HarperVoyager The Currents of Space

Arrived on time, good condition

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.

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 …

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.

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