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Asimov’s First Lines [Jun. 25th, 2009|06:53 pm]
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A while back I was thinking about famous first lines of novels like It was was the best of times, it was the worst of times or Call me Ishmael. It made me wonder if any of the authors I read regularly had any memorable first lines to their novels. Isaac Asimov was my favorite Science Fiction author when I was a kid and I wondered if his first lines were any good. So I went to my library room (I have a LOT of books in that room), grabbed the Asimov books I could find in short notice and started typing in the first lines. Below are the results. Decide for yourself if Asimov created anything memorable:


  1. Andrew Harlan stepped into the kettle. – The End of Eternity

  2. Lije Baley had just reached his desk when he became aware of R. Sammy watching him expectantly. – The Caves of Steel

  3. Stubbornly Elijah Baley fought panic. – The Naked Sun

  4. Elijah Baley found himself in the shade of the tree and muttered to himself, “I knew it. I’m sweating.” – The Robots of Dawn

  5. The man from Earth came to a decision. – The Currents of Space

  6. Two minutes before he disappeared forever the face of the Earth he knew, Joseph Schwartz strolled along the pleasant streets of suburban Chicago quoting Browning to himself. – Pebble in the Sky

  7. The bedroom murmured to itself gently. – The Stars, Like Dust

  8. His name was Gaal Dornick and he was just a country boy who had never seen Trantor before. – Foundation

  9. Bel Riose traveled without escort, which is not what court etiquette prescribes for the head of a fleet stationed in a yet-sullen stellar system on the Marches of the Galactic Empire. – Foundation and Empire

  10. There is much more that the Encyclopedia has to say on the subject of the Mule and his Empire but almost all of it is not germane to the issue at immediate hand, and most of it is considerably too dry for our purposes in any case. – Second Foundation

  11. “I don’t believe it, of course,” said Golan Trevize, standing on the wide steps of Seldon Hall and looking out over the city as it sparkled in the sunlight. – Foundation’s Edge

  12. Suppressing a small yawn, Cleon said, “Demerzel, have you by any chance ever heard of a man named Hari Seldon?” – Prelude to Foundation

  13. Gladia felt the lawn lounge to make sure it wasn’t too damp and then sat down. – Robots and Empire

  14. Death sits in the chemistry laboratory and a million people sit with him and don’t mind. – A Whiff of Death

  15. “No good!” said Lamont, sharply. – The Gods Themselves

  16. “If you’ll take a seat, sir,” the surgeon said, gesturing toward the chair in front of his desk. – The Positronic Man (Written with Robert Silverberg)

  17. He sat there alone, enclosed. – Nemesis

  18. “Why did I do it?” asked Golan Trevize. – Foundation and Earth



My reaction? Big fat meh. Asimov readily admitted that his writing lack style. He didn't even know what writing style was for many years into his writing career.
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