Isaac Asimov, the veteran science populariser and writer of science
fiction, has died in New York, aged 72. Asimov, whose phenomenal literary
output totalled more than 400 books, began writing fiction for the American
鈥榩ulp鈥� magazines in the 1930s. Later, after completing doctoral work in
biochemistry, he turned from science fiction to science fact.
Despite being the most influential science writer in the world, Asimov
is best known for his fiction, particularly his 鈥楩oundation鈥� novels, written
during the 1950s, and his novels about 鈥榩ositronic robots鈥�. His 鈥榯hree laws
of robotics鈥� became enshrined in the canon of science fiction.
Asimov was recognised as one of the three giants of the 鈥榞olden age鈥�
of science fiction. After the recent death of Robert Heinlein, only Arthur
C. Clarke, the author of 2001: A Space Odyssey, still survives.
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