<p>^I wasn’t trying to discredit D’s exposure at all, just saying for someone sitting at home interested in depictions of mental illness to think about non academic sources as well.</p>
<p>@ MiamiDAP-- Isaac Asimov held a PhD in biochemistry and was a professor of biochem at Boston University for 30+ years. Writing was his secondary career. In addtion to his SF works, he is widely known for his popular science book series, written during the 50’s and 60’s. Additionally, he wrote 14 popular history books; a comprehensive guide the bible, covering both old and new testaments; and a series of annotations on Shakespeare’s works. Under various pen names, he was a frequent contributor to Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine. In the latter part of his life, Asimov became a rather (in)famous poet who published several books of limericks–of both the clean and rather naughty variety.</p>
<p>Asimov is recognized as a ‘master’ of the Hard SF genre and wrote mostly adult SF novels, though he did write some young adult fiction as well.</p>
<p>Probably his best known SF works include the future history Foundation series (Foundation; Foundation and Empire; Second Foundation; Foundation’s Edge; Foundation and Earth; Prelude to Foundation) and his robot stories (largely collected in I, Robot) in which he postulated the “Three Laws of Robotics”. He also wrote a series of chemistry spoofs with titles like, “The Endochronic Properties of Resublimated Thiotimoline” (a time-traveling molecule that always reacts before you can add the reagent).</p>
<p>Asimov was man with a stunning breadth of knowledge and erudition, a true Renaissance Man.</p>
<p>(If you can’t tell, huge fan here. I own a goodly number of his books, including some autographed editions.)</p>
<p>I like all of these books, thanks guys!</p>
<p>Anyone know any good introductions into Biochemistry? I want to get a feel for what I’m getting into.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info on Asimov WOWmom, I did not know!! I will pass this on to some of my kiddos who will be very interested. Some might know but I have not heard them discussing this. They will find it interesting especially since he was so varied, diverse and educated.</p>
<p>Kat</p>
<p>Actually a goodly number of SF authors from the “Classic Age of SF” [generally considered from the 1950s thru mid-1970s] held degrees (including PhDs) in STEM fields. </p>
<p>It’s less true today, but still not uncommon</p>
<p>One of my neighbors is a SF author (our kids went to the same elementary school) with about 8 published novels—he still works full time as an engineer at the National Labs. And my glancing brush with fame—I met Tim Zahn when he was just a nerdy physics grad student in the basement of Loomis Lab.</p>
<p>SF has been passionate interest of mine since I was a young teenager and I used to read my dad’s subscription to Analog. I’ve been reading SF ever since and used to teach a SF as literature class back before popular culture courses were common. When i retire and have infinite money I’m going to go work as volunteer archivist at the Eastern New Mexico University library which has one of the largest SF archives in the world. The Williamson Collection (named for Jack Williamson) holds untold (and largely uncataloged) manuscripts, letters and not-available-anywhere-else-in-the-world original copies of pulp SF 'zine from the the 1880s onward. Also one of the largest in the US collection of circulating SF novels. Sigh. Now if only the collection weren’t in Portales—which is pretty much out in the middle of nowhere and long way from anything.</p>