I was a wee kid but it really seems very goofy now.
3) Shah Guido G. 3/5
A ‘Sha-ggy Do-G’ story about the fall of Atlantis with a truly awful pun as the punch line (which I admit I didn’t see coming at all).
4) Button, Button: 3/5
A comedy story that does prompt a chuckle or two about a gentleman who is able to recover copies of very small amounts of matter from the past. Obvious surprise ending though.
5) The Monkey’s Finger: 2/5
Another comedy story about an author and editor arguing over the structure of a short story. They decide to consult a scientist who has created an experimental monkey who is able to write according to all the rules of literature. The story being discussed seems suspiciously like the Asimov story ‘C-chute’ (printed in Nightfall).
6) Everest: 2/5
A throw-away story about Martians living atop Everest. Written before Everest was climbed (though was published afterwards).
7) The Pause: 3/5
An alien being intervenes to remove radioactivity and all knowledge of it from Earth as the first step in trying to cure humanity of its self-destructive pathology. Only a handful know about what has happened. But is this done out of a sense of philanthropy, or are there more sinister motives afoot?
8) Let’s Not: 2/5
Despairing professors try to motivate themselves to keep knowledge alive following a nuclear holocaust and the survival of only a handful.
9) Each an Explorer: 4/5
A two-man exploration team comes across a strange two-planet star system where the planets have similar plant life that is cultivated by two very different species. An interesting look at first contact with a great ending.
10) Blank!: 2/5
An attempt to time travel goes awry.
11) Does A Bee Care: 3/5
Human scientific progress over the centuries was a result of the influence of an immortal alien being in its larval stage, who takes advantage of the first space flight to make its way home. An interesting concept.
12) Silly Asses: 3/5
A short, short story about the stupidity of nuclear testing on Earth.
13) Buy Jupiter: 4/5
Aliens seek to buy Jupiter now that the opening up of a distant planet has but the solar system along a major trade route. Fairly clever.
14) A Statue for Father: 3/5
An amusing story about a son recounting his father, the now world-famous inventor’s greatest invention which arose from a failed attempt to create a time-travel machine: fried dino-steaks!
15) Rain, Rain, Go Away: 4/5
There’s something odd about the new neighbours next door. A fun take on a common SF trope of the 50s.
16) Founding Father: 3/5
A story written to go with a magazine cover, which does not sound promising, but it actually kind of works. 5 astronauts crash land on an alien planet and live out the rest of their lives with no hope of rescue, but determined to leave a monument behind for mankind.
17) Exile to Hell: 2/5
Damaging vital equipment is a crime that can get you exiled to Hell (or Earth as the case may be).
18) The Key Item: 3/5
Even Super-computers can get surly and go into a sulk sometimes.
19) The Proper Study: 2/5
A scientist wants the military to allow him to reveal his discovery of telepathy to the global scientific community so he sets out to “convince” the general in charge.
20) 2340 A. D.: 2/5
A dystopia where the world is in fine ecological balance – carefully managed to support its trillions of people, with no room for animals, plants or quirky people.
21) The Greatest Asset: 3/5
Another world in fine ecological balance, where it is realised that people need to have quirks and intellectual challenges if the human race is not to grow stale.
22) Take a Match: 3/5
A pretty good tale with a poor ending about a spaceship that cannot navigate because it is stuck in a gas cloud in space, and running low on fuel.
23) Thiotimoline to the Stars: 2/5
Another story that suffers from dr. Asimov’s goofy sense of humour at the end. Thiotimoline is something that allows material to travel through time and accelerate to any speed.
24) Light Verse: 4/5
A great robot story. A harmless old lady murders a harmless gentleman after he manages to unwittingly destroy the very thing that has brought her fame and fortune.
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LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
The best of Isaac Asimov's science fiction stories are amazing. The first volume of his Complete Stories earned five stars from me. Just running my eye down the table of contents I often could remember the stories just from the titles, even though it had been decades since I first read them--that's
I'd read this book before, years and years ago, but I only remembered two out of the 24: "The Monkey's Finger," a humor piece about writing and the creative process, and "2430 AD," among the saddest works I've ever read by Asimov, about the last zoo on Earth. I tend to think of Asimov as a fairly sunny writer, optimistic about the future. Not as much as Arthur C. Clarke perhaps, or even Heinlein, but it's striking actually how many of these stories reveal a very gloomy outlook. Several stories involved a nuclear doom and are pretty heavy-handed in its message. Asimov himself in the introductions to the stories says so--he said at the time watching the nuclear arms race between America and Soviet Union he felt bitter and hopeless about humanity's future. He said of the date of this anthology, he still felt pessimistic but for different reasons. He doesn't say what those reasons are, but given what's represented in this anthology and elsewhere I'd guess he was worried about overpopulation and the environment.
Otherwise the stories are the usual stuff of science fiction: dinosaurs, supercomputers, robots, space travel, time travel. Besides the two stories mentioned above, I especially liked "Each One an Explorer" with among the most unusual aliens I've ever read. The title story is pretty cute too. There were only a couple of stories I found complete clunkers--notably "Shah Guido G" with it's groaner of a pun. I also did love the little biographical asides that followed each story, so for an Asimov fan I do think this book is worth the read. But this isn't what I'd recommend as an introduction.
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how much of an impression they made upon me. These stories? Not so amazing. These are all lesser known stories--Asimov himself said they were chosen because as of the date this book appeared they were his least anthologized. They're arranged in order of original publication from 1950 to 1973, and most are very short--he says in the introduction they average around 2,500 words. I'd read this book before, years and years ago, but I only remembered two out of the 24: "The Monkey's Finger," a humor piece about writing and the creative process, and "2430 AD," among the saddest works I've ever read by Asimov, about the last zoo on Earth. I tend to think of Asimov as a fairly sunny writer, optimistic about the future. Not as much as Arthur C. Clarke perhaps, or even Heinlein, but it's striking actually how many of these stories reveal a very gloomy outlook. Several stories involved a nuclear doom and are pretty heavy-handed in its message. Asimov himself in the introductions to the stories says so--he said at the time watching the nuclear arms race between America and Soviet Union he felt bitter and hopeless about humanity's future. He said of the date of this anthology, he still felt pessimistic but for different reasons. He doesn't say what those reasons are, but given what's represented in this anthology and elsewhere I'd guess he was worried about overpopulation and the environment.
Otherwise the stories are the usual stuff of science fiction: dinosaurs, supercomputers, robots, space travel, time travel. Besides the two stories mentioned above, I especially liked "Each One an Explorer" with among the most unusual aliens I've ever read. The title story is pretty cute too. There were only a couple of stories I found complete clunkers--notably "Shah Guido G" with it's groaner of a pun. I also did love the little biographical asides that followed each story, so for an Asimov fan I do think this book is worth the read. But this isn't what I'd recommend as an introduction.
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LibraryThing member datrappert
I've never been able to get into Asimov's novels very much, but his short stories are engaging and entertaining, and occasionally a bit profound. This is a good collection.
LibraryThing member antiquary
A collection of some of Asimov's shorter work, both fiction and non-fiction, even a few poems. On the whole, the tone tends to be light
Subjects
Language
Original publication date
1975 (collection)
1968 (Key Item)
1972 (Take a Match)
1958 (A Statue For Father)
1957 (Silly Asses)
1951 (Shah Guido G)
1958 (Rain, Rain, Go Away)
1968 (The Proper Study)
1954 (The Pause)
1952 (The Monkey's Finger)
1973 (Light Verse)
1954 (Let's Not)
1971 (The Greatest Asset)
1970 (2430 AD)
1965 (Founding Father)
1968 (Exile to Hell)
1953 (Everest)
1956 (Each an Explorer)
1957 (Does a Bee Care)
1950 (Day of the Hunters)
1950 (Darwinian Pool Room)
1958 (Buy Jupiter)
1952 (Button, Button)
1957 (Blank!)
1973 (Thiotimoline to the Stars)
Physical description
269 p.; 22 inches
ISBN
0385050771 / 9780385050777