Isaac Asimov talks about SF and it's re-birth since 1938

We go into the Asimov's office, see him write and hear what he has to say on Science Fiction literature. He speaks about it's beginnings and it's then presence in 1970's. He also briefly talks about sf movies.

[@0cireeric0]

I commented to him about the print smudging in his book "Asimov's Biographical Encyclopedia of Science and Technology Revised, Subsequent Edition to Isaac Asimov." A week later he sent a replacement book and a kind note on a 3" x 4" card. He was brilliant and very kind. There will never be another author with his prolific brilliance.

[@prla5400]

history

[@billweirdo9657]

@@prla5400 Thats awesome. js

[@tarnopol]

That's a great book I picked up in grad school for history of science: arranges by chronology, so it's interesting to see who lived at the same time as whom. :)

[@tomato1040]

Yes, prolific, indeed, but what if science heard the Truth a lot more than it sees IT? 👁️🤹🌎🎯🎺🎶

[@rogerlynch5279]

@@tarnopol Not to forget the long forgotten Medical book about the Human Anatomy he had done in colaboration with some medical experts. It was the reason the movie people came to him to reworke the script to the FANTASTIC VOYAGE ( the movie were a crew in a minuaturised submarine travels through the body of a scientist to safe his life) It still rates as one of the best School Books written in this field

[@2011littleguy]

I thought I would watch for a few minutes and then go to other videos I wanted to see. Little did I know than when Issac Asimov speaks, one cannot leave. His knowledge is do broad and his ideas so brilliant, that it is near impossible to turn away. RIP Mr. Asimov.

[@boliussa]

videos of his interviews are really good.. in one of them he pretty much foresees youtube! he says something along the lines of that everybody will have their own personal television station.

[@MugRuith]

This is a gem. A true gem.

[@Giskard1000]

You’re right. It really is. The clarity of his written work is here for all to see via his spoken words.

[@AdeelKhan1]

Powerful. I noticed the same theme with Star Trek TNG. The franchise brought great writers and producers onboard. The impact that Asimov is talking about is much bigger. Because the writers from the 40's directly helped enable real world scientific outcome from the 60's.

[@StevieStormmm]

Whoa, footage of Asimov at the typewriter! My dream is to go to his collection at Boston University and explore the original copies of his works and letters and all that.

[@captur69]

Did you go?

[@StevieStormmm]

@@captur69 Not yet! It’s on my list when I fix my financial life. 😮

[@ahmadalany3215]

Quality people like this should live for at least 1000. He would be one of the first people I would visit, If I had a time machine.

[@RayRand]

Thanks for the upload. One of my heroes.

[@PravdaSeed]

🧞it will be wonderful if we can have Ai voice of magnificent Isaac.💓

[@Coff1nf33der]

I love great SF by Asimov and Heinlein, but still have love for Pulp SF like Perry Rhodan, which I am still reading today. Great Video.

[@heimomoilanen9654]

I was hooked on Perry Rhodan here in Finland in 1975, series of only 16 volumes. All of sudden, the series ended, obviously due to lack of interest. As a substitute, I received 4 Diabolik cartoons. What a disappoinment.

[@marcelsgroot]

This is actual why I love hes science fiction novels and stories. Because the science in it is so plausible. Maybe not now but in the future. And many things he wrote about in the past we now have. Like the pocket calculator and pocket computer (tableds), video conference. Hes 3 laws of robotics makes so much sense to. Like he mentioned in an interview, when you use a tool any tool you want it to not harm you, do want you want and be durable

[@chugg159]

The opening of him on the typewriter is legendary.

[@netnema]

A true colossus in any respect, as a writer, a thinker, and amazing human being.

[@Seven-Planets-Sci-Fi-Tuber]

11:52 confirms from the Master's lips that back then they pronounced the word robot more like ro-but, rather than our modern way of pronouncing it with a big open second 'O'

[@tarnopol]

Nice upload! I TA'd a history of science fiction course at Penn when I was getting a PhD in history and sociology of science in the early/mid 90s (didn't go on in the field, ultimately). The course was conceived and taught by Mark Adams, and had been going since I think 1970 -- had to be one of the first. This video is unsurprisingly spot on -- but it's about American science fiction. There's a whole parallel history of European science fiction as well, including Russia (a specialty of Adams'). All very interesting stuff! I would have interpolated HP Lovecraft somehow: some of his work is definitely scifi, and I don't think we should be too rigid about what counts and what doesn't, etc. Utopias and dystopias should generally be included, for example, and some fantasy-ish things like Dune. Though Adams told me a funny rule of thumb: If it's got a lot of green, it's fantasy; if it's got a lot of metal, it's science fiction. :) But Lovecraft had a kind of "European" view--like Olaf Stapledon, HG Wells, etc. That kind of deep time, fiction of awe type thing. 2001, not Star Wars. Not saying better, just another way of looking at it.

[@richarddeese1991]

Thanks. Always good to hear from Isaac Asimov on any topic. There's a word which he didn't use here, and which surprises me a bit. That word is: speculation. For it is speculation which was the key to the kind of science fiction written by himself, along with many others who wrote stories for Mr. Campbell. By speculation, I mean the projecting of real things of the time, into either other places (whether simply different situations, or whole other worlds), or into future times and possibilities. To speculate in such veins, one must have at least some functional understanding of current science and its trends leading up to that time. Here in 2020, Sci-fi is once again losing some of its fascination to the general public. Now it seems that science itself has lost some of its allure somehow, not to mention the fact that it progresses so quickly that only the wildest speculation indeed could stay ahead of it. However, I truly believe that sci-fi is the only category of fiction that can encompass any type of story. So keep writing, out there... tavi.

[@moonled]

Wha a great channel! I can't wait to see what/who else you have to offer.

[@clayz1]

I bet he has a nice RCA hi-fi with volume and tone controls, a stackable record player, and one big speaker, in a large piece of nicely finished furniture.

[@grantmcgowan8399]

Asimov was a great man. He still is a great man. They should erect a great statue in Central Park.. in honour!

[@Stogie2112]

Grant McGowan .... STATUES! Instead of politicians and war mongers, Statues of great minds like ASIMOV.

[@ShazzPotz]

Absolutely. I would love to visit Central Park and marvel at Isaac's great erection.

[@O-.-O]

@@Stogie2112 Some of the sci-fi writers like Heinlein were warmongers too.

[@wareyhattlonnvy967]

Listen to man, he knows his stuff. We need to rid the world of ignorance, bigotry, low self esteem tendencies, etc. There what's wrong with the world.

[@2011littleguy]

What's wrong with the world happened long before humans. ALL life fights to survive. The winners procreate. Evolution. We humans were the 'fittest' at surviving. But we carry in our head the survivor instinct. We are Great Apes with oversize brains. Religious people say god designed our world. If so, he designed the most brutal system imaginable.

[@theholygoat8826]

Let the program run its course , take nothing from , or add a thing to it .

[@theholygoat8826]

@@2011littleguy That is why He created Arrakis , not the saac .

[@ShazzPotz]

@Make Me Believe Are you saying you only like animals with big feet, not small feat?

[@science212]

Asimov was a great writer. Arthur Clarke too.

[@TerryUniGeezerPeterson]

His sideburns were still evolving at that point.

[@michaeldoef198]

I own a ton of those old books

[@charlessoukup1111]

Interesting how young!! Before he adopted his signature bolo ties! Real enjoyed this look back before I had really discovered him, at which point I quickly became addicted, and so I am to this day, never failing to find some new book if his I hadnt read, some 400, 424? I forget but a man driven by a specific style and subject matter from a young age. You may say Aw shucks, Isaac, and feign some required modesty, Tolkien had a gem, Heinlein too, but face it, You are a city geek, a bit effete, but The Best!

[@Pluvo2for1]

Such a focused worker.

[@bradhamann]

I peg this around 1971, based on the copy of Orbit 8, edited by Damon Knight. My best guess.

[@youtoober2013]

Ok, the light on his glasses is tripping me out now.

[@CarletonTorpin]

Me too, now.

[@sarcasmo57]

This guy's great.

[@MagnumInnominandum]

A great human being and author. I am not sure I can forgive him his optimism. 😢

[@marbleman52]

"....increasingly minimal...well now, that sounds....decreasingly minimal..less & less good..." That was great; I could see his mental gears whirring as he smiled; more to himself, I think; and trying to get the right descriptive words out.

[@IsaacAsimov1992]

He knew he had it right the first time. Just didn't want to confuse us. :)

[@marbleman52]

@@IsaacAsimov1992 Yea, I agree; Isaac knew exactly what HE meant but he knew his "gentle readers" might find it a bit confusing by using those two words right next to each other...LOL..!!

[@ganash974]

Many thanks for sharing it ;)

[@tomato1040]

The True Life of the Scientific Future is directly proportional to the moral integrity of the scientists who sincerely seek to know the Truth rather than to be known by their peers. Once all of the scientists aren't self-concerned we'll have better science, once & for all!

[@tomato1040]

Selfless Science is greater than Selfish Science. 👁️🤹

[@王海-w6x]

naked sun foundation trilogy are great and what opened my eyes to what the future would be like

[@ГеоргийЧетаев]

How can write so much books? It's magical writer!

[@willadeefriesland5107]

❤Science Fiction of the late 30's and 40's laid the FOUNDATION for our continuing 'sci-fi-esque' culture. I think Dear Isaac, my hero, may excuse my using such a contrived, awkward term...

[@Daud76]

While most authors would be perfectly content to type in their nakedness, this dude prefers to type his works in a suit! 😄

[@Visual_Writer]

Maybe it‘s the Camera behind hin. 😉

[@Daud76]

@@Visual_Writer Isaac the shy guy? 🤭

[@clayz1]

To be fair. Mr. Asimov knew he would be interviewed this day. So no boxers, wife beater tee, and a beer.

[@Daud76]

@@clayz1 Bet he is fairer than Maid Marion when in boxers. 😎🤭

[@lxoxrxexnx]

Devin Reese I think he admitted to it in his autobiography.

[@tychomagneticanomaly]

Happy Birthday Isaac!

[@appidydafoo]

Excellent, thank you

[@oker59]

Isaac forgets to mention "20,000 leagues under the sea" and "War of the Worlds" - both were in the 1800s.

[@rogerlynch5279]

"His works are landmarks and building stones" how true His writings have only one little flaw, they are not very emotionaly. As Asimov had said and written about himself; he was a loner, at best writting in a narrow, closed room and that he was never a people´s person. Most of those more emotional moments as in the Short Stories BELOVED ROBOTER and THE WHAT IF BOX were advised and given to him from others like various lectors, publishers and his wife as he had phrased it himself Yes, this interview was brilliantly done much more interesting as some others. But I have to confess this here is aimed towards Hard Core Science Fictrion Fans like me. Interesting how Asimov appears here. There are interviews from before and after were he did not looked anymore so well. I guess the stylist and the make up artist really had a hard time to make him look so good. ::)

[@rogerlynch5279]

I just got a friendly but seriously ment correction from a fellow Asimov Fan that this Anatomy book seems to be outdated by now. That is the problem with populare literature those facts, even behind the modern knowledge, are often given on in actual newspapers, magazines and books even though the might have not been on the actual Standard.

[@rogerlynch5279]

To my defense I was born in Dezember 1961 and went to the Gymnasium in Germany ( Your High School and Pre College system ) in the Seventies. I had found Asimov´s book in the Biology Section of our Library and it had helped me immensly to get good grades in Biology. AND NOT ONLY THAT !! I even got invited by almost every girl in class to help her with the school material !! Something like this is hard to forget :) But I should had remembered what my Biology teacher Frau Kleinke had said me about the class information. That it would be fast outdated. She herself had done the same experience with the information she had aquired in her University days. Most of the stuff was already outdated again when she began teaching.

[@donaldwhittaker7987]

Great documentary

[@jauregi2726]

The master himself!

[@sagerider2]

I know I wanted to grow up & be a mad scientist. But, do you know how hard it is to get a volcanic island? And henchman that work for free? They all want cushy jobs & health care & retirement & life insurance. So I settled for a regular scientist. A shame, I knew exactly what to do with Mr Bond. "Ah, Mr. Bond." Bang, "throw the body in the alligator pit, Igor." My introduction to science fiction was finding Robert A Heinlein's "Methuselah's Stepchildren" on the play ground at Holy Trinity. It was pretty wrecked, but legible. I bought another copy.

[@martindinov932]

Quite the story.

[@gbaku88]

Wonderful and informative talk! Too bad it’s spoiled (for us nit-pickers) by the narrator’s blunder near the beginning - Asimov did not get his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and in fact never took a course on the subject.

[@eave01]

Are you sure? "graduated from high school at 15 to enter Columbia University. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1939 and went on to get his M.A. and Ph.D. from the same institution...In 1949, Asimov began a stint at Boston University School of Medicine, where he was hired as an associate professor of biochemistry in 1955..." from www.biography.com/writer/isaac-asimov

[@gbaku88]

From the first volume of Asimov’s autobiography, p. 552 (hardback), describing his job interview at Boston University: “Since he didn’t ask me if I had ever taken any course in biochemistry, or if I knew anything about biochemistry, I felt it would be impolite to force upon him the information that the answer to both those possible questions was “No.”

[@MsEDenney]

Can you subtitle this or turn on the option so that the community can type in subtitles for this? Auto-generated subtitles are insufficient for educational purposes.

[@josephsmith6944]

Mr. Asimov's was truly a Giant ❤❤❤😊😊!

[@brendanmccabe8373]

For the scientists daughter they showed a still from London after midnight which was about a vampire not a mad scientist

[@elecktrick9s99]

Brendan McCabe so?

[@brendanmccabe8373]

elecktrick9s London after midnight is considered the holy grail of lost films so it’s a very interesting thing

[@youtoober2013]

@@brendanmccabe8373 Ah, who cares? They were all the same!

[@brendanmccabe8373]

youtoober2013 I care because I have no life and lost films from the 1920’s is something that I care about

[@youtoober2013]

@@brendanmccabe8373 Well, that's a decent reason. I was being facetious. It was a fun fact, but my satire stands to Asimov's point, unless you had no life and cared that much, no one would have ever noticed... or ever even needed to notice for that matter... but it was fun. Cheers.

[@PravdaSeed]

🧞💯 wemissyou Isaac 💯💓

[@IoanaNoemyToma]

Thanks. What producer and year, please?

[@RapperBC]

It's "its", not "it's". And thanks for the wonderful video!

[@Zimy0]

Hell yeah, Ringworld name drop.

[@micaylab1]

A Mastermind Accomplisher!

[@zeljko_lipanovic]

Svaka čast!

[@theodiggers]

Camera getting a bit too comfy at 2:50...

[@RyanRyzzo]

Interesting 18:00 because schizophrenia is not a multiple personality disorder. I have to read Beyond Bedlam to see what people assumed to be "schizophrenia" lol sounds like a quirky book!

[@theholygoat8826]

Dam saac , you are much better read than heard , a cross only the greatest Visionaries must carry .

[@monikafurde369k]

Great prophet of science

[@BrianBattles]

Obviously an imposter, without the Captain Kangaroo sideburns

[@seanwebb605]

Does anyone know the original source and date for this video?

[@flaggerify]

1971

[@viveviveka2651]

It is a bit misleading to say he was a student at Columbia. He was rejected by Columbia, and by medical schools, because he was Jewish.

[@skywatchersantosdumont3733]

Erik Von Daniken, Isaac Asimov, Santos Dumont, Nikola Tesla, Galileu Galilei, Bartolomeu de Gusmão, Stephen Hawking, Leonardo da Vinci....are the same energy.

[@larrybd100]

Asimov was a greawriter and scientist, but I absolutely HATE robot narrators!!

[@u2bist]

I had to pause the video and go read Lifeline (it's public domain now). Can't say I was very impressed - lots of pompous dialog, and not a great example of the shift to more accurate science Asimov was talking about - but it was only Heinlein's first story.

[@Stogie2112]

Mad scientists always have beautiful daughters......LOL

[@flaggerify]

1971

[@Petequinn741]

Elon musk owes 90 percent of his claimed ideas to this man

[@reichen609]

5:12

[@GH-oi2jf]

Despite Asimov’s testimonial, I don’t care for Heinlein.

[@rjpx947]

"ITS".

[@felicity4711]

*Its

[@felixcat4346]

Totally clearly articulated bla bla.

[@patrickmahaffey6166]

Please fix your spelling mistakes! They diminish the quality of your videos.

[@arcadealchemist]

Asimov sounds like Bernie sanders. Funny Asimov was russian and died in Brooklin bernie is born in brooklin he could die in russia X3

[@jasonbowman9521]

I think Tommy Lee Jones could play him in a movie. It would be awesome.

[@viveviveka2651]

It is a bit misleading to say he was a student at Columbia. He was rejected by Columbia, and by medical schools, because he was Jewish.

[@GH-oi2jf]

Asimov’s undergraduate degree and his PhD are from Columbia.