Isaac Asimov is one of the most recognizable names in science fiction, known for his Foundation novels, robot stories and hundreds of books covering subjects ranging from astronomy to history. His younger brother Stanley Asimov followed a different writing career, spending approximately 40 years at Newsday and eventually becoming one of the newspaper’s top executives.
Stanley, who lived in Roslyn Heights, began working at Newsday in 1952 as a political reporter. Over the following decades, he held a succession of editorial and management positions before becoming vice president for editorial administration.
From Brooklyn to Newsday
Stanley Asimov was born in Brooklyn on July 25, 1929, the youngest child of Judah and Anna Rachel Asimov, Russian immigrants who operated candy stores in Brooklyn. His older brother Isaac had been born in Russia in 1920 and arrived in the United States with their parents in 1923.
The family’s candy stores figured prominently in Isaac’s childhood and early interest in science fiction. The stores sold pulp magazines, including the science fiction publications that helped introduce him to the genre in which he would become famous.
Stanley pursued journalism, graduating from New York University in 1951 and earning a master’s degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in 1952. That same year, he joined Newsday, beginning a newspaper career that would last approximately four decades.
A Four-Decade Career at Newsday
Stanley started as a political reporter and copy editor before moving into newsroom management. He became assistant night city editor in 1957, night city editor in 1960, news editor in 1962 and assistant managing editor in 1967.
By the late 1960s, he had moved into the newspaper’s publishing administration. He subsequently held executive positions, including vice president for development and vice president for editorial administration.
His work also extended into journalism education. He taught at New York University and served on the adjunct faculty of Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, where he had completed his own journalism education.
When Isaac Asimov died on April 6, 1992, Stanley was among the family members who provided information to the press. Contemporary newspaper coverage identified him as a Newsday vice president when reporting his famous brother’s death.
Preserving Isaac Asimov’s Letters
Following Isaac’s death, Stanley undertook a substantial literary project involving his brother’s correspondence. Isaac had written more than 470 books during his lifetime, but he was also an extraordinarily prolific letter writer.
According to publisher Doubleday, Isaac received more than 100,000 letters during his professional career and answered more than 90,000 of them. The correspondence included exchanges with readers, fellow writers, scientists, public figures and fans around the world.
Stanley spent two years examining and organizing more than half a ton of his brother’s letters. He eventually selected excerpts from approximately 1,000 previously unpublished letters, arranging them by subject and adding introductions.
The resulting book, Yours, Isaac Asimov: A Lifetime of Letters, was published by Doubleday in 1995. It offered readers a look at Isaac’s personal correspondence, including his thoughts on writing, science fiction, everyday life and his relationships with readers.
Stanley completed the project before his death from leukemia on August 16, 1995, at age 66. The collection was published posthumously, preserving a substantial portion of Isaac’s correspondence through the editorial work of his younger brother.
Another Generation of Asimov Journalists
Journalism also became a profession for Stanley’s children. His son Eric Asimov became a prominent food and wine journalist at The New York Times, while his daughter Nanette Asimov pursued a newspaper reporting career that included work at the San Francisco Chronicle.
Eric was born in Bethpage in 1957, providing another connection between the Asimov family and Long Island. He later became known for his restaurant criticism and wine writing.
Although Isaac remains by far the best-known member of the family, Stanley established a lengthy career in newspaper journalism and publishing. His work at Newsday and his subsequent editing of Isaac’s letters connected two branches of the family’s writing history, one rooted in daily journalism and the other in science fiction and popular science.
Photo: Cover of Yours, Isaac Asimov: A Lifetime of Letters, a collection of the science fiction author’s correspondence edited by his brother Stanley Asimov and published in 1995. (Doubleday)
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