Asimov on Science Fiction

Not to be confused with Asimov's Science Fiction.

Asimov on Science Fiction (ISBN 0-586-05840-0) is a 1981 non-fiction work by American writer and scientist Isaac Asimov. It is a collection of short essays dealing with various aspects of science fiction. Many of the essays are (slightly edited versions of) editorials from Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine.

Cover of the first UK edition, published by Grenada.

Contents

Asimov wrote forewords to the essays in order to bind the collection together and grouped them in the following sections:

• Science Fiction in General
• The Writing of Science Fiction
• The Predictions of Science Fiction
• The History of Science Fiction
• Science Fiction Writers
• Science Fiction Fans
• Science Fiction Reviews
• Science Fiction and I

Reception

Dave Langford reviewed Asimov on Science Fiction for White Dwarf #47, and stated that "If you enjoy Asimov's good-humoured essay style, and don't mind bittiness and repetition, this is an interesting collection to dip into."^[1]

Reviews

• Review by Gene DeWeese (1981) in Science Fiction Review, Winter 1981^[2]
• Review by Tom Staicar (1982) in Amazing Science Fiction Stories, January 1982
• Review by Jim England (1984) in Vector 120
• Review by Joseph Nicholas (1984) in Paperback Inferno, #51