Asimov Stamp Urged

[Khephra]

Gordon Van Gelder, editor of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, is urging fans to come together in a letter-writing campaign to get legendary SF author Isaac Asimov on a U.S. postage stamp. Van Gelder has already received a letter from the U.S. Postal Service saying that it is considering an Asimov stamp for 2006, the Fantastica Daily Web site reported.

Van Gelder's editorial on the matter will appear in the May issue of the magazine. "Just as Albert Einstein became a familiar icon as a physicist, so too did Dr. A represent the genre of science fiction to the world at large—more so than any other individual, I'd say," Van Gelder writes.

Van Gelder urges that Asimov be included in the ongoing series of stamps called the Literary Arts series, which has included Ayn Rand, Ogden Nash and Zora Neale Hurston. He suggests that letters be sent to: Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee, c/o Stamp Development, 475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW Room 5670, Washington, D.C. 20260-2437.

http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/art-main.html?2004-03/09/10.30.books

[redqueen]

1. Thanks for this post!!!

I so love Asmiov... have since I was little.

:yourock:

[Dudley_DUright]

2. I'm definitely in favor of this one

Isaac Asimov is a big part of the reason I am a scientist (more because of his science essays, although I also love his science fiction). Thanks Isaac.

[FlaGranny]

6. And even his fiction didn't steer you wrong

as far as science goes.

[Beetwasher]

3. Hell Yeah! The "Old Master" Definitely Deserves One!

I'm currently in the middle of an Asimov binge. I'm going to read everything he wrote. Right now I'm reading "Nemesis". Finally finished the Foundation series after finding a copy of "Foundation and Earth" which is inexplicably out of print.

Next up is the "Empire" series, which I can't seem to find anywhere either...

[jus_the_facts]

7. I've begged the Sci-Fi book club to reprint everything they can.....

....but they still haven't been able to do so....and my local library have an extremely sparse selection as well! x(

Isaac was a GENIUS in every sense of the word! :loveya:

.....I own The Empire Novels all in one...The Foundation Trilogy...The Complete Stories Vol. I and II....Our Angry Earth...and Beginnings *non fiction*....Prelude To Foundation....and Isaac Asimov's Book of Facts....would like to own everything but so much has been out of print for a long time....Robots of Dawn and Murder At The ABA...are two more that I really liked....

www.sfbc.com


:hi:

[histohoney]

4. I loved to read his Science Fiction

works. I would seek out all his titles.
In college I used his, I believe it was called, "Asimov Explanation of Physics",(I am so old know my memory slips) or some thing to that effect. It saved my hinney! So did his Calculus books. He explained mathematical concepts in a literary way. Brilliant!
Dr. Asimov was so gifted in so many ways.:hi:

[Khephra]

5. I've actually never been a great fan of his fiction

I always liked his non-fiction more.

But I figure that if Ayn Rand ( :puke: ) can get a stamp, then why the hell not?

[kar_the_terrible]

8. I stand by it 100%

I guess Asimov is as big an icon in science fiction as, say Bugs Bunny is to cartoons. SO if the latter has a stamp... why not Asimov.

[afraid_of_the_dark]

11. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

9. If this goes through, I want someone to send me a letter!

Big Asimov fan here too. :yourock:

[Az]

10. Great author, horrible person

A true mysogenist. He was forced to include an active female in his Foundation series of books. So he created the Mule to satisfy his handlers. A mute destroyer of balance.

Having met Asimov in person I cannot support such a stamp. Be careful who you place on a pedestal. You place more than you may realize up there.

[Beetwasher]

12. Really?

I find many of his female characters to be some of his best. Though I can't say I know much about his personal life outside of his fiction.

I'm reading Nemesis right now and the lead character is an incredibly intelligent and powerful young woman. Her mother, though flawed, is a brilliant and strong personality as well.

His other books I seem to remember had excellent, interesting, complex and powerful female characters too...Bliss in the Foundation series for instance...

I do find it somewhat humorous and interesting that in his novels a lot of the sexual episodes his characters are involved in are often initiated by females seducing the males...

[Az]

13. Asimov was the honorary pres of the American Humanist Association

I attended the UU church where the Vice President AHA was minister (the real acting pres). She reports that his attitude towards women, herself included, is that they should be seen and not heard. And the less seen the better.

[Beetwasher]

15. Just Seems Hard To Believe

considering his female characters...they certainly don't fit into that mold...

Perhaps the woman of which you speak had a bad experience w/ him that may have been anomalous and nothing to do with her gender? I personally wouldn't base my opinion about his life and personality on one anecdote. That characerization just seems contradictory to someone who is also an honorary presient of AHA...How many Humanists do you know who are also mysoginists? I guess it's possible...:shrug: Maybe he was just an old crank to everyone in general...

[Az]

16. He did reform somewhat

in his later days. But look through his earlier works. Not many women and few vocal ones at all.

By no means am I trying to take away the appreciation of his work. Just cautioning the raising of the banners in his name. Like Jefferson with his slave issues, you raise everything about the person when you hoist them on high.

[Beetwasher]

17. Well, If Elvis Can Have A Stamp

:shrug:

[shimmergal]

19. His fiction was much less misogonist than

most of the science fiction writers of his era (the Futurians).

And after the advent of more women writers and main characters in the 70s and beyond, he made a real effort to write female characters into all his later work.

[KinkyDem]

22. Great author, horrible person

I used to go to Sci Fi cons a lot when I was younger.

I can recall several times hearing from female friends that he had hit on them, made really rude comments to them or put his hands on them without consent. Keep in mind ALL of these girls were between 14 and 18. This was near the end of his life.

Forgive me, but FUCK HIM. He was an ass the one time I was ever actualy in the same room with him.

Oh, and I don't much care for his writing either. Never have.

[redqueen]

25. Sad...

I guess he goes into the bin with Einstein as one who contributed much but also was an ass. (Einstein referred to his wife, whom he cheated on more than not, as an 'employee he coulnd't fire'.)

[CanuckAmok]

26. I know nithing about Einstein's personality...

...except some good quotes he made (one about being sure the only things which are infinite are the universe and stupitity, and he wasn't entirely sure about the universe), and I'm sorry to hear he was an ass.

Damn, ignorance WAS bliss.

[redqueen]

27. Shoot, we all have our failings

We're just lucky to be anonymous 'nobodies' so nobody cares about how we're screwed up. I'm sure we all have something we'd prefer nobody knew about us. Celebrities, though - everyone knows their failures. Kinda sucks but there's that balance thing. :)

[Kahuna]

14. He was my favorite author for years!

I'm down wid dat!

[WoodrowFan]

18. maybe they'll use

maybe they'll use thiotimoline on the back so the stamp will be wet before you lick it!

[CanuckAmok]

20. I like the idea of an Ayn Rand stamp, too...

Of course, the envelope has to get itself to the mailslot.

[flamingyouth]

21. Thanks for letting us know, Kef!

This is great news. I would LOVE to have an Asimov stamp. :hi:

[ironflange]

23. Which of his limericks should be on it?

I'd go for the Tyrannosaurus Rex one.

[shimmergal]

24. An impertinent suggestion.

May I suggest that anyone worried about misogynist science fiction authors (or even SF readers who aren't) try reading the work of some women science fiction writers? Try several, because in any creative field, not every artist's work will be to your taste.

LeGuin and Russ are great, and Margaret Atwood (although despite The Handmaid's Tale she isn't really a SF writer), but there are many others out there who deserve attention too. In the postings here on science fiction topics, I seem to be the only DU member who's aware of them. Surely this isn't so!