The Gods Themselves

by Isaac Asimov | Science Fiction & Fantasy |
ISBN: Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingMoriquenwing of Broechem, Antwerpen / Anvers Belgium on 10/7/2011
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5 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingMoriquenwing from Broechem, Antwerpen / Anvers Belgium on Friday, October 7, 2011
"In the year 2100, mankind on Earth, settlers in a lunar colony and aliens from the para-universe, a strange universe parallel in time to our own, are faced with a race against time to prevent total destruction of the Earth. The invention of the Inter-Universe Electron Pump has threatened the rate of hydrogen fusion in the sun, leading, inevitably, to the possibilty of a vast explosion -- and the vapourisation of the Earth exactly eight minutes later ... "

Journal Entry 2 by wingMoriquenwing at Borgerhout, Antwerpen / Anvers Belgium on Monday, December 19, 2011

Released 12 yrs ago (12/19/2011 UTC) at Borgerhout, Antwerpen / Anvers Belgium

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

On its way to bookowl1000 as part of the wishlist-tag game! I hope you'll enjoy it!

Journal Entry 3 by bookowl1000 at Foshan 佛山, Guangdong China on Monday, January 9, 2012
Very speedily delivery as far as China is concerned - the Chinese address on the package really does make a difference.

Thanks for sending it my way.

Journal Entry 4 by bookowl1000 at Hà Nội, Hanoi Vietnam on Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Bought it with me on holiday but have not had a chance to read it, so will going back to China with me tomorrow.

Journal Entry 5 by bookowl1000 at Wuhan, Hubei China on Sunday, January 29, 2012
Did not get a chance to start reading it while in Vietnam as I was too busy trekking in the Sapa Valley. I am visiting Wuhun before heading home and have started reading it here. Both sides appear to have been thwarted in their attempts to stop them pump; I am curious to see where it goes from here.

Journal Entry 6 by bookowl1000 at Foshan 佛山, Guangdong China on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
After whizzing through the first half it seemed to take ages to finish due to a lack of time rather than interest.

The three sections were almost like stories within themselves and I think, could be enjoyed as such. They are quite different in their stories and themes.

part 1:
When the junior scientist Lamont tries to convince the great Hallam that his discovery will end up destroying the earth, he meets with a very common problem. How do you convince any authority that something that is so easy to use, and saves so much money should be given up for the greater good. Hallam is a most unlikeable character, yet very real. Anyone who has developed an overinflated ego is going to be threatened, especially when someone suggests their great discovery was really down to someone else.

part 2:
I liked the non-corporeal existence of the main characters in the parallel world, and was intrigued by the 3 genders (emotional, parental, rational) that were only whole when together as their trio. We are all made up of different aspects, and this is a bit like being able to have a discussion with another side to yourself. I found it to be very sensual in places. The theme of what is is like to be the odd one out, and not conform to the norm was the most significant I think. I was taken by surprise by the ending to this part of the story - very good.

part 3:
On the Moon, a rival to Hallam is investigating a different alternative universe to solve the problem of the electron pump. I lost the plot a bit here, well, with regards to the electron pump, and at the end I had to double track to check whether the problem had been solved or not. A good commentary on immigration (people from Earth to the Moon), and having not that long ago moved from the UK to China, I can identify with missing the foods you like and finding some of the local customs a bit strange.

An enjoyable read, thanks for passing it my way.

Journal Entry 7 by bookowl1000 at Foshan 佛山, Guangdong China on Saturday, February 23, 2013
Have finally got around to arranging this ray...has been a long time. I was originally keeping it in case I needed it for a sci-fi VBB i was participating in, but that ended and the book got put on a shelf and forgotten. Sorry.

1. When you receive the book please make a journal entry to let everyone know that it has arrived safely.

2. Read the book as quick as you can (hopefully within 4 weeks). Please put it ahead of any other books, except other bookrings/rays that arrived first. A person who holds up a book may be left out for the remaining books.

3. Please make a journal entry to let everyone know what you thought of the book.

4. When you are nearing the end of the book, pm the next person on the list for their address. Ideally you should not send the book unless he/she has passed on the previous book to avoid people being in possession of more than one book at a time. You will also need to contact the person before you in the list for the next book to ask them to send it to you.

5. Make a journal entry when you have posted the book to show that it is traveling.

mikime Italy (Itnl)
RonOren UK (Itnl)
Kaija USA (Itnl)

will be travelling soon.

Journal Entry 8 by bookowl1000 at Foshan 佛山, Guangdong China on Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Released 11 yrs ago (3/2/2013 UTC) at Foshan 佛山, Guangdong China

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Book is on its way to Europe.

Enjoy!

Journal Entry 9 by mikime at Roma, Lazio Italy on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
This arrived yesterday. Thanks for sending it (and the beautiful postcard). I'll start reading it tomorrow.

Journal Entry 10 by mikime at Roma, Lazio Italy on Thursday, March 28, 2013
I really enjoyed this novel, quite different from the Foundation books, a different Asimov that I appreciated. I kept wondering how each universe in the book works, especially in the second section. Very interesting and fascinating.
Thanks so much for letting me join the ring.
I have just posted it to the next person in the list. Happy reading!

Journal Entry 11 by RonOren at Cambridge, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Just arrived and very much looking forward to this one. Thanks for sending it through, mikime. I need to finish another ring first, but will get to this in a couple of days.

Journal Entry 12 by RonOren at Cambridge, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Sunday, April 7, 2013
I really enjoyed this book! The science behind it is a little dodgy, especially in the description of the Electron Pump. In fairness, most of part 1 is about Lamont trying to convince people that there is no such thing as a free lunch (so science gets rehabilitated somewhat), but part 3 undoes that somewhat.

In any case, the science is not really the most important bit, is it? I have to agree with bookowl1000 that this book uses a single story (i.e. the development and use of the Electron Pump across two universes) to explore some core societal issues like long-term vision over short-term gain and the position of non-conformers in society.

I really liked the para-Universe. In a way, it reminded me a lot of Edwin Abbott's Flatland: I pictured the para-people as different geometric shapes (albeit ones that can change sometimes). I also did quite like the idea of people split into Rational, Parental and Emotional, though the regimented nature of their society seemed rather unpleasant (which, of course, is the whole point of the book). It's strange, but I felt more for Dua and Odeen than for Lamont, Hallam or the other people in our Universe...

All in all, a very enjoyable read of the sort I'm used to from Asimov: slightly whimsical and mostly unrealistic (on the technical level) but containing some deeper thoughts and retaining a page-turning quality. Thanks ever so much for sharing this one, bookowl1000! I'll get it moving to Kaija soon.

Journal Entry 13 by RonOren at Cambridge, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Saturday, April 13, 2013
On its way to Kaija. I hope you'll enjoy it!

Journal Entry 14 by Kaija at Muskegon, Michigan USA on Friday, June 7, 2013
Showed up yesterday... I will start reading it today.

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