Customer Reviews

The Edge of Tomorrow

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Only Asimov could write a book like this. It combines science fiction stories with real science without telling the reader which is which. You could almost use this book as a pocket reference if it weren't such entertaining reading. Of all the Asimov short story collections, I like this one best. Unfortunately my copy was misplaced, (I'm blaming my wife), and I can't seem to find it. Take care of yours!

This was the first book of Asimov's that I read, and I think it give you a good grasp of what the late great writer's thought was like. You have some of the best short stories included, especially "Nightfall", one of the all-time SF classics, and some enduring favorites of mine, such as "Belief" (which asks what happens when a physicists finds out he can fly)and "Breeds There a Man?" (a rather unsettling tale about mankind's origins and future).

Asimov is at his best form with the short story (the famous Foundation Trilogy began as short stories), and these are the pick of the litter. I'm not sure how many people are aware of Asimov's interests in science history, and he has many delightful essays giving one a window into some of the lesser-known characters in scientific history, and some of Asimov's thoughts on the role of science. Of particular note is also his thesis that technology made slavery obsolete.

Isaac Asimov is well-known for his fiction work - the Foundation series, 'I, Robot', etc. - but few people know he wrote a ton of non-fiction as well. 'The Edge of Tomorrow' mixes some of Asimov's fictional short stories and some of his non-fictional essays for a fantastic read. You can read about a Goose that laid eggs of gold, with a pretty realistic explanation of how it happens, and follow it up by reading about how the speed of light was determined using lanterns and hilltops, or about how the Earth was weighed, and a number of superbly written pieces on what turns out to be extremely interesting material.

'The Edge of Tomorrow' is a great piece of evidence to Isaac Asimov's writing talent.