The Last Question by Isaac Asimov

Nov 12, 2017 6:09 PM

TheNealRigga

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Here is the link to the story for conveniency : http://multivax.com/last_question.html
#shortstory #scifi FP edit: Flood my inbox!!! I’m bored.

Dammit that was beautiful

8 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

This post lasted me both last nights and this mornings bathroom time. Now that is a quality dump +1

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I utterly love this story. I know how it goes and how it ends but I still love it.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Here is Leonard Nimoy narrating it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XOtx4sa9k4

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

If Issac could see us now.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

One of the best sci-fi stories ever. Thanks for posting it; I haven’t read this for almost twenty years.

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

this is amazing. Thank you for sharing

8 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

I remember listening to this in X-1, I think. The last bit always gives me chills

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

. so I can read it while not at work

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

AC show me little person dressed as a nun porn...

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3U30wSAV4Q read by the man himself.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

+1 for the feels. Thanks!

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

One of my all-time favorites.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

I read this as a kid and those last line really stuck with me, even now give me chills.

5 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

8 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

Why is this so damn funny to me?!

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

@OP, don't forget to give a shout to "The Last Answer", also by Isaac Asimov http://www.thrivenotes.com/the-last-answer/

8 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

I didn't know this. Thanks. Another one in my list!

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Dottity dot dot.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

*

7 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I read this story almost 60 years ago. I think about it many times a year.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

You are at least twice old as me.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

If you liked this, I highly recommend the short stories by Arthur C. Clarke. The Nine Billion Names Of God is one that I like.

8 years ago | Likes 17 Dislikes 0

Dot.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

There is a collection of his short stories called that. Highly recommended. Plus: "Tales of the White Hart."

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I am replying as a reminder to myself to read these, thank you for posting them!

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

And don't forget "The Last Answer", also by Isaac Asimov http://www.thrivenotes.com/the-last-answer/

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

that's the one (alongside rendezvous with rama) that i always recommend.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I wrote an analysis of this and his other works for one of my classes in college. Good stuff.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Did you post it anywhere? Would love to read it!

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Unfortunately the only copy resides in my prof's undoubtedly messy office.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Dayumm!

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

What about the first question? That aside, this was awesome, credit to whoever wrote it, and to the OP for sharing it.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Isaac Asimov is the writer.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Thank you! In retrospect, I suppose it is the sort of thing he does.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Fuck yeah old science fiction

8 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 0

And somehow it still feels timeless and forever relevant to the worries of mankind

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Asimov has an insane knack for getting little predictions right that make his work seem like modern day sci-fi.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

One of my favourite short stories

8 years ago | Likes 341 Dislikes 0

This was great. Had never seen it before.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

"The Egg" by Andy Weir is a favorite of mine. http://www.galactanet.com/oneoff/theegg_mod.html

8 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Just read it. what a great story!

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

one of the best of all time, in my opinion!

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

You call that short? I thought it wasn’t going to end.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

And don't forget "The Last Answer", also by Isaac Asimov http://www.thrivenotes.com/the-last-answer/

8 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Let me check it out!

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Along with "A Sound of Thunder" by Bradbury

8 years ago | Likes 39 Dislikes 0

.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

.

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

That was the one that hooked me on sci fi

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Gotta read that now!!!! Thanks.

8 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

dot dot dot motherfucker. know what im gonna read now! :P

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Soooo good.

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Of all the times I've seen this it's only been the 1st section. Thx, fiiiinally got to read the whole thing

8 years ago | Likes 83 Dislikes 0

There's a great comic version floating around that I've seen a couple times. Don't know the name of it though I'm afraid

8 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 1

Initially, I felt that it was too long to post but then I thought it's too good not to share with other people.

8 years ago | Likes 44 Dislikes 0

The comic version is even better

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Always share. I love Asimov

8 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

To not to**

8 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

I never realized there was more to it

8 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Thanks for posting this. I had not read it before.

8 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

:)

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I also want to thank you as well, good looking out bruh

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Tl;dr How to jumpstart a new existence in under 100 trillion years.

8 years ago | Likes 605 Dislikes 1

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8 years ago (deleted Oct 21, 2024 11:29 PM) | Likes 0 Dislikes 0

well I guess I'm reading this twice now

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

+ a couple timeless intervals

8 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Using this one weird trick!

8 years ago | Likes 72 Dislikes 0

Doctors hate it!

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Omnipotent beings hate him!

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Monotheistic deities hate him!

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Assuming hyperspace exists. I prefer the multiverse theory that entails escaping to another universe.

8 years ago | Likes 27 Dislikes 2

Sadly the actual physics requires there to be literally no way to cross over. I hate how many gloss over that fact of the hypothesis.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

How so?

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

The entire theory requires that parallel realities is where gravity "leaks". But no matter, or other forces can get through.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

No way to disprove and isn't really required to fit known reality so it's not really science yet or maybe ever.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

But eventually you'll run out of universes. Back to the entropy question...

8 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

Possibly. If there's a multiverse, why not an omniverse? Assuming infinity doesn't exist

8 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Or, rather, if the multiverse weren't infinite. More of an infinite nesting doll situation

8 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Also, escaping into deeper and deeper artificial realities such that all Time effectively dilates to infinity.

8 years ago | Likes 14 Dislikes 0

Ah, but not forever :)

8 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

I hadn't considered that about simulation theory, though.

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

True, i guess you'd have to assume the net dilation effect has to at least "break even" with however much time we'd have left. >>>

8 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

>>> 50 billion years left on the clock > escape to simulation that gives us at least 100 billion > repeat in another 50 billion years

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0