The candy store, however, did eventually offer Asimov one distinct advantage. Its newspaper stand always contained the latest issues of the popular pulp magazines. Thus, the new science-fiction magazines were readily available to him. His only problem was that his father clearly did not approve of such reading material; he saw all pulp magazines no matter what their genre as mind rotting, and he had a healthy respect for his son's intelligence. It was years before Asimov was able to convince his father that he should be allowed to read the magazines, and then his father gave in with reluctance and a sense of frustration.
Asimov's thirst for science fiction followed a pattern that is typical of most fans: he read anything that held the barest promise of being science fiction. In his case, however, it must be added that he read almost anything, period. While Asimov's formal education extended to a Ph.D. in biochemistry, he was extensively self-educated as well. His broad reading extended his knowledge far beyond that of most men--however well educated--and prevented him from a narrowness of mind that often accompanies specialized degrees.
On 18 September 1938 Asimov attended his first meeting of the Futurians, one of the most celebrated of the early science-fiction fan clubs.
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