Three TLS from Asimov to Ackerman About Foundation

Three Typed Letters, Signed, Regarding the Foundation Trilogy [TLS]

Asimov, Isaac

Publication: Massachusetts: 1954.

Notes: Three fine letters from Asimov to Forrest J. Ackerman (the avid promoter of science fiction fandom, literary agent for many early SF authors, and coiner of the term sci-fi) about Swedish translation rights to the Foundation stories.

Apparently, Ackerman was looking to represent Asimov on European translations of his work. Asimov, who represented himself with publishers, is open to the idea but is very particular about the details.

In the first letter, dated 19 February 1954 (about 200 words, signed "Isaac" above the typed word "Asimov"), Asimov explains that the early Foundation stories belong to the magazine Astounding Science Fiction, which acquired all rights to the work it published. The stories, assembled as the Foundation trilogy, would have to be licensed from Gnome Press. For the stories to which he controlled the rights, Asimov wanted more details about the proposed 1/4-cent per word fee. Asimov realized that this whole thing was likely becoming more difficult than Ackerman expected when he proposed the idea, and Asimov closes with some of his distinctive humor, "Sorry to be so business-like and all that, but this is Asimov the agent talking. (I have but one client but he is Asimov the writer, and he is dear to my heart.)"

The next letter, dated 4 March 1954 (about 175 words, signed "Isaac" above the typed word "Asimov"), continues in a similar vein. "I'm afraid as you get to know me still better, you will begin to grow weary," Asimov explains, noting that Frederick Pohl had tried to be his agent "and one of his [Pohl's] grievances against me is that I was forever sending long letters..." Street & Street, the publisher of Astounding, agreed to the Swedish publication of the first Foundation story and they generously told Ackerman to pay Asimov the fee (which legally belonged to Astounding). Asimov calculates the amount due as $32, which he hand-corrects to $31.50, "which minus your $5, leaves $27 [corrected to $26.50) for me, instead of my erroneous first figure of $25. (See, all the mishmash I make over $2 [corrected to $1.50])."

The final letter in this series, from 27 September 1954 (about 250 words, signed "Isaac" next to the typed word "Asimov"), seemingly rejects Ackerman's offer to be Asimov's literary agent: "I'm still having so much fun being my own agent, that I can't bear to let anyone else horn in for the while." However, Asimov agrees to grant Ackerman the right to arrange publication of various Asimov short stories in the Swedish SF magazine Hapna. He also asks about two Italian translations that Ackerman arranged. "I await them most anxiously," Asimov writes, adding the word "Important" in blue ink in the margin.

Ackerman adds a typed note to the editor of Hapna at the top of Asimov's letter asking him to review the letter for proof of his right to arrange the Swedish publication and asking for the letter to be returned which, apparently, it was.

A nice group of letters from early in Asimov's career, offering both details about the international distribution of his best-known work and showing his fastidiousness over the details of publishing.

Edition + Condition: All three letters folded for mailing, but otherwise fine.

Item No: #364158

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