Festival 42

Classic author Isaac Asimov has been one of the main gateways to science fiction for several generations now. In fact, Duna Llibres recently breathed new life into his work by translating the Foundation trilogy. His simple style, which makes the underlying scientific principles accessible to all readers, is one of the keys to his popularity. On top of that, the mathematician’s extensive oeuvre – with titles like I, Robot – spans different subgenres, even featuring some hybridisation with noir fiction. For fans of the author’s work and new readers who want a crash course in science fiction, Montserrat Abelló Library offers the Asimov Foundation Collection, created in 2020 for the Asimov Year with some 3,500 items linked to his oeuvre, including both books and DVDs. The curator of the collection, David Alcoy, will talk about its unique characteristics. He will be accompanied by authors who have looked to Asimov for inspiration when writing: Carme Torras, a prominent novelist and robotics specialist who has won a host of Ictineu awards, and Lluís J. Salart, who has declared himself ‘a believer in Asimov above all else’. The talk, organised in collaboration with Montserrat Abelló Library, will be led by 42 Festival’s assistant curator, the cultural journalist Karen Madrid, who also sees Asimov as an essential author in order to understand and appreciate science fiction.

*Activity in collaboration with the Biblioteca Montserrat Abelló