ISAAC ASIMOV HIMSELF

In 1975 Asimov recorded five of his best-known stories from the 1950s, including "The Ugly Little Boy" and "The Last Question." While there may be some historical value in hearing Asimov read his own stories, the problem is that he had a miserable reading voice. Simply, he was unable to modulate his voice or show character delineation, often relying upon loudness to express tension. In addition, the brief introductions to each story add little to our understanding of the writing process or his rationale. As a result, this unabridged collection is flat and lifeless. E.E.L. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPT 94]