Resumo de The Stars, Like Dust

Introduction
In retrospect, The Stars Like Dust is one of Asimov's most disappointing and dated science fiction novels. I'm not sure, reading it now, whether or not it was originally explicitly aimed at a young adult audience the one that many people assume still that all science fiction is written for, but it certainly doesn't really have enough to offer to impress a reader who is not a novice reader of the genre.

Review
The Horsehead Nebula region of the galaxy was divided into a large number of smallish aristocratic nations, until they were all suddenly overrun by the banally named Tyranni about a generation before the story is set. The old royal families have been left in place in a ceremonial role; the hero of The Stars Like Dust is the son and heir of the titular ruler of one of these planets. Biron Farrill is studying on Earth - largely ruined in an ancient nuclear war - when his father dies, executed for treason by the Tyranni. An apparent attempt on his own life leads him to flee back to the Horsehead Nebula, to the palace of the Hinriads on the planet of Rhodia. A series of adventures follow, which even at the time must have seemed derivative they're a poor imitation of A.E. van Vogt or E.E. Doc Smith, ending with a stupendous discovery which should mark the end of the Tyranni. This stupendous discovery is the main problem with The Stars Like Dust, at least for a non-American. It turns out that this is the long-lost American Declaration of Independence, a document whose explosive power is supposed to doom tyrants. It shows, perhaps, a touchingly naive faith in the power of the admittedly inspiring words about freedom and independence Asimov's background as a first generation immigrant in the thirties makes the alternative possibility, cynical manipulation of the reader, unlikely. But it can hardly be argued that the example of the US constitution has made the Earth free of dictators, and even the US cannot be considered the epitome of freedom and equality. Rodney King can't have thought so, in his final moments. To use the discovery as the climax of the novel is not only a major weakness, it is the sort of twist which smacks of the inexperienced writer at this length - it is typical of the genre's short stories. Other problems with The Stars Like Dust include the frankly unbelievable plot - the base of a rebellion which is being gradually stocked up with men and weapons would be hard to hide economically, let alone be kept a secret by the thousands of people involved. The various conspiracies and plots which fill the book are not very convincing, and the people involved have inconsistent characters - to much insight in some areas, not enough in others. There is a romance subplot, but that is based on exactly the kind of portrayal of a female character that is one of the commonest criticisms of the science fiction genre it's written by and for geeks who have no idea what women are like.

About the Author
Isaac Asimov,do please note the spelling it's not Issac or Azimov, as has so often appeared in print, even on his stories - must be ranked among the world's most prolific writers. His book total now exceeds 300 and this was written in 1986 - BB. Recently he's taken to co-editing a range of science-fiction and fantasy anthologies which helps shortcut the process, but his output is no less impressive for that. The bulk of his books are non-fiction, dealing with subjects ranging through all of the physical sciences and on and including geography, mythology, history and the Bible, Shakespeare and even such
titles as The Sensuous Dirty Old man Walker, 1971 and Lecherous Limericks Walker, 1975. But it was as a SF writer that Isaac Asimov first came to fame, and how he is best known today, and it's this career that I would like to concentrate on.

Although now an American national, Isaac Asimov was Russian by birth. He was born in the village of Petrovitch near Smolensk on January 2nd 1920. At lt's the day he celebrates, although the exact date was never recorded. It is further confused by the period when Russia was at last phasing out the old Julian calendar and adopting the Gregorian. Perhaps it was all this that gave Isaac Asimov his fascination for dates and his delight in recording facts. The Asimovs emigrated to America in 1923. After a variety of jobs, Isaac Asimov's father established a small confectionery and newsagents - remembered affectionately as 'the candy store'. It was through this store that young Isaac Asimov, who had already become aware of the pulp magazines, and in particular the 'gosh-wow-wonder' of the SF pulps published by Hugo Gernsback, such as 'Amazing Stories' and later 'Wonder Stories'. Isaac Asimov totally fell in love with science fiction and was soon trying to write it. He discovered SF fandom and became a member of the astonishing fan group known as the Futurians. This included such future writers and editors as Frederik Pohl, Cyril Kornbluth, James Blish and Daniel Wollheim, and has to be regarded as one of the most talented of all SF groups.

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