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docmon2025's review against another edition
2.0
I haven't read much classic science fiction, and have set out to try to rectify that. This title comes up a lot in that context. But I didn't appreciate this story perhaps as much as others do. I think part of that is that it is a product of the time in which it was written. Also, the story stalls out and the ending feels anti-climactic. I finished the book out of curiosity and simply the reputation of the book.
The book moves slowly. Forty years ago, an author had the luxury of developing characters and setting up the story. Today, we expect a faster-paced story. Characters had discussions about what was happening (instead of things happening) and much time was spent on the history of the project they were working on. It feels like a lot of time passes before anything really happens, although I won't say the story doesn't start right away.
The story leans heavily on dialogue, but the dialogue often didn't seem to be relevant to the larger story. My bigger problem was that the dialogue doesn't feel authentic. It felt like the characters were reciting lines, and often they were rather melodramatic. Because of that, it was hard to ever get fully engrossed in the story.
This novel is more like three connected but separate short stories. Because we get a new set of characters in each part, we have to start all over again with some characterization and set up. So it slows down again with each new part.
Part 2 is odd, especially at first. The aliens are so well crafted as *alien* that I had trouble relating to the characters. I was just observing. Eventually, things start happening, just when I thought I might skim, and connecting to the end of part 1.
Part 3 seems to jump ahead in time a bit. This part involves mostly new characters. We only see one character again from the beginning.
One side note: the Lunar culture is portrayed as having already shed many cultural conventions of those living on Earth, including wearing clothes. I've noticed this trend in books written at the same time. There seems to have been this idea that in the future certain cultural conventions would just be set aside by most of the population because they served no practical purpose. There was no sense of the force of culture itself, the hold that culture has on the psyche. Those that grew up on the moon were raised by those who grew up in an Earth culture, or who were themselves raised by those from Earth, and so would still be raised within an Earth-based culture. In two generations, they would not feel so separate as to feel no need for clothes simply because their environment is controlled. The clothes we wear are part of every Earth culture. They do not have a solely practical purpose. They define you as part of a culture. People don't shed culture so quickly. Clothing would adapt and evolve but not be abandoned. It makes this all seem a little ridiculous.
Part 3 was the most ambiguous and slow moving of the three. There was something happening, but in increments. Small steps, a hint in one conversation, a small revelation in another. Many conversations seem unrelated or shrouded in mysteries that aren't really resolved. It really just got tedious and I just wanted to be finished. Sorry, not my cup of tea, I guess.
The book moves slowly. Forty years ago, an author had the luxury of developing characters and setting up the story. Today, we expect a faster-paced story. Characters had discussions about what was happening (instead of things happening) and much time was spent on the history of the project they were working on. It feels like a lot of time passes before anything really happens, although I won't say the story doesn't start right away.
The story leans heavily on dialogue, but the dialogue often didn't seem to be relevant to the larger story. My bigger problem was that the dialogue doesn't feel authentic. It felt like the characters were reciting lines, and often they were rather melodramatic. Because of that, it was hard to ever get fully engrossed in the story.
This novel is more like three connected but separate short stories. Because we get a new set of characters in each part, we have to start all over again with some characterization and set up. So it slows down again with each new part.
Spoiler
Part 1 seems to be the set up of the problem. The scientists discover the communication with the other universe and that it can supply endless free energy. We meet the scientists involved in the discovery and the discovery by one of them that this energy might not be so free after all.Part 2 is odd, especially at first. The aliens are so well crafted as *alien* that I had trouble relating to the characters. I was just observing. Eventually, things start happening, just when I thought I might skim, and connecting to the end of part 1.
Part 3 seems to jump ahead in time a bit. This part involves mostly new characters. We only see one character again from the beginning.
One side note: the Lunar culture is portrayed as having already shed many cultural conventions of those living on Earth, including wearing clothes. I've noticed this trend in books written at the same time. There seems to have been this idea that in the future certain cultural conventions would just be set aside by most of the population because they served no practical purpose. There was no sense of the force of culture itself, the hold that culture has on the psyche. Those that grew up on the moon were raised by those who grew up in an Earth culture, or who were themselves raised by those from Earth, and so would still be raised within an Earth-based culture. In two generations, they would not feel so separate as to feel no need for clothes simply because their environment is controlled. The clothes we wear are part of every Earth culture. They do not have a solely practical purpose. They define you as part of a culture. People don't shed culture so quickly. Clothing would adapt and evolve but not be abandoned. It makes this all seem a little ridiculous.
Part 3 was the most ambiguous and slow moving of the three. There was something happening, but in increments. Small steps, a hint in one conversation, a small revelation in another. Many conversations seem unrelated or shrouded in mysteries that aren't really resolved. It really just got tedious and I just wanted to be finished. Sorry, not my cup of tea, I guess.
lordbyrum's review against another edition
5.0
Audiobook: 4.5/5
"The easiest way to solve a problem is to deny it exists."
So this is the first Asimov book I have read and I was incredibly impressed. This is a near piece of perfect hard science fiction. I was expecting something with a more classic feel and though there were elements of this, I found the science and political aspects to be completely grounded. This book felt very appropriate to the current American political and scientific landscape in which technological progression is always projected as good and rarely questioned. Our need for boundless energy is overcoming our self preservation. We tend to uplift minds whom give us what we want and demonize minds who tell us what we do not want to hear. I highly recommend this book for skeptics of science and those who fully rely on it for their livelihood.
"The easiest way to solve a problem is to deny it exists."
So this is the first Asimov book I have read and I was incredibly impressed. This is a near piece of perfect hard science fiction. I was expecting something with a more classic feel and though there were elements of this, I found the science and political aspects to be completely grounded. This book felt very appropriate to the current American political and scientific landscape in which technological progression is always projected as good and rarely questioned. Our need for boundless energy is overcoming our self preservation. We tend to uplift minds whom give us what we want and demonize minds who tell us what we do not want to hear. I highly recommend this book for skeptics of science and those who fully rely on it for their livelihood.
koberreads's review against another edition
Too slow and technical for my taste. The words are so hard to penetrate
art_monkey's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
4.5
Fantastic book! This was my first Asimov read, and it definitely lived up to the hype. The central theme, which explores the dangers of rushing technological advancements (“free” energy) fueled by greed and vanity, while ignoring long-term consequences ( blowing up the sun), feels just as relevant today, especially when talking about climate change.
I loved second part exploring a completely alien society, yet it felt familiar. That's what makes great science fiction—describing something that doesn't exist, but making it feel completely believable!
I loved second part exploring a completely alien society, yet it felt familiar. That's what makes great science fiction—describing something that doesn't exist, but making it feel completely believable!
ltgallant's review against another edition
4.0
Like all Asimov books I felt it didn’t really get to the exciting conclusion it was building up to. However it was unique and I enjoyed it. I actually think I liked the weird para universe part the best.
ksatoh's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
firstwords's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. Having previously read the trilogy of The Three-Body Problem, this is almost an earlier, simplified version. It's Asimov, so if you've read him, it will be very familiar. I would say that if you read Three-Body and want to pick up something not as amazing, and done in the shorter traditional pulp sci-fi format, but that explores similar themes, you will enjoy this.
pmsavola's review against another edition
4.0
This was a five-star book 2/3s of the way. The last part felt disappointing: rushed and superficial. Still, it’s a commendable book with themes that feel ever more relevant today. Won’t be my last Asimov, I enjoy his style of writing and creativity.
barelycarebear's review against another edition
4.0
Erred on the side of a four-star rating based on the strength of the middle section, which was interesting and imaginative.
The first section was necessary to set things up but felt a little longer than needed.
The last section was definitely stretched way out by too much preoccupation with boobs on the moon.
The first section was necessary to set things up but felt a little longer than needed.
The last section was definitely stretched way out by too much preoccupation with boobs on the moon.
icesloth's review against another edition
4.0
All was good but the second section.
"To mankind, and the hope that the war against folly may someday be won after all" Isaac Asimov.
Sorry, Mr. Asimov no hope yet in 2020.
"To mankind, and the hope that the war against folly may someday be won after all" Isaac Asimov.
Sorry, Mr. Asimov no hope yet in 2020.