Isaac Asimov's Guide to Earth and Space
Encyclopedia
Guide to Earth and Space (ISBN 0-449-22059-1) is a non-fiction work by the well-known science fiction writer Isaac Asimov
. The book differs somewhat in structure from typical literature by presenting its information in the form of answers to a series of questions, presumably posed by the reader. Like many of Asimov's non-fiction pieces, this "Guide" starts with the basics, answering relatively simple (to the modern reader) questions about the Earth - is it flat, does it spin, is it the center of the universe
, etc...
From there the questions progress roughly through the evolution of astronomy
and discovery to introduce more complex topics, from the orbits of the planets to the formation of star
s and the characteristics of quasars and black holes.
Many of the concepts discussed in the latter sections of the books can be compared with those presented in Asimov's 1966 work The Universe: From Flat Earth to Quasar; furthermore, they serve in several cases to update the state of the art from the intervening 25 years between publications.
Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000...
. The book differs somewhat in structure from typical literature by presenting its information in the form of answers to a series of questions, presumably posed by the reader. Like many of Asimov's non-fiction pieces, this "Guide" starts with the basics, answering relatively simple (to the modern reader) questions about the Earth - is it flat, does it spin, is it the center of the universe
Universe
The Universe is commonly defined as the totality of everything that exists, including all matter and energy, the planets, stars, galaxies, and the contents of intergalactic space. Definitions and usage vary and similar terms include the cosmos, the world and nature...
, etc...
From there the questions progress roughly through the evolution of astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
and discovery to introduce more complex topics, from the orbits of the planets to the formation of star
Star
A star is a massive, luminous sphere of plasma held together by gravity. At the end of its lifetime, a star can also contain a proportion of degenerate matter. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun, which is the source of most of the energy on Earth...
s and the characteristics of quasars and black holes.
Many of the concepts discussed in the latter sections of the books can be compared with those presented in Asimov's 1966 work The Universe: From Flat Earth to Quasar; furthermore, they serve in several cases to update the state of the art from the intervening 25 years between publications.