Speaker celebrates Asimov’s fiction
Speaker celebrates Asimov’s fiction
October 27, 2010
By Jake Potts
The Daily Athenaeum
Science-fiction author James Gunn lectured on the work of fellow writer Isaac Asimov in the Mountainlair Ballrooms Tuesday evening as part of the David C. Hardesty Jr. Festival of Ideas.
Gunn is an accomplished writer in the genres of novels, plays, screenplays, radio scripts and has even edited a selection of novels and has done much research on Asimov's work.
"(Asimov) was an American success story and a self-made man," Gunn said.
Gunn commented on Asimov's "great faith" in the education system and his optimistic belief in people to accomplish what they set out to do.
The introduction to the lecture was given by senior biology major Molly Simis.
Simis has been working closely with Gunn to coordinate the lecture and the Festival of Ideas.
She noted on Gunn's accomplishments in the literary world, including several awards he's received, including a Science Fiction Achievement Award (Hugo) he received in 1983.
Gunn began with a quick anecdote about Morgantown.
"It's odd for me to be in a city that's named as the same name I gave a village on Venus," Gunn said. "The only thing is that Morgantown is considered a bit more inaccessible."
Gunn spoke of Asimov's history, how he moved from candy store to candy store throughout Brooklyn and had a rough childhood that he used to his advantage.
Asimov found his start in Science Fiction writing by reading magazines that were for sale in his father's store.
"Asimov had the innate ability to read the pieces and return them to look as if they hadn't been touched," Gunn said.
Gunn got his start in the literary world at 15 when he received a typewriter from his father.
Asimov's work "Nightfall" was, according to Gunn, the piece that "established Asimov as a serious writer."
"Asimov was an expert at sounding like an expert," Gunn said.
Asimov wrote in a style of his own that was distinguished among the other writers in the Science Fiction world, Gunn said.
"Isaac wrote his scientific facts in a way that sounded like fiction and his science fiction to sound like facts," Gunn said.
Gunn focused on Asimov's dedication to his writing.
"When asked by a fellow writer which he would choose between women and writing, Asimov replied, ‘Well I can type for 12 hours a day and not get tired,'" Gunn said.
Over his lifetime, Asimov wrote 470 novels, writing roughly one book a month during his prime.
With an informative lecture by Dr. James Gunn, science fiction fans from all over the community came out for the event.
"Science fiction fans span all ages," Simis said.Science-fiction author James Gunn lectured on the work of fellow writer Isaac Asimov in the Mountainlair Ballrooms Tuesday evening as part of the David C. Hardesty Jr. Festival of Ideas.
Gunn is an accomplished writer in the genres of novels, plays, screenplays, radio scripts and has even edited a selection of novels and has done much research on Asimov's work.
"(Asimov) was an American success story and a self-made man," Gunn said.
Gunn commented on Asimov's "great faith" in the education system and his optimistic belief in people to accomplish what they set out to do.
The introduction to the lecture was given by senior biology major Molly Simis.
Simis has been working closely with Gunn to coordinate the lecture and the Festival of Ideas.
She noted on Gunn's accomplishments in the literary world, including several awards he's received, including a Science Fiction Achievement Award (Hugo) he received in 1983.
Gunn began with a quick anecdote about Morgantown.
"It's odd for me to be in a city that's named as the same name I gave a village on Venus," Gunn said. "The only thing is that Morgantown is considered a bit more inaccessible."
Gunn spoke of Asimov's history, how he moved from candy store to candy store throughout Brooklyn and had a rough childhood that he used to his advantage.
Asimov found his start in Science Fiction writing by reading magazines that were for sale in his father's store.
"Asimov had the innate ability to read the pieces and return them to look as if they hadn't been touched," Gunn said.
Gunn got his start in the literary world at 15 when he received a typewriter from his father.
Asimov's work "Nightfall" was, according to Gunn, the piece that "established Asimov as a serious writer."
"Asimov was an expert at sounding like an expert," Gunn said.
Asimov wrote in a style of his own that was distinguished among the other writers in the Science Fiction world, Gunn said.
"Isaac wrote his scientific facts in a way that sounded like fiction and his science fiction to sound like facts," Gunn said.
Gunn focused on Asimov's dedication to his writing.
"When asked by a fellow writer which he would choose between women and writing, Asimov replied, ‘Well I can type for 12 hours a day and not get tired,'" Gunn said.
Over his lifetime, Asimov wrote 470 novels, writing roughly one book a month during his prime.
With an informative lecture by Dr. James Gunn, science fiction fans from all over the community came out for the event.
"Science fiction fans span all ages," Simis said.
Votes:20
Comments: 0