Some say it’s the natural course of things, to one day wish the old year good riddance, and spend the next day focused on the future, thus SciFi on January 2nd. Serious fans will point out that January 2nd is the birthday of one of the greatest hard science fiction writers of all time, Isaac Asimov, writer of 380 short stories, author and editor of more than 500 books, and creator of three major SciFi series: Foundation, Galactic Empire, and the Robot Series.
Asimov was born in Petrovichi, Russia, near the Belarus border, and migrated with his family to Brooklyn, NY in 1923 when he was four years old. At five he taught himself to read English. He also taught his sister to read well enough that she started school in the second grade. His family opened a chain of candy stores that also had periodicals. He began reading science fiction magazines in the store at age nine. Asimov graduated high school at age 15, and received his BS, Masters, and Doctor of Philosophy, from Columbia University. He also had a career at Boston University teaching biochemistry. Perhaps his most significant contribution to the genre was his three laws of robotics, which have been the source of inspiration of so many stories in the last century.
First Law of Robotics: A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
Second Law of Robotics: A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
Third Law of Robotics: A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
Music Du Jour: Here’s 8 hours of SciFi film soundtracks for your pleasure.
Films Du Jour:
- Foundation
- I, Robot
- Invincible
- I.
- Star Trek: The Motion Picture
- Bicentennial Man
- Interview with Isaac Asimov
Miscellaneous:
One or two drinks were sufficient to get Asimov drunk. There is a story about the day he passed the oral examination for his Ph.D. and drank five Manhattans in celebration. His friends were carrying him back to school, trying to sober him up. He spent the entire night in bed giggling, occasionally saying “Doctor Asimov”.
Amazing stories: A wine bottle that spent a year in space.
Snacks du Jour: Your favorite cinema snack
Cocktail Du Jour – The Dirty Robot
- 5 oz Southern Comfort
- 3 oz ginger ale
- 25 oz lime juice, freshly squeezed
Combine whiskey and lime juice in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a martini glass. Add ginger ale. Garnish with a lime wheel.
Mocktail Du Jour – The Dirty Robot Mocktail
- 5 oz Ritual Zero Proof Whiskey Substitute
- 3 oz ginger ale
- 25 oz lime juice, freshly squeezed
Combine Ritual Zero Proof non-alcoholic whiskey and lime juice in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a martini glass. Add ginger ale. Garnish with a lime wheel.
Beer Du Jour
Science Fiction Funky Blonde Ale, any UFO label, or a Fair State Mirror Universe Hazy IPA
Wine Du Jour
Any Orbit label, or your favorite Sauvignon Blanc, as paired with SciFi by Tracey S Phillips
Use freshly squeezed citrus in your cocktails and mocktails when called for – It makes such a difference! Here’s a reliable and inexpensive juicer.
Celebrated too hard? Find your personal hangover fix with our bestselling Amazon book:
Hangover Remedies from Around the World.
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“I, ROBOT by ‘Issac’ Asimov. Digit 1958, 158 pages.” by Jim Linwood is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
