Isaac Asimov is one of the best known names in speculative fiction. I Robot, Foundation, and many other works are staples of the genre that many say are required reading. But there are those who are critical of his writing technique, such as the use of dialog, lack of scenery description, and lack of character depth. On the other hand, many of his stories were ground breaking idea pieces, and many of those are still well worth reading. The sheer volume of his work is most impressive.
Please use the comments feature below to add your thoughts as to which works of Asimov's you would recommend to a newcomer to speculative fiction. Please include reasons why you find the works and/or the author's writing more generally appealing.