This is a short book, and quite different from the other Asimovs I've read recently. Specifically it doesn't have any robots, and isn't a murder mystery. Its also set about 1,000 years into the future from the previous Robot Mysteries. Its a good book, with a style similar to the original Robot Mysteries (distinct from the newer ones written 40 years later). Its short and an easy read. I liked it.

Update: I originally thought the space between the Robot Mysteries and this book was much bigger than apparently it is meant to be. According to Wikipedia's page on the empire series:

"Some sources further this argument by asserting that The Stars, Like Dust takes place about one thousand years following the events of Robots and Empire."

http://www.stillhq.com/book/Isaac_Asi... ( )

The Stars, Like Dust has what I consider to be one of the most evocative titles of any science fiction novel. Unfortunately, the novel itself is, at best, mediocre. With Pebble in the Sky and The Currents of Space, this book forms the Galactic Empire trilogy, although there is very little Galactic Empire in this book.

The book is more or less a standard adventure story with a helping of political intrigue, a serving of betrayals and backstabbing, and a somewhat groan-inducing ending (although, to be fair, the attachment of the "ultimate secret weapon" at the end of the novel was apparently not Asimov's idea, but was insisted upon by his editor). The story is, like a lot of Golden Age science fiction, somewhat dated as Asimov didn't anticipate developments in computers, but it is still readable. The Tyranni are a fairly stock enemy, but are drawn malevolently enough to make the fight against them worth reading. Some of the characters are fairly wooden, but the protagonist is reasonably engaging, even if he is overly naive and foolish at times.

The Stars, Like Dust ends up as a serviceable Asimov science fiction novel. There isn't anything particularly good or bad about it. A fan of Golden Age science fiction will find it worth reading, especially to see how the novel bridges the gap between the pulpy adventure stories of earlier science fiction and the more involved stories that came after it - one can see the seeds of stories like Foundation and The Caves of Steel in this book, and for that, it is probably worth a read for the science fiction fan. ( )

This is the first of the Galactic Empire trilogy, which take place in the same future as the Foundation series, and later were tied in with the Robot series. This is the tale of Biron Farhill. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this novel. I adore the character of the strange inventor, Uncle Gillbret. I love that through it all is the search for a Rebel planet, and in the end, it is found! But let us beware of the Tyranni, for Aratap is as wise as a serpent, and as dangerous! ( )

I daresay this book is as good as the best early Foundation and Robot books: a deft mixture of large-scale socio-political themes and individual storylines; idealism and geek appeal; and just the right amount of bang-bang action and machismo to create an almost perfect adventure story.

Read the rest of my review of The Stars, Like Dust on my blog, The Nerd is the Word.

http://nerdword.blogspot.com/2008/02/... ( )

I'm going to differ with some of the critics, and even Azimov himself, who considered this one of his worst novels. While it is arguably not his best, I think it still has a lot going for it. Maybe I'm just a romanticist, or it doesn't take much to please me, but I still have a lot of fun visualizing this simple, but satisfying adventure. ( )