FROM THE PUBLISHER
Only a few know the terrifying truth—an outcast Earth scientist, a rebellious alien inhabitant of a dying planet, a lunar-born human intuitionist who senses the imminent annihilation of the Sun. They know the truth—but who will listen? They have foreseen the cost of abundant energy—but who will believe? These few beings, human and alien, hold the key to the Earth's survival.

Will be offering as a bookray, will list participants here. It's a small hardcover, packaged weight approx 14.5 ounces (411 g). Forum post announcing bookray.

Participants:

1. RACKYROSS (Rome, Italy - Ship Europe.)
   
2. Nalex (Lyon, Rhône-Alpes France - Ship Int.)
   
3. ajdica(Ljubljana, Osrednja Slovenija - Ship Int.)
   
4. VictorCasimir(Ljubljana, Slovenia - Ship Int.)
   
5. Erishkigal( Salt Lake City, Utah)<
   
6. perryfran (Rockville, Maryland USA - Ship Anywhere)
   
7. palomikus(Bratislava, Slovakia - Ship Europe Only)<---- Being Read By
   
8. mikime(Rome, Lazio Italy - Ship Anywhere)
   
9. Shimmy-crazy (Ashford, Middlesex United Kingdom - Ship Anywhere)
   
10. Charlieboots76 (Bournemouth, Dorset United Kingdom - Ship Int.)
    
11. deepdowne(Saudia Arabia)
    
12. Melanie2474 (Narrabundah, Australian Capital Territory, Australia - Ship Australia Only)
    

Bookray instructions ( Copied from catsalive):
1. SIGN UP for this bookray by sending me a Private Message. Order of participants will be juggled between geography, date of request and shipping limitations. Late additions may be added to the end of the list.
2. When the person before you on the list finishes reading the book, they will send you a Private Message for your postal address. If you no longer wish to read it, or wish to be moved in the list let them (and me!) know and I will move you down/off the list.
3. WHEN YOU RECEIVE THE BOOK please make a journal entry so everyone knows it has safely arrived. Bookrays should NOT be stressful, take your time and enjoy the book. Just make sure it gets mailed on to the next person.
4. WHEN YOU FINISH THE BOOK, make another journal entry telling us what you thought - did you like it? Did you think it was well-written?
5. CONTINUE THE BOOKRAY by sending a Private Message to the person after you on the bookring list and request their postal address. Please check back here for the latest distribution list. If the person doesn't respond within 7-10 days (use your judgement), please PM the next person, and then me, so I can update the bookray list.
6. END OF THE RAY, The last person on the ray could try and continue the ray or just give/mail the book to someone else who might like to read it, an RABCK perhaps, look at cliff1976.com wish list web site or release it into the wild.

A note about shipping:

As this is a bookray and the book will not return to me it does not matter how long it takes this book to make its way from person to person. So I would insist that when shipping this book please use the most inexpensive shipping method available to you, ESPECIALLY when shipping this book internationally.

Shipped to RACKYROSS today to start the bookray, US Customs Label # LC580664190US.

Got it! Wow, I must say U.S postal service's really quick! The package crossed the pond and was delivered in no more than 4 days!! lol :-) I can't wait to take up reading this book! Actually I discovered Isaac Asimov not too long ago (shame on me!) because I wasn't too fond of sci-fi, but he had such a peculiar outlook, as well as interesting and modern ideas, that made me change my mind! Now I want to make up for the time I lost, and try to read as much about Asimov's works as possible!

Absolutely one of the best Asimov's books that I've read so far (together with "The end of Eternity"; the plot, divided in 3 short stories, is incredibly well-constructed and... Overwhelming, in a positive sense!!! Moreover Asimov makes everything seem so "possible", in a way, who might not say we'll have to face that kind of dilemmas in the future of mankind?

Well, the ray will now bring the book to France, as soon as Nalex will give me his address!!! Thanks again efs300 for sharing such a great book with us!!!

RELEASE NOTES:

The book has left Italy and it's now travelling to France!

Il libro ha lasciato l'Italia e sta viaggiando per la Francia!

Le livre a quitté l'Italie et il est en train de voyager pour la France!

Hello,

I've got it...perhaps since a long time...but I was in holidays (skiing : nice weather but a lake of snow lol)...

Thanks RACKYROSS ;-)

Hello everyone,

Just to say I'm still reading...my month of exams ended, I start reading again...harder than I expected...one third of the book left...I'll do my best

Here I am!!!!

I did it and finish it yesterday in the train between Luxembourg and Lyon (was going away of my love so I need to read !)
Well I still do not understand why it takes me so much time to read, because I liked the story. The way it's tell was just a little bit disturbing in the beginning I think. But, good indeed, will be something I will remember!!!
And I don't know how he managed to (as Racky said) make everything seem so "possible"...

Send to the Next ASAP (and As Soon I get the Adress ;-) )

The book arrived today, safely. I'm so excited! My first ever bookring/ray. Thank you for including me, efs300! And thanks to Nalex who made sure the book found me!

Wow, I never expected this book to be so good. I can´t say I´ve read a lot of Sci-Fi, so I can´t really make comparisons, but it can´t get much better than this, surely. I´m a biochemistry student, so most of the scientific background was somewhat familiar. I love how Asimov actually found a way to rationally explain the phenomenon this story is based on.

While reading the book I could hardly contain my excitement. I kept bugging my boyfriend, telling him what a great book I´m reading, how much I´m enjoying it etc. He got curious, and efs300 was kind enough to add him to the bookray. The book is already with him. I hope he enjoys it as much as I did!

Thank you, efs300!

Read it even before I managed to submit the first journal entry. It's a great story - a typical Asimov - though not as epic as his Foundation series. I especially liked the second part.

I generaly prefer old sci-fi novels, there was still so much romance to be found in science back in the 50s and 60s. The notion that every problem humanity faces could be solved by dedicated scientists. Now that role is being taken over by retired cops, soldiers or firemen as we slowly sink back towards the age of astrology and cargo-cult science.

I'm sending a PM to Erishkigal right away and I'll send the book as soon as I get his/her addy.

arrived in today's mail-- I'm totally bored by the Peter Straub I've been trying to make myself finish, so this is a great excuse to set it aside- :)

thank you ajdica & VictorCasimir for the beautiful postcard!

With all the SF I've read over the years, How on earth did I manage to miss this excellent Azimov?!?!

Part of what makes this one of his best (for me, you may differ) is that the plot, while epic, maintains a human scope (or perhaps I should say "sentient" -lol). Sometimes I feel Azimovs scope is so large-so spread over time and space- that we don't remain with individuals long enough to become invested in the characters. Or if we do, we're then yanked along elsewhere/when too abruptly. In The God Themselves, characters have time to develop, and I like that.

But all character isn't what I want in an SF novel--I can get character in mainstream fiction. I love the "what-if" and I love "hard" SF--SF in which science is dominant. Being a biochemist, Azimov had the scietific background to take the impossible premise of this book, asf 'what-if', and use physics and natural law to create a plausible reality.

it just doesn't get any better--(grin)

i've pmd palomikus, and will send this off later in the week when i make one large PO trip

Thank-You, efs300!!

after many false starts-lol- mailed today to perryfan

Received in the mail today - great timing - I'm just finishing up another book and can start on this in a day or two. Looking forward to it. Thanks efs300 for squeezing me in!

I was enjoyably reading this great Asimov story out on the deck last weekend, with the radio tuned to an oldies station. On came David Bowie’s “Space Oddity.” I hadn’t heard this song for a few years (even though I have the CD). Anyway, I thought – how appropriate! The song fit right in with the alien world I was reading about. Of course I pulled out the CD from my collection and found that the album was recorded in 1972 – the same year “Gods Themselves” was copyrighted! Must have been fate…

Anyway, I thought the book was great. I must admit that I haven’t read much science fiction in recent years. The science fiction I most enjoy are works by such authors as Arthur C. Clarke, Robert Heinlein, Robert Silverberg, Ray Bradbury, Phil Farmer and Asimov published in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. (I have a couple of bookrays going for Childhood's End by Clarke and Stranger in a Strange Land by Heinlein - if anyone is interested, please PM me). I read these authors in my high school and college days (more than a few years ago!). More recent sci-fi I haven’t really cared for – especially the glut of fantasy novels that seem to dominate the field these days.

“God’s Themselves” kept me interested clear through. After reading the dedication, I was hooked – Asimov accosts Robert Silverberg at a sci-fi convention for referring to a radioactive isotope (plutonium-186) that could not exist. He then tells Silverberg that to show him real ingenuity, he would write a story about it (leave it to a biochemist!). This story ended up as “The God’s Themselves.”

Not only was Gods Themselves great sci-fi but Asimov gave some great commentary on our times as reflected in the characters and situations he created in the 1970s. This included the ambition of Hallam in the first section. Rather than relinquish any of the credit for being the father of the “electron pump” he would risk the annihilation of the planet. Implications of the electron pump also mirror our current problem of global warming – mankind has ignored the consequences of burning fossil fuels for energy to provide for human comforts (did Asimov foresee this?). The second section was perhaps the most enjoyable part of the novel in which Asimov creates a unique alien “para-universe” including the “triplet” sexual relationships of the beings (the aliens have three sexes with fixed roles for each sex – wow!). And finally, the third section provides a satisfactory resolution to the story. All in all – sci-fi at its best!

I have received palomikus' address and will get the book in the mail in the morning.

RELEASE NOTES:

On its way to palomikus in Slovakia! (sent surface mail)

Yesterday I received this book. Thank you so much perryfran! I want it start read in next 2-3 weeks because I must finish other books...