nightfall and other stories isaac asimov

A number of people have called attention to the fact that in “ Green Patches,” Asimov vigorously denounces the loss of individuality such a collective mind would impose on humanity, whereas in Foundation’s Edge, he embraces it. Again, there is a non-human intelligence involved, but in this case a planetary collective mind which would resurface in Foundation’s Edge as Gaia. “ Green Patches” is another story deserving particular attention. “ Hostess” has a woman as the heroine and again, she and the other major characters in the story are interesting to read about, as is the fundamental “problem” of the story-why do humans age and other intelligences not? “ C-Chute” also includes some interesting insights into spaceship propulsion and so on, but it is mainly interesting as-of all things-a character study, with a group of humans locked in a room, each different and each well-done.

In particular, and beyond the title story (which, I agree with Asimov, is excellent but not quite as excellent as everybody else seems to think it is), there are a number of genuinely solid, interesting pieces, largely from the 1950’s: “ C-Chute,” for example, and “ Hostess.” Both are interesting for their inclusion of non-human intelligences (in fact, there are a number of other stories in the book with non-human intelligences an interesting coincidence), and in each case the aliens are interesting and well-drawn. While this trend would become almost painful in later collections ( Buy Jupiter and Other Stories, The Winds of Change and Other Stories, and Gold), in the case of Nightfall and Other Stories, there is enough material of genuine merit that this isn’t a major distraction. It is also one of Asimov’s first collections where stories are included simply because he hadn’t anthologized them yet and not because of their individual merit. This was my first real exposure to Asimov as a science fiction writer, and it did not leave me disappointed. The fact is that it is the first book I ever read by Asimov based solely upon the author’s name, and it is the third book by Asimov I ever purchased (the first two being Environments Out There and Fantastic Voyage). This book is a particular favorite of mine for sentimental reasons if nothing else.

Nightfall and other stories isaac asimov