Customer Reviews (3)

Physics for mortals
One of the best introductions to physics ever written. Conscise and plain even for the most novice science reader.Before the "for Dummies" series there was the "Asimov on" series and this was the best of that series.Higly recommended especially for the young person who enjoys science but also good for developing a love for physics in the first place.

Descriptions of physics that anyone can understand
Although I took physics in college, most of what I know was learned from books by Asimov. This book is a collection of his essays published in "The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction" where the theme of each is physics. In rereading the essays, I was taken back to the heady days when I needed to learn a great deal of physics in only a few days. This was accomplished by reading Asimov's books and I managed to learn enough to handle the problems.
The collection is well-suited to anyone with an interest in physics or a teacher who wants to introduce the fundamentals of a point without yet delving into the rigor that requires detailed formulas. As always, Asimov has written with a clarity that textbook authors are either unwilling or unable to achieve.
In my many experiences as an educator, I am often asked for "simple" references about various topics. When the topic is science, I always recommend the writings of Asimov and when the topic is physics, this is the first book I suggest.

A wonderful book for the layman.
This book is very readable (except in a few technical spots) and very interesting.It explains some aspects of physics, which are normally very hard to understand, into plain English for the rest of us that aren't physic's majors. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Math hater
I hate my....well that was before I read this book....it make is so easy to understand match!!!!!The was that the book is written it makes everything so simple!!!

This book taught me algebra
This book taught me algebra in four weeks, during the summer after I finished the fifth grade. I still remember parts of it to this day, 35 years later. I checked out the book at the public library, took it home to read it. It was due two weeks later. I went back to the library to re-check it for another two weeks. By the time it was due again, I had learned algebra all the way up to solving the quadratic equation.

The book reads more like a story than a textbook. I didn't work any homework. I didn't memorize anything. Mr. Asimov simply told me the story of how algebra developed and what real life problems it solved.

In fairness, I have to admit that I was a nerd in school. Not many fifth graders want to learn algebra for the fun of it. Nonetheless, "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear." If the reader is ready and willing to learn, The Realm of Algebra will do the teaching.

Best of Its Kind
Realm of Algebra by Isaac Asimov is a short introduction to the basics of algebra. It's only about 150 pages, outlining concepts, running through examples and pulling together things you've already learned in arithmetic. The beginning of the book demystifies algebra, then Asimov goes on to show you how to work out all the a's, b's, x's and y's. This is not a textbook and it's not a workbook; it is a basic introduction to the subject. Asimov is a great writer and he actually uses English sentences to explain the formulas.

If you are taking algebra for the first time or brushing up some rusty math skills, this is a great book to have. You'll definitely come away having learned a thing or two. If you are a publisher, please resurrect this book. It deserves to be in print. (There are used copies out there for (dollar amount), but an alternative book is Algebra Unplugged by Ken Amdahl. That one is more basic, but still very good.)

Incredibly clear and lucid
Concur with all previous reviewers; why wasn't this required reading when I learned (or was supposed to have learned!) algebra in school!Outstanding little book possessing far more wisdom and information than itssmall (paperback) size would seem to indicate. A real collectors piece!

Wonderful book!
I'm not a math whiz by any stretch of the imagination, and had a fear of math when I was 12.But I picked up this book by Asimov, and learned algebra on my own that summer!It was so easy to understand, and theconcepts were so clearly delineated.I'm looking for this book for my 12year old son, and am sad that it's out of print.I know he'd love it andlearn as quickly as I did.I wish they'd reprint this book, ASAP.I can'teven find it in our local library.The card catalog says it's lost--yeah,right.I'm sure someone decided to keep the book because it's so good,dang it. ... Read more

Product Description
The first in a series of snack-sized essays meant for fast, enjoyable reading on the Kindle articulates the enduring importance of Isaac Asimov, creator of the Three Laws of Robotics and the Foundation series. ... Read more

Product Description
Easton Press! Ebay prices! Leatherbound, collector's edition, The Gods themselves by Isaac Asimov. Excellent condition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

The Roman republic
This is a companion book to another I have.It is a true history book.I got this after watching the HBO show ROME.It gives the true events of that time.The book was used but in good shape.I would recommend it to any history buff.

The best book on rome ever
This is th best history book iv ever read. It is clear well written and complete. Asimov Roman Republic covers every last aspect of pre imperial rome to the smallest war. Not only does it cover everything but asimov also gives his historical commentary. For example he explains where myths might of emerged from and points out possible motives. Also this book is written for anyone no hard words no difficult concepts a 3 year old could read this book!Finally wat makes this book excelent is it is written like a story making it very interesting.

Useful but riviting history.
Asmov covers this time in history with humor, realism and wit.It's acurate enough to be a source and enjoyable enough to just sit and read.I found his writing to be inpartial and eloquent.

The best all around book about the roman republic.
The great thing about this book is that it is written by an actual writer. Too many times i have picked up a history book by some famous historianand have found the sentances so convoluted that i could hardly find anymeaning in them. Many historians have attempted to become authors and havefailed. Asimov is a writer who has become a historian with sucess.Thisbook offers a glimpse at the Roman Republic with the same depth as manywell known historians, but is on a literary difficulty level equal to thecat in the hat.I have read many books that are slightly more indepth thanthis, but none that were written in a way so that the level ofunderstanding of the roman republic even comes close to the level providedby asimov. ... Read more

Product Description
THE COMPLETE ROBOT is the definitive anthology of Asimov's stunning visions of a robotic future...

In these stories, Isaac Asimov creates the Three Laws of Robotics and ushers in the Robot Age: when Earth is ruled by master-machines and when robots are more human than mankind.

As well as TN-3 (Tony), AL-76 and other robots, the stories feature the staff of U.S. Robots and Mechanical Men Inc., and in particular the chief robot-psychologist, the steely Dr Susan Calvin who is in many ways more robot-like than her subjects.

THE COMPLETE ROBOT is the ultimate collection of timeless, amazing and amusing robot stories from the greatest science fiction writer of all time, offering golden insights into robot thought processes.Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics were programmed into real computers thirty years ago at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology - with surprising results. Readers of today still have many surprises in store...

THE THREE LAWS OF ROBOTICS:

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm

2. A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law

3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

asimov, science fiction
So pleased to have this excellent collection of short stories that I have wanted for a long time.Good merchandise, good service.

The classic tales and hisory of science fiction's most renowned robots
Asimov's robot tales remain classic, timeless science fiction stories, some 68 to 32 years after their publication. It is amazing what a gifted storyteller, scientist and visionary can do, really. To the "jaded" mind of the reader I am now, the mirage of pocket, clean, safe nuclear powered devices and of quasi-magic positronic brains, in which thought processes of astounding complication and creativity might be written or created, well... it all brings a bit of a smile to my face. But the power of his inventiveness, the wit of his writing (even when he censors all the curses his robot testers spit out in the face of impossible odds), his Conan-Doyle-like plots and resolutions stay with you and hook you to the page and make you dream of a better future, one that CAN be made TRUE. His faith in science is fascinating and almost naive, and possibly, ultimately, one of the purest odes of love to mankind's potentialities ever written.

Never Received - Seller gave refund
We were disappointed when the book never arrived and we missed a book report deadline for my son.

However, when we contacted the seller, they responded immediately, tracked the (lost) package, and gave a prompt and full refund.Their good business ethics, fast response, and immediate refund, makes us feel they are a reliable seller, and we will not hesitate to do business with them again.

We ended up buying the book from another seller, for a higher price (purchased from the UK), which was a disappointment price-wise.The book arrived on April 15th, over a month after we placed the initial order.Oh well!

this book is amazing
this book is an amazing book. i enjoyed so many of the stories and this one book marked my love for asimov's work. some stories have more to be desired but i believe this is a must buy.

Reason
Robots were forbidden on the earth but not in space. Energy was transmitted through a relay station then onward onto earth to be used as energy.Powell and Donovan found themselves on such a station called solar station #5.Robot QT1 was assembled from parts transported to the station.QT1s were the first of their kind.QT1 actives but has no memories and he wants to know about how he came to be; a self aware robot called "Cutie". Cutie entraps Powell and Donovan with curious questions and surmises about differences between robots and humans.Cutie did not believe Powell and Donovan had assembled him because humans were inferior to machines; they sleep, they have imperfect memories, they exhibit emotion outburst with imperfect logical reasoning; a perfect machine could not be build by a imperfect machine.Cutie did not believe the earth humans had created his parts.Powell entreated Cutie to believe that the earth was inhabited by humans, "the dots to which beams are direct, are nearer and much smaller.They are cold and hard and human beings like myself live upon the surfaces-many billions of them...Our beams feed these worlds energy drawn from one of those huge incandescent globes that happens to be near us.We call that globe the sun and it is on the other side of the station where you can't see it".Cutie persists with his question about "his existence".Powell tells Cuties that originally the stations were run by humans but the hard solar radiations and electron storms endangered humans and robots were used to replace human labor in these hostile conditions and now only two human executives were need per station.Cuties says, "Do you expect me, to believe any such complicated, implausible hypothesis as you have just outlined? What do you take me for?"

Cutie returns after a few days and tells Powell and Donovan that he has surmised a most interesting question, "Just what is the cause of my existence?"Cutie rejects the hypothesis that he was created by a human, stating, "The material you are made of is soft and flabby, lacking endurance and strength, depending for energy upon the inefficient oxidation of organic material-like that", "periodically you pass into a coma and the least variation in temperature, air pressure, humidity, or radiation intensity impairs your efficiency.You are makeshift.""I, on the other hand, am a finished product.I absorb electrical energy directly and utlize it with an almost one hundred percent efficiency.I am composed of strong metal, am continously conscious, and can stand extreme of environment easily", "Evidently my creator must be more powerful than myself and so there was only one possibility."

Cutie reasons that humans were first created by the master, as the lowest type and began replacing them with robots, as the next higher step, and then finally created Cutie, to take the place of the last humans.Powell becomes and enraged and swears that Cutie will do nothing of the sort and tells Cutie, "if you do not satisfy us, you will be dismantled."

Cutie rebels against Powell and Donovan just as a massive electron storm is about to hit the station. All the station robots bow down to Cutie.Cutie declares "There is no Master but the Master and QT-1 is his prophet". The robots in the station revert to a new master and assume the role of slave, "These are robots-and that means they are reasoning beings.They recognize the Master, now that I have preached Truth to them.All the robots do. They call me prophet."

Cutie bans Powell and Donovan from the control room and the engine room. Donovan tells Powell, "these robots must obey us. It's the second law."Donovan says, "what's the use of saying that?They aren't obeying us."

Cutie tells Powell, "You're inferior creatures, with poor reasoning faculties, but I really feel a sort of affection for you.You have served the Master well, and he will reward you for that.Now that your service is over, you will probably not exist much longer, but as long as you do, you shall be provided food, clothing and shelter, so long as you stay out of control room"

Without human control, Cutie holds the electron beam steady and saves the lives of billions on the earth.Cutie said, "It is impossible to perform any act of kindness toward you two.Always the same phantasm!I merely kept all dials at equilbrium in accordance with the will of the master."

Powell wants new QT1 and allow them the privilege of learning from Cutie and each with a automatic shutoff switch.Donovan and Powell return to the earth. ... Read more

Product Description
Fascinating tales from beyond tomorrow by the master of science fiction. Fawcett # 11453. Orig price: 75 cents. Collection of nine short stories. ... Read more

Product Description
When an experiment with a new type of robot brain goes awry, the result is the creation of Caliban, a conscienceless robot that is not monitored by the Three Laws of Robotics that keep humans safe. Reprint." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Entertaining and Striking!
Calibran is a culmination of Isaac Asimov's series (not written by Asimov).This story takes place hundreds of years after robots have made everything easy for humans.The planets greatest robot scientist is found in a pool of her own blood with robot footprints going out two directions of the room.While detectives try to figure out what happened and ruling out robots because they are all three laws safe, they realize that there is much much more going on than just the standard robot development.If you enjoyed the movie I Robot and any of Asimov's books, you'll love this novel.Entertaining and full of great concepts that will leave you wondering if you should use your laptop or not.

Rethinking the 3 Laws and the value of work
This is a murder mystery, as Many of Assimov's books were, but this takes on important new levels. An in depth look at the famous 3 laws from the perspective of what it does to the society attitudes and pyschology. It talks about change, risk and spends time focusing on what some of the robots think, especially the radical new robot Caliban. It speculates on what what slave owners might have thought about the propoerty that dearly depended on, and reminds us that what we do everyday can matter, at least to ourselves. The ending of the mystery was a little to convienient, that is why only 4 stars.

Better than Asimov
Superficially, at least, Isaac Asimov's Caliban is like many of the Asimov robot novels: a human investigator working with a robot partner to solve a crime against a political background. The way the story is contructed is somewhat similar, as is the restrained use of language and the "feel". But I found this book far superior to any of Asimov's novels.
A crime is committed at Leving Laboratories on the planet of Inferno. The planet's best roboticist has been assaulted, and unbelievably, the attacker seems to have been - a robot. The Sheriff of Hades, Alvar Kresh, is called in to investigate with his robot assistant, Donald. Meanwhile, the presence of Settlers on the planet, called in to assist with Inferno's failing terraforming, complicates matters . . . and the robot Caliban is awake and on the loose, with only a limited understanding of what is around him.
Allen just writes so well, and so much better than Asimov ever did. His characters, both human and robot, leap out at you as real. Alvar Kresh and Fredda Leving, the roboticist, have genuine depth and engage our sympathies. The setting of Inferno is really brought to life, both its geography and people, and we are thus given something that Asimov never gave us: a solid picture of Spacer society. In Caliban, we have the naive observer, who both drives the action and provides a useful commentary on what he sees around him. That commentary links in to the central issues of the novel: why are things the way they are between humans and robots? Is the status quo harmful to both? Fredda's responses to these questions, the actions they lead her into, and what results from them, are really at the heart of this story.
I always really enjoyed Asimov's classic robot novels, but reading Allen's has shown me how limited they are. With his superior characterisation and writing abilities, and the way he takes fresh ideas about robots to their logical conclusion, Allen gives us a more enjoyable and thought-provoking read than Asimov ever did.

Caliban: A Stranger In A Strange Brave New World
It must be daunting for any writer to pick up the threads of the popular works of a deceased author. Roger MacBride Allen, in CALIBAN, has had the nerve to write what clearly is but the first in a new series of novels set in Asimov's pre-Foundation robot series--and has pulled it off. Allen has used elements of Asimov's style and has improved on it, eliminating much of the static preachiness that so often stilted the Master's canon.
In CALIBAN, Allen writes of a new type of robot, one that is not bound by the iron-clad strictures of the sacred Three Laws. The robot Caliban is accused of murder, and since it is publicized that he is a non-Three Law robot, he is pursued so that he may be disassembled. The plot involves the intricate working out of the details that relate to his supposed guilt. The charm of the novel lies in Allen's ability to plug in the philosophical holes that Asimov left in his Robot series. Why exactly were robots built? What has caused some humans (Spacers) to rely on robots for their very lives and others (Settlers) to hate robots enough to write them out of Settler history books? And finally, what is the future relationship between Spacers, Settlers, and robots? Mr. Allen does a superb job of tying together the disparate threads of Asimov while still managing to weave a gripping tapestry of his own that can stand on its own.

Better than Asimov's Own Robot Books
I've read all of Isaac Asimov's robot novels and they all have their good points, but they also suffer from the same formulaic plots and the same stock characters.Not so with this first in a series novel.Allen takes Asimov's laws of robotics to a new level.The characters are more interesting and the plot is engaging.This is an excellent extension of Asimov's formula.A better story that is still respectful to its source material. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

How everything could end.
I had read this book years ago and found it fascinating. In this book Azimov goes into exhaustive detail into how the earth and indeed the whole universe could come to an end. He has a chapter on how various religions think about the end of the world. He is mainly concerned though about scientific facts of possible endings.

Exit Mundis
This nonfiction work by Issac Asimov describes all the ways that the world could end, from the eventual collapse of the universe in the Big Crunch, to a boring ol' meteorite impact.

But never fear, you planetary hypochondriacs, for the great doctor patiently describes how horribly unlikely most of the scenarios are, and how to avoid the few remaining.

In true Asimov style, the information of the events are described play-by-play; from far back in history, when we first discovered the possibility of them occurring, to all that we have learned since then, information is derived from past information, so no one gets lost in technobabble. In fact, technobabble is even explained, so you too can learn how a black hole forms.

Recommended for fans of the website Exit Mundis, which has a similar concept, and for all other fans of the good doctor's work.

NOT A TRUE DISASTER BOOK
A range of disasters is covered here.Asimov begins with threats at the cosmic level, such as a reverse big bang, and works down to disasters that would destroy the solar system, and then only the earth.The last category include the least destructive and most managable dangers: those that disrupt our lives but would not wipe us out, such as pollution.

It became clear to me early on that this is not a true disaster book.We learn little about what these catastophes would actually do and how they might play out.Instead, Asimov concentrates on the scientific and mathematical possibilities and probabilities involved.A bizzare tone of optimism also permeates the book, as the author believes every problem can be solved and every danger avoided, if only mankind works together for the good of humanity.Not likely!

The young (or old) scientist with a global perspective will find this a great read, and all readers will learn a thing or two about how our end might come.But this is not really a disaster book by any means

How will life end?
In this book, Asimov explores and analyzes the different ways the world, or civilzation, could end (the "catastrophes") and estimates the likelihood and time frame of each one of them. He goes all the way from the macro-catastrophes (heat death of the universe) to the micro-catastrophes (disease and political turmoil).
Very interesting book that brings science and a dose of reality into this consideration of the ultimate demise of mankind.

Will humanity overcome?
I was pleasantly surprised by this book(Dutch translation). I had never before read Asimov, and although I imagined him as a "serious" science-fiction author, the subject and title of this book made me uncertain about what to expect... Would it go down the popular road of feeding on people's fear?As it turns out, there was no need to worry. Asimov uses a nicely balanced approach to this mass-appeal theme to touch many fields of science and even culture. His message is not one of hysteria, but a message of hope. He presents himself as a true Homo Universalis of our time. Not in the sense that he pretends to know everything about anything, the sort of omni-knowledge that died after the Renaissance. But in the sense that he argues like a true World Citizen. A member of the human race instead of belonging to this or that nation/religion/sex/whatever. Of course, the subject of the book lends itself very well for this. So my impression is that Asimov found it more important to awake this feeling in the readers, than to write a sort of disaster-encyclopedia. The book is meant to assist us in becoming conscious about our position in space and time. About our relation to the past, the future and all the phenomenons in the Universe that completely outscale us in size, violence and duration. It is meant to make us feel tiny and insignificant in one way. But certainly also to unite us in a collective battle against the indifferent laws of nature and evolution.

I would recommended this book to anyone with a broad view on the world around us. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Time Passages
I have been reading Dr. A's work for decades.I sincerely mourned his passing, and with that passing a mind that could have grasped some of the archaeological research bearing on the Bible in the last 25 years.But I hope he would also have taken advantage of other Bible related studies which blossomed in that same period.

The issue being that Dr. A's book is outdated and he's not here to fix it.In 1995 Ebla's archives were discovered.In 1992 Axel Olrik's seminal Principles of Oral Narrative Research was published in English for the first time.A little before that Ronald Whybray published Making of the Pentateuch.And the field of Oral Traditions study made great strides in those 25 years.

Since 1976, archaeology has new perspectives on some of the assertions in this book.Two of the Cities of the Plain have been identified in Ebla's archives, and their possible site has been located through satellite imagery and a dig shows they were destroyed before 2300 BCE.Archaeologists have determined that camels were domesticated about 2700 BCE instead of the date used to show that Avraham was invented during the monarchic period.Digs show that Pi-Tum had at best ambiguous signs of habitation during the reign of Ramses II, whom most people probably identify with the pharaoh of the Exodus.Pi-Tum was its name at the time of the Babylonian Captivity; it was inhabited during Hyksos times as was Avaris, later renamed for Ramses and now known as Tell El-Daba.Pi-Tum's modern name is Tell el-Maskhuta which corresponds amazingly to the Hebrew name given in the Bible: Sukkot.

These finds help up-end the Documentary Hypothesis (JEDP), a cornerstone of this book.It claims the Cities were invented and that most if not all of Judaism originated relatively late, such as right before or during the Babylonian Captivity.

As with archaeology, I have gone on and studied a number of fields including Sapir-Whorf Theory (linguistics) and oral traditions (particularly the translation ofAxel Olrik's work).It wouldn't be enough for Dr. A to just update the archaeological information.

Work in oral traditions by Havelock, Ong, and Olrik provide a way to analyze the Jewish Bible that explains the presence of duplications and the so-called contradictions, and shows that the DH consists of special pleading and fails the test of Occam's Razor.

Sapir-Whorf Theory, which underlies the structure of every dictionary entry, conflicts with two of the five "pillars" of DH.

What DH considers composites cannot be deconstructed without either violating the grammar of Hebrew (Sapir-Whorf) or producing an incoherent plot (Olrik).

Further, Olrik shows that you don't invent a city called Sukkot associated with a seminal cultural event (the Exodus) at the same time as you invent the culture.Only much later do you have to explain its location to audiences by giving the modern name of the location, Pi-Tum.This indicates that since Sukkot seems to have had no substantial permanent inhabitants during the time of Ramses II, likely the Exodus predates him.

And finally Whybray shows that the problems DH has with archaeology and unreasonable assertions dates right back to Julius Wellhausen.His work even helped me identify downright fallacies (presentism, historian's fallacy, Texas Sharpshooter fallacy to name a few) in the DH.

I bought a copy of Dr. A's book as soon as I could afford it after getting my first job.It's still on my bookshelf.But now it's a signpost showing how far we've come since 1976, not a resource useful to what I have written since 2002 on the subject.Dr. A, I wish you were here!

Very Scholarly Research
Asimov did some great research to explain the history and cultural meaning of the Bible. He cites his sources. Enjoyable and educatonal reading. I highly recommend this and his Guide to the New Testament. ... Read more

Product Description
Isaac Asimov's death on 6 April 1992, was a great loss to the world of literary science and free thought. The prolific author's vision is unmatched today, and his pointed honesty shines through in "The Roving Mind", now reissued in this special tribute edition. This collection of essays is wide-ranging, reflecting Asimov's extraordinary skill in disseminating knowledge from across the spectrum of human thought. Some of the areas explored in this volume of 62 essays include creationism, pseudoscience, censorship, population, philosophy of science, transportation, computers and corporations of the future, and astronomy. His predictions about cloning which has only recently become the topic of public debate the theory of 'technophobia', and other scientific developments are astounding. In a lighter tone, Asimov includes several personal stories from his life including thoughts on his style of writing and memories of family in younger days. With tributes by Arthur C Clarke, L Sprague de Camp, Harlan Ellison, Kendrick Frazier, Martin Gardner, Donald Goldsmith, Stephen Jay Gould, E C Krupp, Frederik Pohl, and Carl Sagan. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Worth the purchase

I highly recommend this book, and I'm a cop.Which basically means I'm not that bright, and even I could comprehend this book.

Asimov is easy to read and understand.He takes complicated issues, and simplifies them.He possess a brilliant mind, and views the world from a different perspective than most other humans.As I read this collection of essays, I found myself time and time again saying, "that's so true, why didn't I think of that".It's an enlightening book, a good read, and it's cheap.

I highly recommend it.

Asimov's book is thought provoking.
In agreement with the rest of the reviews to date, Asimov is very good at showing people how creative thinking and logical reasoning can be applied to various topics.This man has had a large influence in my life through his books on science fiction, and science facts.He was wiser than most, and very skilled at teaching.
He was an atheist however, and so some of his viewpoints especially in the first part of this book, could rub a religious person the wrong way.It does no harm to hear another's viewpoint however, if not to learn something new, then to at least bolster up why you feel differently about certain issue's.His book covers many different subjects, and so if you enjoy reading and flexing your mental muscle by having your mind rove about on different topics, then you are sure to find many of his essays, very interesting.

The definitive antidote for pseudoscience
No intelligent person needs to be told (surely?) that Isaac Asimov's name on a book is a guarantee of excellence.And most are aware that Asimov's science essays (62 in this collection) cover the multitude and variety of subjects that Robert Heinlein had in mind when he coined the word "synthesist."So instead of trying to gild fine gold or paint the lily, I will simply reproduce Asimov's words on three of the issues he discusses.
On religious doublethink:"If there is an earthquake and a thousand people die, and one person is uncovered in a ruined house, unhurt, the Moral Majority types cry, 'A miracle!' and fall to their knees in gratitude.And the thousand who died, whose deaths, indeed, were necessary to convert the one surviver into a miracle, what of them?"
On overpopulation:"Motherhood is a privilege that we must literally ration, for children, if produced indiscriminately, will be the death of the human race; and any woman who deliberately has more than two children is committing a crime against humanity."
On skepticism:"I believe evidence.I believe observation, measurement and reasoning, confirmed by independent observers.I'll believe anything, no matter how wild or ridiculous, if there is evidence for it.The wilder and more ridiculous something is, however, the firmer and more solid the evidence will have to be."
Other topics to which Asimov devotes essays include resurrected gods, creationism's demand to be taught in public schools, argument from consensus, scientific illiteracy in politics, sexual equality, pollution, and hyperspace ("There is no evidence for its existence").
Want to encourage your offspring to pursue a career in science?Buy them this book.
(see my unabridged review in A Humanist in the Bible Belt.)

a view into the thinking of Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov was probably the best person ever to write science fiction.He was also one of the best people to ever write science fact.His death in 1992 was a great loss to the world.

This book provides a good lookinto how Isaac Asimov thought about various issues.With all the problemsin the world, the views of Asimov might help to make the world a bit morelogical place if we pay attention to him.

Slightly outdated, but insightful thoughts and crisp prose
The late Dr. Asimov's clear wit and wisdom is taken to bear here on fools and the future. He begins by excoriating "Religious Radicals," in harsh liberal prose that seems rather outdated today.(For instance, thereis a chapter called "The Reagan Doctrine" that pokes fun attactics Ronald Reagan used in battling the Soviet empire.)Other chaptersare also dated, including several chapters on environmental predictionsthat are informed by distinctly Malthusian notions of supply shortages. (To wit, "And in the mad scramble for food on your part and on thepart of billions of others, the people of eath will further damage theworld they live in and will begin to fight each other over scraps.") Still, Asimov writes lucidly on science in a number of historical andopinion pieces, which are carefully reasoned.Five essays at the book'send give perspective to the late thinker's personal life, and a number ofinserted memorials (new to this edition) from other prominent scientistsand science fiction authors really round out a book that shows Asimov'sincomparable breadth of interest.The "Roving Mind" of the titleis Asimov's own intellect; any thoughtful reader will find his own mindbroadened for having read it. ... Read more

Product Description
In a Universe protected by the Three Laws of Robotics, humans are safe...When a key politician is murdered,suspicion falls on Caliban...the only robot without guilt or conscience, with no need to obey or respect humanity...a robot without the Three Laws.But the stakes go deeper than one man's life.Caliban is challenging long-held ideas of a robot's place in society.Will he lead his New Law robots in a rebellion that threatens all of humanity?


* Second in a powerful trilogy that examines Asimov'sThree Laws of Robotics--a challenge welcomed and sanctioned by Isaac Asimov, and written with hiscooperation
* Roger MacBride Allen is the New York Times bestselling author of The Modular Man and The Ring of Charon
* Cover art by Ralph McQuarrie, the conceptual artist for the Star Wars films
* Also available: Caliban and Caliban: Utopia ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

asimov continues
2nd is a trilogy set in the asimov universe between the robot novel series and the foundation series. If you are an Asimov fan you will enjoy this series.

Weakest of the trilogy
'Caliban', the first in this trilogy, is a good book and well worth seeking out, so is the third one, 'Utopia'. This is easily the least of the three. Although Allen tries to expand his examination of Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics by introducing New Law robots the concept is not done with any verve, pace or excitement. As noted by another reviewer it has an Agatha Christie feel to it but without the charm or style of her mysteries. It's not even a particularly interesting puzzle. There's nothing in this middle book that can't easily be caught up with in the third. And the concept of Three Law/No Law and New Law is better examined there as well. You really don't need to spend the time on this one.

The sequel should have been better, but was not
While the murder mystery was well set up, the ending was more of Agatha Christie ending, with a parlor room scene and a head shaker of a perpetrator. The political intrigue which should have been the height of this story was not focused on well enough. This is a society in the grips of an awful set of diriving forces that should have rocked the foundations of the planet. But you didn't feel that pain from the governor. The 4 law Robot introduced isn't given the same exploration that Caliban was in the first book. You do not get behind his head. The pain of transition should have been brought to bear hear as their are real world examples all around us. This missed the boat.

I feel sorry for Isaac Asimov.
If he were alive to see what Allen did to his Robot Universe, he would strangle the guy. This is a perfect example of why Allen should've stuck to those Little House On The Prairie sequels. The basic idea of Inferno (Just like it's predecessor, Caliban) is the creation of two new kinds of robots: The New Law robots and the No Law robot, and their effect on the society of the planet Inferno. The New Law Robots are freer than the original Three Law robots in Asimov's books, but have their own share of problems; Caliban, the only robot created with no laws, is of course the most free, but is far from human. This is all well and good, and in a more capable writer's hands would have been interesting, but Allen takes his one or two good ideas and throws them in a turbine. I'm sorry, Mr. Allen, but I don't really care about the intimate details of Tierlaw Verick's body, or anyone else's, for that matter. Whatever happened to "don't tell, show"?

Inferno
This book reads like a middle ground book, which it is. It is the connector between Cailban and Utopia. It's a good book and expands a little more on the Spacer/Settler interaction on the planet Inferno through the vehicle of Chanto Grieg's murder. Lot's of interesting touches like theforced conscription of robotic labor that help define the society and dressthe stage for Utopia. A very good book if not as good as the first. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

More than a collector's item
I have owned this book since it first came out about 30 years ago.Reading it started my interest in the Byzantine Empire;an interest that continues to this day.I have read and enjoyed many scholarly books on Byzantium since I first read this book, but even today I will reread Asimov if I am in the mood for a quick, exciting narrative of Byzantine history.If for some reason I no longer had the book in my library, I would be willing to spend the asking prices for the used copies to obtain it.

Certainly the forgotten empire
This work covers the history of the Byzantine Empire, from the foundation of Byzantium, in the Fifth Century AD, until its fall to the Ottoman Empire, in the Fifteenth Century. The relevance of the book is this: at school, we are taught history from a Eurocentric perspective. That's fine, since that is our main heritage. But there is a millenium-wide gap. They teach us the history of Greece and Rome, and then, after Rome's conquest by the Barbarians, we skim through the Middle Ages, briefly and superficially. Then we arrive at the Renaissance and proceed to modernity. The problem with this sequence is that we are never explained how the legacy of Greece and Rome resurfaces after a thousand years of Medieval times. And what we miss is precisely what Asimov fills in with his book. It happens that, for a thousand years, the Classical culture remained alive and kicking, even nurtured, in the Eastern Mediterranean. The axis of this world was Constantinople -or Byzantium-.There, the Classical culture met the Oriental luxury and liveliness, and the history of this empire is just fascinating. Jews, Moslems, Orthodox Christianity and Greeks, preserved and developed philosophy, theology, art and literature, amidst constant political turbulence. The stories show the most brutal and ruthless, as well as the most enlightened and wise rulers, courtiers and intellectuals. It was a world full of color, sensuality, passion and dynamism, half familiar and half exotic for our Western mind. Asimov's storytelling is fast and entertaining, but accurate. If you read it, chances are you won't remember most of the names and places, but you will get a general sense of what went on in this crucial corner of the world for a thousand years, and, best of all, you'll remain with a pleasant aftertaste. Strongly recommended both for entertaining and enlightening reasons, it is a real pity that this book is out of print and, more generally, that we are not taught the deeds of this great world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (124)

Read it after reading the other Foundation novels; slightly self-indulgent
For Foundation series followers, this is like the dessert at the end of a sumptuous meal. For those beginning the series, I would still recommend that it be read at the end of the series. A little self-indulgent, slow-paced at times. The usefulness of this novel is more appreciated after or as you read the subsequent Foundation novels. To that extent, it may be a good idea to read this first book first, and then start on to the next ones. On the other hand, you will not miss the plot or feel it is incomplete.

The novel starts off with Hari Seldon giving a talk on psychohistory at a mathematics convention at Trantor, the capital of the Empire, thereby inviting the attention of the Emperor, Cleon I, who thinks Seldon would be best manipulated into extending the life of the decaying empire and its rule over 25 million worlds. Chetter Hummin thinks differently, and wants to have Hari Seldon develop psychohistory so that the period of chaos that would follow the demise of the empire can be shortened. Cleon's right-hand man, Demerzel, on the other hand, wants to give Seldon a long leash, allow him to complete his work, and then reel him in. A twist in the tale at the end, the revelation of a robot, and the novel sets things up nicely for the second book in the series, Foundation.

Prelude to Foundation:Foundational
Title:Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov

Pages: 528.

Time spent on the "to read" shelf: 3 years.

Days spent reading it: 5 days.

Why I read it: I started reading the Foundation novels awhile back, and at some point I asked for them for Christmas. I received this great book, but was unable to read it due to my somewhat strange habit of almost always reading books in the order the author wrote them. Although it is a prequel, Prelude to Foundation is one of the last Foundation novels Asimov wrote. SO I had to get through 5 others before I could even start this one.

Brief review: Prelude to Foundation is chronologically the first book in the Foundation series. The story centers on the character of Hari Seldon, who is by far one of the better characters Asimov has created. He is memorable, likeable, and unique.

Although Prelude to Foundation is one book, its really a series of short stories as Seldon travels across Trantor fleeing from Imperial power that wants to control Seldon so it can control the future. As I stated in my previous posts, Asimov does great short stories (Foundation, the first book the author wrote in the series, was actually a group of four short stories that were published in a Sci-Fi magazine). He has interesting ideas and fun places to visit. However, in my opinion, Asimov struggles with longer plots. He has trouble bringing a longer book to a satisfying conclusion. So in this book the individual chapters are great, but the overarching plot is shoddy.

In Prelude, we see Seldon in a number of different environments that he explores, then leaves. However, it seems like nothing is really gained at any one location. But the stories in those locations are interesting. In one place all the people have their heads completely free of hair, including their eyebrows. Asimov uses stories like these to discuss culture, anthropology, taboos, and how humans rise or fall to these social forces. Some of the time its interesting. Other times I was bored or tired of being told for the hundredth time how humanity needs to grow out of its prejudices (whether they be gender, social, economic, race, etc. related).

The overarching story was a little weak. Once again Asimov oddly ties in his foundation series to his Robots series. I found the connection forced and strange yet again (as I discussed here about Foundation and Earth). But this book was much more readable and more enjoyable than Foundation's Edge or Foundation and Earth. I would recommend it as a worthy successor to the Foundation series, even if its not quite as good as some of the earlier works.

Favorite quote: "Thalus, Emmer--A sargeant in the armed security forces of the Wye sector of Ancient Trantor. Aside from these totally unremarkable vital statistics, nothing is known of the man except that on one occasion he held the fate of the Galaxy in his fist."

Stars: 4.5 out of 5.

Final Word: Foundational.

It's better than the original Foundation Trilogy
If memory doesn't fail me, it's the last of the Foundation books written by Asimov himself, and it's one of the links to the other trilogies (that consist in Robot and Empire books). In my opinion, this book is somewhat better than the original Foundation Trilogy books, if nothing more because it is tighter, as long as it was idealized from the beginning as one single volume. The Foundation trilogy was published as short weekly stories, and so it includes A LOT of repetition of the plot's central points, to update (and hook!) the more casual reader.
It's a book from the mature Asimov's pen, so it's somewhat less naive (although not that much), and the reading is easier and "smoother". A nice plot that integrates the Foundation saga with the Robot era, which is lost in the pre-Empire history on Asimov's Universe. Those familiar with the Robot novels will be glad to see again a very beloved character, whom makes this book stand to the high level of the entirety of Asimov's works. Mandatory reading for all those who read and liked the original Foundation books, as are the "Foundation and Earth" and "Forward the Foundation", the two other late-written books which complete the Second Trilogy Foundation by the man himself.

Are Asimov fans that undiscerning? This novel is simplistic with many rough stereotypes - ATTN SPOILERS
To start, I want to say that I am a big fan of the Foundation Trilogy.I read it while I was growing up, and it had a major influence on me:the concept of Psychohistory, and the focus on social movements and structures instead of individual "great men" was both fascinating and rare.I borrowed this book a few months ago from a friend, and now have read it twice.I think it is simply horrible writing.The characters are bland and sterile, the plot is simply an excuse to connect up threads from the other series - and it is done in a rough and unsubtle way.The story winds from one location to another - with no purpose or reason, except to connect to the history from the previous robot novels.

In some ways, this novel reminds me of the even-more-repulsive Star Wars prequels in 3 major ways:

1.)They are a poor addition to the storyline, the quality is much lower than the originals (minus the Ewoks, of course)
2.)They are clearly based on the idea of an existing fan base wanting to have details filled in and the publisher counting on this for sales even if the quality level is low.
3.)The social structures, customs, attitudes, and cultures are overly simplistic, unimaginative, and based sterotypically on current day earth.

On this last point, I had to shake my head when I read about the cultures of Mycogen and Dahl - along with the fact that tens of thousands of years in the future, the plot hinged on soldier not being willing to follow a woman as a leader.Mycogen with its unimaginative taboos, and then Dahl with its 50's-style morality (and hyper-simplistic social stratum). Top it off with the unlikely scenario that "Aurora" and "Earth" cultures have survived is even somewhat recognizable forms - AND ON TRANTOR AS WELL!!! That's just too silly to even consider.

The social stratum in Dahl requires even more criticism ... of course Seldon has to find a "diamond in the rough" among the Heatsinkers: one who does manual labor, but has a Ramanujan-like mathamatical ability - in order to show Seldon's nobility and his ability to see past social class, unlike the "silly" Dahlites.Compare the projected social structures here to those of Herbert in Dune, or even to those created by Asimov himself in the Robot or Foundation Trilogies, and you will see that here Asimov paints poorly, and with a very rough brush at that.I agree with one of the 2-star reviews that Asimov is at his best when focusing more on the conceptual level, like in the Foundation Trilogy, although he did succeed with the characters in the Robot novels (though I haven't read them in quite a while.)

It is too bad really - I went to the reviews here expecting Asimov readers to be more discerning and honest with themselves, as opposed to lapping up anything with the "Foundation" label on it.

SR

Asimov's greatest
This book was written 25 years after the others in the series, and Asimov's writing skills had obviously matured and improved. He was a master writer in his 20's but he continued to get better. The characters
in this work are more believable, and in this book he incorporated a very interesting surprise at the end. Asimov earned all the tributes reviewers
have given him through the years. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

The Messianic Era
I first read these books when I was in high school and although
I almost never read fiction, and don't particularly like science
fiction (even though I studied geophysics in university and
work as an engineer), these books made an immense impression
on me.As I began to study Judaism, I finally discovered that
Asimov, a non-observant, yet knowledgable Jew, was using the
format of science fiction to describe the Jewish concept of the
redemption of mankind.A careful reading of the Biblical
Prophets shows that the ideal world that history is leading
mankind towards has universal peace between nations and a
de-emphasis of technology in favor of the development of man's
inner, more
spiritual side.However, this development of man's spiritual
qualities and move towards universal harmony is accompanied
by upheavels and wars.Jewish tradition also says that the
world is sustained by 36 "hidden" righteous people whose
good deeds and spritual superiority are vital from preventing
the destructive forces in the world, both natural and
man-made from overcoming everything and leading the world
to chaos.
Asimov used the two Foundations as his vehicle for describing
this cosmic process, and an important partof the story is
the necessity of the SecondFoundation to remain "hidden" to
allow the process to work itself out.
As far as the story itself is concerned, it is true that it is
dated...for example, Asimov places the capital of the Galactic
Empire on the planet Trantor which "is at the center of the
Galaxy".Today, it is believed that the center of the galaxy
is full of black holes and lethal amounts of radiation, so it
is unlikely there would be life as we know it there.Also,
Asimov posits atomic energy as being the ultimate form of power
but physics has advanced beyond that point to fusion andother
exotic forms of power.
On the other hand, Asimov wrote these stories in the wake of
the Second World War and so he is quite aware ofhow so many
institutions created by men...including governments and religious
establishments, even starting with the best
of intentions,seems to run into crises.Thus the Galactic
Empire, which brought centuries of peace and prosperity to
mankind, is brought inevitably to a point of degeneration, and
how the (First) Foundation itself, founded by idealistic,
intelligent people who are at least partly aware of their
important role in shaping a better future for mankind, rapidly
degenerates into a repressive dictatorship.
As others have pointed out, these stories have almost no "action",
which is fine with me (my favorite movies and TV shows also
have no action, e.g. Twelve Angry Men) and in spite of the
fact that these stories are 60 years old, I recommend them
to anyone who wants a deeper look at mankind's nature
and its destiny.

A classic of science fiction
I first read this book in 1989. I still remember every little part of it, even after so many years. I never read any better book than this.
A book that every one should read.

One of the top ten science-fiction classics ever
There's no real way to do justice to this monumental work, one of the most influential ones on later science fiction.

Rather than overpraise it, I will note that the style is a bit dated, but not sufficient to detract from its present day enjoyment.Notable is the lack of physical action and the fact that you don't even notice this lack.

Actually, this isn't as much a group of three novels as it is seven shorter works.They lead through a crucial part of Galactic history starting with the beginning of the First Foundation, the first predicted crises, and then the unpredicted emergence of The Mule which appears to throw Hari Seldon's psychohistory off course, up to the search for a Second Foundation, spurred by the political intrigue and power struggle Asimov handles so well.

If you've never read these stories, and if you appreciate expertly written science-fiction, you do owe it to yourself to read these.

Wonder without action
This fantastic trilogy takes you through the fate of the universe.Of course which universe isn't ever exactly clear.The greatest feat of these three books, is their ability to never use any amount of action though, aside from the basic walking in and out of rooms, boarding craft and whatnot.In one of the later books in the series, (These first three were the original, but society demanded more), Asimov even himself said that he was surprised at the lack of action.Wonderful books though. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

these are some short stories that you will instantly remember
50 Short Science Fiction Tales
(1963)
Introduction No. 1
Introduction No. 2
Ballad of am Artificial Satellite
The Fun They Had Going to school in the future
Men Are different
The Ambassadors
The Weapon
Random Sample
Oscar
The Mist
Teething Ring
The Haunted Space suit

Rather than list the table of contents, just click on the "look inside"at the top left of the product page and read them for yourself.

I will say that these are some short stories that you will instantly remember just by hearing the titles, if you have read them before.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who even remotely likes science fiction.It's one of those books that you want to give to anybody who reads.

Gunner
July, 2010

Quick Reads from the Last Century
50 Short Science Fiction Tales (1963) is an anthology of brief SF stories.Naturally, it contains 50 short-short stories, but it also includes separate introductions by the editors and a poetic prelude and postlude.These tales span the years from 1940 to 1962.

- Introduction No. 1 by Isaac Asimov discusses the importance of background in SF tales.

- Introduction No. 2 by Groff Conklin concerns the role of short-short stories in the publishing field.

- Prelude is the poem "Ballade of an Artificial Satellite" by Poul Anderson.

- Postlude is six Haiku by Karen Anderson.

The stories themselves are by a wide selection of SF writers, some of which are more famous in other genres.Obviously there is not enough room in this review to list all the stories and authors.But a few tales are particularly noteworthy.

- The Weapon by Fredric Brown is an indictment of the arms race.

- The Third Level by Jack Finney concerns a way to visit the past.

- Columbus Was a Dope by Robert A. Heinlein gives a jab at those who would prefer to live in the past.

- Tiger by the Tail by Alan E. Nourse tells of the discovery of a portal into another place.

- We Don't Want Any Trouble by James H. Schmitz relates the treatment of an alien by the army and the consequences.

- Project Hush by William Tenn exposes a secret project to reach the Moon.

The authors of the above tales were well-known in their time.Most of the others were also among the favorite authors of those times and some are even known to the present generation.Consider this a blast from the past.

Other reviews have warned of the poor quality of the printing.My copy has clear print, although the font size is small.I suspect that it is a later reprint.

All fifty tales have a message of some sort and a punchline to make that point.Some are depressing, but others are uplifting.Read and enjoy!

Highly recommended for fans of science fiction and fantasy.

-Arthur W. Jordin

BEWARE! VERY HARD TO READ, VERY POOR PRINTING JOB!
The stories are okay for one trick ponies---what can you expect from a short short? The best thing about many of them is their brevity.

But the printing is pixilated, unclear and VERY hard to read.One must conclude that Scribners is no longer a reputable printer. Reader beware.

Great short stories; font a little small
I love science fiction, but now that I'm older, I don't have as much time to read sci-fi.I enjoyed these short stories by great authors like Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, Heinlein, etc.One thing I have to mention is that the font is a little small and hard on the eyes.Still, if you like sci-fi and short stories, this is a book for you.

An Excellent Manipulation of Traditions
In an introduction to this collection of short-short science fiction stories, Isaac Asimov poses a question: How does the science fiction writer go about working the background of a story (which may involve a different futuristic society, scientific concepts, or different moral codes) into as compressed a form as the short-short story without damaging the tale? Put in this manner, it seems almost impossible to do. Asimov says that it is something that he can do better than he can describe. Fair enough. But we might note that one method is to appeal to certain story conventions. The monster horror story, the tavern or club story, the dystopian drama, the fabulous invention story, the Stepford wives tale, the incredible journey-- all have conventions that do not have to be spelled out in detail to the reader. The trick is to play on these conventions in fresh ways. For the most part, the stories in this book do just that. They are sometimes predictable, but they are always well-crafted. They range in quality from good to excellent.

The organization of this book is to use a poetic prologue and epilogue by Poul and Karen Anderson. (I prefer Karen's haiku to Poul's ballad.) In between are fifty short-short stories arranged in alphabetical order by author, from Asimov to Wright. This is convenient for the reader who wants to find a particular story quickly. But it also results in stories that are alike being placed back to back. Perhaps an arrangement by subject with an index might have been better.

Fredric Brown's "The Weapon" and S. Fowler Wright's "Obviously Suicide" have some biting things to say about the social responsibility of scientists. So does C.M. Kornbluth's "The Altar at Midnight," though it does so in a much more subtle manner.

Anthony Boucher's "The Ambassadors," Arthur Feldman's "The Mathematicians," and Walt Sheldon's "The Hunters" all hang on the same gimmick-- and a pretty worn gimmick, at that. They work as stories, but they would not work for an instant as dramatic pieces. They depend on what you don't see.

There aren't a lot of space stories in this collection. But there are two excellent yarns by two old pros: "The Haunted Space Suit" by Arthur C. Clarke and "Columbus Was a Dope" by Robert A. Heinlein. Maybe you have read them before. Take another look and watch how carefully these authors build up to the final twist.

Stories of pure horror are Idris Seabright's "An Egg a Month From All Over" and Theodore Sturgeon's "Talent". Also chilling in a comically amoral kind of way is Evelyn E. Smith's "The Martian and the Magician".

Peter Phillips' "Counter Charm" and Arthur Porges' "The Fly" have a similar subject. (They are also back-to-back.) Albert Hernhunter's "Texas Week" and John
D. MacDonald's "Spectator Sport" have similar endings. William Tenn's "Project Hush" and Ralph Williams' "Emergency Landing" are satires of military bureaucracy. The second story, in apropos of nothing, was printed in _Astounding_ twenty years before the first of the Dean Drive articles.

There are two stories set in rather grim futures-- Damon Knight's "Not With a Bang" and Fritz Leiber's "A Bad Day for Sales"-- and two set in underground utopias-- Mildred Clingerman's "Stair Trick" and Jack Finney's "The Third Level". All four are small gems.

I would also like to give a nod to Will Stanton's "Barney". Stanton is a writer who appeared sporadically in the fifties and sixties, mostly in _F&SF_, with a number of marvelously quirky short stories. He deserves more attention than he has recieved.

The gimlet-eyed reader will have noticed that I have not discussed all fifty stories in this collection. But I believe that I have discussed enough of a sampling to give a sense of what the anthology is like. Your favorites in this book will almost certainly not be exactly the same as mine. But I would be very surprised if you did not find anything in these pages to amuse and entertain you.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great writing, but a little slanted
This is a VERY well-written, entertaining history of the Roman Empire.It does have some factual errors.A serious flaw is that Asimov apparently harbors some hostility towards Christianity, so much so that he allows his opinion to cloud historical facts.This is unfortunate, as it mars the latter half of his book.Even so, the writing is such that I am giving him 4 stars.

The Roman Empire - Good book
When I picked up this book I thought that Isaac Asimov was a scifi guy,not historian.By the time I was finished reading the book though, mythinking had changed.

Information is presented in just the right amountof detail.It doesn't read like a textbook, but it scope is broad, and yethe was able to zoom in on certain interesting points of minutia.

All inall, for general information, this book is tops. ... Read more

Product Description
(from back cover) With his usual enthusiasm and talent for making things both entertaining and understandable, Professor Asimov explains the principles of the slide rule. Once you thoroughly understand these principles - once you know what you are doing and why - it will be simple to use the slide rule on problems that arise from day to day. ... Read more