From Russia to Literary Fame
Isaac Asimov, one of the most influential science fiction writers of the 20th century, rose from humble beginnings to reshape the literary landscape. Asimov’s vast body of work, including I, Robot and the Foundation series, helped popularize science fiction, as his writing explored complex situations related to technology, inspiring generations of scientists, engineers, and writers. His life story, marked by perseverance, intelligence, and passion for knowledge, offers a fascinating insight into the making of a genius.
Early Life in Russia
Isaac Asimov was born between October 4, 1919, and January 2, 1920, in Petrovichi, Russian SFSR. Despite the uncertainty of his birth date, he celebrated it on January 2. His parents, Anna Rachel (née Berman) and Judah Asimov, were Russian Jews. Judah, a miller’s son, prioritized education but did not strictly adhere to Orthodox Jewish customs.
Plot Points
In 1921, a severe outbreak of double pneumonia claimed the lives of 17 children in Petrovichi. Isaac Asimov, the sole survivor among them, overcame this early brush with death. He had two younger siblings: Marcia, born in 1922, and Stanley, born in 1929, who would later become a vice-president of Newsday.
Emigration to the United States
The Asimovs emigrated to the United States in 1923, arriving in New York via Liverpool. At just three years old, young Isaac began adapting to life in Brooklyn. His parents spoke both Yiddish and English, reserving Russian for private conversations. Though never fluent in Russian, Asimov quickly displayed an aptitude for language and learning. By the age of five, he had taught himself to read.
A Love of Reading and Learning
Living above a series of candy stores owned by his parents provided Isaac Asimov with an endless supply of reading material, especially science fiction comics. His love for the genre began at age nine when science fiction was evolving into a more serious, science-based form of storytelling. He frequented the Brooklyn Public Library, nurturing his passion for learning and literature.
Asimov’s academic journey began early, thanks to his mother’s strategic adjustment of his birthdate, which allowed him to enter first grade a year ahead of schedule. However, he later insisted on correcting his official date of birth to January 2. By 1928, at the age of eight, he became a naturalized US citizen.
Education and Academic Pursuits
Asimov excelled in school, graduating from Boys High School in Brooklyn at 15. He briefly attended the City College of New York before transferring to Seth Low Junior College, a branch of Columbia University designed to accommodate Jewish and Italian-American students. Initially a zoology major, Asimov switched to chemistry after his first semester because he “disapproved of dissecting an alley cat.”
When Seth Low Junior College closed in 1936, Asimov completed his Bachelor of Science at Columbia in 1939. He continued at Columbia, earning a Master of Arts in chemistry in 1941 and a Doctorate in 1948. His education was interrupted by World War II, during which he worked as a civilian chemist at the Philadelphia Navy Yard from 1942 to 1945.
Military Service and Post-War Challenges
In 1945, Asimov was drafted into the US Army. A bureaucratic mishap spared him from participating in nuclear tests at Bikini Atoll, and he was honorably discharged as a corporal in 1946. Returning to his academic pursuits, he balanced his chemistry research with a growing passion for writing.
Transition to a Writing Career
Asimov began teaching biochemistry at Boston University in 1949. By 1952, his writing income surpassed his academic salary, leading him to limit his university duties to lecturing. Despite a contentious relationship with research, he retained his title and was eventually honored with a full professorship in 1979.
His success as a writer, particularly in science fiction, overshadowed his academic work.
Reliable Thoughts
From a small village in Russia to the heights of literary fame in America, the life of Isaac Asimov reflects resilience, curiosity, and a love for learning. His early experiences, rich cultural heritage, and academic achievements laid the foundation for his prolific career as one of science fiction’s greatest minds. Through his writings, he continues to inspire readers to explore the boundaries of imagination and science.
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