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Isaac Asimovs Fan Mail to YoungCarl Saganby Maria Popova

You are my idea of a good writer because you have anunmannered style, and when I read what you write, I hearyou talking.

Carl Sagan and Isaac Asimov first met in the

1960s. I visualized him as an elderly person (the

stereotype of the astronomer at his telescope,)

Asimov recounted in his autobiography, but

what I found him to be was a twenty-seven-year-

old, handsome young man; tall, dark, articulate,

and absolutely incredibly intelligent. The two

went on to be good friends for more than 25

years as Asimovs first impression was not only

confirmed but amplified.

From the altogether fantastic Yours, IsaacAsimov: A Lifetime in Letters (public library),edited by Asimovs younger brother Stanley,

come a few short and infinitely delightful letters Asimov wrote to and about

Sagan over the course of their friendship, brimming with equal parts good-

natured humor and overwhelming respect.

Theres so much to love in this note Asimov sent to another friend on March 22,

1966:

Sagan has read half through my book on the universe andhas caught one fundamental error so far. In my rendering ofEddingtons theories on stellar structure, I talked of radiationpressure. Apparently, I didnt have to. Fortunately, it justmeans correcting a sentence here and there.

But thats what I need Sagan for. Anything he doesnt catchisnt there to be caught. If only he were a little faster about it.I said to him I realized he was awfully busy, too, but then Iadded with my particular brand of ingenuousness, But then,what is your work compared to mine?

And he said, You say it in such a way that I can take it as ajoke. But you really mean it, dont you?

So I made the best of it. I said, Yes, I do.

A very smart fellow, that Sagan.

Jest aside, however, Asimov held profound admiration and respect for Sagan

but never revealed it in the raw, uncushioned by that same particular brand of

ingenuousness. On December 13, 1973, he sent Sagan a short note of

appreciation, with the appropriate twist of affable irreverence:

I have just finished The Cosmic Connection and loved everyword of it. You are my idea of a good writer because you havean unmannered style, and when I read what you write, I hearyou talking.

One thing about the book made me nervous. It was entirelytoo obvious that you are smarter than I am. I hate that.

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Asimov and Sagan at a banquet celebrating the 20th anniversary of Mariner 2,December 14, 1982

On June 15, 1985, Asimov sent another admiring note:

I just heard your talk on nuclear winter on PublicBroadcasting. I am so proud of you, I almost burst with it. Itwas absolutely the sanest best speech I could imagine on thesubject. It delighted me so much to find that I was on yourside in every sentence of your talk.

But most heart-warming of all is this short limerick Asimov sent on the occasion

of Carl Sagans marriage to Anne Druyan, one of the most epic love stories of

modern history, in 1980:

Three loud cheers for Carl Sagan and AnnWho today have become woman and man.Be your lives bright as dayAs the broad Milky WayAs the Big Bang with which all began.

One final note on the affectionate faux-rivalry between the two appears in a

letter Asimov sent to another friend on March 15, 1986:

Half a year ago, Carl Sagan published Contact and thatknocked half the sales off Robots and Empire. (These days,who can afford to buy two hard-covers?)

Yours, Isaac Asimov: A Lifetime in Letters is full of many more such gems fromAsimovs singular mind and heart. Complement it with Asimov on curiosity,

risk-taking and the value of space exploration in this magnificent interview by

the Muppets and Carl Sagan on the meaning of life.

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