Expected more from Asimov. Ended up being a bit cinematic, though it had some entertaining bits to it. ( )

A bit disappointing, to be honest. I went in with sky-high expectations, I adore Asimov and this is the 20th book of his I've read so I know his style pretty well. A lot of the fundamentals are here; small cast, big ideas and stakes, a ton of exposition and scientific explanations, but it doesn't quite come together as his other books did. In addition, I may have been spoiled by the Three Body Problem and the Expanse - in terms of human exploration into space, colonization of planets, scientific discovery, global threats, etc. those have really set the bar and it feels low here.

I still enjoyed reading it and am glad I did, but compared to the Foundation/Robots/Empire series of his, along with The Gods Themselves and the End of Eternity, it's easily among his weakest. ( )

There's something entirely delicious about a well written piece of science fiction. It goes without saying that Isaac Asimov is a good name to look under for examples, but very often with Asimov you're looking at a minimum 3 book commitment. Not so in the case of Nemesis, a beautifully crafted and blissfully short jaunt into a future that not only seems possible, but invokes all the modern-day science documentaries we all love to watch but will rarely admit to enjoying.

Nemesis is set at a time when humans have, to a large extent, begun to colonize space. Not other planets, but rather the space between those planets in the solar system in large constructed settlements. One of these settlements, in a bid to create its own upstart civilization, abruptly leaves the solar system. Unknown to the rest of humanity, their destination is a well concealed neighbor star which has been christened "Nemesis." On board is a young and unusual girl who will ultimately learn that the star will truly live up to its name.

While Asimov does have a tendency to furnish his characters with flowery, if not enjoyable, dialogue, he does manage to keep this story entirely encapsulated within its own context. His customary depth of setting is not felt as it usually is, as he is clearly limiting his scope on purpose in this case. The upside is, however, that you really don't have to be a seasoned reader of his other more notable works in order to enjoy this singular story. You may miss out on a few sly references here and there, but you will certainly not be disappointed.

Nemesis is, at its core, a one shot wonder that delivers all that it aims to. It is insightful, entertaining, and doesn't require a long-term commitment from its readers. If you're looking for a quick escape, or a decent introduction to his style, Nemesis comes highly recommended. ( )

Başlangıçta Vakıf Evreni'ne dahil olan bir eser olmadığı için kitaptan hoşlanmamıştım ama kitabı bitirdiğimde kitabı tam olarak Vakıf Evreni'ne dahil edemesemde Vakıf Evreni'nde cevaplanmayan bazı soruları yanıtladığını farkettiğim için kitabı çok iyi buldum. ( )

In the 23rd century, humanity has spread out from the overcrowded Earth onto orbiting colonies. One of these, having developed an early form of hyperspace flight, has left the Solar System for a distant star they call Nemesis. The story revolves around Marlene (three syllables), a smart, superhumanly intuitive fifteen year-old girl whom no one likes due to her uncanny ability to see beneath the surface of people's words and actions to what they are really thinking. Marlene has discovered that Nemesis is on the move, and in roughly five thousand years' time will enter Earth's system.

In his author note, Asimov mentions his desire to write clearly rather than poetically. There is, of course, a happy medium and Asimov misses that mark. His commitment to clarity causes him to over-explain and repeat things, as if for a younger audience - but even books for young people give their readers more credit. The dialogue is so measured and formal that his characters sound like they are conducting interviews rather than having conversations. All of this drains all the passion out of what could have been a fairly exciting story. Though there are no real villains, none of the characters are particularly likeable or interesting. The book is just so calculated and technical that the touching core story of a lonely girl who finally finds her place in the universe is all but buried. ( )