Asimov has been a favorite virtually all my reading life and I still haven't made a significant dip in his output.
I consider him among the greatest SF writers of all time, but it would be hard to signal any one as the greatest. All of them had their strengths that spoke to different readers.
Loved Asimov as a kid but I tried rereading him a couple of years ago and he didn't hold up for me. Just not a very good writer especially when it comes to dialogue. The scenes between Lije Bailey and his son and wife in Caves of Steel was unbelievably bad. His short fiction holds up a bit better than the novels.
I'm with Steve: there are plenty of clunky scenes in Asimov's novels. His short stories are much, much better. I'm still holding firm to Jack Vance as my favorite SF writer.
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Asimov has been a favorite virtually all my reading life and I still haven't made a significant dip in his output.
I consider him among the greatest SF writers of all time, but it would be hard to signal any one as the greatest. All of them had their strengths that spoke to different readers.
Good point, Randy. My own favorites change from day to day.
Loved Asimov as a kid but I tried rereading him a couple of years ago and he didn't hold up for me. Just not a very good writer especially when it comes to dialogue. The scenes between Lije Bailey and his son and wife in Caves of Steel was unbelievably bad. His short fiction holds up a bit better than the novels.
Of the big three (at a point in time) of Asimov, Clarke and Heinlein, I think Heinlein holds up best and would be the top candidate for "best".
I'm with Steve: there are plenty of clunky scenes in Asimov's novels. His short stories are much, much better. I'm still holding firm to Jack Vance as my favorite SF writer.
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