h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

By popular request, I'm set on finishing my entry on author Isaac Asimov next. I've just gone through my copy of his last autobiography for some helpful details. I remember now why I like him so much.

I still have some research to do. I would like to find additional Asimov quotations, need to add more information about his best known characters, must craft a decent description of his 'Empire' series of books, and want to find out more about the upcoming movie: I, Robot.

I have my work cut out for me!

When the research is done, I'll need to do a lot of rephrasing and reorganizing. I'm unfortunately trying to piece together several different biographical timelines. It seems that when people write about his work, they tend to neglect his personal life and vice versa. And a great deal of information was known only by the author himself, who preferred to cover one topic at a time regardless of the timeline.

It may take me a month or more to complete my work. Any advice, information, or criticism is welcome until then. Ta!

Hi Fragilis,

Once again, I believe you will find that you bit off enough that you will be a long time chewing. You are braver and more work-intensive than I. Perhaps I'll try something simple, like melding the timelines of the Bible and the Koran and translating the result into hootoo speak?

On the more helpful side:
I'd been an Asimov fan since I was first introduced to his 'Nightfall' anthology while in high school. He was the first-cause of my becoming a voracious reader. Two characters come to mind as favorites of mine, partly because he spent so much time including them into their series': Lucky Starr (very early, and not his best works, but a lovable space-hero type) and Henry (the Holmesian waiter of the 'Black Widowers' mystery series that solved old and cold cases without ever leaving his restaurant).

He also had a great, pre-Henry Science fiction version, who was his stay-at-home detective of the sci-fi genre. The character (whose name escapes me; Wendell Urth(?)) was the problem-solver of mysteries like 'The Singing Bell'.

Good Luck, oh ye researcher of great resolve,

I jave a brief mention of Henry that would be a bit improved by an actual description of him. I haven't put in Henry from the Lucky Starr series. I actually haven't read them, and don't remember anyone specifically mentioning him to me before.

My apologies, if I was not clear. Lucky Starr was the 'star' of the Lucky Starr series. Henry was only a character from the 'Black Widowers' Mysteries.

Lucky Starr also had a space-mechanic sidekick who was memorable. He was either Irish or Scottish, if memory serves.

Doh! I knew that Henry and Lucky Starr were different people. I just slipped there.

So,... How's it coming?

I'm just now working my way out of an extreme stress zone that had me fairly well zonkered. It looks like I'll be back at this in another couple of weeks, once I've caught back up on the other more pressing things that I should have been doing lately.

No pressures, no worries. Just wondering how you felt you were progressing.

Life just sorta gets in the way, sometimes; don't it.

This is a no zonkering zone.

Linkity link link

http://www.irobotnow.com/index.php

http://mp3content02.bcst.yahoo.com/proot3/PubShare11/yahoomovies/1/5843691.mov

For stuff about I, Robot, cinema version. Though I see it was back in January that you were wanting to find out more, but with my h2g2 habits, that is recent.

Thanks for the links. I'm sure that movie will finish downloading eventually...