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General Isaac Asimov Trivia Quiz

This quiz is on the general works of Isaac Asimov(1920-1992). He is recognized as one of the preeminent Science Fiction authors of all time and published almost 500 books.

A multiple-choice quiz by sean5789. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
sean5789

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
75,374

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
20

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
11 / 20

Plays
2460

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 1 (5/20), Guest 103 (2/20), Guest 37 (12/20).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 20

1. What was Isaac Asimov's first published novel? Hint

Foundation

Pebble in the Sky

The Stars, Like Dust

The Caves of Steel

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Question 2 of 20

2. How many books did Asimov write in the 'Foundation' series? Hint

six

seven

five

eight

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Question 3 of 20

3. Which company has Asimov published the most books with? Hint

Doubleday

Houghton Mifflin

Gnome Press

Walker

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Question 4 of 20

4. Which robot novel does Gladia not appear in? Hint

Robots and Empire

The Naked Sun

The Caves of Steel

The Robots of Dawn

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Question 5 of 20

5. This author novelized one of Asimov's short stories. Hint

Martin Harry Greenberg

David Brin

Robert Silverberg

Harlan Ellison

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Question 6 of 20

6. In the Empire novels, the Earth is less habitable than most planets. Why? Hint

radioactivity

famine

drought

pestilence

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Question 7 of 20

7. In the galactic empire, who was the commissioner of public safety? Hint

Lors Avakim

Cleon

Linge Chen

Farad Sinter

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Question 8 of 20

8. How many Spacer Worlds are there? Hint

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Question 9 of 20

9. Where does 'Pebble in the Sky' take place? Hint

Chicago

Los Angeles

New York

Boston

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Question 10 of 20

10. In 'I, Robot', there is one instance where Susan Calvin puts on make-up; why? Hint

Vieing for a promotion

She has been lied to

To attract a robot

Personal Pleasure

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Question 11 of 20

11. What was the seat of power in the Galactic Empire? Hint

Earth

Anacreon

Terminus

Trantor

12. The titles for the two books of Asimov's biography come from this poem. 'In memory yet green, in joy still felt, The scenes of life rise sharply into view. We triumph; Life's disasters are undealt, And while all else is old, the world is new'. Who wrote it? Hint

Lord Byron

Asimov

Frost

Tennyson

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Question 13 of 20

13. What superpower does the Second Foundation possess? Hint

Superhuman strength

Mental control

Ability to fly

Turn people to stone

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Question 14 of 20

14. Across his robot books, Asimov explores all these issues about robots EXCEPT: Hint

Trying to become human

Trying to murder all humans

Trying to found a religion

Being similar to drunk

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Question 15 of 20

15. Under the three laws of robotics(assuming the other laws are not in effect), which of these is a robot able to do? Hint

injure itself

Injure a human

Kill another robot

Disobey a human

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Question 16 of 20

16. The denizens of the Caves of Steel suffer from this: Hint

acrophobia

agoraphobia

claustrophobia

arachnophobia

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Question 17 of 20

17. Who created psychohistory? Hint

Gaal Dornick

R. Giskard Reventlov

Susan Calvin

Hari Seldon

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Question 18 of 20

18. Which of these did Asimov not publish an annotated version of? Hint

Familiar Poems

Don Juan

Shakespeare's plays

Paradise Lost

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Question 19 of 20

19. What is Lucky Starr's first name? Hint

John

Brian

Isaac

David

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Question 20 of 20

20. Complete this memorable quote from Foundation. 'Violence is the last refuge of the... Hint

incompetent

unlearned

inept

civilized

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Most Recent Scores

Oct 29 2024 : Guest 1: 5/20
Oct 24 2024 : Guest 103: 2/20
Oct 08 2024 : Guest 37: 12/20

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What was Isaac Asimov's first published novel?

Answer: Pebble in the Sky

'Pebble in the Sky' was published in 1950. 'Foundation' was published in 1951. 'The Stars, Like Dust' was also published in 1951. 'The Caves of Steel' was published in 1954.

2. How many books did Asimov write in the 'Foundation' series?

Answer: seven

In order of the series, 'Prelude to Foundation', 'Forward the Foundation', 'Foundation', 'Foundation and Empire', 'Second Foundation', 'Foundation's Edge', and 'Foundation and Earth'. He also wrote a number of other books that were set in the same universe, but not actually part of the 'Foundation' series.

3. Which company has Asimov published the most books with?

Answer: Doubleday

Of his first 200 books, Doubleday published 75.

4. Which robot novel does Gladia not appear in?

Answer: The Caves of Steel

Gladia first appears in 'The Naked Sun', the second robot novel. 'The Caves of Steel' is the first.

5. This author novelized one of Asimov's short stories.

Answer: Robert Silverberg

Robert Silverberg novelizes Asimov's short story 'The Bicentennial Man'. David Brin wrote 'Foundation and Chaos', an add-on to the Foundation series. Harlan Ellison was a friend of Isaac's from the Science Fiction community. Martin Harry Greenberg was an editor of his.

6. In the Empire novels, the Earth is less habitable than most planets. Why?

Answer: radioactivity

The reason for Earth's radioactivity is revealed in "Robots and Empire".

7. In the galactic empire, who was the commissioner of public safety?

Answer: Linge Chen

Cleon was an emperor. Farad Sinter appears in 'Foundation and Chaos' by Greg Bear as the commissioner of general security. Lors Avakim was a lawyer hired by Seldon to defend Gaal Dornick.

8. How many Spacer Worlds are there?

Answer: 50

Aurora was the first Spacer world settled. Solaria, the 50th, was the last.

9. Where does 'Pebble in the Sky' take place?

Answer: Chicago

The name has changed slightly over the centuries to Chica.

10. In 'I, Robot', there is one instance where Susan Calvin puts on make-up; why?

Answer: She has been lied to

This is in the story 'Liar'. Susan Calvin shows a brief bit of humanity in this story, compared to her usual demeanor.

11. What was the seat of power in the Galactic Empire?

Answer: Trantor

Trantor is entirely covered by cities. Most of the cities are in fact underground.

12. The titles for the two books of Asimov's biography come from this poem. 'In memory yet green, in joy still felt, The scenes of life rise sharply into view. We {triumph;} Life's disasters are undealt, And while all else is old, the world is new'. Who wrote it?

Answer: Asimov

Doubleday spent some time looking for the author, and finally asked Asimov himself, who revealed he had written it. This didn't sit well, so they published it as being written by anon.

13. What superpower does the Second Foundation possess?

Answer: Mental control

The second Foundation possesses mental powers. With these powers they are able to sway the opinions and actions of others to further the Seldon Plan.

14. Across his robot books, Asimov explores all these issues about robots EXCEPT:

Answer: Trying to murder all humans

In 'Bicentennial Man', Asimov explores the issue of a robot trying to become human. Cutie the robot starts a religion in 'Reason', and Speedy the robot acts drunk on Mercury in 'Runaround'.

15. Under the three laws of robotics(assuming the other laws are not in effect), which of these is a robot able to do?

Answer: Kill another robot

The first law prevents a robot from harming humans. The second law requires a robot to obey orders from a human, except in cases where it would violate the first law. The third law says that a robot cannot injure itself, except where that violates the first two laws.

16. The denizens of the Caves of Steel suffer from this:

Answer: agoraphobia

They lived all of there lives and were afraid of the outdoors. Acrophobia is fear of heights, claustrophobia is fear of closed spaces, and arachnophobia is fear of spiders.

17. Who created psychohistory?

Answer: Hari Seldon

It is established that Hari Seldon created psychohistory in the Foundation trilogy. Details of the creation are supplied in 'Prelude to Foundation' and 'Forward the Foundation'.

18. Which of these did Asimov not publish an annotated version of?

Answer: Shakespeare's plays

While Asimov published a guide to Shakespeare, coincidently know as 'Asimov's Guide to Shakespeare', it didn't contain the full text of his plays and thus wasn't an annotation.

19. What is Lucky Starr's first name?

Answer: David

His full name is David Starr. The first Lucky Starr novel was titled, 'David Starr: Space Ranger'

20. Complete this memorable quote from Foundation. 'Violence is the last refuge of the...

Answer: incompetent

This aphorism is often said by Salvor Hardin.

Source: Author sean5789

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor LadyCaitriona before going online.
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