National Science Fiction Day

National Science Fiction Day Is January 2, Isaac Asimov’s Birthday

Isaac Asimov was born January 2, 1920–officially, that is. Unofficially, of course, is another matter. He was born in Russia, and I imagine that in those turbulent times people were more concerned about living to see another day than recording the exact day a baby joined the living. However, when the Asimovs arrived in America in 1923, little Isaac’s date of birth had to be declared. It was probably January 2, but who could be sure? What better day to select, the Asimovs may have thought, than the day after the New Year is celebrated? As the year begins, so does our son’s life. During his lifetime, Asimov received numerous degrees, awards, and other emblems of distinction. I bet that one of his favorite modes of recognition, though, was having his official birthday function as National Science Fiction Day. Of course, Isaac did more than scientifically imagine and create works of science fiction. He wrote between 400 and 500 works of fact, fiction, criticism, religion, and everything in between. (Even Asimov lost count.) Nevertheless, the architects of National Science Fiction Day knew what they were doing. Asimov may have been a PhD chemist, professor, and a member of Mensa (R), but envisioning the future seemed to fire up his imagination more than science, teaching, and interactions with geniuses. He must have been proud of his scientifically fictitious images of space and robots–which sometimes turned out to be more truth than fiction.


Have you read any of Asimov’s novels, short stories, or works of non-fiction? Have you read any works of science fiction? If not, then–whether it’s Asimov or not–do it today! You truly don’t know the wonderful worlds you are missing. Are you already a sci-fi aficionado or an Asimov lover? That’s all the more reason for you to honor the day that does the Great One honor! What else are you going to do the day after New Year’s? Keep the celebration going with Science Fiction Day!

by Anne Verville

List of Science Fiction books to read -

Recommended for Grades 1-3
	Astro bunnies by Christine Loomis
	Captain Pajamas by Bruce Whatley
	Commander Toad and the space pirates by Jane Yolen
	Cosmo and the robot by J. Brian Pinkney
	The dragon of doom (Moongobble and me) by Bruce Coville
	Fire dreams (Magic elements) by Mallory Loehr
	Minnie and Moo save the earth by Denys Cazet
	Mission Ziffoid by Michael Rosen
	Mush, a dog from space by Daniel Pinkwater
	My son, the time traveler (The Zack files) by Dan Grenburg
	Rocket rescue by Nicola Baxter
	Space case by Edward Marshall
	Space dog Jack and the haunted spaceship by Susan Schade
	Space dog the hero by Natalie Standiford
	They came from center field by Dan Gutman
	Tut, tut (Time Warp Trio) by Jon Scieszka
Recommended for Grades 4-6
	Billy Clickk: creatch battler by Mark Crilley
	Brainboy and the Death master by Tor Seidler
	The green book by Jill Paton Walsh
	I left my sneakers in dimension X by Bruce Coville
	Lost in cyberspace by Richard Peck
	My life among the aliens by Gail Gauthier
	The mystery machine by Herbie Brennan
	The nose from Jupiter by Richard Scrimger
	Shape-changer by Bill Brittain
	Stinker from space by Pamela F. Service
	The timespinners by Lili Gray
	Tom's midnight garden by Philippa Pearce
	Tria and the great star rescue by Rebecca Kraft Rector
	The virtual war by Gloria Skurzynski
	Who goes home? by Sylvia Waugh
Recommended for Grades 6-8
	Alien game by Catherine Dexter
	Alien secrets by Annetter Curtis Klause
	The city of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
	Downsiders by Neil Shusterman
	Enchantress from the stars by Sylvia Lousie Engdahl
	Ender's game by Orson Scott Card
	Eva by Peter Dickinson
	Flip by David Lubar
	Heir apparent by Vivian Vande Velde
	The house of the scorpion by Nancy Farmer
	Invitation to the game by Monica Hughes
	Marco's Millions by William Sleator
	Seven science fiction novels by H. G. Wells
	Switching well by Peni R. Griffin
	Tunnel in the sky by Robert A. Heinlein
	When the Tripods came by John Christopher