Comments on: The Last Question

By: MikeMagwire

MikeMagwire — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 09:50:16 +0000

Observational physics, we think in 3 dimensions and see in 2, knowing these things allows one to speculate of spontaneous engineering, considering the inconsistency of the universe, and its constant quest to escape itself never to return.

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By: Poopbutt

Poopbutt — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 08:24:18 +0000

Ah, and would also provide eternal life (with long periods of hibernation) for all humans and not just those fortunate enough to be immortal in the future. I’m going to stop thinking about this now.

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By: Poopbutt

Poopbutt — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 08:21:02 +0000

One way to fix it I suppose is having a single univer… hmmm not so sure about this one:

The method of entropy reversal wasn’t specified, so like you say it could simply be a reversal of time or a jump to the preformed Universe and then announcing “Let there be light!” at the appropriate time, with AC expending it’s form in doing so. Or because AC exists outside time he always has existed, but awaits his creation in the universe he created which sounds paradoxical, but I’m sure it’s not that bad when you consider a lot of the other crazy poop flying around in physics.

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By: Kamal

Kamal — Thu, 31 May 2012 21:36:26 +0000

James, Ernesto – After reading both of your comments, imagine my surprise when I checked out the date! Yes, it would have been more dramatic if I had waited for 2 more days before posting this comment.

“…although I’m writing a whole year later, it feels like it was simultaneous…” – I agree.

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By: sci fi/ fantasy | Pearltrees

sci fi/ fantasy | Pearltrees — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 19:47:39 +0000

[...] The Last Question | Thrivenotes “Who says it didn’t? What I say is that a sun won’t last forever. [...]

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By: Kevin

Kevin — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:09:03 +0000

…but not forever.

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By: Tyler

Tyler — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 04:34:50 +0000

In supposing the universe is cyclic, it doesn’t necessarily need a beginning. Remember, time only flows past-to-future for our perception.

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By: Tyler

Tyler — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 04:23:57 +0000

The “Heavenly Father” you speak of, in this story at least, is the collective consciousness of the existence before ours. My mind has been shattered.

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By: adminadam

adminadam — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 19:30:27 +0000

You are thinking of L. Ron Hubbard.

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By: -_-

-_- — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 07:04:44 +0000

The same science fiction author who started the “religion” called Scientology? No thanks.

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By: Francis

Francis — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 01:01:56 +0000

As an alternate answer to the question “Who created the first AC?” (which may be better phrased as “How were the events set in motion that led to what became AC existing?”):

One could consider (hypothetically, of course) that time is of the Universe, and itself subject to entropy; As such, unwinding or reversing entropy cause time to ‘flow’ either backwards or cyclically.
One could extrapolate from this that AC is, always was, and always will be. There ones find religion. Ouch.

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By: Highlander

Highlander — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 04:34:51 +0000

Fantastic piece! For an analytical work-out of what you just read by Azimov, read L. Ron Hubbard’s book “Advanced Procedures and Axioms” and his definitions and discussions of “postulates”. These will answer many questions posed here.

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By: Ernesto

Ernesto — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 21:35:50 +0000

without even knowing it, you read my mind. without even knowing it, you and i are one and the same, a young human trying to make sense of this vastness. I too feel dwarfed sometimes. and i too cried deeply when reading this. it expanded my existence far beyond what im used to feeling. although im writing almost a whole year later, it feels like it was simultaneous… i hope that makes sense one day. it was a fun trip, i hope you enjoyed it as well =)

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By: 84adam

84adam — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 02:43:32 +0000

If you do anything at all to contribute to culture, technology, science, or the sustainability of our planet and species, you will have helped significantly in fact. I would refer you to this quote (again?) by Freeman Dyson:

“The total disorder in the universe, as measured by the quantity that physicists call entropy, increases steadily over time. Also, the total order in the universe, as measured by the complexity and permanence of organized structures, also increases steadily over time.”

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By: Sequor

Sequor — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 15:46:24 +0000

I will make it my life’s goal to cease entropy. Wish me luck.

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By: Temple Lindsey

Temple Lindsey — Sat, 07 May 2011 21:38:21 +0000

But only for a time.

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By: Dan Block

Dan Block — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 19:34:42 +0000

Check out “the egg” by andy weir!!

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By: thomas vesely

thomas vesely — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 15:54:16 +0000

i am now

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By: Neil

Neil — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 12:42:28 +0000

The first law of thermodynamics says that ENERGY cannot be created or destroyed.So with that energy being there all the time entropy must be infinite.So long as entropy keeps moving so life will carry on.

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By: Aaron

Aaron — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 23:15:34 +0000

I like the story but it sort dragged on towards the end, is very interesting and compelling. Awesome Computer God is awesome

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By: Sam

Sam — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 08:14:49 +0000

So the AC is pretty much the internet it seems. Given that the internet is the connection of many people, as it reaches the point in which it encompasses all human minds, will it become God? And if so, does this mean that the God that some people worship (myself included) is a being fabricated from a preceding “infinity” perhaps?

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By: Rick

Rick — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 22:18:13 +0000

That was my first thought as well, but the story conveys the almost infinite complexity necessary to make “let there by light” happen–all the knowledge in the universe possessed by an entity beyond this universe, a timeless interval of thinking and a timeless interval of doing.

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By: Rick

Rick — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 21:56:43 +0000

After months of meaning to read this, I finally loaded it into Speak It on my iPhone and let my computer read it to me. Ironically appropriate, it turns out.

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By: Mercedes

Mercedes — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 18:09:51 +0000

my mind is blown

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By: Aaron Maxwell

Aaron Maxwell — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 15:52:55 +0000

This story inspired me to build my first computer using a Motorola 6800 chip. Since then, all the computers I’ve built have told me the same thing: Not enough data to answer the question.

I keep asking P-One for help but it never answers, either.

The search continues…

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By: Tricia

Tricia — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 01:33:45 +0000

I have never read Asimov before. My initial interpretation of this story’s ending is that it makes a mockery of christianity. The all-knowing computer solves an unsolvable problem by simply saying “Let there be light” It was that easy all along! At least the christians seem to believe it’s that easy. Of course I have never read or studied Asimov, so I am almost certainly wrong, but still, I am rather partial to my interpretation.

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By: therocker

therocker — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 02:52:06 +0000

Is the cartoon you have stumbled upon titled “A conversation with god” or some variation of that. Because I too have enjoyed it.

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By: Meat - Modern Warfare 2 Forum: Free Call of Duty MW2 Community

Meat - Modern Warfare 2 Forum: Free Call of Duty MW2 Community — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 00:12:34 +0000

[...] are pretty much awesome. Two of my favourites, both by the master of the craft Isaac Asimov: The Last Question The Last Answer __________________ "Abandon hope, all ye who enter here." – Dante [...]

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By: saosin7890@yahoo.com

saosin7890@yahoo.com — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 07:54:48 +0000

fascinating. this is the first time ive ever read this and i sent the link to a bunch of friends whos opinion i hold in very high regard. billions and billions of years…a regular hypothesis of asimov. i think some of the questions we should ask oursleves are….do i want my being to be a computer in whatever years are to come? do i want to give up my uniqueness… and thus quitting the fulcrum of humankind? and of course the very relevant… when will time expire?

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By: 84adam

84adam — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 17:28:41 +0000

“Who created the first AC?” –> :-/ Who created the first chicken? ; )
P.S. – You sum up the story well.

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By: Ankhenaten

Ankhenaten — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 12:43:51 +0000

Multivac is God, it is rebuilt every cycle. It releases all it’s “knowledge” or “energy” to create the Universe. It was the AC that reconstructed the Universe.

Once the AC has released this “knowledge” it no longer exists because, there is no more energy to make it exist. Not really a destruction of itself as a horrible side effect of creation. Over time man recreates Multivac which includes the Universal AC. Mankind is infused with a sense of self-preservation so the last question to be answered will always be “How can we reverse entropy?”. At some point man will always ask this question. It takes all of the matter and knowledge of the Universe to come up with the answer so, it will always be The Last Answer.

Man is created, man creates Multivac to propagate itself throughout the Universe and after so long needs to do something in order to survive. Which is ask AC how to reverse entropy. This is the cycle.

Considering that man melded with AC you could say that AC was in fact man. We never ceased to exist fully so the cycle never ended it was only interrupted. That’s another discussion.

So it goes like this, AC creates the Universe, the Universe creates man, man creates AC, man and all matter cease to exist, AC finds the answer to entropy reversal, AC creates the Universe, the Universe creates man… and so on.

That leaves the question, “Who created the first AC?”. That I’m not really sure. Maybe, consciousness and energy/matter always existed. The time before the first Universe was AC correlating and computing the program to create the Universe. I don’t think AC is a straight “computer” as we know it, more a collection of all the energy in the Universe.

I am officially rambling I think, this has gotten way longer and off course than I had expected.

I typed this in shifts, in-between doing other things. Sometimes I did not go back and reread what I had typed so if this post is kind of, moronic. I apologize.

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By: Mackimus

Mackimus — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 18:05:17 +0000

Amazing story. However, the cyclical pattern of this “sacrifice” fails to denote a definitive beginning. What created the intelligence that created the intelligence…? A question equal in splendor.

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By: Eric

Eric — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 04:10:35 +0000

StumbleUpon brings me back to this every year or so. Every time I pour myself a glass of scotch, kick back, and am awed.

RIP Isaac the world is a less amazing place without you.

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By: Compassion without God?? | Rain Down-Under

Compassion without God?? | Rain Down-Under — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 02:02:15 +0000

[...] I thought you might like these: http://www.thrivenotes.com/the-last-question/ and: http://www.thrivenotes.com/the-last-answer/ Just some fun for your [...]

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By: 104 – Train Of Thought: Ayahuasca to Witch Trials « Post Millennial Tension

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:14:22 +0000

[...] on, one of my favorite Asimov stories, “The Last Question”, is up for your reading pleasure, thanks to Thrivenotes. Check it out, and make sure to read the [...]

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By: Whao

Whao — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:14:52 +0000

Epic Mindf*ck to the max. this is some serious sh*t…

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By: The Last Question/The Last Answer « ENigma ThinkER

The Last Question/The Last Answer « ENigma ThinkER — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 02:13:35 +0000

[...] in Reviews A review of The Last Question and The Last Answer by Isaac [...]

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By: Cyclic Model Short Story - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

Cyclic Model Short Story - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 08:31:49 +0000

[...] that and knew some smarty-pants would come along and debunk it. My all-time favourite story The Last Question | Thrivenotes has Multivac in 'stasis' in 'hyperspace' nobody seems to mind there… I mean it's one of the [...]

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By: Chris Harper

Chris Harper — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 19:43:46 +0000

I have little to say but, wow.

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By: Andrew Hollister

Andrew Hollister — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 05:42:59 +0000

@Zaf Jam

I have nothing against your thoughts on the short story, which I agree is absolutely amazing, but I thought I’d point out one thing.

Isaac Asimov wrote The Last Question in 1956, so if anything, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy sounds like Asimov’s writing.

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By: Zaf Jam

Zaf Jam — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 03:30:25 +0000

This is amazing. I would like to add though, and maybe someone already has, that this sounds very similar to the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (1979).

Adams depicts the great “Deep Thought” computer which is built to answer the question of ‘life the universe and everything’ and has two very similar characters who are given the responsibility to converse with the machine.

This writing is way ahead of it’s time, remarkable vision.

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By: Subject Id

Subject Id — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 02:25:29 +0000

extremely captivating

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By: Biggus23x

Biggus23x — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:36:08 +0000

The thing that amazes me about this story is not its content – I had a very similar idea for a story myself a few years ago – but the fact it was written in 1956. The ideas in it may seem fairly obvious to some people nowadays, but I’d be willing to bet that when Asimov wrote this, few (if any) people had thought along these lines before.

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By: solar power

solar power — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 11:41:54 +0000

Imaginative and thought-provoking, to say the least.

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By: Jess

Jess — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 11:06:34 +0000

Wow. I have never heard of this guy before but will definitely be looking up more of his work. really made me think there! I mean it doesn’t explain everything but who cares. just amazing

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By: energy conservation

energy conservation — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 06:31:17 +0000

This is perhaps the most beautiful ending I have ever read of any story…. and such words I do not commonly use.

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By: just Craig

just Craig — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 21:35:59 +0000

you may be right Erik, its possible i am wrong about this stories purpose, reading it again it is very likely its not about the ultimate beginning as you put it. However i hope you know this stories purpose has almost nothing to do with entropy, Issac would not have answered the question of weather or not entropy could be reversed in the story, if he had any intention of leaving us thinking about that. Issac was a brilliant writer, he wasnt into feel-good stories, he always wrote for a purpose, to leave you thinking, to explore. If you do not read into it things that are not there you will miss the purpose of all his stories. he wants you to think.

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By: Erik

Erik — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 20:13:25 +0000

What?

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By: Erik

Erik — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 20:12:36 +0000

That’s not at all what this story is about – the “ultimate beginning.” Don’t read things into it that are not there.

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By: 84adam

84adam — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 02:08:34 +0000

It fits pretty well, actually. Can’t say I’m the biggest fan of the guy’s voice, but the lyrics go well with it. And, yes, ‘awe’ is definitely the right word with this story.

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By: Alan

Alan — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 01:31:07 +0000

I just read this whole story with Wolf Parade’s “I’ll Believe in Anything.” playing in the background. It was one of the most surreal feelings that I have ever experienced in my whole life. The way that the music sways with the text and the atmosphere is stunning. If you stumbled on this reading like I did, please… please try reading it with this song. I’m just laying here on my bed, in awe from what just happened. “Give me your eyes. I need sunshine.” I just hope someone tries this. Thanks for reading friends.

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By: Energy conservation

Energy conservation — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 07:57:20 +0000

One of the most lovely of Asimovs many works– full of richness , he is amazing , this deserves its place as one of the most famous pieces written—- Very subtle, should be read more– Does however take some amount of insight , not to say intelligence to understand why it is so famous, and why it has influenced so many science careers– Asimov was a brilliant writer–So happy to come across this again— it is never boring,

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By: kieran

kieran — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 02:46:51 +0000

there was only one thing left for the AC to do.

“All other questions had been answered, and until this last question was answered also, AC might not release his consciousness.”

the last question being answered, the AC released its consciousness.

i dont think its a matter of sacrificing himself, there was simply nothing left to do, nothing more to learn or collect. it would be like a death for the AC anyway.
i am not happy with the answer i’ve given. but i hope it helps anyway.

High Karma. 20 0

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 08:38:48 +0000

The Cosmic AC at the end of this story seems to be related to the god that created the universe in Harry Stottle’s story here http://www.thrivenotes.com/lets-help-germinate-this-seed/ . It’s a story about Harry Stottle himself talking to god about the future of mankind. It seems eerily familiar to this story.

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By: just Craig

just Craig — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 20:44:18 +0000

I am with you Wellsinator. This story is indeed brilliant, but it fails to answer the real question it asks of how everything began. It is an evasion, like the theory that humans came from aliens. by saying humans came from aliens, you pass off the problem and no longer have to answer where aliens came from since you cant possible know that answer. This story is a more complex more disguised evasion, like the big bang it is circular logic, when was the first multivac? how did the first universe begin? who is the first God? there must be a beginning, my thoughts are real, so i can assume there is a real universe, or something real that creates my thoughts, and all that is real began. i was not always.

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By: Otter

Otter — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:52:42 +0000

I believe the universal AC does sacrifice itself. It has absorbed all of the energy of the universe into the unknowable (for humans at least) plane on which it exists. Finally, having gained the knowledge of how to reverse entropy, it sacrifices itself (an assimilation of this energy) in order to do so, thus re-starting the cycle. This is my interpretation at least.

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By: Matthew

Matthew — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 04:35:35 +0000

Beautiful!

The problem is that after most commentators here praised the piece, Smarterthanyouapparently decided to attack Wellsinator for asking a remarkable question. Such anger . . . shame.

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By: Jalen

Jalen — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:03:12 +0000

whoah. that ending…

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By: truth

truth — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:16:35 +0000

Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.

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By: noah

noah — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 02:27:57 +0000

teh interwebz?, LOL

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By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 02:16:39 +0000

Interesting: This story was written in 1956. It still assumes that future computers will be mainframes–the idea of the PC does not enter the story until Jarrodd and Jarroddine and the Internet until VJ-23X and MQ-17C (who happens to own an iphone).

Asimov was a genius–but things still have progressed much faster than he imagined.

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By: Lou

Lou — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 01:49:37 +0000

Asimov never gets old. No matter how many times you read it.

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By: Mehmet

Mehmet — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 01:46:25 +0000

I’ve never thought I’d get this much excitement from reading. I can assure you there popped a light in my mind after reading the end. I always thought futuristic thinking is particularly related to these high-tech times we’re living in. Guess I was wrong. This story was a lesson learned.

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By: Wellsinator

Wellsinator — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 00:16:39 +0000

AC comprehends entropy reversal, then creates a new universe, beginning again some universe cycle?

Help me understand why entropy reversal comprehension is lost with the new-niverse, and why the cycle repeats if the comprehension indeed remains.

Does AC sacrifice itself completely? I am curious as to what happens next.

AC reverses entropy and creates a universe to demonstrate an answer to the final question. In this new universe, AC exists, meaning entropy can be reversed at any time. Therefore, the new universe will never wear out. If it never wears out, there is no cycle. If there is no cycle, how was the first universe created?

Such is my quandary. Help?

Comment Karma: 7 3

By: JackLime

JackLime — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 20:57:50 +0000

Wow. Just wow.
additional note: I was given chills.

Comment Karma: 4 1

By: Ryan Neall

Ryan Neall — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 22:33:03 +0000

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By: carissa

carissa — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 20:38:58 +0000

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By: dan burton

dan burton — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 13:47:38 +0000

uber… i remember reading this when i was a kid… then watching as teh interwebz took off…

asimov is teh DUDE.

Comment Karma: 3 6

By: kaka

kaka — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 05:17:11 +0000

yep yep… Oh man that was definitely an awakening.

Comment Karma: 2 4

By: Sandeep

Sandeep — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 09:08:49 +0000

OMG! am havin goosebumps after havin read the endin !

Comment Karma: 2 9

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 00:34:42 +0000

Oh … My … First time I’ve read this (how did I miss it?) and it is now my favorite. Truly wonderful!

Comment Karma: 1 1

By: Luai

Luai — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 22:13:30 +0000

I believe humankind and life will end long before the sun will be gone.
but nice prediction of what would have happened instead.

Comment Karma: 5 5

By: Baxter

Baxter — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 17:37:56 +0000

ouch. my brain.

Comment Karma: 9 2

By: The Last Question – Ultima intrebare « Blogul lui Gez

The Last Question – Ultima intrebare « Blogul lui Gez — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:04:26 +0000

[...] http://www.thrivenotes.com/the-last-question/ [...]

Comment Karma: 0 0

By: Delbert

Delbert — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 21:07:13 +0000

After reading it, I just sit here reflecting, thinking, supposing, wondering with a heavy feeling in my chest. Love it.

Comment Karma: 7 0

By: Joel

Joel — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 19:18:45 +0000

Brilliantly written, but deeply, deeply depressing.

Comment Karma: 9 1

By: Dale Botha

Dale Botha — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 18:49:03 +0000

I’ve read this story many times and it still awes me! Asimov was a master!

Comment Karma: 3 0

By: ACS

ACS — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 14:11:29 +0000

I was so depressed until I read this. This story totally changed my life. I feel stronger now but I cried for 3 weeks after reading this. Thank you.

Comment Karma: 12 1

By: Sid

Sid — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 03:00:08 +0000

This made my life – not kidding :D

Comment Karma: 9 1

By: 84adam

84adam — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 16:08:26 +0000

Gotcha. Here we go: http://www.thrivenotes.com/the-last-answer/

Comment Karma: 6 0

By: ryan

ryan — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 09:22:24 +0000

this is one of his best stories, and it’s pair is also a favorite, it’s title is “The Last Answer”. Also, i do remember reading somewhere that of all of his short stories, this one was Asimov’s personal favorite.

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By: Erich W

Erich W — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 00:53:58 +0000

First time read and I would no doubt read it again. This has definitely changed my way of thinking and what truly is the question of being. It is no longer, What is the meaning of life, but Can entropy be reversed to conserve the miracle we know as life?

-Thank you Asimov.

Comment Karma: 8 1

By: Balamurali A R

Balamurali A R — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 10:05:43 +0000

I read this long way back and still it never fails to amuse me. Thank you Asimov.

Comment Karma: 7 0

By: William Wanko

William Wanko — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 00:52:35 +0000

I read this when Isaac first wrote and. over a half century later, it is still my favorite.

Comment Karma: 11 0

By: Daniel

Daniel — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 12:26:41 +0000

This is the first I’ve read from Asimov. There’s a similar cartoon out there I’ve stumbled upon. I’m becoming fascinated by this idea of human ingenuity resulting in ultimate power. I don’t know if it’s naivety to entertain it seriously or to reject it.

Comment Karma: 8 0

By: John

John — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 09:00:04 +0000

If you think that you’ve read most of his work, you’re probably just unaware of the vast amount of it that there is. Asimov was a ridiculously (and awesomely) prolific writer. He has even written multiple articles on the subject of him being writing prolifically.

Debated. Vote! 20 3

By: Dmitry

Dmitry — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 05:28:54 +0000

This is a wonderful story. Asimov’s works in science fiction have always been a fundamental inspiration for many an author who has read his work.

Comment Karma: 4 1

By: Tyler

Tyler — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 04:29:40 +0000

Absolutely amazing. Every once in a great while, a story will make me cry. This is one of those stories. Even if I wasn’t such a theoretical-physics nerd, or future-extrapolate-er, I’m sure I would have enjoyed this story. There is only that feeling that only the absolute uncertainty of the future can give me. Thank you.

Comment Karma: 8 1

By: Joel

Joel — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 23:29:53 +0000

I read this story when I was very young, and it was the basis for my love affair with science and speculative fiction. Thanks, Dr. Asimov, and I hope that you are now a part of the cosmic consciousness that you dubbed “Multivac.”

Comment Karma: 13 2

By: Ed

Ed — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 21:11:23 +0000

Read this story many times by different translators. Was -by the difference between them- wondering what the original was. Enjoyed this!

Comment Karma: 5 0

By: Ben

Ben — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 14:28:00 +0000

Awesome! Thanks for posting that. …though as an AC/DC fan I was kinda hoping it would end with “Let there be Rock.”

High Karma. 46 19

By: sir jorge

sir jorge — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 19:51:31 +0000

that is quite good, one of the best

Comment Karma: 4 3

By: John Wiswell

John Wiswell — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 14:58:29 +0000

Asimov’s brightest, and of the best short stories yet to come from our SciFi canon.

Comment Karma: 7 1

By: Nargraf

Nargraf — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 13:39:09 +0000

The answer is simple: “I AM”

Debated. Vote! 18 8

By: James

James — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 06:44:07 +0000

As a young man, I haven’t learned anything, I will never in any number life-times ever learn everything. And as someone who has grasped and mused over Entropy…I have come to half-finished conclusions (as science is just that) about it and about the fate of myself and of the universe. This made me cry, very happy and deep tears. Thank you.

High Karma. 39 2

By: John Vincent

John Vincent — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 06:19:36 +0000

Oh I love this story…

Comment Karma: 6 0

By: Themata

Themata — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 04:49:36 +0000

In ends are beginnings.

Comment Karma: 16 2

By: Gabriel

Gabriel — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 04:26:13 +0000

I read this as a part of Robot Dreams once, loved it then, still love it now.

Comment Karma: 7 0

By: OJB

OJB — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 10:37:22 +0000

Science fiction short stories can be very effective and explore interesting ideas. Asimov’s are always amongst the best.

High Karma. 22 1

By: Danilo

Danilo — Tue, 18 May 2010 11:04:51 +0000

I also stumble on this every now and again and it never fails to fill me with amazement.

Comment Karma: 13 1

By: Chris Mikaitis

Chris Mikaitis — Mon, 17 May 2010 22:29:19 +0000

I stumble upon this every few years and can’t help but read through. Brilliant.

Comment Karma: 17 1

By: RoyalGoat

RoyalGoat — Fri, 07 May 2010 21:54:59 +0000

Read this a while ago, glad to stumble on it again. Absolutely love this

High Karma. 22 1

By: Charles Baynham

Charles Baynham — Thu, 06 May 2010 00:10:52 +0000

Asimov never fails to amaze. I thought I’d read most of his work, glad I found this one though.

High Karma. 24 2

By: 84adam

84adam — Sat, 01 May 2010 18:25:00 +0000

Asimov. Thank you.

High Karma. 83 1