The Currents of Space: Galactic Empire, Book 2

Relative is a fan and bought him several from this author

Legendary author Isaac Asimov has written a tale full of murder and political intrigue along with some great science fiction.The Trantorian empire is closing in on it's conquest of the galaxy. But, the planet Sark stands in the path of this conquest. Sark is an independent planet but, more important, is its sale of kyrt. Kyrt, a cotton-like substance, is the foundation of most of the materials in the galaxy and is only available from Sark.Sark doesn't produce kyrt by itself. Instead, kyrt is grown on the planet Florina. Sark uses the population of Florina as cheap slave labor to produce kyrt. Many have tried, but none have succeeded in growing kyrt anywhere but on Florina. These imitations are more like plain cotton and nowhere near the quality of kyrt. Due to this relationship, Sark has become extremely powerful and wealthy, while Florina has suffered under the rule of Sark.But, a man has entered the picture with information which could prove devastating to Sark, Florina, and Trantor. This man claims to have knowledge that Florina and it's valuable supply of kyrt is in danger of being destroyed. This leads to an exciting story of murder, political manuvering, and intrigue.I'm a big fan of science fiction, but this is only the 2nd Asimov novel that I've read, the other being the classic "Nightfall", which I also recommend. I thought this book was good, but I had some difficulty following the story. I thought Asimov introduced too many characters in such a short book, too. However, I did enjoy the story and I plan on reading "Pebble in the Sky" and "The Stars, Like Dust".Asimov is one of the masters of science fiction authors, and this book is a good choice for fans of science fiction.

Isaac Asimov's The Current's of Space is part of his Galactic Empire series. In this standalone novel, a technician with bad news for a planet has his memory wiped to forestall revelation as part of an unrevealed plan. He is left on an oppressed world where the natives are maintained as virtual slaves while another planet lords over them and milks the wealth arising from monopolistic control of a unique resource. As memory slowly returns, different cultural and political as well as economic and scientific interests converge to avert a global disaster.Asimov presents a futuristic version of the antebellum South with a material akin to cotton serving as the unique resource from which another planet derives their wealth. He also deftly displays competing interests vying for position within the overall galactic empire. The backseat both science and basic human dignity take relative political and economic interests as well as raw personal ambition, while not desirable, is nevertheless quite realistic. While still short in the areas of character development, the plot is well structured and unfolds nicely.

I first read Asimov when I was 16. I have read and re-read almost all of his SF. However, I had not read the Galactic Empire series. Starting the 3rd book today. The plots, characters, even the science is remarkable. I would suggest to any one that they read this three book series, the robot novels and then tackle the Foundation series. You will be amazed!

Pre galactic empire, this story hints at the coming formation of Trantor as the center of the Empire. Unfortunately, the plot is weak and jumbled, and the characters are not very interesting. The star science is wrong, although written before the fusion reactions in stars were well understood.

Clearly demonstrates that Asimov has a good understanding of human nature and the emotional motivation of same. It's all here, intense self interest, greed, shame, and proprietorship of ownership, no matter how that was obtained.Asimov is known for his hard science, but he should also be known for understand his own species...very well.

Read this before the "Pebble in the sky and the foundation series. I suggest the empire set to be read after the Robots series because it gives you a good understanding of the setting. If I sound like everything I say is for the benefit of the Foundation series, it is because that series to me is the main story, although all the books are equally enjoyable in their own right. My suggested order just makes them all build on each other and make them feel connected.The only thing I have changed in my order of reading is to put the two prequels to the Foundation series before the series and not after, although they were written by Asimov afterwards. However, my reason for suggesting to read them afterwards is still valid. I just made a personal choice to read them first, since I had already gone through the Foundation series some 20 years ago. So for me they will be both before and after, since I'll be reading theFoundation series again this year.

As with most Asimov novels, a combination of mystery and SF. An intriguing story about the domination of the galaxy by The Galactic Empire, through classic politics and individual impact.

Bought to add to my bookcase, read many years ago before I moved and gave away most of my books.

No problems, all smooth, reasonable price for a hard to find book.

This is Volume 2 in the three-volume Empire series of novels by Isaac Asimov. It was first published in 1952; this paperback edition is a 2009 reprint by Tom Doherty’s well-known sci-fi publishing company in New York. I am very glad that this book is sold by Amazon India.What else is there to say? If you like English-language science fiction, the Empire series has to be on your must-read list! In these three novels, Asimov sets up the grand stage of a Galactic Empire upon which the events of his epic seven-volume Foundation series takes place.In “The Currents of Space”, the story is set on a planet called Florina, which is controlled by people living on another planet called Sark. The Florinian people do not have much freedoms; all they do is to harvest a crop called kyrt for the Sarkites, who are extremely wealthy because kyrt is extremely valuable as a fabric material and it doesn't grow anywhere else in the Galaxy. Well, one day, a strange, naked, mentally-retarded man is found lying by a road on Florina …

I have read and reread many novels by this esteemed author, but somehow missed The Currents of Space. It proved to be as enjoyable as any other he has written. I have a new hardcover copy of the Foundation Trilogy which I read again recently, so it awakened the urge for an unread item in the close series. Fans will not be disappointed with this novel, just as I was pleased to dive into it. Somehow, when reading these books, I seem to soar right through them before the end is nearly reached. Any author who can write a book which will be read many times over, and enjoyed each time by the same person, deserves the highest accolades. Sadly, there are few novels by Asimov which are new to me, but I still have a shelf with numerous books form the Foundation and Robot series to enjoy again.

I bought this trilogy all at once. Just finished the first book. Opened this one and found that about 10 pages in the middle of the book are virtually blank. Almost like the printer ran out of ink. Return window is now closed so I am left with 95% of a book or 100% fire starter. Very frustrating, particularly for a book that's over $20.