The Currents of Space

The Currents of Space is, like the previous entry in the Empire series, a fun 1950s sci-fi romp through interstellar intrigue, colonialism in space, and adrenaline-packed adventures. Set mostly on the Galaxy's only planet capable of producing the valuable resource kyrt, the story appears to develop the theme of colonial exploitation hinted at in The Stars, Like Dust. Indeed, unlike the model of the Mongol empire in the previous novel, the exploitation of the "native" Florinians by the Sarkites seems to recall the more ruthless and modern colonial relationships of European imperialism or apartheid South Africa (modern industrial exploitation combined with strict segregation of Sarkite "Squires" and Florinian "native" workers or civil servants).

In fact, the "racial" element does arise in this novel, although the native Florinians are described as "white" with lighter-colored hair instead of the olive-complexioned Sarkites. The color analogy is brought to to fore by the "black" character Selim Junz, whose Libairian homeland recalls their origins as dark-skinned peoples fleeing racial conflict in the distant past. Junz, recalling this ancient history of anti-black racism, feels a deep sympathy for the oppressed Florinians who occupy the other extreme of human color variation. The strict regimentation of "native" workers in the mills, the cultivation of a "native" bureaucracy that is inculcated to think itself superior to the other "natives," and the startling differences in quality of life and amenities between the Sarkite Upper City and the "native" Lower City 

Moving on from the themes of colonialism, The Currents of Space also highlights an important episode in the pre-Galactic Empire of the Foundation series. Trantor is the seat of the dominant power, but lacks complete control of the Galaxy. The question of kyrt and preventing a Galactic war between the Trantorian Empire and the non-affiliated planets such as Sark is of the utmost importance to Abel, the official envoy of Trantor. At the center of it all lies Rik, the victim of a psycho-probe that destroyed his memories after he unveiled the upcoming calamity that will strike Florina. Along the twists and currents of this sometimes zany novel, we learn how Trantor's expansion involved far more than simple imperial expansion through military conquest. 

Instead, like Abel envisions, the dream of Galaxy-wide rule by a single entity, capable of ushering universalist laws and standards (the like of which would end Sarkite colonial exploitation of Florinians) can gradually resolve differences among the various segments of humanity throughout the stars. Of course, Trantor's representative has to be forced into this position by events beyond his (and Sarkite) control. Clearly, the model of the Roman Empire and the US inspired Asimov's Galactic Empire and the ecumenical dream of restoring unity to the myriad descendants of Earth. Unlike the US Constitution's influence on the dream of a free Nebular Kingdoms in the last installment, the reader here is gifted with a view to the future Galactic Empire.

The Stars, Like Dust

 Although it is not a great novel, Asimov's The Stars, Like Dust succeeds as an entertaining space opera from 1950. As a product of its time, it follows many of the conventions of the genre and its era, including the singular one-dimensional female character and numerous double-crossings and plot twists. This one, however, hints at many of the themes of the Foundation series. The Nebular kingdoms suffer under the yoke of the Tyrannian Khanate, but the seed of rebellion has been sown. 

The main character, Biron, finds himself thrust in the position of searching for this hidden base. Like the Foundation series and its enigmatic Second Foundation, the rebel base plotting to overthrow the Khanate are hiding where one would least expect. Clearly, Asimov recycled and reused some of the same plotlines and character types in some of his 1950s novels. But it oddly kinda works in this lesser novel, too. Needless to say, Artemisia and Biron end up together and the plot twist at the end hints at a completely different type of political revolution that will eventually replace the despotic Khanate and the interstellar colonial regimes. 

As a novel from the 1950s written by someone like Asimov, who believed in rationalism, the Enlightenment and science, the long-lost document that will guide this future revolution is the US Constitution. Cheesy, right? But almost predictable. Like the Foundation series, this novel hints at alternative ecumenical political alignments. Something to reunite the dispersed human populations of various points of the Galaxy. Was the institution hinted at by the leader of the rebel forces in this novel the future Galactic Empire in Foundation? If so, at what point did the Galactic Empire forget their origins in Earth and the ideals of the US Constitution?

Foundation

 After hearing so many great things about the Foundation series for several years, and missing old-school space-opera for the last couple of months, I finally read Asimov's first Foundation. It is basically interconnected short stories set in the same fading Galactic Empire, heavily inspired by Gibbon and Rome. Who would have thought the rise and fall of the Galactic Empire would be so much  more exciting than the Roman Empire? Diplomacy, intrigue, imperial political, social, cultural, and technological decline, power feuds between various factions on Terminus, and the all-knowing legacy of Hari Seldon make for entertaining space-opera. 

Unfortunately, due to the theory of psychohistory and Seldon's so far successful attempts to limit knowledge of psychology, none of the descendants of the Encyclopedists and the foundation of the second Empire really know the full trajectory charted for them by Seldon. However, Seldon's theory, based on the assumption that the people of Terminus will not know enough to disrupt social forces. This leaves the central characters at each "Seldon crisis" with the choice to either act in what they think is best or "safe" versus those who are willing to take a risk and do nothing or little. It becomes somewhat anticlimactic when the ultimately correct thing to do becomes akin to "do nothing." 

Of course, the subsequent books in the series will develop in more interesting directions so at some point this blog will endeavor to include short reviews of the rest of the series. It might be interesting to see the full outline of Asimov's attempt at the rise and fall of an Empire and the various social-economic forces that will drive the eventual return of the Galactic Empire. Who knows, maybe they'll one day locate our lost homeland of Earth...

Missing Babylon 5

 

I finally finished the incomplete and flawed Crusade, and am overwhelmed by the sad conclusion of great science fiction television set in the Babylon 5 universe. While the fifth season of Babylon 5 and Crusade were far from great, the first four seasons are masterpieces in science fiction story arcs dealing with diplomacy, war, conflict, authoritarianism, and character development. I did not think I would fall in love with the kooky alien characters and their human counterparts on Babylon 5, but it has quickly become one of my favorite shows. Unfortunately, it continued for a rather disjointed and meandering fifth season which was completely unnecessary because of season 4's finale. Crusade, another disappointment, was wrecked by its network and never given a proper chance to develop into a good or even great program. Gideon and crew on the Excalibur were beginning to grow on me, and I was looking forward for adventures on a spaceship set in the same universe as Babylon 5. Perhaps someone should reboot Crusade. Done properly with better music and without the constant interference of a network, we could experience another great science fiction show that explores the impact of Shadow technology in a post-First Ones world and new conspiracies. What science fiction show shall I pursue next to escape these harrowing times?