Isaac Asimov to Planet Stories, Jan 1951

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Letter to Planet Stories, Jan 1951 (1951)
by Isaac Asimov
4129051Letter to Planet Stories, Jan 19511951Isaac Asimov
One—Two 762 Broadway
Somerville 44
Massachusetts

Dear Jerry:

Concerning C. Stewart Metchette's speculations on the origin of "Kalgan" as the name of a planet:

I did not consciously borrow Doc Smith's name. When I wrote "The Mule" in 1945, I needed a name for a planet. It was wartime and there was a large map of the Far East on the wall. Kalgan was on the map. It is the name of a sizable city in the province of Chahar (Inner Mongolia), which is located about one hundred miles northwest of Peking. It sounded like a good name, so I used it.

Concerning Mitchell M. Badler's speculations on the presumed identity of Mr. Coppel and myself:

Sorry, but Mr. Coppel is not me. Except for one extremely short piece long, long ago, I have never used a pseudonym. And thank you, Mr. Badler, for your kind words about the Foundation stories.

Very truly yours,
Isaac Asimov.

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Works published in 1950 could have had their copyright renewed in 1977 or 1978, i.e. between January 1st of the 27th year after publication or registration and December 31st of the 28th year. As this work's copyright was not renewed, it entered the public domain on January 1st, 1979.


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