1.3 Where can I download Asimov's fiction on the net?
Description
This article is from the Isaac Asimov FAQ, by Edward J. Seiler ejseiler@earthlink.net and John H. Jenkins jenkins@mac.com with numerous contributions by others.
1.3 Where can I download Asimov's fiction on the net?
All of Asimov's work, fiction and non-fiction, was under copyright at the
time of the Good Doctor's death. Under current U.S. law, the copyrights
for his works published before 1978 will not expire until 95 years after
the copyrights were obtained, and those published from 1978 onward will
remain in effect for 70 years after his death. Thus these copyrights will
remain in effect until dates ranging from 2034 (for his first story
published in 1939), through 2072 (for works published in 1977), and works
published from 1978 onward will remain under copyright until 2062,
although the relevant laws may change between now and then.
As a result, none of Asimov's fiction is legally available on the net
without the permission of his estate.
Voyager, a company that published (among other things) excellent
soft-copies of literary works, produced electronic copies of
The Complete Stories , volumes one and two. These two books between them
include 86 pieces of Asimov's short fiction, including most of his best
stories. These used to be available for online purchase, but Voyager has
since been sold to Learn Technologies, and Learn will not be selling these
two titles.
Nothing else is currently available legally via the net. In particular,
none of the Foundation series can be downloaded.
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