The Gods Themselves - Isaac Asimov

This is a work from the mind of the master. I well remember the day that I got this book. Asimov had not been writing very much Science Fiction recently and I was haunting my favourite shop for any new works that I could fine by any favourite author. I stopped to talk with the owner who was a friend. I had been buying from him for years and this was his Third shop. A trade representative happened to be with him, showing him this advanced copy, and ...
...also a bit downcast as the official release date was not for a long time. All three of us got to talking and the rep gave his copy to my bookkeeper friend. This copy was clearly written on "Not for sale". Smiling he turned away to look at other books on display. My friend gave me the book, and as he was not selling and I was not buying, I made him a gift of forty pence. Would you believe the approximate price of a new book? This copy went ... more

This is a work from the mind of the master. I well remember the day that I got this book. Asimov had not been writing very much Science Fiction recently and I was haunting my favourite shop for any new works that I could fine by any favourite author. I stopped to talk with the owner who was a friend. I had been buying from him for years and this was his Third shop. A trade representative happened to be with him, showing him this advanced copy, and taking an order. I suppose that I was drooling a bit also a bit downcast as the official release date was not for a long time. All three of us got to talking and the rep gave his copy to my bookkeeper friend. This copy was clearly written on "Not for sale". Smiling he turned away to look at other books on display. My friend gave me the book, and as he was not selling and I was not buying, I made him a gift of forty pence. Would you believe the approximate price of a new book? This copy went into my inside pocket and happily I left the shop going down the road, Not exactly running, but very quickly to go home and find a quiet space so that I could read it. It was well worth it.

This work went on to be nominated and win both the Hugo and Nebula awards for the 1973 year. One of only three books that had won both awards at that time.

Anyway, on with the book:-

The book is in three parts.

This story is set in the future of 2070. Due to a chance remark between two scientists, a major scientific breakthrough has occurred. It would appear that unlimited energy can be acquired from a parallel dimension by the manipulation of certain matter. All other types of power stations are rendered obsolete and the scientist credited with the discovery is now the darling of everybody. With this fame there can be no dissenting voices heard.

The second part is set in the Para Universe of the Aliens; this is an older, colder dying universe. The alien life forms need energy for food and their supply is going. This transfer from the other universe could mean a supply that will last for millions of lifetimes. But one of the beings has doubts and fears about the process.

Part three is set some twenty five years on from the start of the story. Here on the moon they are doing cutting edge scientific research. One of the scientists from the early days of the breakthrough has come in the hopes of doing some research. He cannot get any position on Earth and Luna is the last hope. But there are hidden problems among some of the scientists in perceived power struggle of Earth versus Luna.

This is a very entertaining read from the Master, Isaac Asimov. With his understanding of Science and the need to publish first and the politics of peer review and pressure he has created a fascinating story. When the added dimension of the Alien life form is added, you get a masterwork. These are such aascinating Aliens, Utterly bizarre to our thoughts but completely logical when you really think about them. Though we are not given the entire life story of their civilisation, what we are given is enough to understand them. A race will do almost anything to survive. That appears to be programmed into our jeans and we have no reason to suppose that aliens will be any different. The society has its own needs to see to and does so.

The book is written in the third person style and all the characters are very understandable and are well drawn. Some stories of Big Science are not popular with peoples today, but I have always felt that stories by Isaac Asimov do not overwhelm you with the science. They appear to me to be more people orientated. The science is there as a backdrop to play the story against. You can soon be captivated by the plot and read to find out how and why. There are no battles or gore splashed everywhere, but a very thorough story of perseverance. Such things do not always work out in real life but do make for an entertaining read.

This is a book that you can sit down with and enjoy again and again. There is science beyond where we are now but it does not matter. The people who make up the cast are the people who are understandable and that is what make this a great story.

Copies should be available in major bookshops priced at £6.99
Amazon has it listed priced at £5.59
Paperback 288 pages (February 10, 2000)
Publisher: Gollancz
ISBN: 1857989341

About the Author. Isaac Asimov was born in Russia in 1920 and grew up in the USA. He died in 1992 at the age of 72. With nearly five hundred books to his name and several hundred articles, Asimov's output was prolific by any standards. 

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