Plot Summary

The Gods Themselves

Isaac Asimov
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The Gods Themselves

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1972

Book Brief

Isaac Asimov

The Gods Themselves

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1972
Book Details
Pages

288

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Earth, Lunar colonies • Future

Theme
Publication Year

1972

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

16+ years

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Super Short Summary

The Gods Themselves by Isaac Asimov is a 1972 science fiction novel about scientists in the early 22nd century who discover an unlimited energy source called the "Pump," which derives energy from a parallel universe, but they must convince the world that this energy exchange is destabilizing the sun and threatening to destroy the entire solar system.

Mysterious

Fantastical

Suspenseful

Challenging

Informative

Reviews & Readership

4.2

69,600 ratings

77%

Loved it

19%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Isaac Asimov's The Gods Themselves has garnered praise for its imaginative narrative, intricate scientific concepts, and well-crafted characters. Reviewers appreciate its exploration of inter-dimensional communication and human nature. Criticisms center on its somewhat dense scientific explanations and a narrative structure that can feel disjointed at times.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Gods Themselves?

Fans of speculative fiction and hard science fiction will relish The Gods Themselves by Isaac Asimov. Ideal for readers who enjoy Arthur C. Clarke's 2001: A Space Odyssey or Robert Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land, this book offers a blend of scientific imagination and humanistic themes, appealing to those who seek intellectually stimulating narratives.

4.2

69,600 ratings

77%

Loved it

19%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

Fun Facts

The Gods Themselves is notable for being Isaac Asimov's return to science fiction novels after a 15-year hiatus, and it won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards in 1973.

Asimov drew inspiration for the novel from a remark made by fellow science fiction writer Robert Silverberg, which suggested that there are few stories focused on communication between humans and aliens due to the inherent challenges in imagining genuinely alien beings.

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The novel is divided into three distinct parts, each with unique perspectives and settings, reflecting Asimov's creative exploration of alternate realities and human-alien interaction.

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Book Details
Pages

288

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Earth, Lunar colonies • Future

Theme
Publication Year

1972

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

16+ years

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