Isaac Asimov is one of my favorite authors of all time. There has not been a book, yet, that I have read by him that I have been left disappointed. I expected a great story and was I blown away!
Title: The Gods Themselves
Author: Isaac Asimov
Released: 1972
Rating: 5/5
Basic Plot: The Electron Pump has been discovered and gives energy with no cost. But does this grand invention have an awful price to be paid for it and, if so, why?
Divided Into Three Sections
This book is divided into three parts that only have the Electron Pump to link themselves together. Why is that? The stories were originally published in a magazine and not a book. The first part (Against Stupidity...) is about Lamont discovering that the Electron Pump has a price to be paid. The egotistical Hallam refuses to listen and so Lamont isn't able to get the word out. The second part (...The Gods Themselves...) is about the para-universe (what the parallel universe is called) and how the para-men (inhabitants of the parallel universe) don't care that they'll kill off the humans and that exploding part of the Milky Way Galaxy is why they started the Electron Pump in the first place. Finally, the third part (...Contend in Vain?) is about Dension discovering a solution for the Electron Pump.
Alien Sex
Part two is really weird. And that's putting it lightly. If you don't like anything odd then you won't like part two of this book. In it, among other things, is alien sex. If you're one perverted SOB, settle down, it's not erotic at all. The aliens are beings of pure energy so...no titties is what I'm saying. I liked the alien sex scenes because they were weird. But if you're looking for something erotic then The Gods Themselves isn't for you.
The Part That Nearly Made Me Cry
I hardly get teary eyed or cry. I read and see a lot and there is hardly anything that makes me cry. At the end of part two, Dua fights so hard to stop the Electron pump so that the Earth will be saved (Dua doesn't think killing off billions is a really moral idea) and she fails. You see the aliens are put into two groups: Soft Ones and Hard Ones. Soft Ones are babies and it is in this stage they are able to reproduce by having three (of different types) form together. Each type of Soft One plays a part and eventually they all form together to make a single Hard One until they die. No Soft One knows about this until it is time to 'pass on'. Dua is nearly dying and decides to 'pass on' because the leader of their Triad says that they'll form a very important Hard One that can help them deal with Eswald (creator of the Electron Pump). When the process is nearly done Dua realizes that Eswald is the Hard One they'll be forming. This made me feel very sad for Dua because she seemed to be the most reasonable Soft One. RIP Dua.
Why
This is a question that is asked a lot throughout the book. When Lamont or Dension brings up the fact that the Electron Pump has a high possibility of causing major shit to go down, the opponents ask why. The problem is that the humans (some of them) don't realize that the aliens might have different plans than them. Of course I'm not sure them not being open minded is the real problem. A lot of the humans that are in support of the Electron Pump are because of personal reason and that the human population has become too dependent on it.
Scientific Lingo
Being a Hard Science Fiction book (meaning staying as true to life as possible instead of something like Star Wars) it uses a lot of scientific language. However, Asimov usually explains those parts really well but they can still be taxing on one not used to reading this genre.
Final Thoughts
This book was deeply moving and a little thought provoking. This book isn't action packed but that's really not the way Asimov usually writes, so I was expecting that. The only real problem was that some big event happens on Earth and it is never explained what it was. I would highly suggest this book to someone who is a science fiction fanatic. Because, let's face it, if you haven't even heard of Isaac Asimov you can't call yourself a science fiction fanatic.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
What's one thing that most people don't know about you?
Isn't it obvious? I'm a psycho killer! (Phatasmagoria 2 reference)
Q&A: The Green 1
In this Q&A I look at how to pronounce Makija, what inspired me to write The Green, and other questions!
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Fanpage:http://www.facebook.com/jashykinsfanpage
Blog:http://jashykins.blogspot.com/
If that version does not work, try this version:
Sunday, March 6, 2011
What are you most looking forward to right now?
Nothing much, really. I guess if I had to pick out something I'd say the final part of the Zombie Event on Subeta. Or at least it finally continue after days and days of nothing happening.
Friday, March 4, 2011
What quality do you value most in your friends?
Humor. My best friends can be serious and caring but if they don't have humor I can't really connect.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Sushi, Sake, and Tanuki: Enslaved 2
Humans, I had found out, were smelly creatures that actually minded their scent. Bathing was done, for my kind, to be clean. Such as when my feathers in my raven form didn't allow me to fly as well or when my scent would alert predators where I was. But humans, such as my master Tamui, wanted to look good.
I had been washing Tamui for an hour and I was growing annoyed. If only I could have evaded my capture, my days would have been more interesting.
"Rig," Tamui finally said. "Dry me off."
Tamui got out of the pool and stood up. I dreaded this part because going close to Tamui's body wasn't something that I liked to do. He was fit, everyone had to be to survive, but he was my master. He was the one who controlled what my motions were. The special human that helped enslave me had made sure of it.
I shifted my arms into fur and started to dry him off. "You're doing it too fast." He reprimanded.
"Sorry, master." I said and tried to keep my voice as level as I could. Because my motion was now slower, Tamui relaxed more.
"How do you feel about women?" He asked.
"Human women? They are just creatures and hold no importance to me." Was my response. This seemed to make Tamui happy.
"There is a woman I am interested in. She treats me very well and I demand you keep an eye on her. Her name is Sajoki."
This was one of the worst things that had happened to me today. A creature, such as myself, shouldn't be bothered with petty things such as keeping track of another's future mate. But, of course, I had no choice in the matter. The shackles of my enslavement pulled me down.
The next few hours I listened to Tamui talk about how wonderful Sajoki was. Although most of what he talked about her had very little to do with her character. Luckily, things were cut short when hunting took place and I was happy because it was one of the few times that Tamui let me shift.
Turning into a large wolf I started to prowl for prey. Taking cues from the human hunters, I managed to get a decent amount of food for the camp. I enjoyed running and feeling free. It was only a fleeting, momentary thing as I knew that it wouldn't last. As long as Tamui was alive I would always be a slave to the humans.
I nearly drooled with the thought of his hand in my mouth. Of a painful death for him that could only be performed by me. But those were mere wishes, the strength to go against my enslavement seemed impossible to me right now.
Upon arrival back to the camp, Tamui forced me back into my human form and walked me over to a woman. "This is Sajoki, stay with her." And with that he went off.
I spent a few moments looking at her. She seemed, to me, to be attractive by human standards and I felt a flash of something in me. Was this what humans meant by the word love? This rush of blood slowly starting to leave my head?
"So, you're my protector." Sajoki said in a silky voice. That voice. That lovely voice made the feeling of love stronger. "Tamui should trust me more."
"I can make no statement against him." I replied.
"I'm sorry to hear that. Why can't you?"
"One special human put a spell over me and handed ownership over to Tamui. I can't help what I am now."
"I'm feeling tired, maybe you could protect me in the tent." Sajoki said and I had a feeling that she was talking about something other than my duties. Part of me wanted to explore my new urges but another part, small as it might be, didn't want to make Tamui angry. I followed her.
I had been washing Tamui for an hour and I was growing annoyed. If only I could have evaded my capture, my days would have been more interesting.
"Rig," Tamui finally said. "Dry me off."
Tamui got out of the pool and stood up. I dreaded this part because going close to Tamui's body wasn't something that I liked to do. He was fit, everyone had to be to survive, but he was my master. He was the one who controlled what my motions were. The special human that helped enslave me had made sure of it.
I shifted my arms into fur and started to dry him off. "You're doing it too fast." He reprimanded.
"Sorry, master." I said and tried to keep my voice as level as I could. Because my motion was now slower, Tamui relaxed more.
"How do you feel about women?" He asked.
"Human women? They are just creatures and hold no importance to me." Was my response. This seemed to make Tamui happy.
"There is a woman I am interested in. She treats me very well and I demand you keep an eye on her. Her name is Sajoki."
This was one of the worst things that had happened to me today. A creature, such as myself, shouldn't be bothered with petty things such as keeping track of another's future mate. But, of course, I had no choice in the matter. The shackles of my enslavement pulled me down.
The next few hours I listened to Tamui talk about how wonderful Sajoki was. Although most of what he talked about her had very little to do with her character. Luckily, things were cut short when hunting took place and I was happy because it was one of the few times that Tamui let me shift.
Turning into a large wolf I started to prowl for prey. Taking cues from the human hunters, I managed to get a decent amount of food for the camp. I enjoyed running and feeling free. It was only a fleeting, momentary thing as I knew that it wouldn't last. As long as Tamui was alive I would always be a slave to the humans.
I nearly drooled with the thought of his hand in my mouth. Of a painful death for him that could only be performed by me. But those were mere wishes, the strength to go against my enslavement seemed impossible to me right now.
Upon arrival back to the camp, Tamui forced me back into my human form and walked me over to a woman. "This is Sajoki, stay with her." And with that he went off.
I spent a few moments looking at her. She seemed, to me, to be attractive by human standards and I felt a flash of something in me. Was this what humans meant by the word love? This rush of blood slowly starting to leave my head?
"So, you're my protector." Sajoki said in a silky voice. That voice. That lovely voice made the feeling of love stronger. "Tamui should trust me more."
"I can make no statement against him." I replied.
"I'm sorry to hear that. Why can't you?"
"One special human put a spell over me and handed ownership over to Tamui. I can't help what I am now."
"I'm feeling tired, maybe you could protect me in the tent." Sajoki said and I had a feeling that she was talking about something other than my duties. Part of me wanted to explore my new urges but another part, small as it might be, didn't want to make Tamui angry. I followed her.
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