2005 / July 29^th/ Isaac Asimov: The Stars, Like Dust

If you’re as big of a sucker for epic-like science fiction stories as I am, you’ll definately enjoy The Stars, Like Dust. It rings true to Isaac Asimov’s writing style with a story that just keeps sucking you back in. I found myself discarding homework and delaying sleep just to finish this delightfully short read.

A little about Asimov’s writing style

If you’ve never read an Isaac Asimov book, you’re definately missing out. Unlike a lot of science fiction authors out there, Isaac weighs more on the science side of things than the fiction. While his stories are fictional, he researches his books thoughly - down to the Star type and the composition of the possible planets. He even goes as far as to correct his mistakes - for example, let’s take this little apology at the end of the book:

The Stars, Like Dust - was written and first published in 1950. At that time, we did not know as much about planetary atmospheres as we do now. in Chapter 17, I speak of a lifeless world as possessing nitrogen and oxygen, but no carbon dioxide. It seems now quite certain, that a lifeless “E-type” world (a small and rocky one, like Earth, that is relatively close to its star ) would, if it possessed an atmosphere, have one that was made up of nitrogen and carbon dioxide, but no oxygen.

I can’t change Chapter 17 appropriately without having to rewrite a great deal of the book, so I will ask you to suspend your disbelief in this respect and enjoy the book (assuming you do) on its own terms.

I suppose that’s why I really love Asimov’s books. He takes things down to the finest detail, and my critical mind is always looking for the hole in the story that makes it unplasable.

Back to the book, damnit

So what can one say without ruining the storyline? It’s about a young boy suddenly thrown into a world he knew nothing of, and forced to deal with the realities of life and love all at once. There’s also some heavy political slants in this book, which is what made the book so interesting to me. Instead of taking the fiction part of science-fiction to the extent of warp-speed and phasers, Asimov chose to create a galaxy ruled by a Tyranny, called the Tyranni (from Tyrann) appropriately. Looking correllations between this mythical government and our own world’s history is what makes this book worth while.

My only complaint about the book is the “I knew what you were doing all along” kind of tone it takes. Sometimes people are just a bit too perceptive, and things turn out a little too coincidental. It also smells a little of the cheesy romantic comedy type sub-plot as well. All in all though, I would suggest it to anyone for a fun read.

1. 

   Patrick McGinley

   September 26^th | #

   The only standout part of “The Stars like Dust” is the poem spoken by Biron when he goes EVA between the stars.

   The Stars like dust encirle me
   And bathe me with their light,
   As though all space and time I see,
   In one great burst of sight.

2. 

   Nathanael

   September 10^th | #

   Interesting…

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