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From: Shiffman@GODZILLA.SCH.Symbolics.COM
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: Excerpt: "A Little Leaven", by Isaac Asimov, in F&SF
Message-ID: <3978@topaz.RUTGERS.EDU>
Date: Thu, 10-Oct-85 11:46:39 EDT
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Posted: Thu Oct 10 11:46:39 1985
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From: Hank Shiffman <Shiffman@GODZILLA.SCH.Symbolics.COM>

    Date: 8 Oct 85 02:16:12 GMT
    From: druri!dht@topaz.rutgers.edu (Davis Tucker)

    EXCERPT FROM: "A Little Leaven", by Isaac Asimov
    THE MAGAZINE OF FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION, 36th Anniversary Issue
    - OCT '85

    Well, where should one start? With the simple truth that the great
    Dr. A doesn't know jack about commas, and uses them in the wrong
    place at the wrong time? Or with his smug, egocentric male
    chauvinism toward his daughter, her "lovely co-worker", and his
    wife, whom he refuses to name? 

Ex-wife.  And, if his feelings on the subject as delivered in "In Memory
Yet Green" and "In Joy Still Felt" are to be accepted, he avoids
references to her more in sorrow than in anger.

As for his "smug, egocentric male chauvinism", how many men do you know
who are in the least objective about their offspring?  Where do you come
up with the idea that objectivity is even desireable in a parent?
Besides, having seen said daughter once a few years ago, I would say
that Asimov is being far from generous in his praise.  In simpler terms,
he did good.

					How about some- thing more
    substantive - like why in the hell is this vignette included in a
    science history article about the discovery of yeast? 

Why not?  As I recall from the days when I read F&SF regularly, the good
doctor always began his science column with some anecdote or personal
story.  In general, I found them at least as interesting as the rest of
the column.  When I've attended talks he has given, the subject has
generally been personal.  And the audience has eaten it up!  Maybe the
problem is that you can't stand the idea of someone being liked when it
isn't in direct proportion to the literary merits of their work.

    I just don't get it. Could somebody clue me in?

Doesn't surprise me in the least.  Personally, I doubt it.

    Davis Tucker