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Boy, Asimov was a clever writer

 
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nebusj

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Since: Jul 10, 2003
Posts: 38



(Msg. 1) Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2003 4:18 pm
Post subject: Boy, Asimov was a clever writer
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Yes, that's no surprise to anyone still around here, but I keep
getting surprised by the many perfect little touches in his writing.
For an example, which I just noticed today, what was unmistakably a
lucky bit of writing -- since I know Asimov didn't plan the series out
in this much detail -- from the Encyclopedia Galactica entry at the
start of "The Encyclopedists," more or less the first Foundation story
which was written:

   It was inevitable that as a new generation grew,
  Terminus would become something more than an appendage of
  the psychohistorians of Trantor.


  There it is: the central mystery of the Mule and onward (in the
original Trilogy), the location and role of Second Foundation relative
to the First Foundation, all explained and planted right up front for
the reader who picks up on these details well ahead of the mystery being
discovered by the characters. Brilliant.

    Joseph Nebus
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djohn37050

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Since: Jul 15, 2003
Posts: 14



(Msg. 2) Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2003 9:44 pm
Post subject: Re: Boy, Asimov was a clever writer [Login to view extended thread Info.]
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Multiple levels of meaning, what? Yes, Asimov was clever, but I do not think
he was THAT clever. However, he had to keep spinning twist after twist after
twist into the foundation storyline to keep it interesting. There is no story
in wait a 1000 years and say hooray. In fact, I like to read each story as a
way to deny the basic foundation to the foundation stories.

The march of humanity, a pig's eye. Individuals are important.
Don Johnson

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nebusj

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Since: Jul 10, 2003
Posts: 38



(Msg. 3) Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2003 2:25 am
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djohn37050.TakeThisOut@aol.com (DJohn37050) writes:

 >Multiple levels of meaning, what? Yes, Asimov was clever, but I do not
 >think he was THAT clever.

  Well ... yeah, I know. When he wrote the story that became "The
Encyclopedists" he didn't have any idea for the Second Foundation in mind,
just that Campbell advised him to include a second because it might turn
out to be handy later. I was just marveling that Asimov chose, in making
things as wide-open as possible, something that was exactly right for how
he did later use it.


 > However, he had to keep spinning twist after twist after
 >twist into the foundation storyline to keep it interesting. There is no
 >story in wait a 1000 years and say hooray.

  But there is in the fact that things don't just happen; people
have to *do* them. Even if you know the outcome, the process by which
one gets there is still interesting; else, why would anyone ever reread
a book? Or why would anyone read history for the narrative?


 > In fact, I like to read each
 >story as a way to deny the basic foundation to the foundation stories.

 >The march of humanity, a pig's eye. Individuals are important.

  Of course individuals are important. That doesn't mean that
populations aren't predictable as well. Much as one might rail (rightly)
against a government than can "predict the future", or even choose it to
their liking, I expect such abilities would generally make life better
and fairer for all.

    Joseph Nebus
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djohn37050

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Since: Jul 15, 2003
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(Msg. 4) Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2003 3:27 pm
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I think there are general trends that can be spotted. Shift to an info
economy, shift to larger and larger nations and national groupings. But this
is the long haul.
Don Johnson
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