Isaac Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000 letters and postcards.
The Big Three
Asimov was considered one of the "Big Three" science fiction writers during his lifetime, along with Robert A. Heinlein and Arthur C. Clarke. His most famous work is the Foundation Series, but his Robot series and the Galactic Empire series are also set in the same universe.
Foundation
The Foundation series is a science fiction book series first published as a series of short stories in 1942–50, and subsequently in three collections in 1951–53. For thirty years the series was a trilogy: Foundation, Foundation and Empire, and Second Foundation. It won the one-time Hugo Award for "Best All-Time Series" in 1966.
"Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent." — Salvor Hardin
Impact on Science
Asimov was a professor of biochemistry at Boston University. He was vice president of Mensa International for several years. The asteroid 5020 Asimov, a crater on the planet Mars, a Brooklyn elementary school, and a literary award are named in his honor.