FICTION

ISAAC ASIMOV: The Complete Stories, Vol. 1, by Isaac Asimov (Doubleday: $22.95; 614 pp.) . You’ve got to admire the audacity of a publisher who announces the annual publication of a collection of Isaac Asimov’s short stories, of which this is the first. With a writer of Asimov’s tirelessness--he’s had 440 books published--you have the feeling that the author will handily keep ahead of Doubleday in this venture. This initial collection, however, is a wonderful showcase for the science-fiction talents of this gifted storyteller--46 stories of unbridled, bordering on rampant, imagination. In tone, they range from the poignant “The Ugly Little Boy” to the scary “Nightfall” to the outrageous wit of “The Immortal Bard.” Asimov, just to keep the pace varied, even throws in an occasional parody of W. S. Gilbert. Whether you’re a long-time fan of this versatile author or have only recently come to the fold, “The Complete Stories, Volume 1” is an impressive introduction to what promises to be a long and well received series of anthologies.