fuggedaboudit, frog and toe

[Mark A Mandel]

On Tue, 3 Sep 2002, James A. Landau wrote:

#To my surprise I find that Asimov published over 30 pieces of short fiction
#by 1948 but not one single book until 1950.  Also Asimov wrote the
#Thiotimoline article as a spoof on his own doctoral dissertation  then in
#progress.  He asked Campbell to publish it under a pseudonym, since he didn't
#want the embarrassment of having such a spoof floating around before his own
#thesis was accepted.  Campbell agreed, but despite having "a steel-trap mind"
#(Asimov's own description), forgot.  Yes, the dissertation committee had read
#it.  At his orals, the final question was "What can you tell us about the
#endochronic properties of resublimated thiotimoline?"

As I recall the story, IA fell helpless with laughter and astonishment
and had to be helped from the room. He passed, of course.

I have a short poem about some of Asimov's writings, touching on some of
his first and last publications, and will send it on request.

-- Mark A. Mandel