Asimov Research Paper
Asimov Research Paper
A crucial portion of Asimovâs analysis of human vulnerability is the supposed chaos of normal life. In Asimovâs eyes, unity and cooperation function much better than the effort of any given individual towards a specific goal. In Green Patches a group of astronauts lands on Saybrookâs planet. The planet is fascinating in that all of the organisms work in conjunction in order to maintain homeostasis. There exists no competition for food, for space, or for sex. In a sense, âall life on Saybrookâs planet is a single organismâ(371). Strangely enough the main sensory tissue/organ of all organisms on Saybrookâs planet is not eyes, but rather âfurry green patchesâ(364). More importantly however the green patches act as âsuper-sensory organsâ (364) which are able to sense not only presence but thought as well. Lastly all organisms on Saybrookâs planet have the ability of transmitting their own characteristic green patches onto other organisms. Within this ability lies Asimovâs true purpose for the story. Captain Weiss, the narrator of the story clearly states, âcompared to life on Saybrookâs planet, Earthâs growth is one big cancerâ(374) in such âevery species, every individual [does] its best to thrive at the expense of every other species and individualâ (381). Asimov explains that the chaos of human society leads not to unified harmony but rather, âa fighting dependence, a dog-eat-dog dependenceâ (371). Asimov furthers his obvious âdesire for an impetus for change by giving the creatures on Saybrookâs planet an ever-present and omnipotent qualityâ (Marshall Cuthers- Isaac Asimov: Origins and Growth). In the story, a creature from Saybrookâs planet has snuck in to the ship. The crew tries very careful to prevent such an occurrence but through disguise the creature becomes able to hide until the landing on Earth. The goal of the creature is also quite clear. It wishes to provide âcompleteness for the keen-thinkersâ and that âthey would be saved despite themselvesâ(387). The astronauts on-board understand that if exposed to Earth, the creature will be able to transmit its traits onto all organisms and alter the reproductive cycle so that all subsequent generations will have the same traits and Earth will become equivalent to the unified Saybrookâs planet. Captain Weiss understands this and is stuck in a moral dilemma. If released, Earth will âbecome void of so many flawsâ(392) and âthere would be no more overpopulation, no more disease and no more crime and violenceâ (392). Nevertheless, Weiss also understands that it will be the end of human individualism and personal expression. Weissâs dilemma need not bother him for much longer. Asimov had already given the creature a missionary status and had given the organism âfull powerâ to change the Earth. As stated by Christopher Lambert in Son of Foundation, âAsimovâs hatred for human corruption is expressed in his short story Green Patches.â âAnarchy to Asimov is simply an obstacle in what he believes as an awful incompetence for society to join together for unified and cooperative progress.â At the conclusion of the story, the creature does indeed land on Earth and the upcoming ârevolutionâ (397) ensues.
Owing to Asimovâs interest in transcendental thought, the beginning of Nightfall starts with the question: âIf the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore, and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of Godâ(334)? The quote written by Ralph Waldo Emerson fascinated Asimov. Nightfall, as a story, connects with the original theme of human vulnerability by introducing how religion and cultural norms blind people to certain truths around them. In Nightfall, Asimov creates the planet Lagash that orbits among six suns. The story encompasses an interview between Aton 77 the leader of an observatory in Saro City and Thermon, a reporter from the Saro City Chronicle. The scientists of Saro University have predicted a coming catastrophe and, as a result, have been ridiculed by the press and government. As Atton 77 explains to Theremon, that there once existed nine previous civilizations on Lagash. Each of these civilizations arose and declined in a cyclic fashion. In fact, âall the centers of culture were thoroughly destroyed by fire at their peak, with nothing