Isaac Asimov was one of the most eclectic science fiction writers of all time, and while many readers know his most iconic works, such as Foundation, Galactic Empire, Bicentennial Man, I, Robot, etc., the author had a massive collection of stories that have gone largely overlooked due to the success of his most popular releases.

Throughout his prolific career, Asimov ventured far beyond the robots and sprawling future histories that have become extremely popular after the recent Apple TV Foundation series, experimenting with elaborate mysteries, social satire, and everything in between. Many of these stories originally appeared in science fiction magazines before being collected in anthologies that never got quite the same level of attention as his landmark novels.

However, some of Asimov’s most inventive concepts and memorable endings are buried in the forgotten corners of his bibliography. For readers who think they’ve already experienced the author’s best work, these five overlooked gems prove just how far ahead of his time Asimov truly was, and they’re well worth tracking down.

Good Taste (1976)

Originally published in 1976 as a limited-edition standalone release from Apocalypse Press, “Good Taste” is one of Asimov’s more unusual science fiction stories, exploring humanity’s relationship with food in a distant, Earth-based future.

The story follows Chawker Minor, a young man returning to his home on Gammer, an artificial habitat near the Moon, after traveling to Earth and other nearby space colonies. Gammer’s residents specialize in sophisticated, artificially engineered food flavors, looking down on naturally grown ingredients as primitive. However, Chawker decides to challenge these conventions by entering a prestigious culinary competition with a revolutionary new idea and a “secret” ingredient (spoiler alert: it’s just garlic).

Interestingly, “Good Taste” also predates several important ideas in Asimov’s wider science fiction universe. Gammer’s isolated society looks strangely similar to the Earth-averse Spacer civilizations explored in his Robot series, while Nemesis similarly explores humanity’s early space colonies. More significantly, the story introduces the engineered food fans will recognize from Mycogen, a district of Trantor introduced in Prelude to Foundation.

Descended from ancient Spacers, Mycogen’s inhabitants specialize in producing valuable microfoods, making this technology central to their economy and culture. This connection even extends to Apple TV’s Foundation, with Season 3 explicitly referencing Mycogen’s production of algae, fungi, spores, yeast, etc.

Each An Explorer (1956)

Originally published in the August 1956 issue of Future Science Fiction, “Each an Explorer” follows two interstellar explorers, Chouns and Smith, who discover a primitive alien civilization (or so it seems) that ends up possessing surprisingly advanced technology. Their investigation leads them to another nearby planet, where they encounter an equally mysterious society and begin questioning how these supposedly underdeveloped species got their hands on such sophisticated technologies.

Their somewhat mundane adventure turns into something far more sinister, culminating in a disturbing revelation about the true intelligence controlling these alien worlds. One of Asimov’s most inventive stories focused on alien life, “Each an Explorer” is an early hidden gem that longtime readers will love.

The story was later released in Buy Jupiter and Other Stories (1975) as well as the larger collection of Asimov’s work released in the 90s, the popular The Complete Stories, in the second volume. It’s one of the more obscure pieces from his long career, offering a uniquely unsettling take on extraterrestrial life at a time when alien encounters and invasions had already become staples of science fiction.

Obituary (1959)

One of Asimov’s more unusual science fiction mysteries, “Obituary” was originally published in the August 1959 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. The story follows Lancelot Stebbins, a brilliant but deeply resentful physicist who becomes obsessed with achieving the recognition he believes he deserves. After developing a novel method of manipulating time, Stebbins devises an elaborate scheme to fake his own death, allowing him to experience what happens in the aftermath of his passing, including his closest friends, family, and most notably, his wife’s reactions.

Interestingly, the story has a somewhat tragic and personal origin, where, after reading an obituary for his friend and fellow science fiction writer Cyril M. Kornbluth in The New York Times, Asimov admitted feeling envious of the attention Kornbluth received. He realized he would never know what people would say about him after his death, and nine months later, he filtered his feelings into “Obituary” (though I don’t think he had much to worry about given his legacy as one of the greatest sci-fi authors of all time).

Beyond its fascinating origins, the story is also notable for its unusual narrative perspective. Asimov later explained in his autobiography that it was the only story he had written from a female narrator’s POV, with the events recounted by Stebbins’ increasingly unhappy wife. Combining dark humor, speculative sci-fi, and an ingenious mystery plot, “Obituary” showcases a very different side of Asimov’s storytelling.

No Connection (1948)

Written in May 1947 and first published in the June 1948 issue of Astounding Science Fiction, “No Connection” came out at an interesting point in Isaac Asimov’s early career. He had already established himself through the serialized Foundation stories and his pioneering work on the Robot series, although neither had yet been published as full books yet. “No Connection” was actually his first story unrelated to either series in more than two years at the time it came out.

Set roughly ten million years after humanity’s extinction, the story imagines an Earth where intelligent bears have inherited the planet. These descendants, known as “Gurrow sapiens,” inhabit North America and have developed a largely peaceful, cooperative civilization, sharing resources and advancing technologically.

Readers follow Raph, a Gurrow archaeologist investigating evidence of an ancient, extinct species he calls “Primate Primeval” (aka humans). His discoveries become increasingly troubling when another intelligent race, apparently descended from chimpanzees, arrives from across the ocean. Unlike the Gurrows, these newcomers possess advanced military technology and are decidely more hostile.

As Raph investigates the remnants of Earth’s forgotten civilization, he begins to suspect that the original primates, humanity, may have destroyed themselves through nuclear warfare, though Asimov keeps this ambiguous and even raises the disturbing possibility that history could repeat itself.

The Winnowing (1976)

Arguably one of the most underrated Asimov stories ever written, “The Winnowing” was originally published in the February 1976 issue of Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact, before appearing in Asimov’s own The Bicentennial Man and Other Stories later that year. Unfortunately, it was largely overshadowed by the collection’s titular story, which would go on to win both Hugo and Nebula Awards.

Set in a dystopian version of 2005, “The Winnowing” imagines a world devastated by overpopulation and widespread famine. Desperate to prevent humanity’s collapse, the World Food Organization devises a horrifying solution: secretly introducing deadly biological agents into food supplies, potentially eliminating billions of people. When biochemist Aaron Rodman refuses to cooperate, officials threaten his family to force him to comply.

Beyond its disturbing premise, “The Winnowing” is a poignant examination of the dark implications of population-control policies and environmental extremism. Written during an era when fears of overpopulation were widespread, the story challenges the idea that humanity’s survival can justify the death of thousands.

The story is still relevant in modern environmental-policy debates, including those surrounding international climate summits like COP, particularly concerning who determines which sacrifices are necessary and who must bear the consequences. However, it’s worth noting that Asimov’s fictional program of mass extermination is fundamentally different from the climate policies negotiated at these conferences.

Ultimately, “The Winnowing” stands out for its willingness to confront the uncomfortable moral consequences of supposedly rational solutions, culminating in one of Asimov’s most unsettling endings and a prime example of one of his stories that even longtime fans probably haven’t read.