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    The Stars, Like Dust
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    The Stars, Like Dust
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    The Stars, Like Dust
    Ebook323 pages4 hours

    The Stars, Like Dust

    By Isaac Asimov

    3.5/5

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    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    From science fiction grand master Isaac Asimov comes a stand-alone novel set in his renown galactic empire

    Biron Farrell was young and naïve, but he was growing up fast. A radiation bomb planted in his dorm room changed him from an innocent student at the University of Earth to a marked man, fleeing desperately from an unknown assassin.

    He soon discovers that, many light-years away, his father, the highly respected Rancher of Widemos, has been murdered. Stunned, grief-stricken, and outraged, Biron is determined to uncover the reasons behind his father's death, and becomes entangled in an intricate saga of rebellion, political intrigue, and espionage.

    The mystery takes him deep into space where he finds himself in a relentless struggle with the power-mad despots of Tyrann. Now it is not just a case of life or death for Biron, but a question of freedom for the galaxy.

    “This little novel will transport you back to a simpler time, when story lines we are jaded towards today were fresh and intoxicating, and that gosh-wow! sense of wonder covered science fiction like a layer of fine, gold dust.” —SFReviews.net

    At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Publishers
    Release dateNov 25, 2008
    ISBN9781429945837
    Unavailable
    The Stars, Like Dust
    Author

    Isaac Asimov

    Isaac Asimov was the Grand Master of the Science Fiction Writers of America, the founder of robot ethics, the world’s most prolific author of fiction and non-fiction. The Good Doctor’s fiction has been enjoyed by millions for more than half a century.

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    Reviews for The Stars, Like Dust

    3.5/5

    593 ratings33 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Not quite as good as any of the books in the Robots series, you can tell Asimov would greatly improve his craft as he got older. It definitely feels dated in a way, but the book was written about 68 years ago so you can hardly fault Asimov. However, saying all that, this is terrific space pulp fun. A breezy length, great action and feels VERY Star Wars...but 25 years prior to, so I'm sure Lucas or somebody that inspired Lucas was inspired by this. Feels very classic sci-fi, with a terrific ending!
    • 3/5
      The Stars, Like Dust is not one of Dr. Asimov's classics that I read in my youth. I'm not sure what I would have thought of it then. It was written in 1951, before my parents had even met. I'm a 62-year-old woman who has long since lost patience with the depiction of women before Women's Liberation. Biron Farril's attitude toward Artemisia Hinrik, especially the parts about controlling her and wanting to hold her shoulders hard enough to bruise them, made me angry. What a jerk! (I found myself thinking of female characters written by modern SF authoresses when Artemisia was on the scene. I'd like to see Biron try to control young Cordelia Naismith, for example.)The rest of the book was more or less okay, but the cynical mystery reader in me found the rebels' inability to think of something so basic that undid them was also difficult to bear. The action and intrigue were fun. As for the mysterious document, I admit that I didn't select the right candidate until shortly before the big revelation. I'm not as impressed with it as the leader of the rebellion is, but I know more about its flaws. I liked Stephen Thorne's narration very much. I think it enhanced my enjoyment of the book. It's not a great example of Dr. Asimov's work, but it's still entertaining.
    • 4/5
      A stirring peroration.
    • 3/5
      Pretty bad melodrama with such a cheesy ending that I briefly thought of abandoning my trek through Asimov's Foundation universe.
    • 2/5
      2.5/5 stars

      Although I am a fan of Asimov's work, this one is not up to par with his other novels and stories. It is considered the first novel in the Empire series, but fails to provide the big picture or even any significant insight into the empire; it just skims over some aspects of the expansion of humans into space.

      The main story doesn't leave a lasting impression and the writing is quite dull; it pales in comparison to Asimov's best works.

      Asimov himself, said that this is his least favourite novel and he regretted incorporating his editor's idea of ... the 'big' revelation at the end of the book.

      I only suggest reading this book just for the sake of completion of his Foundation universe. It's a short one anyway :)
    • 4/5
      The 6th in what can be seen as the "extended" 15 book Foundation Series. While this book was written in the 1950s, it includes many aspects later incorporated into the Foundation Trilogy. The key focus of this book, in relation to the Foundation Series, is to show aspects of the Galactic Empire's rise and decline.
    • 4/5
      The first of the Galactic Empire Series, and I remember falling in love with it when I first read it, lo those many, many years ago. There have been great strides in astronomy and cosmology since it was written in 1950, some of the discoveries in Asimov's own lifetime, but if you can (as the author so aptly puts it) suspend belief, it's still a cool book.
      Isaac Asimov found a - template, if you will - for writing popular books, and he stuck to it in this one. There is the essential mystery, there is an intrepid but underestimated hero (sometimes it was a heroine; Asimov was not as misogynistic as some of the other early sci-fi writers), and said hero/heroine comes to a few conclusions before actually solving the mystery. As a kid, I didn't always figure it out; as an adult it's a lot easier.
      It's a quick read, it's comforting and entertaining, and sometimes that's all you need from a book.
    • 3/5
      Pretty good 1960s space opera. Asimov was never the best but always worth a read.
    • 2/5
      Very '50s, and thus reminiscent of Heinlein's juvenilia. Written by a physicist who could imagine interstellar travel, but couldn't imagine the increases in computing power that we have seen. Reminiscent also of an Agatha Christie thriller, where the interpretation of the facts seems to change almost at random, a high level of excitement is maintained, nothing horrible happens, and there is a romance. There were a few nice similes thrown in, none of which I can remember now. The ending is awfully patriotic, I anticipated it, but it is a polite gesture to the author's adopted homeland.
    • 3/5
      Students, bad guys and a space adventure. An ok read.
    • 4/5
      Another enjoyable book by Asimov. More often than not these tell a great story, in a sci-fi setting but they are mysteries to be solved. A little dated on some things, but what can you expect? Science to stay still?
    • 2/5
      Critics of science fiction writing often point to cardboard-like characters, clunky dialogue and plotting that suspends belief and Asimov's The Stars Like Dust has all of this. It was published in 1951 and novels from this so called golden age of science fiction tend to be sexist and racist and Asimov's novel has all of this too. It also has a hero in Biron Farill who is smarter and more physically powerful than any other character, never putting a foot wrong amongst all the improbable plot twists that litter this book. Asimov can usually be relied upon to tell a good story, but even this is missing here. The novel comes from early in Asimov's history of publications and is said to be the one that he disliked the most, with its flag waiving nationalism and an ending that feels particularly inappropriate.The book falls into the genre of a galactic space adventure and one that Asimov mastered with his Foundation series. I have not read any for a long time, but I am hoping that they stand up better than this effort. 2 stars.
    • 3/5
      typisch een jaren 50 verhaal. Geen echte spanning en weinig science fiction. Vooral het einde viel tegen.
    • 4/5
      Although containing antiquated notions about the weaker sex and scientific possibilities, the storyline was entertaining. The book is about a young nobleman from a distant world that is manipulated by different factions for their own political agenda. He ultimately learns of the deceptions and figures out where the rebellion is centered. Of course, chivalry is evident throughout the book and he falls in love with a princess.I can't wait for the follow-up book to continue the story.
    • 2/5
      I’ve been saying for a long time that I don’t understand why Asimov deserves his gigantic reputation. If one dares make such a comment publicly, they are practically beaten to a pulp by his legions of fans. Don’t get me wrong – he had some good ideas and wrote some decent books that I’ve enjoyed, but he was never a GOOD writer. When he was young, he didn’t even know what basic grammatical things like “transitions” were, he barely knew about writing character development, and while he obviously worked on this his whole career, I think one of his real weaknesses was his complete inability to write realistic dialogue. His dialogue always came off to me as stilted and wooden, as though the protagonist were an overly aggressive frustrated male (usually) Ivy League engineer or scientist who had no social skills and who, frankly, wasn’t very scientifically advanced. Honestly, in Foundation, set over 20,000 years in the future, the main character at some point goes to the capital home planet/city of the Galactic Empire on a spaceship, having made some “jumps” to get there from Foundation, and immediately opens a paper newspaper. Seriously? Asimov couldn’t imagine a laptop, iPad, smartphone, nothing? Most sci fi writers at least have decent imaginations regarding the future.Suffice all that to say, I was less than impressed with The Stars, Like Dust. Granted, it WAS apparently his second novel, published in 1951, so you have to cut him some slack for that, and I do, and it did have its moments, but on the whole, it’s pulp sci fi and fairly lame at that. It often reads as though it’s a cross between a Buck Rogers and Star Trek episode. It’s that cheesy. This story is about one Biron Farrill, who at the book’s beginning, is studying at a university on Earth, when thanks to a colleague named Jonti, he is made aware of a radiation bomb that has been planted in his room. This same person then tells him of his father’s execution by the Tyranni, allegedly for taking part in a rebellion. His father held the highest position on Widemos, as the Rancher. Jonti then convinces Biron to travel to this planet, Rhodia, where his father was killed. Sounds like a good idea at the moment. Apparently, Biron is easily convinced. So, this is where he hears rumors about a rebellion against the Tyranni and it becomes his goal to find the rebel planet. With the aid of the daughter of Rhodia’s ruler and his brother. Her name is Artemisia and, naturally, she’s a hottie, because few women in Asimov’s works would be otherwise. And of course, the two rich kids just might go on to save the day, after naturally falling in love, right? Perfect cheesy sci fi love story. With the CHEESIEST ending to any type of novel I have ever read in my entire life! I have read that Asimov was forced by the publisher to put it in there, and if so, then it wasn’t his fault, but whoever was at fault, it’s bad, bad, bad, and it’s a terrible play at stupid 1950s American patriotism and it makes the book even worse. This book has so much melodrama in it, it’s not funny, and to end it like that, my God!This book is possibly one of Asimov’s worst. None of the characters are likable, except perhaps the tyrant, if that’s feasible. The character development is nonexistent. The dialogue is putrid. The plot twists and turns too much with a few too many betrayals. The science, per usual with Asimov, is suspect. It’s not his worst effort at prose, nor is it anywhere close to his best. At best this is a three star effort, which I’m knocking down to two stars because of the horrible ending. Not seriously recommended.
    • 3/5
      A slow and clunky read...probably because it was one of the author's first. Contains deep intrigue akin to human interaction, but attributed to non humans. Good story, though.
    • 4/5
      Although the good doctor had been a published author for 20 years when he'd written this book, it does read a bit like something a neophyte would put out with a fairly poor plot, too easily penetrated by the lead character and any tension is resolved with a stroke of the pen, by a sudden change of mind of the protagonists with little in the way of reason behind that change of mind.
    • 3/5
      After narrowly escaping a radiation bomb planted in his dorm room on Earth, Biron Farrill is confronted with news of his father’s arrest and possible execution by the Tyranni, alien conquerors of the Nebular Kingdoms. Farrell’s father, the famous and respected Rancher of Widemos, was believed to be involved in plotting an insurrection against the Tyranni. According to Farrill’s enigmatic acquaintance, Sander Jonti, the arrest of Farrill’s father was arranged by Hinrik V, Director of Rhodia and obsequious servant to the Tyranni. Jonti convinces Farrill to leave Earth and travel to Rhodia to seek an audience with Hinrik. He even provides Farrill with a letter of introduction, having previously worked for the Director.Although traveling incognito, Biron is arrested and questioned aboard ship by the Tyranni Commissioner, Simok Aratap. From the commissioner, Farrill learns that his father has been executed for treason, yet he maintains his assumed identity of Biron Malaine and feigns ignorance about the Rancher of Widemos. Aratap releases Farrill but keeps him under surveillance.On Rhodia, Hinrik orders Farrill imprisoned and contacts Aratap. Farrill quickly escapes, aided by Hinrik’s daughter, the lovely Artemisia, and his cousin, a dilettante named Gillbret. Both despise the Tyranni and yearn to leave Rhodia. After the trio steals Aratap’s ship, Gillbret regales Biron and Artemisia with a story about a mysterious “rebellion world” where ships and men were being assembled to overthrow the Tyranni. Although Gillbret is uncertain of the planet’s exact location, there is one man who might know, the Autarch of Lingane. Upon arrival on Lingane, Biron strikes an uneasy alliance with the Autarch and together, they embark on an expedition into the Horsehead Nebula in search of the “rebellion world.” The Stars, Like Dust is a fine interstellar adventure that moves at a steady pace but—as with many classic SF novels—lacks much in the way of character development. Despite a few clichéd, predictable plot points and occasional melodramatic dialogue, there are one or two unexpected twists that successfully fuel story tension.
    • 4/5
      In a galaxy oppressed by tyrannical Tyranns, a young man tumbles into a galactic adventure. At stakes are the freedom of the galaxy, the revenge of his Father's murder, and not in the very least, the hand of the noble lady Artemisia.
    • 3/5
      Fun book. The story is a bit slow at the beginning and was a bit forgettable... in fact I have some inklings that I may have read it in the past and forgotten about it which would not be common for me. The story picks up a bit near the end and the characters gain a bit of depth, which was nice. It is good though that the book was fairly short or else it would have lost my interest as I am a slow reader.

      What I did like the most about the book though was that as far as science fiction it is a bit dated. Issac Asimov was a great sci fi dreamer and here we can see a far future world dreamed of in the 1950's where computers only do math computations and large books with star locations are needed to determine hyper jumps. Fun...
    • 2/5
      This is the first novel by Aismov that I've read, and I was feeling terrible for not liking it very much at all. Then I found a note on Wiki that said Aismov himself called this novel, at some point, his "worst." There was nothing wrong with it, in any specific terms, it just wasn't all that interesting or compelling. I'll certainly try another of his works another time.
    • 3/5
      A good example of 1950's scifi. Its a bit nationalistic, even if you don't guess the ending, but still enjoyable. I particularly liked some of the more scientific parts of it, even if those are fairly limited.
    • 2/5
      Isaac Asimov is one of my favorite writers--truly. I used to joke he was my spiritual father, because his non-fiction pro-reason, pro-science essays had such a huge influence on me. And I love his fiction. Especially his short stories, which hold up well and I'd enthusiastically recommend a collection of them: "The Dead Past," "Nightfall," "The Ugly Little Boy," "The Last Question" are amazing science fiction. So is his Foundation series by and large and his Robot novels and stories, and I remember loving The End of Eternity and The Gods Themselves. But this novel even Isaac Asimov himself pointed to as his least favorite, and reading it I can understand why.This is very early Asimov--only his second novel and book. Published in 1951, this was written before Sputnik, let alone a manned space program. Piloting a spacecraft is quaintly called "spacinautics" in this book. There are blasters and "neuronic whips" and "Nebula Kingdoms." In other words, this is the world of pulp and reads more like a Buck Rogers episode than classic Asimov. His hero, Biron Farrill, is more notable (and noted) for his muscles, not his brains, and his love interest, Artemsia, is described as "smoldering" and "spirited." And their romance is, well, proof that not just women can write treacly love stories and they don't all inhabit the Romance aisle. And did I mention this is very early in Asimov's writing career? Oh, the melodrama! The over-fondness for the exclamation point! He'd get much, much better over the years.What saves this from one star, besides that I don't think I can bear rating something by Asimov so low? Well, there are glimmers at times of the Asimov to come, in how he injects the science into science fiction, and how the interplanetary intrigue foreshadows his Foundation series. The ending did make me smile. But if this novel had been by an unknown, I think I would have given up on the book a few chapters in. If this is your first Asimov, please, please don't hold this against him. He really is one of the greats of science fiction--you just wouldn't know it from this book.
    • 4/5
      What a fun book. Not that it was all that great, per se, but it foreshadows so many subplots of the Foundation series! And better yet, I really don't think I had read it before! One more to read before I tackle the Foundation!
    • 3/5
      Re-read this while on vacation in an attempt to reacquaint myself with SF novels I read in my youth. Found it hadn't aged well and the writing and plot just didn't seem that good (maybe too trite and conventional of SF). Now I have to reconsider if indeed I want to re-read the rest of the Galactic Empire and Foundation series.
    • 4/5
      This book has many elements in it that echo the Foundation, both in detail and style (visisonor anyone?) It's a nice little mystery but not one of his better ones. On the other hand there's nothing greatly wrong with it.
    • 2/5
      The ending made this book. It was the only thing about it that wasn't old school formulaic. The Robot novels were great...these Galactic Empire interludes between them and the Foundation series are just not up to snuff. On to the next!
    • 2/5
      I'm starting to feel that I prefer Asimov's short stories much more than I do his longer books. The Stars, Like Dust, was probably my least favorite of his books, mainly because there were times when I felt I was reading Foundation and Empire all over again, but with a different cast. Asimov's political mysteries can be fun, but as I'm not the sort of person who tries to 'figure it out' as I read sometimes I get tired of finding just one more layer in the cake. At the same time I will always love the fact that the heroes in Asimov's fiction solve their problems with their wit, and The Stars, Like Dust is no exception. The romance element is pretty terrible, but I don't mind so much about that.There is also a small reveal at the very end of the book that I found to be hilarious. One of the things I like so much about sci-fi are those moments where assumptions are soundly shattered by one small detail. The Stars, Like Dust is smart, sweet, and typically Asimov. It isn't his best but it was good enough to hold my interest from cover to cover.
    • 3/5
      This is typical of Asimov's work. Not his best by far, but somewhat in the style of the Foundation Trilogy. A decent read.
    • 3/5
      The Stars, Like Dust has what I consider to be one of the most evocative titles of any science fiction novel. Unfortunately, the novel itself is, at best, mediocre. With Pebble in the Sky and The Currents of Space, this book forms the Galactic Empire trilogy, although there is very little Galactic Empire in this book.The book is more or less a standard adventure story with a helping of political intrigue, a serving of betrayals and backstabbing, and a somewhat groan-inducing ending (although, to be fair, the attachment of the "ultimate secret weapon" at the end of the novel was apparently not Asimov's idea, but was insisted upon by his editor). The story is, like a lot of Golden Age science fiction, somewhat dated as Asimov didn't anticipate developments in computers, but it is still readable. The Tyranni are a fairly stock enemy, but are drawn malevolently enough to make the fight against them worth reading. Some of the characters are fairly wooden, but the protagonist is reasonably engaging, even if he is overly naive and foolish at times.The Stars, Like Dust ends up as a serviceable Asimov science fiction novel. There isn't anything particularly good or bad about it. A fan of Golden Age science fiction will find it worth reading, especially to see how the novel bridges the gap between the pulpy adventure stories of earlier science fiction and the more involved stories that came after it - one can see the seeds of stories like Foundation and The Caves of Steel in this book, and for that, it is probably worth a read for the science fiction fan.