Pebble in the Sky
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
2 journalers for this copy...
from the back cover...
Two minutes before he disappeared forever from the face of the Earth he know, Joseph Schwartz was strolling down the pleasant streets of a Chicago suburb, thinking about his family. He was a simple man, a kind man, a practical man not given to wild flights of imagination. So when he saw the old Raggedy Ann doll lying in his path, he merely smiled and lifted his foot to step over it. That was the only thing he remembered. He did not know that it marked the last act of his life on this earth, and the beginning of a terrifying journey into a strange new world where the twentieth century was already history.
I read this book, borrowed from a friend, as a kid almost 40 years ago. Lately, I remembered it, and have been looking for a copy. After mentioning it at a Milwaukee area bookcrossing meet-up last night, I stopped in at a used bookstore in Greenfield Wisconsin, and there it was!
Two minutes before he disappeared forever from the face of the Earth he know, Joseph Schwartz was strolling down the pleasant streets of a Chicago suburb, thinking about his family. He was a simple man, a kind man, a practical man not given to wild flights of imagination. So when he saw the old Raggedy Ann doll lying in his path, he merely smiled and lifted his foot to step over it. That was the only thing he remembered. He did not know that it marked the last act of his life on this earth, and the beginning of a terrifying journey into a strange new world where the twentieth century was already history.
I read this book, borrowed from a friend, as a kid almost 40 years ago. Lately, I remembered it, and have been looking for a copy. After mentioning it at a Milwaukee area bookcrossing meet-up last night, I stopped in at a used bookstore in Greenfield Wisconsin, and there it was!
This is one of Asimov's Galactic Empire books, precursors to his famous Foundation series. In story order, they are:
The Stars, Like Dust (1951)
The Currents of Space (1952)
Pebble in the Sky (1950)
The Galactic Empire books are not a trilogy as sometimes described, but stand-alone novels set in the same universe, all before the Foundation series, and can be read in any order.
I've read this book in the past few days, and it was surprising to me that it's aged as well as it has. It was published in 1950, but fortunately almost immediately skips ahead to the distant future where our own times are prehistoric.
The characters are sympathetically developed, if a little stereotyped, and engage the reader in puzzling out the interactions of the the diverse motivations of each. The ending gives the same pleasure as the revelations at the end of a mystery novel, although the plot elements are sf rather than crime.
Thematically, it is hard not to draw the parallels of denigrated Earthmen, who are the true and forgotten genesis of all humanity, to Africans and African-descended people in our own world - or especially the world of the pre-civil rights era in which this was written.
The Stars, Like Dust (1951)
The Currents of Space (1952)
Pebble in the Sky (1950)
The Galactic Empire books are not a trilogy as sometimes described, but stand-alone novels set in the same universe, all before the Foundation series, and can be read in any order.
I've read this book in the past few days, and it was surprising to me that it's aged as well as it has. It was published in 1950, but fortunately almost immediately skips ahead to the distant future where our own times are prehistoric.
The characters are sympathetically developed, if a little stereotyped, and engage the reader in puzzling out the interactions of the the diverse motivations of each. The ending gives the same pleasure as the revelations at the end of a mystery novel, although the plot elements are sf rather than crime.
Thematically, it is hard not to draw the parallels of denigrated Earthmen, who are the true and forgotten genesis of all humanity, to Africans and African-descended people in our own world - or especially the world of the pre-civil rights era in which this was written.
Today, I decided to release this book into Erishkigal's science fiction bookbox, to replace a book I have taken out.
Chosen from Erishkigal's Science Fiction Bookbox. Read this (and loved it) long ago, glad to have it back in my hands.
I agree with TomHI that this has aged quite well. The parts I remembered liking on first reading seem just as strong, and the plotting is tight and logical.
What strikes me now is how much Asimov LOVES the idea of a Galactic Empire. His descriptions of the Imperial Gardens are so haunting I kept wanting more scenes set there. Except for the soldier who keeps going after Arvardan with the neuronic whip, all the Imperials are written very sympathetically, especially Procurator Ennius at the end. Well, all the Earthpeople (except the High Priest and the Secretary) come off pretty well, too. Asimov never had any patience with prejudice or stupidity, and that shows up in a lot of his writing.
What strikes me now is how much Asimov LOVES the idea of a Galactic Empire. His descriptions of the Imperial Gardens are so haunting I kept wanting more scenes set there. Except for the soldier who keeps going after Arvardan with the neuronic whip, all the Imperials are written very sympathetically, especially Procurator Ennius at the end. Well, all the Earthpeople (except the High Priest and the Secretary) come off pretty well, too. Asimov never had any patience with prejudice or stupidity, and that shows up in a lot of his writing.
Journal Entry 6 by JudySlump612 at Precision Grind Coffee House (E. Franklin Ave & 23rd) in Minneapolis, Minnesota USA on Thursday, July 7, 2011
Released 12 yrs ago (7/7/2011 UTC) at Precision Grind Coffee House (E. Franklin Ave & 23rd) in Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
On OBCZ shelves
