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Nemesis: A Novel Kindle Edition
In the twenty-third century pioneers have escaped the crowded earth for life in self-sustaining orbital colonies. One of the colonies, Rotor, has broken away from the solar system to create its own renegade utopia around an unknown red star two light-years from Earth: a star named Nemesis.
Now a fifteen-year-old Rotorian girl has learned of the dire threat that nemesis poses to Earth’s people—but she is prevented from warning them. Soon she will realize that Nemesis endangers Rotor as well. And so it will be up to her alone to save both Earth and Rotor as—drawn inexorably by Nemesis, the death star—they hurtle toward certain disaster.
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherSpectra
- Publication dateNovember 19, 2008
- File size2184 KB
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MARLEME
1.
Marlene had last seen the Solar System when she was a little over one year old. She didn’t remember it, of course.
She had read a great deal about it, but none of the reading had ever made her feel that it could ever have been part of her, nor she a part of it.
In all her fifteen years of life, she remembered only Rotor. She had always thought of it as a large world. It was eight kilometers across, after all. Every once in a while since she was ten—once a month when she could manage it—she had walked around it for the exercise, and sometimes had taken the low-gravity paths so she could skim a little. That was always fun. Skim or walk, Rotor went on and on, with its buildings, its parks, its farms, and mostly its people.
It took her a whole day to do it, but her mother didn’t mind. She said Rotor was perfectly safe. “Not like Earth,” she would say, but she wouldn’t say why Earth was not safe. “Never mind,” she would say.
It was the people Marlene liked least. The new census, they said, would show sixty thousand of them on Rotor. Too many. Far too many. Every one of them showing a false face. Marlene hated seeing those false faces and knowing there was something different inside. Nor could she say anything about it. She had tried sometimes when she had been younger, but her mother had grown angry and told her she must never say things like that.
As she got older, she could see the falseness more clearly, but it bothered her less. She had learned to take it for granted and spend as much time as possible with herself and her own thoughts.
Lately, her thoughts were often on Erythro, the planet they had been orbiting almost all her life. She didn’t know why these thoughts were coming to her, but she would skim to the observation deck at odd hours and just stare at the planet hungrily, wanting to be there—right there on Erythro.
Her mother would ask her, impatiently, why she should want to be on an empty barren planet, but she never had an answer for that. She didn’t know. “I just want to,” she would say.
She was watching it now, alone on the observation deck. Rotorians hardly ever came here. They had seen it all, Marlene guessed, and for some reason they didn’t have her interest in Erythro.
There it was; partly in light, partly dark. She had a dim memory of being held to watch it swim into view, seeing it every once in a while, always larger, as Rotor slowly approached all those years ago.
Was it a real memory? After all, she had been getting on toward four then, so it might be.
But now that memory—real or not—was overlaid by other thoughts, by an increasing realization of just how large a planet was. Erythro was. over twelve thousand kilometers across, not eight kilometers. She couldn’t grasp that size. It didn’t look that large on the screen and she couldn’t imagine standing on it and seeing for hundreds—or even thousands—of kilometers. But she knew she wanted to. Very much.
Aurinel wasn’t interested in Erythro, which was disappointing. He said he had other things to think of, like getting ready for college. He was seventeen and a half. Marlene was only just past fifteen. That didn’t make much difference, she thought rebelliously, since girls developed more quickly.
At least they should. She looked down at herself and thought, with her usual dismay and disappointment, that somehow she still looked like a kid, short and stubby.
She looked at Erythro again, large and beautiful and softly red where it was lit. It was large enough to be a planet but actually, she knew, it was a satellite. It circled Megas, and it was Megas (much larger still) that was really the planet, even though everyone called Erythro by that name. The two of them together, Megas and Erythro, and Rotor, too, circled the star Nemesis.
“Marlene!”
Marlene heard the voice behind her and knew that it was Aurinel. She had grown increasingly tongue-tied with him of late, and the reason for it embarrassed her. She loved the way he pronounced her name. He pronounced it correctly. Three syllables—Mar-LAY-nuh—with a little trill to the “r.” It warmed her just to hear it.
She turned and mumbled, “Hi, Aurinel,” and tried not to turn red.
He grinned at her. “You’re staring at Erythro, aren’t you?”
She didn’t answer that. Of course that’s what she would be doing. Everyone knew how she felt about Erythro. “How come you’re here?” (Tell me you were looking for me, she thought.)
Aurinel said, “Your mother sent me.”
(Oh well.) “Why?”
“She said you were in a bad mood and every time you felt sorry for yourself, you came up here, and I was to come and get you because she said it would just make you grumpier to stay here. So why are you in a bad mood?”
“I’m not. And if I am, I have reasons.”
“What reasons? Come on, now. You’re not a little kid any more. You’ve got to be able to express yourself.”
Marlene lifted her eyebrows. “I am quite articulate, thank you. My reasons are that I would like to travel.”
Aurinel laughed. “You’ve traveled, Marlene. You’ve traveled more than two light-years. No one in the whole history of the Solar System has ever traveled even a small fraction of a light-year. —Except us. So you have no right to complain. You’re Marlene Insigna Fisher, Galactic Traveler.”
Marlene suppressed a giggle. Insigna was her mother’s maiden name and whenever Aurinel said her three names in full, he would salute and make a face, and he hadn’t done that in a long time. She guessed it was because he was getting close to being a grown-up and he had to practice being dignified.
She said, “I can’t remember that trip at all. You know I can’t, and not being able to remember it means it doesn’t matter. We’re just here, over two light-years from the Solar System, and we’re never going back.”
“How do you know?”
“Come on, Aurinel. Do you ever hear anyone talk about going back?”
“Well, even if we don’t, who cares? Earth is a crowded world and the whole Solar System was getting crowded and used up. We’re better off out here—masters of all we survey.”
“No, we’re not. We survey Erythro, but we don’t go down there to be its masters.”
“Sure we do. We have a fine working Dome on Erythro. You know that.”
“Not for us. Just for some scientists. I’m talking about us. They don’t let us go down there.”
“In time,” said Aurinel cheerfully.
“Sure, when I’m an old woman. Or dead.”
“Things aren’t that bad. Anyway, come on out of here and into the world and make your mother happy. I can’t stay here. I have things to do. Dolorette—”
Marlene felt a buzzing in her ears and she didn’t hear exactly what Aurinel said after that. It was enough to hear—Dolorette!
Marlene hated Dolorette, who was tall and—and vacuous.
“But what was the use? Aurinel had been hanging around her, and Marlene knew, just by looking at him, exactly how he felt about Dolorette. And now he had been sent to find her and he was just wasting his time. She could tell that was how he felt and she could also tell how anxious he was to get back to that—to that Dolorette. (Why could she always tell? It was so hateful sometimes.)
Quite suddenly, Marlene wanted to hurt him, to find words to give him pain. True words, though. She wouldn’t lie to him. She said, “We’re never going back to the Solar System. I know why not.”
“Oh, why’s that?” When Marlene, hesitating, said nothing, he added, “Mysteries?”
Marlene was caught. She was not supposed to say this. She mumbled, “I don’t want to say. I’m not supposed to know.” But she did want to say. At the moment she wanted everyone to feel bad.
“But you’ll tell me. We’re friends, aren’t we?”
“Are we?” Marlene asked. She said, “Okay, I’ll tell you. We’re not ever going back because Earth is going to be destroyed.”
Aurinel didn’t react as she had expected. He burst into a loud squawk of a laugh. It took him a while to settle down, and she glared at him indignantly.
“Marlene,” he said, “where did you hear that? You’ve been viewing thrillers.”
“I have not!”
“But what makes you say anything like that?”
“Because I know. I can tell. From what people say, but don’t say, and what they do, when they don’t know they’re doing it. And from things the computer tells me when I ask the right questions.”
“Like what things it tells you?”
“I’m not going to tell you.”
“Isn’t it possible? Just barely possible”—and he held up two fingers very closely together—“that you’re imagining things?”
“No, it isn’t possible. Earth won’t be destroyed right away—maybe not for thousands of years—but it’s going to be destroyed.” She nodded solemnly, her face intense. “And nothing can stop it.”
Marlene turned and walked away, angry at Aurinel for doubting her. No, not doubting her. It was more than that. He thought she was out of her mind. And there it was. She had said too much and had gained nothing by it. Everything was wrong.
Aurinel was staring after her. The laughter had ceased on his boyishly handsome face and a certain uneasiness was creasing the skin between his eyebrows.
Product details
- ASIN : B009Y4JQFS
- Publisher : Spectra (November 19, 2008)
- Publication date : November 19, 2008
- Language : English
- File size : 2184 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Sticky notes : On Kindle Scribe
- Print length : 434 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: #266,348 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #1,088 in Galactic Empire Science Fiction eBooks
- #2,482 in Space Opera Science Fiction (Kindle Store)
- #2,666 in Dystopian Fiction (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Isaac Asimov (/ˈaɪzᵻk ˈæzᵻmɒv/; born Isaak Yudovich Ozimov; circa January 2, 1920 – April 6, 1992) was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was prolific and wrote or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000 letters and postcards. His books have been published in 9 of the 10 major categories of the Dewey Decimal Classification.
Asimov wrote hard science fiction and, along with Robert A. Heinlein and Arthur C. Clarke, he was considered one of the "Big Three" science fiction writers during his lifetime. Asimov's most famous work is the Foundation Series; his other major series are the Galactic Empire series and the Robot series. The Galactic Empire novels are explicitly set in earlier history of the same fictional universe as the Foundation series. Later, beginning with Foundation's Edge, he linked this distant future to the Robot and Spacer stories, creating a unified "future history" for his stories much like those pioneered by Robert A. Heinlein and previously produced by Cordwainer Smith and Poul Anderson. He wrote hundreds of short stories, including the social science fiction "Nightfall", which in 1964 was voted by the Science Fiction Writers of America the best short science fiction story of all time. Asimov wrote the Lucky Starr series of juvenile science-fiction novels using the pen name Paul French.
Asimov also wrote mysteries and fantasy, as well as much nonfiction. Most of his popular science books explain scientific concepts in a historical way, going as far back as possible to a time when the science in question was at its simplest stage. He often provides nationalities, birth dates, and death dates for the scientists he mentions, as well as etymologies and pronunciation guides for technical terms. Examples include Guide to Science, the three-volume set Understanding Physics, and Asimov's Chronology of Science and Discovery, as well as works on astronomy, mathematics, history, William Shakespeare's writing, and chemistry.
Asimov was a long-time member and vice president of Mensa International, albeit reluctantly; he described some members of that organization as "brain-proud and aggressive about their IQs". He took more joy in being president of the American Humanist Association. The asteroid 5020 Asimov, a crater on the planet Mars, a Brooklyn elementary school, and a literary award are named in his honor.
Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Photo by Phillip Leonian from New York World-Telegram & Sun [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.
Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book a good read with a compelling storyline that develops characters well. They also praise the writing style as well-written and engaging. Readers describe the writing quality as fascinating and astute. Opinions differ on the ending and pacing, with some finding it better and others saying it's weak.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the storyline compelling, interesting, and enjoyable. They also say the plot is good, and the ending is fitting. Readers say the book has never lost its relevance, and is educating. They mention the book develops characters well.
"...is an excellent tale by one of the masters of Science Fiction, well worth the read. I can't understand why some reviewers give it such a low rating...." Read more
"...the typical Asimov mix of scientific support and the construction of a credible adventure...." Read more
"...Maybe if I had paid attention...Great read, as always. Asimov is becoming one of my preferred authors." Read more
"An outstanding novel of Earth's future. Written as only Asimov can. A new star threatens the solar system but there is a planet orbiting it...." Read more
Customers find the writing style well written, and mention that the book flows and enjoys the mind. They also say the Kindle formatting is good, with only the occasional misspelled word.
"...For all that, this one is at least readable--as always Asimov's prose is pretty good and he does weave a story that captures the reader's..." Read more
"...His writing style has improved greatly compared to when he wrote the short stories in "I, Robot"...." Read more
"...They are exciting, interesting. You can always count on his very good writing style." Read more
"...I learnt much on astrophysics principles. Reading flows and enjoys the mind. I recommend this book for all ages." Read more
Customers find the writing quality fascinating, astute, and genius. They also say it has the same wit and skill as other Asimov works.
"...Classic Asimov. Simple, yet intelligent." Read more
"...It's got his same wit and skill but is not a humorous book. Can't wait to read something else he's authored." Read more
"...and the nature of the organism on the Planet Erythro are remarkably unconvincing, and in the end, irritatingly implausible...." Read more
"Work of a genius. I have been an Asimov fan for 50 years" Read more
Customers find the book captivating, difficult to put down, and easy to follow.
"...switches back and forth between th past and the future, but is very easy to follow...." Read more
"Very captivating. Difficult to put down.Would recommend this book to anyone wholikes Asimov. The best in sci-fi thrillers." Read more
"...Still, It's a great read up to that point. Classic Asimov. Simple, yet intelligent." Read more
"...A good story, told simply and plainly, well-written and satisfying...." Read more
Customers find the book a good read, but find it fairly bland if they've read most of Asimov's other works.
"...Asimov fans (I am an enthusiastic fan myself) will enjoy this flawed but readable novel. RJB." Read more
"...such as the Foundation series but it is still better than your average science fiction novel and worth your time." Read more
"...A good read if you're looking for a distraction on public transit or something to fall asleep to." Read more
"I was completely satisfied with my purchase. The book was in fine condiiton and how can a person object to the writing of the late Isaac Asimov...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the ending of the book. Some find it one of the better endings, while others say it's a weak finale.
"...Not his best work, and the ending is telegraphed somewhat, but a great story nonetheless." Read more
"...The rising actions lead to a lackluster climax and an abrupt ending...." Read more
"...book unfolds and evolves, with nearly two stories in one, and a perfect conclusion!" Read more
"This is a great story hampered by a rushed ending...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the pacing of the book. Some mention it's fast and a nice change of pace for Asimov fans, while others say it feels painfully slow at times.
"Generally enjoyable but at points it felt painfully slow...." Read more
"Nice change of pace for Asimov fans...." Read more
"...Unfortunately that act felt very rushed, and unconvincing. It's too bad, b/c otherwise it might have been one of Asimov's best works." Read more
"slow but good..." Read more
Customers find the characters in the book annoying and unlikable.
"...Marlene, the young female protagonist, is annoying and not very likable. There is a general lack of a strong antagonist as well...." Read more
"...never really feels like there is any real struggle, there's no true villain, but it's a story that really needed one...." Read more
"...Perhaps the weakest element of the book is the characters. Not one is truly likable...." Read more
"The characters weren't believable. Especially the mother...." Read more
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Top reviews from the United States
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Nemesis presents an unusual story, Earth is over-crowded and colony ships are leaving as soon as they can. This story follows Rotor, one of the ships, called Settlements, and some of the people aboard it. Advances in space travel have been occurring due to the Settlements research. The Rotor is the first ship capable of Hyper-Assistance, not a true ftl but better than a chemical boost. They also discover that Earth's Sun has a ... and around that ... there is a planet, a very strange planet that is not exactly inhabited, but also not lifeless. And then there's Marlene, a very unusual girl...
If you enjoy reading, haven't read this before (or even if you have!) pick up a copy and read it, you will not regret it!
I have it 4 stars only because of superfluous dialogue.
Asimov's speculations about Marlene's perceptiveness and the nature of the organism on the Planet Erythro are remarkably unconvincing, and in the end, irritatingly implausible. Similarly, the notion that the most progressive elements of mankind would be the inhabitants of space stations struck me as farfetched, albeit interesting.
What almost redeems this one is Asimov's speculation about faster-than-light space travel, and the other scientific controversies contained in this novel. Asimov is at his best when speculating about future scientific discoveries, and that is the best part of this novel.
I bought this novel in Kindle format. Don't ask me why I could not find it on Amazon when it was time to review it. Anyway, the Kindle formatting is good, with only the occasional misspelled word.
Asimov fans (I am an enthusiastic fan myself) will enjoy this flawed but readable novel. RJB.
My chosen order is: I Robot, Nemesis, Caves of steel, Naked sun, Robots of Dawn, Robots and Empire, The stars like dust, The currents of space, Pebble in the sky, Foundation, Foundation and empire, Second foundation, Foundation's edge, Foundation and earth, Prelude to foundation, and Forward the foundation.
The last two prequels so they can be read ahead of the Foundations series to put things in order, but they take some of the mystery and suspense out of the series. If you don 't like guessing and imagining things as you read the stories, then read the prequels first. I'll read them last. After all, Asimov wrote them afterwards.
Great read, as always. Asimov is becoming one of my preferred authors.
Top reviews from other countries
Mich hat besonders beeindruckt, dass die handelnden Personen wirkliche Charaktere sind . Keine "leuchtenden Helden" oder "bösen Schurken", gegen die es zu kämpfen gilt . Selbst die Motivationen der unsympathischeren Personen sind so gut herausgearbeitet, dass man sich wirklich in sie und ihre Denkweise hinein versetzen kann. Und alle Hauptpersonen entwickeln sich im Lauf der Handlung, was das Lesen spannend macht .
Sicher keine hohe Literatur, aber ein wirklich gut und interessant geschriebener Roman .