Essays by Isaac Asimov about fantasy

Copyright © 1995 by Edward Seiler and Richard Hatcher. All rights reserved.

Sword and Sorcery

Subject: sword and sorcery typically values brawn over brain, unlike SF
First Published In: Jan-85, Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine
Collection(s):

• 1989 Asimov's Galaxy: Reflections on SF
  
• 1996 Magic
  

Magic

Subject: technology can be distinguished from magic by its limits
First Published In: Mar-85, Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine
Collection(s):

• 1989 Asimov's Galaxy: Reflections on SF
  
• 1996 Magic
  

Fairy Tales

Subject: fairy tales are often filled with violence and sadism
First Published In: Oct-85, Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine
Collection(s):

• 1989 Asimov's Galaxy: Reflections on SF
  
• 1996 Magic
  

The Unicorn

Subject: origins of the unicorn
First Published In: Dec-86, Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine
Collection(s):

• 1996 Magic
  

The Monsters We Have Lived With

Original Title: They Don't Make Monsters Like They Used To
Subject: possible explanations for the monsters of ancient lore
First Published In: 23-Nov-74, TV Guide
Collection(s):

• 1977 The Beginning and the End
  

The Widest Field

Subject: fantasy is the widest literary field
First Published In: 1977, 100 Great Fantasy Short Short Stories
Collection(s):

• DOES NOT APPEAR IN ANY COLLECTIONS
  

Hobgoblin

Subject: even rationalists can enjoy mysteries with fantasy elements
First Published In: 1980, Mysterious Visions by ??
Collection(s):

• 1989 The Tyrannosaurus Prescription
  

Is Fantasy Forever?

Subject: fantasy is often defined as fiction that cannot happen
First Published In: 1982, Isaac Asimov Presents the Best Fantasy of the 19th Century
Collection(s):

• 1989 The Tyrannosaurus Prescription
  
• 1996 Magic
  

Dragons!

Original Title: Introduction
Subject: where did the tales of dragons originate?
First Published In: Jul-82, Dragon Tales (1982)
Collection(s):

• 1989 The Tyrannosaurus Prescription
  

Wizards

Subject: wizards know powerful secrets of the supernatural
First Published In: Oct-83, Wizards
Collection(s):

• 1989 The Tyrannosaurus Prescription
  

Larger Than Life

Subject: heroes and heroines of fantasy stories capture our imagination
First Published In: 1984, 13 Short Fantasy Novels
Collection(s):

• 1989 The Tyrannosaurus Prescription
  

Witches

Subject: we view witches negatively due to bible mistranslation
First Published In: Apr-84, Witches
Collection(s):

• 1989 The Tyrannosaurus Prescription
  

Curses!

Subject: spells for pain or death were more common than pleasant ones
First Published In: May-85, Spells
Collection(s):

• 1989 The Tyrannosaurus Prescription
  

Giants in the Earth

Subject: giants in literature and history
First Published In: Nov-85, Giants
Collection(s):

• 1996 Magic
  

All the Ways Things Can't Happen

Subject: fantasy fiction has great variety and vicarious thrills
First Published In: 1986, Isaac Asimov's Adventures in Fantasy
Collection(s):

• 1989 The Tyrannosaurus Prescription
  

Wishing Will Make it So

Subject: we enjoy stories about wishes that come true
First Published In: Nov-86, Magical Wishes (1986)
Collection(s):

• 1989 The Tyrannosaurus Prescription
  

Introduction

Subject: the distinction between fantasy and fiction
First Published In: Oct-89, Visions of Fantasy
Collection(s):

• DOES NOT APPEAR IN ANY COLLECTIONS
  

Fairyland

Subject: historical basis of fairies
First Published In: Oct-91, Faeries
Collection(s):

• DOES NOT APPEAR IN ANY COLLECTIONS
  

Monsters

Subject: Nessie and other human creations
First Published In: 1990-1992, Los Angeles Times
Collection(s):

• 1993 Frontiers II
  

The Lure of Horror

Subject: we enjoy the fear of horror because it ends without real pain
First Published In: 1983, Isaac Asimov Presents the Best Horror and Supernatural Stories of the 19th Century
Collection(s):

• 1987 Past, Present, and Future
  

The Power of Evil

Subject: a scary story causes a thrill produced by fear that is only temporary
First Published In: 1987, Young Monsters
Collection(s):

• 1989 The Tyrannosaurus Prescription
  

Monsters

Subject: monsters evolved from simply being malformed to large evil beings
First Published In: Jul-88, Young Monsters
Collection(s):

• 1989 The Tyrannosaurus Prescription
  

Ghosts

Subject: the origin of the belief in ghosts
First Published In: Dec-88, Ghosts
Collection(s):

• DOES NOT APPEAR IN ANY COLLECTIONS
  

Malevolence

Subject: malevolent creatures as material for horror stories
First Published In: Sep-89, Curses (1989)
Collection(s):

• DOES NOT APPEAR IN ANY COLLECTIONS
  

The Immortal Sherlock Holmes

Original Title: Why I Love Sherlock Holmes
Subject: Sherlock Holmes' intelligence, revealed clearly and enjoyably, works well
First Published In: 2-Sep-84, Newsday
Collection(s):

• 1987 Past, Present, and Future
  

Cleverness

Original Title: Introduction
Subject: detective stories promote hero on good side of the law
First Published In: 1988, Isaac Asimov Presents the Best Crime Stories of the 19th Century
Collection(s):

• 1989 The Tyrannosaurus Prescription