Asimov Science Fiction Magazine April 1992
This particular edition of Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine has a special place in my scifi book collection. This is because of two things:
- It contains as a novella the first part of “Forward the Foundation” and was the first place that story was published (called “Cleon the Emperor“)
- And it has a very personal editorial from Isaac Asimov on the Foundation series.
He reveals some of the little known history behind the series as well as various interesting tidbits that only hardcore fans would know. I don’t consider myself a hardcore Asimov fan, but I do enjoy reading new things about him. Funnily enough, I actually forgot this editorial until I recently picked up the magazine again. And thought it would make a great blog post.
Facts from the Editorial:
I, Robot, was originally titled “Carbon and Iron“. in 1983 1938 (see update below) a writer Eando Binder wrote a story in Amazing called “I, Robot”, and Asimov was reluctant to use the name – he however gave in. (UPDATE: Redditor ewiethoff points out that Eandos version of I, Robot came out in 1939 – a fact confirmed on Wikipedia. He also rightly points out I screwed up on the publisher name – this is what happens when you dont proof read or publish while half asleep. Thanks ewiethoff!).
As the Foundation Series was a collection of small stories published as Novellas, Doomsday wouldnt pblish them. They were first published by “Gnome Press”. Asimov NEVER earned anything from the first print of Foundation – the publishing agent screwed him over.
The only reason Doomsday Doubleday considered Foundation was because a Portugese publishing company wanted translation rights and approached Doomsday Doubleday, not realising Gnome Press owned the rights.
Despite being constantly pushed to write a new Foundation novel, Asimov actually didnt write one for 31 years after he wrote the last one, “Second Foundation“. When he did write one, it was only after Doomsday Doubleday handed him an advance of $50, 000 – prior to that his highest advance was $10,000. His only motivation for it was as such, the money Doomsday Doubleday paid him, and in his own words:
“So I signed and was stuck with writing a Foundation book when I didn’t remember how they went… let me tell you, it was simply awful…I just plain suffered…”
Foundations Edge was originally named “Lightning Rod” but Doomsday made him change the name. The book placed 13th in the New York Times Best Seller List that year.
And “…it stayed on the best seller list for twenty five weeks (!)”.
The idea of Prelude to Foundation was actually suggested to him by a guy (unnamed) who met him in the elevator and suggested “Dr. Asimov, why dont you write a book about Hari Seldon as a young man?“. Asimov states that he thinks that Prelude to Foundation was the best Foundation book he ever wrote.
By the time of writing this Editorial, Asimov was working on Forward the Foundation – and had to stop four fifths through the book as he suffered congestive hear failure. He ended it with the poignant paragragh:
“Whether I will improve with time, I cannot say. Certainly there seems no sign of it at the moment. Believe me, I am sorry about this; more so than you can possibly be.”
Isaac Asimov died of Heart and Kidney Failure on April 6th, 1992, the month this issue hit the stands.