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"Words are uttered, but fail to enlighten."

The Tyrannosaurus Prescription: And 100 Other Essays

Authors:

Isaac Asimov (author) and Valerie Ferenti (covers)

Language:

Original language:

Publisher:

Prometheus Books

Categories:

Anthology, astronomy and science

Publication year:

1989

ISBN:

0-87957-540-7

Pages:

323

Synopsis:

A collection of 101 essays divided into seven sections: The Future, Space, Science, SciQuest, "Foreword by Isaac Asimov", Science Fiction, and Personal.

Review:

Almost all Asimov essays are excellent and when you pick up an anthology of them you're almost bound not to be disappointed, and this book is no exception except for the section "Foreword by Isaac Asimov", which is simply a collection of forewords to various books. This isn't too bad in itself (in fact, they are all rather well-written), but I, at least, when reading positive forewords and blurbs and reviews, positively want to get the book being foreworded/blurbed/reviewed. Other than that section, I can thoroughly recommend the book. (For a taste of the book, read What Is the Universe?)

In the introduction Asimov says that the title of the eponymous essay (The Tyrannosaurus Prescription) is whimsical, but I disagree. It is actually a prescription for an ill, and it's not at all whimsical. Read the essay if you want to find out why I think so.

Has read?

Yes

Debut?

No

Images:

Back flap of The Tyrannosaurus Prescription.

Back of The Tyrannosaurus Prescription.

Front of The Tyrannosaurus Prescription.

Front flap of The Tyrannosaurus Prescription.

High-res images:

[Back flap (3.14 MB)] [Back (10.76 MB)] [Spine (1.96 MB)] [Front (9.58 MB)] [Front flap (3.52 MB)]

Table of Contents:

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Introduction

THE FUTURE

1 Our Future in Education
2 Filling the Brain Gap
3 The Global Computerized Library
4 What Computers Won't Do
5 The Future of Handicraft
6 The Future of Chemical Engineering
7 Men and Marriage

SPACE

8 The Lure of Exploration
9 Our Second World
10 All Aboard for Phobos
11 What Do We Do Next in Space?
12 Adventure in Space
13 The Distant Flights
14 The Telephone in Space
15 The Average Person as Astronaut
16 Other Intelligent Life?

SCIENCE

17 Giant Jupiter
18 Pluto, the Constant Surprise
19 A Hole in the Sky
20 Our Changing Perception of the Universe
21 What is the Universe?
22 The One-Man Revolution
23 The Fifth Force
24 Two at a Time
25 Ozone
26 The Ravages of Nature
27 The Double Discovery of Evolution
28 Master Lizard, the King
29 The Hot-Blooded Giants

SCIQUEST

30 The Absent-Minded Professor
31 Playing It Safe
32 The First Scientist
33 Tough Luck
34 To See Is Not Enough
35 The Race for Honor
36 Thoughts in Prison
37 Getting Started
38 The Moon Hoax
39 Scientific Heretics
40 Gold from the Sun
41 The Joys of the Unexpected
42 Facing the Giant
43 Scientists Are Human
44 Sometimes It Takes Time
45 Learning Science
46 Self-Correcting
47 The Knowledge of Good and Evil
48 Science and Technology
49 Missed Opportunities

"FOREWORD BY ISAAC ASIMOV"

SCIENCE FICTION

92 Science Fiction Finds its Voice
93 The Five Greats of Science Fiction
94 The Success of Science Fiction
95 Science Fiction Today
96 The Feminization of Science Fiction
97 Back Through Time

PERSONAL

98 Our Shangri-La (with Janet Asimov)
99 The Tyrannosaurus Prescription (with Janet Asimov)
100 Ellis Island and I
101 Seven Steps to Grand Master