Isaac Asimov

In the seventies Asimov was the writer that all Spanish publishers wanted to publish, or so it seemed. Bruguera, Plaza & Janes, Alianza Editorial, Vertex, Edhasa ... Bruguera was the one who took the cat to water, at least in regard to his work of science fiction, closely followed, surely, for Alliance, not took to specialize in their popular books.

Thus, during that decade, Asimov was an author who seemed to be everywhere in the Spanish libraries. And in the eighties, this trend appeared to decrease. It was the science fiction writer who published that publishers do not even have the slightest interest in publishing science fiction. And it was the science fiction writer known even by readers who did not have the slightest interest in reading science fiction.

For over twenty years in Spain Asimov was synonymous with science fiction. Insurance genre fans who saw him otherwise (although I think a bit, how many were started in science fiction by Asimov's work in the sixties, seventies and much of the eighties?), But in the wide world that lies beyond the fandom, things were otherwise. If a layman in case you'd say science fiction, had a good chance that their reaction was "Isaac Asimov" or, if it was a little more to the parrot, "Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke. "

Time passed and soon the situation to reverse. Reversal that began in the mid-eighties and that helped, no doubt, questionable quality and little to Asimov's novels published from those years.

And, as the Spanish tend to be creatures of extremes, Asimov did not take long to go from being the author of science fiction, the man who by his mere presence defined the genre, a literary void whose importance for the development of CF had been all but irrelevant. And that was not enough. No it was not enough, there was also that hate him, as if we had done something personal.

Because the arguments that were used to revile Asimov ranging from the purely literary (which would make sense, no doubt) to direct pilgrims. Refute its importance as a writer focusing on his shortcomings as a writer was a defensible and arguable position, but deny the bread and salt with the reasoning that the "preponderance public" to call it had somehow obscured the authors really relevant was so stupid and pointless. As if Asimov was responsible for the publishers (and we also assume that readers, because I can not believe that an employer will pull twenty years selling a product that the public not to buy) publish it again and again, or more popular beyond gender would be the product of a conspiracy on his part to any others.

If the editors considered a safe bet to Asimov and preferred to publish it to him rather than try his luck with others ... Asimov's fault was it? Need I really ask that question?

I confess that right now I'm not sure what Asimov status among fans of the genre. If we had a minimally logical behavior would have reached the place he really belongs: a figure of undeniable historical value for understanding the evolution of science fiction and a competent writer with interesting work and a remarkable milestone. Neither giant that some worship or the nullity others wanted to see, anyway.

Although I suspect that we have a minimally logical behavior and Spanish fans continue to oscillate between these two foci, adoration and contempt.

Fan, finally, after all, comes from fanatic, do not forget. In fact, for many years there has been a few people with some intellectual relevance-favorite of fans, who have insisted that we should forget.

As never insisted, however, was the obvious fact that so many fans among the sector more nerdy of science fiction fans as the most gafapasta. But that is another story, I fear, and I'm not even sure it told another time.

EDIT: My memory has played tricks. Tyrann was not the title of The Stars, Like Dust in any of its editions in Castilian. It was like Horace L. Gold decided to title when the serialized in Galaxy magazine. I corrected that detail in the body of the article (while leaving the original text crossed out, for that loyalty) and take this note to explain why editing.

The work of Asimov's science fiction has long been published in our country, certainly since the late fifties of last century. Throughout this period has passed, of course, for a number of different publishers.

The consequence is that the titles of their books (and also of their stories) have varied over time and sometimes it is easy to muster a mess and not be clear if this novel has appeared as "X" is actually "Y" or it is quite another.

One of the most emblematic novels of Asimov's The Caves of Steel. The first issue that I have news in Castilian was translated under the title of The Caves of Steel. It's a Mexican edition (publisher Tlacoquemecatl) and quite close in time to the original publication in English, specifically 1955.

In Spain appear first editions labor summit with "glorious" translation of F. Sesena, the same as Marvel comics translated by the same publisher and head of the most colorful battle oath of Captain America: this "and a ham with frills!" That launched him into the face of a supervillain when he asked her to surrender.

Be entitled Troglodytes of tomorrow and remember that, when it fell into my hands (have been about ten years) expected a prodigious cave filled with sticks and stones in the midst of fierce fighting ruined cities in the distant future. What I found, of course, had nothing to do.

Martínez Roca reeditaría in the eighties as Caves of Steel, regaining the title of the Mexican edition, and the same would Bibliópolis with editing, thus becoming almost "official" translation of the original title.

The only issue it tried to maintain something close to the English title was made by Ballantine Books, the novel appeared as The Caves of Steel, but the title and in brackets could read The caves of steel.

A Guijaradó in the sky could be read in Castilian for the first time as Earth vs. the Galaxy. What, again, promised a fast-paced war story that does not appear anywhere within the book covers. The following issues in Castilian, however (Martínez Roca, and Bibliópolis Readers Circle) have respected the original title.

The Stars, Like Dust has also appeared under different titles. Since starring in the sand to powder Martínez Roca Bibliópolis stars. And I could swear (but I speak from hearsay and I can not say) that there was a Castilian edition under the title of Tyrann strong.

And while we're talking science fiction, I can not resist commenting on Murder in the Convention. The original title of this novel is Murder at the ABA, where the ABA is an American Booksellers Association. When Asimov, who appears as a character in his novel, ask him what he doing, he replied that it was sent to his publishers to write a novel which he has only been given the title: Murder at the ABA. Why would the translator to translate the title of the novel and tell him that his publishers Asimov had been sent to write a novel called Murder in the Convention? No, far better to let the English title and, in a footnote on page, explain that this is the novel that the reader is reading.

There are many ways to load a joke, but it borders on the sublime, no doubt.

In January 1949 appears "The race of the Red Queen" in Astounding, a story that, if the data does not fail me, is Asimov's first foray into the issue of time travel.

True, he had written about other things before, but never published (as "Cosmic Corkscrew," the first story that Campbell tried to sell) and eventually lost. In "The race of the Red Queen" Asimov plays to raise a temporal paradox (someone sends texts of modern physics to classical Greece, hoping to alter history) and then resolve it.

It's a solid story, with a brilliant idea (that "running to stay in the same place" that is implicit in the title and that is an obvious reference to Lewis Carroll's characters) and well resolved. We are not facing tours de force as "All of you zombies" or "By their own means" by Robert A. Heinlein (probably two of the best stories ever written about time travel), but not a bad story at all, and also shows how much Asimov has improved over the years.

It is narrated in first person, something quite rare throughout his career, and in a tone somewhat ironic, sometimes near the narrator characterizes the black American novel, which is doing very well to the story. It is a landmark (as may have been "Dusk" at the time) but it is a good example of the strength that is reaching as narrator.

In May we find in the same magazine "Mother Earth", a short novel in which the most interesting (beyond the anecdote told) is the scenario that poses: an Earth technologically backward, overpopulated and economic disadvantage and technological what were once its former colonies. It is the first time (beyond isolated strokes) that Asimov was plunged into social speculation, development and analysis of different human societies. Although this narrative space has time for little more than introduce the situation, the idea will not fall on deaf ears. And indeed, this setting will resume later in his novel The Caves of Steel.

And finally, between November and December, he published "... And now you do not", which will long remain the past history of the Foundation. For Asimov is certainly the end of the cycle of stories and expressed several times over the years that he has no intention of going back on that stage. It stand for about thirty years to return to the Foundation and, when it does, it will be very curious consequences. But we'll talk about that in due course.

Meanwhile, what gives us this last story?

On the one hand, and I am afraid, one of the most heinous of Asimov, that Arkady Darell, which is the pivot around which revolves the story and deserves to be included in total merit as a prominent member of that whole bunch of children repellents and unbearable that people occasionally true adventure film.

Fortunately, history is saved for other reasons. In a similar way to how it did in "The Mule", the incident of alleged fleeing Arkady and awesome Second Foundation is actually a smokescreen that we are not aware of everything that is happening between racks. And what is happening is a game of mirrors, deceptions and recontraengaños which is among the best moments of Asimov's narrative as the author of mystery.

From the chapter entitled "I know ..." where each character tries to give his solution to the mystery (that continues in "satisfactory" and ends with "true solution"), the story does not give rest to the reader. If you commented that "Now You See It ..." was that of his literary matriushka, here is the tendency to Asimov limits.

Every proposed solution to the mystery that is the backbone the story ("Where is the Second Foundation and who compose it?") Is fully consistent with the data you have the drive and the ability to Asimov is the way in which the emotional temperature rises Measure and poses while these solutions, making each one we look a bit more "right" and authentic than the previous one and, incidentally, metiéndonos in a kind of carousel where almost waiting impatiently for the following explanation, the next round. When it comes to the penultimate solving the mystery, making the reader almost as good once, as is certainly the one that best explains all that has happened ...

Until we reach the last chapter ("The real solution, as we said) where we are given a final twist and the truth is finally revealed (and explained to perfection) with a few final words.

Asimov seems here a magician, concealing the mystery right in front of our noses, then reveals on (by way of convincing us that it is that the real solution ... until we read the following) and the final drawing back the veil and showing us the truth at the last moment . When finished, one almost feels tempted to clap or yell "Bravo!" And, of course, by then, the reader has given up on the tricks of the magician.

Tricks, however, does not imply any trap. Asimov was not anything out of the manga that was not there previously. The reader itself can provide the real solution to the mystery if smart enough, because the author has played all the time according to the rules, and if the majority does not is only by the skill with which manages to focus our attention on another side throughout the process.

Those who accuse of being a writer Asimov trashy, scarce resources and lack of subtlety should review the end of the story to notice something as obvious as the fact that a bad writer would be unable to do all those passes hands in front our eyes the way it does.

It is true that Asimov's narrative resources are limited, no doubt his versatility as a writer is low and does not doubt that the literary techniques he uses are few and almost always the same. But the fact remains that such techniques, when you want, you know use a masterly way.

REFERENCES:

• "The Carrrera of the Red Queen" (The Red Queen's Race). In Astounding Science-Fiction, January 1949. Most recent Spanish edition: Tales compete II (Ediciones B, 1993).
• "Mother Earth" (Mother Earth). In Astounding Science-Fiction, May 1949. Most recent Spanish edition: The Golden Age III (Plaza & Janes, 1988).
• "... And now you do not" (... And Now You Do not). In Astounding Science-Fiction, November and December 1949. Most recent Spanish edition (like "The search of the Foundation): Second Foundation (The Factory of Ideas, 2008).

1950:

• A pebble in the sky (Pebble in the Sky). Doubleday, 1950. Most recent Spanish edition: Empire Trilogy (Bibliópolis, 2007).

1951:

• Stardust (The Stars, Like Dust). Doubleday, 1951. Most recent Spanish edition: Empire Trilogy (Bibliópolis, 2007).

1952:

• David Starr: Space Ranger (David Starr: Space Ranger). Doubleday, 1952. Most recent Spanish edition: B, 1992.
• The currents of space (Currents of Space). Doubleday, 1952. Most recent Spanish edition: Empire Trilogy (Bibliópolis, 2007).

1953:

• Lucky Starr and the pirates of the asteroids (Lucky Starr and the Pirates from the Asteroids). Doubleday, 1953. Most recent Spanish edition: B, 1992.

1954:

• Lucky Starr and the Oceans of Venus (Lucky Starr and the Oceans of Venus). Doubleday, 1954. Most recent Spanish edition: B, 1992.
• Caves of Steel (The Caves of Steel), Doubleday, 1954. Most recent Spanish edition: Debolsillo, 2004.

1955:

• The End of Eternity (The End of Eternity). Doubleday, 1955. Most recent Spanish edition: La Factoria de Ideas, 2007.

1956:

• Lucky Starr and the big sun of Mercury (Lucky Starr and the Big Sun of Mercury). Doubleday, 1956. Most recent Spanish edition: B, 1992.

1957:

• Lucky Starr and the moons of Jupiter (Lucky Starr and the Moons of Jupiter). Doubleday, 1957. Most recent Spanish edition: B, 1992.
• The Naked Sun (The naked sun). Doubleday, 1957. Most recent Spanish edition: Debolsillo, 2005.

1958:

• Lucky Starr and the Rings of Saturn (Lucky Starr and the Rings of Saturn). Doubleday, 1958. Most recent Spanish edition: B, 1992.

1966:

• Fantastic Voyage (Fantastic Voyage). Bantam, 1966. Most recent Spanish edition: Plaza & Janes, 1999.

1972:

• The Gods Themselves (The Gods Themselves.) Doubleday, 1972. Most recent Spanish edition: La Factoria de Ideas, 2007.

1982:

• The Foundation's Edge (Foundation's Edge). Doubleday, 1982. Most recent Spanish edition: Debolsillo, 2003.

1983:

• The Robots of Dawn (The Robots of Dawn). Doubleday, 1983. Most recent Spanish edition: Debolsillo, 2003.

1985:

• Robots and Empire (Robots and Empire). Doubleday, 1985. Most recent Spanish edition: Debolsillo, 2003.

1986:

• Foundation and Earth (Foundation and Earth). Doubleday, 1986. Most recent Spanish edition: Debolsillo, 2003.

1987:

• Fantastic Voyage II: Destination brain (Fantastic Voyage II: Destination Brain). Doubleday, 1987. Most recent Spanish edition: Debolsillo, 2003.

1988:

• Prelude to Foundation (Prelude to Foundation). Doubleday, 1988. Most recent Spanish edition: La Factoria de Ideas, 2009.

1989:

• Nemesis (Nemesis). Doubleday, 1989. Most recent Spanish edition: Debolsillo, 2003.

1993:

• Forward the Foundation (Forward the Foundation). Doubleday, 1993. Most recent Spanish edition: Debolsillo, 2003.

1950:

• I, Robot (I, Robot). Gnome Press, 1950. Most recent Spanish edition: Edhasa, 2007.

1951:

• Foundation (Foundation). Gnome Press, 1951. Most recent Spanish edition: The Ideas Factory, 2007.

1952:

• Foundation and Empire (Foundation and Empire). Gnome Press, 1952. Most recent Spanish edition: The Ideas Factory, 2008.

1953:

• Second Foundation (Second Foundation). Gnome Press, 1953. Most recent Spanish edition: The Ideas Factory, 2008.

1955:

• In the Mars (The Martian Way and Other Stories). Doubleday, 1955. Most recent Spanish edition: Martínez Roca, 1990.

1957:

• It is enough to Earth (Earth is room enough). Doubleday, 1957. Most recent Spanish edition: Martínez Roca, 1991.

1959:

• Future Nine (Nine Tomorrows). Doubleday, 1959. Most recent Spanish edition: Martínez Roca, 1985.

1964:

• The rest of the robots (Rest of the Robots). Doubleday, 1964. Most recent Spanish edition: Picazo, 1980?

1968:

• I'm in Marsport without Hilda (Asimov's Mysteries). Doubleday, 1968. Most recent Spanish edition: Alianza, 1972.

1969:

• Dusk, The eyes do something else to do, Fourth Generation (Nightfall and Other Stories). Doubleday, 1969. Most recent Spanish edition: Caralt, 1977.

1975:

• Buy Jupiter (Buy Jupiter and Other Stories). Doubleday, 1975. Most recent Spanish edition: Plaza & Janes, 1998.

1976:

• The Bicentennial Man (Bicentennial Man). Doubleday, 1976. Most recent Spanish edition: Martínez Roca, 1978.

1982:

• The complete robot (The Complete Robot). Doubleday, 1982. Most recent Spanish edition: Alamut, 2008.

1983:

• The winds of change (The Winds of Change). Doubleday, 1983. Most recent Spanish edition: Martínez Roca, 1984.

1986:

• Parallel stories (The Alternate Asimovs). Doubleday, 1986. Most recent Spanish edition: Martínez Roca, 1987.
• Robot Dreams (Robot Dreams). Doubleday, 1986. Most recent Spanish edition: Debolsillo, 2004.

1990:

• Visions of robot (Robot visions). Doubleday, 1990. Most recent Spanish edition: Debolsillo, 2004.
• Cuentos completos (The Complete Stories, Vol 1). Doubleday, 1990. Most recent Spanish edition: B, 1992.

1992:

• Cuentos completos II (The Complete Stories, Vol 2): Doubleday, 1992. Most recent Spanish edition: B, 1992.

1939:

• "Isolated Vesta" (Marooned off Vesta). In Amazing Stories, March 1939. Most recent Spanish edition: Chronicles (Plaza & Janes, 1992).
• "The weapon too terrible to be used" (The Weapon Too Dreadful to Use). In Amazing Stories, May 1939. Most recent Spanish edition: The Golden Age I (Plaza & Janes, 1988).
• "Public Opinion" (Trends). In Astounding Stories, July 1939. Most recent Spanish edition: The Golden Age I (Plaza & Janes, 1988).

1940:

• "Mestizos" (Half-Breed). In Astonishing Stories, February 1940. Most recent Spanish edition: The Golden Age I (Plaza & Janes, 1988).
• "A ring around the sun" (Ring Around the Sun). At Future Fiction, March 1940. Most recent Spanish edition: The Golden Age I (Plaza & Janes, 1988).
• "The threat of Callisto" (The Callista Menace). In Astonishing Stories, April 1940. Most recent Spanish edition: The Golden Age I (Plaza & Janes, 1988).
• "The magnificent possession" (The Magnificent Possession). In Future Fiction, April 1940. Most recent Spanish edition: The Golden Age I (Plaza & Janes, 1988).
• "Homo Sun" (Homo Sol). In Astounding Science-Fiction, September 1940. Most recent Spanish edition: The Golden Age I (Plaza & Janes, 1988).
• "Robbie" (Robbie). In Super Science Stories, September 1940. Most recent Spanish edition: The complete robot (Alamut, 2008).
• "Mestizos on Venus" (Half-Breeds on Venus). In Astonishing Stories, December 1940. Most recent Spanish edition: The Golden Age I (Plaza & Janes, 1988).

1941:

• "History" (History). In Super Science Stories, March 1941. Most recent Spanish edition: The Golden Age I (Plaza & Janes, 1988).
• "The secret meaning" (The Secret Sense). In Cosmic Stories, March 1941. Most recent Spanish edition: The Golden Age I (Plaza & Janes, 1988).
• "Reason" (Reason). In Astounding Science-Fiction, April 1941. Most recent Spanish edition: The complete robot (Alamut, 2008).
• "Heritage" (Heredity). In Astonishing Stories, April 194. Most recent Spanish edition: The Golden Age I (Plaza & Janes, 1988).
• "Liar!" (Liar!). In Astounding Science-Fiction, May 1941. Most recent Spanish edition: The complete robot (Alamut, 2008).
• "Nightfall" (Nightfall). In Astounding Science-Fiction, September 1941. Most recent Spanish edition: Cuentos completos (B 1992).
• "Super Neutron" (Super Neutron). In Astonishign Stories, September 1941. Most recent Spanish edition: The Golden Age I (Plaza & Janes, 1988).
• "Not as definitive" (Not Final!). In Astounding Science-Fiction, October 1941. Most recent Spanish edition: Cuentos completos II (B, 1993).
• "Nightfall" (Nightfall). In Astounding Science-Fiction, September 1941. Most recent Spanish edition: Cuentos completos (B, 1992)

1942:

• "Christmas on Ganymede" (Christmas on Ganymede). In Startling Stories, January 1942. Most recent Spanish edition: The Golden Age II (Plaza & Janes, 1988).
• "Robot AL-76 goes astray" (Robot AL-76 Goes Astray). In Amazing Stories, February 1942. Most recent Spanish edition: The complete robot (Alamut, 2008).
• "Vicious Circle" (Runaround). In Astounding Science-Fiction, March 1942. Most recent Spanish edition: The complete robot (Alamut, 2008).
• "Cronogato (Timepussy). In Astounding Science-Fiction, April 1942 (under the pseudonym of George E. Dale). Most recent Spanish edition: The Golden Age III (Plaza y & Janes, 1988).
• "Foundation" (Foundation). In Astounding Science-Fiction, May 1942. Most recent Spanish edition (like "The encyclopedic"): Foundation (The Factory of Ideas, 2007).
• "The Gun" (The Weapon). In Super Science Stories, May 1942. Unpublished in Castilian.
• "Black friar of the flame" (Black Friar of the Flame). In Planet Stories, Spring 1942. Most recent Spanish edition: The Golden Age I (Plaza & Janes, 1988).
• "Bridle and Saddle (Bridle and Saddle). In Astounding Science-Fiction, June 1942. Most recent Spanish edition (as "Mayors"): Foundation (The Factory of Ideas, 2007).
• "Victoria accidental" (Victory Unintentional). In Super Science Stories, August 1942. Most recent Spanish edition: The complete robot (Alamut, 2008).
• "The Hazing" (The Hazing). In Thrilling Wonder Stories, October 1942. Most recent Spanish edition: Complete Tales II (B, 1993).
• "The imaginary number" (The Imaginary). In Super Science Stories, November 1942. Most recent Spanish edition: The Golden Age II (Plaza & Janes, 1988).

1943:

• "Death Sentence" (Death Sentence). In Astounding Science Fiction, November 1943. Most recent Spanish edition: The Golden Age I (Plaza & Janes, 1988).

1944:

• "Catch that Rabbit" (Catch That Rabbit). In Astounding Science Fiction, February 1944. Most recent Spanish edition: The complete robot (Alamut, 2008).
• "The big and small" (The Big and the Little). In Astounding Science Fiction, August 1944. Most recent Spanish edition (like "The merchant princes"): Foundation (The Factory of Ideas, 2007).
• "The Wedge" (The Wedge). In Astounding Science Fiction, October 1944. Most recent Spanish edition (as "Merchants"): Foundation (The Factory of Ideas, 2007).

1945:

• "Dead Reckoning" (Blind Alley). In Astounding Science Fiction, March 1945. Most recent Spanish edition: The Golden Age II (Plaza & Janes, 1988).
• "The dead hand" (Dead Hand). In Astounding Science Fiction, April 1945. Most recent Spanish edition (as "General"): Foundation and Empire (The Factory of Ideas, 2008).
• "Escape" (Scape!). In Astounding Science Fiction, August 1945. Most recent Spanish edition: The complete robot (Alamut, 2008).
• "The Mule" (The Mule). In Astounding Science Fiction, November and December 1945. Most recent Spanish edition: Foundation and Empire (The Factory of Ideas, 2008).

1946:

• "Circumstantial Evidence" (Evidence). In Astounding Science-Fiction, September 1946. Most recent Spanish edition: The complete robot (Alamut, 2008).

1947:

• "Little Lost Robot" (Little Lost Robot). In Astounding Science-Fiction, March 1947. Most recent Spanish edition: The complete robot (Alamut, 2008).

1948:

• "Now You See It ... (Now You See ....) In Astounding Science-Fiction, January 1948. Most recent Spanish edition (such as "The Mule starts the search"): Second Foundation (The Factory of Ideas, 2008).
• "The properties of the thiotimoline endocrónicas resublimada" (The Properties of Resublimated thiotimoline Endochronic). In Astounding Science-Fiction, March 1948. Most recent Spanish edition: The Golden Age III (Plaza & Janes, 1988).
• "Offline" (No Connection). In Astounding Science-Fiction, June 1948. Most recent Spanish edition: Chronicles (Plaza & Janes, 1992).

1949:

• "The Carrrera of the Red Queen" (The Red Queen's Race). In Astounding Science-Fiction, January 1949. Most recent Spanish edition: Tales compete II (Ediciones B, 1993).
• "Mother Earth" (Mother Earth). In Astounding Science-Fiction, May 1949. Most recent Spanish edition: The Golden Age III (Plaza & Janes, 1988).
• "... And now you do not" (... And Now You Do not). In Astounding Science-Fiction, November and December 1949. Most recent Spanish edition (like "The search of the Foundation): Second Foundation (The Factory of Ideas, 2008).

1950:

• "The man in the metro" (Little Man ont the Subway). In Fantasy Book 6, January 1950. Most recent Spanish edition: The Golden Age III (Plaza & Janes, 1988).
• "The conflict avoidable" (The Avoidable Conflict). In Astounding Science-Fiction, June 1950. Most recent Spanish edition: The complete robot (Alamut, 2008).
• "Legal Rites" (Legal Rites). In Weird Tales, September 1950. Most recent Spanish edition: The Golden Age III (Plaza & Janes, 1988).
• "Darwinian Pool Room" (Darwinian poolroom). In Galaxy Science Fiction, October 1950. Most recent Spanish edition: Buy Jupiter (Plaza & Janes, 2000).
• "The day of the hunters" (Day of the Hunters). At Future Combined with Science Fiction Stories, November 1950. Most recent Spanish edition: Complete Tales II (Ediciones B, 1993).
• "Green Spot" (Green Patches). In Galaxy Science Fiction, November 1950. Most recent Spanish edition: Complete Tales I (Ediciones B, 1992).

1951:

• "For a good cause" (In a Good Cause). In New Tales of Space and Time, Holt, 1951. Most recent Spanish edition: Cuentos completos (B 1992).
• "Satisfaction Guaranteed" (Satisfaction Guaranteed). In Amazing Stories, April 1951. Most recent Spanish edition: The complete robot (Alamut, 2008).
• "Guest" (Hostess). In Galaxy Science Fiction, May 1951. Most recent Spanish edition: Cuentos completos (B 1992).
• "Be fruitful and multiply" (Breeds There a Man ...?). In Astounding Science Fiction, June 1951. Most recent Spanish edition: Cuentos completos (B, 1992)
• "Duct C" (C-Chute). In Galaxy Science Fiction, October 1951. Most recent Spanish edition: Cuentos completos (B 1992).
• "The Shah Guido G" (Shah Guido G). In Marvel Science Fiction, November 1951. Most recent Spanish edition: Buy Jupiter (Plaza & Janes, 1998).
• "How fun" (The Fun They Had). In Boys and Girls Page, December 1951. Most recent Spanish edition: The complete robot (Alamut, 2008).

1952:

• Youth (Youth). In Space Science Fiction, May 1952. Most recent Spanish edition: They Martian (Martínez Roca, 1990).
• "Alternatives" (What if ...?). In Fantastic Story Magazine, Summer 1952. Most recent Spanish edition: Cuentos completos (B 1992).
• "In the Martian" (The Martian Way). In Galaxy Science Fiction, November 1952. Most recent Spanish edition: Cuentos completos II (B, 1992).
• "The Deep" (The Deep). In Galaxy Science Fiction, December 1952. Most recent Spanish edition: Cuentos completos II (B, 1992).

1953:

• "No one except us, the machines" (Nobody Here but ...). In a Star Science Stories, Ballantine, 1953. Most recent Spanish edition: Cuentos completos (B 1992).
• "Button, Button" (Button, Button). In Startling Stories, January 1953. Most recent Spanish edition: Buy Jupiter (Plaza & Janes, 2000).
• "The monkey's finger" (The Monkey's Finger). In Startling Stories, February 1953. Most recent Spanish edition: Cuentos completos II (B, 1992).
• "Sally" (Sally). In Fantastic Story Magazine, May-June 1953. Most recent Spanish edition: The complete robot (Alamut, 2008)
• "Flies" (Flies). In The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, June 1953. Most recent Spanish edition: Cuentos completos (B 1992).
• "Kid Stuff" (Kid Stuff). In Beyond Fantasy Fiction, September 1953. Most recent Spanish edition: Cuentos completos (B 1992).
• "Belief" (Belief). In Astounding Science Fiction, October 1953. Most recent Spanish edition: The winds of change (Martínez Roca, 1984).
• "Everest" (Everest). In Universe Science Fiction, December 1953. Most recent Spanish edition: Buy Jupiter (Plaza & Janes, 2000).
• "The Mycropsichiatric Applications of Thiotimoline" in Astounding Science Fiction, December 1953. Without Spanish edition.
• Parallel stories (The Alternate Asimovs). Doubleday, 1986. Most recent Spanish edition: Martínez Roca, 1987.

1954:

• "It's a beautiful day" (It's Such a Beautiful Day). In Star Stories Science 3, 1954. Most recent Spanish edition: Complete Tales (B, 1992).
• "Pause" (The Pause). In Time to Come: Science Fiction Stories of Tomorrow, 1954. Most recent Spanish edition: Buy Jupiter (Plaza & Janes, 1998)
• "Engañabobos" (Sucker Bait). In Astounding Science Fiction, February 1954. Most recent Spanish edition: They Martian (Martínez Roca, 1990)
• "The Immortal Bard" (The Immortal Bard). In Universe Science Fiction, May 1954. Most recent Spanish edition: Complete Tales (B, 1992).
• "I do not do" (Let's not). In Graduate Journal of Boston University, December 1954. Most recent Spanish edition: Buy Jupiter (Plaza & Janes, 1998).

1955:

• "The bell harmonious" (The Singing Bell). In The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, January 1955. Most recent Spanish edition: Cuentos completos II (B, 1992).
• "Question." In Computers and Automation, March 1955. No edition in Castilian.
• "Risk" (Risk). In Astounding Science Fiction, May 1955. Most recent Spanish edition: The complete robot (Alamut, 2008).
• "The last trumpet" (The Last Trump). In Fantastic Universe, June 1955. Most recent Spanish edition: Cuentos completos (B 1992).
• "Universal suffrage" (Franchise). As If: Worlds of Science Fiction, August 1955. Most recent Spanish edition: Cuentos completos (B 1992).
• "The talking stone" (The Talking Stone). In The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, October 1955. Most recent Spanish edition: Cuentos completos II (B, 1992).
• "Dream world" (Dreamwordl). In The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, November 1955. Most recent Spanish edition: Opus 100 (Alliance, 1983).
• "Dreaming is a private matter" (Dreaming is a Private Thing). In The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, December 1955. Most recent Spanish edition: Cuentos completos (B 1992).
• "The Portable Star". In Thrilling Wonder Stories, Winter 1955. No edition in Castilian.

1956:

• "The message." (The Message). In The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, February 1956. Most recent Spanish edition: Complete Tales (B, 1992).
• "The dead past" (The Dead Past.) In Astounding Science Fiction, April 1956. Most recent Spanish edition: Full Story (B, 1992).
• "Fire of Hell" (Hell-Fire). In Fantastic Universe, May 1956. Most recent Spanish edition: Complete Tales (B, 1992).
• "Habitat" (Living Spaces). In The Original Science Fiction Stories, May 1956. Most recent Spanish edition: Complete Tales (B, 1992).
• "What's in a name?" (What's in a name?). In Saint Detective Stories, June 1956. Latest Spanish edition: I'm in Marsport without Hilda (Alliance, 1972).
• "The night dying" (The Dying Night). In The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, July 1956. Most recent Spanish edition: Complete Tales (B, 1992).
• "Someday." (Someday). In Infinity Science Fiction, August 1956. Most recent Spanish edition: The complete robot (Alamut, 2008).
• "Pate de Foie Gras (Pate de Foie Gras). In Astounding Science Fiction, September 1956. Most recent Spanish edition: Complete Tales II (B, 1992).
• "First Law." (First Law). In Fantastic Universe, October 1956. Most recent Spanish edition: The complete robot (Alamut, 2008).
• "The water spot" (Watery Place). In Satellite Science Fiction, October 1956. Most recent Spanish edition: Complete Tales (B, 1992).
• "All explorers" (Each an Explorer). At Future Science Fiction, 1956. Most recent Spanish edition: Complete Tales II (B, 1992).
• "The Last Question" (The Last Question). In Science Fiction Quarterly, November 1956. Most recent Spanish edition: Complete Tales (B, 1992).
• "Trick-dimensional (Gimmicks Three). In The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, November 1956. Most recent Spanish edition: Complete Tales (B, 1992).
• "The funny." (Jokester). In Infinity Science Fiction, December 1956. Most recent Spanish edition: Complete Tales (B, 1992).

1957:

• "Dust mortal" (The Dust of Death). In Venture Science Fiction, January 1957. Most recent Spanish edition: I'm in Marsport without Hilda (Plaza & Janes, 1998).
• "Scab" (Strikebreaker). In The Original Science Fiction Stories, January 1957. Most recent Spanish edition: Complete Tales (B, 1992).
• "Unite" (Let's Get Together). In Infinity Science Fiction, February 1957. Most recent Spanish edition: The complete robot (Alamut, 2008).
  
• "Blank" (Blank!). In Infinity Science Fiction, June 1957. Most recent Spanish edition: Buy Jupiter (Plaza & Janes, 2000).
• "Do you mind a bee?". (Does a Bee Care?). As If: Worlds of Science Fiction, June 1957. Most recent Spanish edition: Robot Dreams (DeBolsillo, 2004).
• "The Heart of a Woman" (A Woman's Heart). In Satellite Science Fiction, June 1957. Unpublished in Castilian. Asimov is another story that always refused to reprint.
• "Profession". (Profession). In Astounding Science Fiction, July 1957. Most recent Spanish edition: Complete Tales (B, 1992).
• "A niche in time" (A Loint of Paw). In The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, August 1957. Most recent Spanish edition: Cuentos completos II (B, 1993).
• "The ideas are hard to die" (Ideas Die Hard). In Galaxy Science Fiction, October 1957. Most recent Spanish edition: The winds of change (Martínez Roca, 1984).
• "I'm in Marsport without Hilda" (I'm in Marspot Without Hilda). In Venture Science Fiction, November 1957. Most recent Spanish edition Complete Tales (B, 1992).
• "The vultures kind" (The Gentle Vultures). In Super-Science Fiction, December 1957. Most recent Spanish edition: Complete Tales (B, 1992).
• "Slave to the galleys" (Galley Slave). In Galaxy Science Fiction, December 1957. Most recent Spanish edition: The complete robot (Alamut, 2008).
• "Insert rod A into hole B". (Insert Knob A in the Hole B ". In The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, December 1957. Most recent Spanish edition: Complete Tales (B, 1992).

1958:

• "My name is spelled with an 'S'" (Spell my name with an 'S'). In Star Science Fiction, January 1958. Most recent Spanish edition: Complete Tales (B, 1992)
• "Lenny" (Lenny). In Infinity Science Fiction, January 1958. Most recent Spanish edition: The complete robot (Alamut, 2008).
• "The feeling of power." (The feeling of power). As If: Worlds of Science Fiction, February 1958. Most recent Spanish edition: Complete Tales (B, 1992).
• "Stupid asses" (Silly Asses). At Future Science Fiction, February 1958. Most recent Spanish edition: Buy Jupiter (Plaza & Janes, 2000).
• "All the world's problems" (All the troubles in the world). In Super-Science Fiction, April 1958. Most recent Spanish edition: Complete Tales (B, 1992)
• "Buy Jupiter" (Buy Jupiter). In Venture Science Fiction, May 1958. Most recent Spanish edition: Buy Jupiter (Plaza & Janes, 2000).
• "The day witch" (The up-to-date sorcerer). In The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, July 1958. Most recent Spanish edition: Complete Tales (B, 1992).
• "The ugly child" (The ugly little boy). In Galaxy Science Fiction, September 1958. Most recent Spanish edition: Complete Tales (B, 1992).

1959:

• "A Statue for Father" (A Statue for Father). In Satellite Science Fiction, February 1959. Most recent Spanish edition: Complete Tales II (B, 1992).
• "Anniversary" (Anniversary). Amazing Science Fiction, March 1959. Most recent Spanish edition: Complete Tales II (B, 1992).
• "Fourth Generation" (Unto the Forth Generation). In The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, April 1959. Most recent Spanish edition: Complete Tales (B, 1992).
• "Obituary" (Obituary). In The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, drained 1959. Most recent Spanish edition: Complete Tales II (B, 1992).
• "Rain, rain, go away" (Rain, Rain, Go Away). In Fantastic Universe, September 1959. Most recent Spanish edition: Complete Tales II (B, 1992).

1960:

• "The Pact" (The Covenant). In Fantastic Story Magazine, July 1960. Not been collected in one anthology.
• "Thiotimoline and space-age" (Tiotimiline and Space Age). In Analog Science Fact & Fiction, October 1960. Most recent Spanish edition: Chronicles (Plaza & Janes, 1992).

1961:

• "What is this thing called love?" (What Is This Thing Called Love?). In Amazing Stories, March 1961. Most recent Spanish edition: Complete Tales (B, 1992).
• "The machine that won the war" (The Machine That Won the War). In The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, October 1961. Most recent Spanish edition: Complete Tales (B, 1992).

1962:

• "My son, the physicist" (My son, the Pthysicist). In Scientific American, Februrary 1962. Most recent Spanish edition: Complete Tales (B, 1992).
• "Lus Star" (Star Ligth). In Scientific American, October 1962. Most recent Spanish edition: Complete Tales II (B, 1992).

1964:

• "Author! Author "(Author! Author!). In The Unknow Five, 1964. Most recent Spanish edition: Chronicles (Plaza & Janes, 1992).

1965:

• "The eyes do something more to do" (Eyes Do More Than See). In The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, April 1965. Most recent Spanish edition: Complete Tales (B, 1992).
• "The man who created the XXI century" (The Man Who Made the 21st Century). In Boy's Life, September 1965. It has not been included in any collection.
• "Founding Father" (Founding Father). In Galaxy Science Fiction, October 1965. Most recent Spanish edition: Complete Tales II (B, 1992).

1986:

• "The End of Eternity" (The End of Eternity). In The Alternate Asimovs, Doubleday, 1986. Most recent Spanish edition: Tales parallel (Martínez Roca, 1987).
• "Grow old with me" (Grow Old Along with Me). In The Alternate Asimovs, Doubleday, 1986. Most recent Spanish edition: Tales parallel (Martínez Roca, 1987).
• "Belief" (Belief). Unpublished original version in The Alternate Asimovs recovered, Doubleday, 1986. Most recent Spanish edition: Tales parallel (Martínez Roca, 1987).

(The stories will be updated weekly as do the rest of the blog).

• "A chronology of the universe asimoviano. Gigamesh 22 November 1999.
• "Asimov's bid for freedom: an analysis of The End of Eternity". Gigamesh 38 November 2004.
• "Trilogy of Empire: the onset of maturity." In the Empire Trilogy, Isaac Asimov. Alamut, Madrid, 2008.

Some time ago, and talking with someone who is not particularly fond of science fiction, I wondered what he was reading for those dates. I replied that many of Asimov's biographical texts, many written by himself.

- What is interesting? He asked.

"Well," was, more or less my answer. Not that the type had an exciting life: from school went to school, then to the University, married, a PhD, taught, left college, he lived what he wrote, divorced, remarried, continued writing, he died ... But somehow, I consider a fairly normal-looking life in a way that makes you interesting.

There we left. And I did not think about it until a few days.

"Somehow, someone takes a biography that, viewed from outside, may seem boring (can be fun to live, sure, but hard to watch as a spectator), writing hundreds of pages narrating the reader and makes you enjoy interests you, catch it and want to continue reading without stopping, that this does not end and follow and follow.

"In some ways, I repeat.

That's what is called being a good storyteller. I would even say that it can be called, rightly, be a storyteller first.

From then on, every time someone asks me about Asimov's literary skills, remember their biographical texts. And the answer is immediate: "A good writer? I do not know. But it was hell of a storyteller. No matter what you tell it, could make it interesting. "

The interest of Louis G. Prado Asimov's work and was evident at the time when, through Bibliópolis, republished Caves of Steel. It was perhaps an experiment, a way to check if you have had interest from Spanish readers to the work of science fiction of the Good Doctor.

And it should have because, at first and then Bibliópolis Alamut, has continued to publish the work of science fiction of Asimov. In a format also makes it very appealing to the reader: what Americans call omnibus.

Thus, the Empire Trilogy have the first three novels asimovianas. In The complete robot collected almost all his stories of robots (I stress "almost" because, after the publication of that book it Asimov who wrote a story about robots.) Finally, in the different volumes of relatively complete grouping will Asimov was compiling anthologies of his own work.

Clearly, this edition of Alamut intended to be as complete and consistent as possible, combining the individual works in a way that is relevant together in a single volume and provide the public at a price not insignificant, given the number of pages per volume we talked about. New translations and uniformity of style in the publication design makes it particularly interesting this year.

Is the issue "final" in Castilian asimoviana science fiction? Hopefully. Unfortunately this is unlikely. Not because of Alamut, I hasten to add, but difficult to achieve the rights of all material. For example, it is desirable to collect a volume Caves of Steel, The Naked Sun and "mirror image", grouping and all original material played by Elijah Baley and R. Daneel. However, if memory serves me, the rights of The Naked Sun is now in the hands of another publisher. Something similar happens with the original Foundation trilogy, in the hands of the Idea Factory who, as one would expect, has squeezed the product published in three volumes, one volume at a price Alamut could have collected these stories and no doubt would have worked well in the market. Can we see? I suspect that in the short term, no.

However, Luis G. Prado has been characterized, among other things, being able to think long term. Without wishing immediate sales success (finally, after all, Alamut is not an NGO and aims to be profitable) has focused on creating an editorial that more or less, can still see over the years.

Would not surprise me that sooner or later (will be late, probably taking into account the rights of the case) we were to meet all of Asimov's science fiction, or at least its most classical texts, all material prior to his return gender in the eighties-released in omnibus format of Alamut.

Meanwhile there are these, so far, four volumes, with its clear vocation (I would say that accomplished) to be the definitive edition of the science fiction narrative asimoviana.

An interesting, useful and I am sure, commercially profitable. Little more can you ask. Well, yes, posts to be fetish, a hardcover edition. Although, who knows, with time ...