Resumo de The Stars Like Dust

?The Stars Like Dust?

Asimov?s classic tale of interstellar
politics, intrigue, betrayal, and romance begins at the University of
Earth, where Biron Farrill ? heir to the Ranchy of Widemos in the
distant Horsehead nebula ? is soon to graduate. He awakes to find that
he is the target of a murderous plot, which he avoids with the help of
the shadowy Sander Jonti. From Jonti, Biron discovers that his father,
the Rancher of Widemos, has been executed for participating in a
conspiracy against the ruthless Tyranni ? the tyrannical rulers of the
nebular kingdoms. At Jonti?s behest, Biron abandons his quest to find a
mysterious and powerful document from earth?s ancient past, and flees
to Rhodia under an assumed name. His trip is fraught with problems as
Hinrik Hinriad, the dithering collaborationist leader of Rhodia,
immediately betrays his presence to the all-knowing Tyranni. However,
with the help of Hinrik?s rebellious, but mentally unstable cousin
Gillbret, Biron manages to overcome his guards. Together Gil and Biron
escape in a Tyranni ship, taking with them Hinrik?s beautiful daughter,
who is engaged against her will to an aged Tyranni nobleman. Unbeknownst
to the fugitives, they are being tailed by the devious Tyranni
Commissioner, Aratap, who believes they will lead him to the heart of
the conspiracy.In the depths of space Gillbret tells Biron how he
stumbled across a ?rebellion world? when his ship was thrown off course
after being hit by a meteorite. Although sceptical about Gillbret?s
story, Biron agrees to pay a visit to the Autarch of Lingane, whom
Gillbret suggests is a key figure in the anti-Tyranni conspiracy.Meanwhile,
the tension between Biron and the attractive Artemisia quickly develops
into romance in the close confines of the ship.This cosy situation
is shattered with the arrival on board of the Autarch of Lingane, whom
Biron is astonished to recognise as none other than Sander Jonti! Jonti
admits having sent Biron to Rhodia in order to distract the Tyranni
from his double-dealing operations on Lingane.The relationship
between Artemisia and Biron ices over after the Autarch informs Biron
that the cowardly Hinrik Hinriad ? Artemisia?s father, betrayed his
father to the Tyranni.Despite their mutual dislike Biron and the
Autarch agree to seek the rebellion world together, along with
Gillbret, Artemisia, and a troop of Linganian soldiers under the bawdy
colonel Rizzett.Matters come to a head as they discover a planet
that could potentially hold the key to the overthrow of the Tyranni. On
the planet?s surface Biron confronts the Autarch with his suspicion
that it was not Hinrik, but rather the Autarch himself that was
responsible for his father?s execution. The Autarch admits his
complicity with the Tyranni, and attempts to kill the courageous
Rancher. However, Biron is able to overcome Jonti with the help of
Rizzett, who had eavesdropped on their conversation. The romance
between Biron and Artemisia is rekindled as he admits that his coolness
towards her was part of a convoluted plot to unveil Jonti as the real
traitor. He had never really believed that his father would be foolish
enough to trust the babbling Hinrik in the first place.Just as
things are beginning to look up, Aratap shows his hand? and his face,
arriving on the planet with Hinrik Hinriad to arrest the would-be
rebels. The Autarch, craving revenge, gives away what he believes the
co-ordinates of the only possible remaining location of the ?rebellion
world?. Gillbret ? now mad with disappointment and fatigue ? attempts
to sabotage the Tyranni vessel before it can discover the home of the
rebellion. Surprisingly, though, Biron thwarts his attempt by informing
Aratap, accidentally killing the overwrought Gillbret in the process.Just
as Biron had suspected, the co-ordinates lead the Tyranni to an
uninhabitable system. Hopes of finding a rebellion world now appear
lost.Disappointed by this, but saatisfiied at his discovery of the
Autarch?s attempts to play both sides, Commissioner Aratap releases
Rizzett, Artemisia, and Biron, on the condition that they return to
Rhodia with Hinrik and remain there forever.Once they are alone,
Byron reveals that he knows the location of the secret rebellion world.
Gillbret?s damaged spacecraft could not have deviated from its original
course, but had in fact returned? to Rhodia! In a further twist the
dithering Hinrik reveals himself to be, not the weak Tyranni underling
that everyone believed him to be, but rather a shrewd ruler, playing a
part while secretly building an army to fight the Tyranni. Further, he
is already in possession of the mysterious document that Biron had been
sent to Earth to find: the US Constitution! So the story ends, with the
promise of marriage between the young lovers, and democracy for the
galaxy. But the lingering sadness of Gillbret?s unnecessary death
continues to haunt the reader.

Resumos Relacionados