From: Damien Broderick (d.broderick@english.unimelb.edu.au)
Date: Sun Dec 19 1999 - 14:08:09 MST
At 12:19 PM 18/12/99 -0800, Hal wrote:
>Yes, I think the story was motivated by the U.S. Bicentennial celebration
>in 1976, hence the name.
Indeed it was.
>Back in the 1970s I don't recall anyone complaining that the ending was
>immoral, actually celebrating the loss to the world of such a gifted
>individual as Andrew as though it were a good thing. It was an award
>winning story, widely admired as one of Asimov's most brilliant and
>moving.
True, alas, but partly that was a sentimental response to Asimov's return
to the genre.
I thought the novella was maudlin horseshit, and didn't keep this opinion
to myself.
Damien Broderick
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