Isaac Asimov: The Last Question (1956)

#1

Post by ColinWright » Fri, Apr 17, 2026, 12:01 PM UTC

Isaac Asimov: The Last Question (1956)
hex.ooo

Re: Isaac Asimov: The Last Question (1956)

#2

Post by jasongill » Fri, Apr 17, 2026, 12:44 PM UTC

This is one of those stories, just like the SR-71 "ground speed check" story, that every single time I see it posted I just have to read the entire thing again. I love it.

Re: Isaac Asimov: The Last Question (1956)

#3

Post by charv » Fri, Apr 17, 2026, 12:44 PM UTC

All time great short story. Has shaped my world view since I first read it many years ago.

Re: Isaac Asimov: The Last Question (1956)

#4

Post by markus_zhang » Fri, Apr 17, 2026, 12:47 PM UTC

jasongill wrote: post #2

This is one of those stories, just like the SR-71 "ground speed check" story, that every single time I see it posted I just have to read the entire thing again. I love it.

How about this one?

https://www.haiku-os.org/legacy-docs/benewsletter/Issue4-8.h...

Re: Isaac Asimov: The Last Question (1956)

#5

Post by Aliyekta » Fri, Apr 17, 2026, 12:51 PM UTC

Claude Mythos

Re: Isaac Asimov: The Last Question (1956)

#6

Post by moffers » Fri, Apr 17, 2026, 12:55 PM UTC

My favorite short story of all time. Between this and Deep Thought in HHGttG, I couldn’t believe the prescience when the bitter lesson was learned and LLMs and GPUs started eating the world.

Re: Isaac Asimov: The Last Question (1956)

#7

Post by sebg » Fri, Apr 17, 2026, 12:58 PM UTC

Lots of good comments over the years -> https://hn.algolia.com/?q=%09Isaac+Asimov%3A+The+Last+Questi...

Re: Isaac Asimov: The Last Question (1956)

#8

Post by bitshiftfaced » Fri, Apr 17, 2026, 1:03 PM UTC

For a while I thought I really liked sci fi novels and short stories, and maybe that's somewhat true. But I've started wondering if maybe I just liked Asimov's writing in particular. Other writers in the genre are more hit or miss. Can anyone recommend other writers that are on his level?

Re: Isaac Asimov: The Last Question (1956)

#9

Post by boxed » Fri, Apr 17, 2026, 1:05 PM UTC

bitshiftfaced wrote: post #8

For a while I thought I really liked sci fi novels and short stories, and maybe that's somewhat true. But I've started wondering if maybe I just liked Asimov's writing in particular. Other writers in the genre are more hit or miss. Can anyone recommend other writers that are on his level?

I mean.. a genre can't be all hits, that makes no sense :P

If you want good sci-fi a good list can be:

- Ender's Game

- The Martian + Project Hail Mary

- A Fire Upon the Deep

- Dune

Re: Isaac Asimov: The Last Question (1956)

#10

Post by jakeinspace » Fri, Apr 17, 2026, 1:05 PM UTC

bitshiftfaced wrote: post #8

For a while I thought I really liked sci fi novels and short stories, and maybe that's somewhat true. But I've started wondering if maybe I just liked Asimov's writing in particular. Other writers in the genre are more hit or miss. Can anyone recommend other writers that are on his level?

Stanislaw Lem, if you can handle something a little more poetic and less strictly hard sci-fi.