The Stars Like Dust - Isaac Asimov Book Review

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Review Summary

When student Biron Farrill narrowly survives an attempt on his life, enigmatic Sander Jonti urges him to leave Earth for Rhodia under an assumed identity. During the journey Biron realizes he has been betrayed to the Tyranni, a short, ugly race which has subjugated the known galaxy. Released from custody in the hope that he will lead them (the Tyranni authorities) to a conspiracy, Biron does indeed meet conspirators, in the shape of Artemisia, the voluptuous daughter of the Director of Rhodia, and Gillbret, her effeminate uncle. Fleeing Rhodia in a stolen spaceship, the trio head for Lingane, where Gillbret believes the Autarch heads a conspiracy against the Tyranni. Could an unidentified planet and a document from ancient Earth hold the key to freedom for the galaxy?
Stephen Coombs, Resident Scholar

Detailed literary breakdown of The Stars Like Dust

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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 10%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 50%

Tone of book - very upbeat
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Romance Yes
Political power play Yes
Political plotlets - overthrowing govt/kingdom
Tech./$$$/Info hunt Yes
Stealing/recovering/destroying - info about lifeform(s)/society/phenomena
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - student
Age: - 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - bulging muscles

Main Adversary
Identity: - an entire race
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a little/some
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant

Setting
Terrain - Space, need spacesuit - Domed/Underground City
Earth setting: - distant future
Spaceship setting: - futuristic human warship - futuristic human freighter/transport
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body: - humans in a futuristic society - very controlled society
Takes place on Earth? Yes
Planet outside solar system? Yes
Takes place in spaceship? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only) - an average amount of scientific explanation
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - descript of kissing
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog

Most similar books to The Stars Like Dust
The Road to Damascus by John Ringo and Linda Evans
Dune by Frank Herbert
Stargate SG-1 City of the Gods by Sonny Whitelaw
Freedom's Challenge by Anne McCaffrey
A Wizard in Bedlam - Rogue Wizard 2 by Christopher Stasheff

Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).

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