Science Fiction Favorites

By: Isaac Asimov

Narrated by: Isaac Asimov

Length: 5 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

"You may have noticed that I speak of pocket computers. The story was written in 1957 before there were any pocket computers, and now there are. So, it's a little prediction that I managed to make. Of course, the pocket computers I thought of weren't quite like the ones they have now, but that's a detail." - Isaac Asimov

More than 50 years after publishing his first story, Hugo Award-winning author Asimov remains one of the great names in science fiction. Almost single-handedly he transformed the field from the romantic and Gothic legacy of Jules Verne and Edgar Rice Burroughs into the rational, clear-minded genre that exists today. In such classics as The Foundation Quartet, Asimov captured imaginations with tight, intricate plots set in distant but believable futures. Many of his innovations, such as the Three Laws of Robotics, are now stock devices in science fiction writing and films, and his ability to tap into his extensive knowledge of science and technology gives his fiction a veracity unmatched by any other writer in the field.

This selection of some of Asimov's most enduring and unforgettable stories is read by the author himself. These vintage tales encompass the full range of Asimov's versatility, while displaying his puckish sense of humor.

©1990 Nightfall, Inc.
(P)1975 Listening Library

Hear Isaac Asimov himself!

I think this is just great--to be able to hear the works spoken aloud by the author himself. I'd never heard his voice before, and had no idea what to expect--it was a wonderful surprise. I think we're lucky to have this, since Dr. Asimov has been gone for too many years now, unfortunately. Such a loving-sounding man, somehow. You could somehow almost hear the twinkle in his eye. You can tell how much his stories mean to him, and his great pride in them is well-deserved, of course.

At any rate, for me it was great to hear the author speak aloud his stories as he meant them to be heard.

And the stories themselves were great, too. I would suggest anybody who is a fan of Isaac Asimov get this just to hear him speak--it's wonderful.

Great!

Great stories and Asimov’s narration add so much to it, and all the little stories behind the stories.
Great, highly recommended!!!

Give It a Better Cover!

The new cover is bland, generic, amateurish. This is Isaac Asimov, for crap's sake! And Random House. PLEASE GIVE THE BOOK A COVER THAT WILL SELL

A real treat having the stories read by the author

I don't understand some peoples objections to Mr Asimov's reading. He actually does a great job! And what's better than hearing the stories read the way they were intended to be.

Asimov Reads His Own Short Stories

This collection features several of Isaac Asimov's best-loved short stories along with some additional commentary by the author. The reading is crisp and sound quality is excellent.
The high points of the collection have to be "Spell My Name With An S" and "The Ugly Little Boy"; the stories clearly illustrate the author's humour and sensitivity. In particular, the conclusion of "The Ugly Little Boy" is unique in Science Fiction by being a commentary on Humanity and Motherhood; you can clearly hear the author moved to tears while reading it.

science fiction favorites

Asimov's voice is quite distinct and it is pretty funny how his says robot. I was hoping for Foundation and the trilogy but this is a few short 30-45 minute stories. It was quite interesting to hear how Asimov thought the world of computers and electronics would develop.

In all the years I've been reading Dr. Asimov...

It never occurred to me he might have narrated one of his own books. He's been gone 25 years, after all. But these are great stories and it's fun to listen to the great man read them himself.

I don't give five stars to any book unless I can't imagine NOT reading it again, and as much as I enjoyed this one, it's just not quite there (few are!). But I do highly recommend it to anyone who is new to science fiction or who will just enjoy the novelty of Dr. Asimov's stories in own voice.

good read

this story actually stories or written by Isaac Asimov and read by Isaac Asimov most of them are pretty good summer a little slow but the listing all the way around

Great book

The last part of the last story " ugly boy" was a real tear jerker. I had hoped for more old favorites but I got new ones instead.

What a perfect collection

A perfect set of stories and in the author's voice it was even better. I couldn't have asked for a better introduction to Asimov. Couldn't stop listening.