tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670543499274741427.post5892355961840886451..comments2024-03-26T17:54:54.592+01:00Comments on Speculiction...: Review of "The Gods Themselves" by Isaac AsimovUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670543499274741427.post-89774138696273612222014-11-29T20:42:24.290+01:002014-11-29T20:42:24.290+01:00Thanks!Thanks!Jessehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07796098208589965362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670543499274741427.post-4927299507514819892014-11-28T04:25:01.957+01:002014-11-28T04:25:01.957+01:00I've just finished The Gods Themselves today, ...I've just finished The Gods Themselves today, and it was my first Asimov novel. I found it fine, but the idea that a whole novel is solely about "a device" wasn't very appealing to me. It seemed to me that the mini-plots in the three parts were only filler, while the only thing that mattered was the last few pages where a solution is discovered. Like you said, most of the novel's volume is in scientists arguing about the Proton Pump.<br /><br />But it's probably me, as I'm much more into characterisation and events more than the exploration of machines.<br /><br />I liked your review nonetheless, and I may read more Asimov in the future. Your blog is excellent.Lost Princehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09890818456586532906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670543499274741427.post-57020758483582942082013-02-04T09:08:03.451+01:002013-02-04T09:08:03.451+01:00Agreed on the last sentence except the word "...Agreed on the last sentence except the word "great". I would rather say integral to the development of sci-fi, and yes, for that he deserves the recognition he receives. It may be that the Hugo for The Gods Themselves was unofficially retroactive considering the award didn't exist when a lot of his most popular works were written? <br /><br />The Hugo, well, I used to put stock in it. Many of my early reviews use it as evidence a book is good. However, the more Hugo winners I read, the more I realize popularity, fandom, and established names play a role in the shelf the trophy ends up on each year. There are several Hugo winners I think sci-fi can be extremely proud of: Stand on Zanzibar, Rendezvous with Rama, Gateway, Lord of Light, Left Hand of Darkness, and others. But when I see that Harry Potter, Robert Sawyer's Hominids, McMaster-Bujold's Barrayar, and others have won, I start to doubt the award's integrity. By contrast, the SF Masterworks series, the BSFA, and the Nebula show more consistency in quality and style. Given the latter three agreed upon by critics or relevant members of the field, it comes as no surprise to learn the Hugo is largely voted by fans. Anyway, I digress before legions of Hugo voters descend on me.<br /><br />Thanks for the Effinger recommendation. I just read your review and I'm certainly intrigued! It sounds like something I would really enjoy.Jessehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07796098208589965362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670543499274741427.post-51113121234048904592013-02-04T08:48:05.022+01:002013-02-04T08:48:05.022+01:00I read somewhere that of all Asimov's ideas, t...I read somewhere that of all Asimov's ideas, the aliens in the ...the gods themselves... novella are his proudest creation. But you're right, it might require pen and paper to make 100% sense of... existence.Jessehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07796098208589965362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670543499274741427.post-77231010880011979602013-02-04T00:06:35.586+01:002013-02-04T00:06:35.586+01:00I was somewhat torn by this novel... I think it&#...I was somewhat torn by this novel... I think it's one of Asimov's better novels (I'm NOT an Asimov fan generally)... But, I think the Hugo it was awarded -- I can't believe that Effinger's What Entropy Means to Me lost that year -- was a case of, Asimov is a great and he deserves a few more awards rather than The Gods Themselves was the best book of the year.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670543499274741427.post-22741200044125993362013-02-03T23:28:25.112+01:002013-02-03T23:28:25.112+01:00I tried this last year, and it was going well unt...I tried this last year, and it was going well until the second part. It felt disjointed then and somewhat nonesensical. No doubt I will try again sometime in the future! <br />I enjoy Asimov's robot stories but not his Foundation stuff.LarryShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17723096857163954170noreply@blogger.com