Nemesis

A Novel

By: Isaac Asimov

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 14 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

“A totally new and original work that stretches his talents to their fullest...welcome back, champ!” (The Detroit News)

In the 23rd 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 15-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.

©2008 Isaac Asimov (P)2019 Random House Audio

Brilliant.

If you’re like me, do you have a very hard time finding the next best science fiction book to digest. Nemesis had the perfect amount of hard science fiction, romance, space travel, thought-provoking, questions and adventure.Hands-down unequivocally this book is worth your time. It is so beautifully written that sometimes I have to stop and just appreciate how well this book was written. I give this book all 15 stars, which is not something that I do very often. I highly recommend adding this beautiful piece of prose to your collection.

Good narration but a terrible story

Overall:
Another one of those "kid with superpowers is the only voice of reason and saves the day" stories. If you're looking for something with imagination and surprise, this is not it.

Scott Brick is the redeeming feature. As usual he does great.

Detail:
No, Marlena doesn't have actual super powers, just the ability to flawlessly read minds by inflections/facial expressions/intonations, have PhD level understanding of astrophysics, unparalleled influence on people despite being universally disliked, and ultimately gets everything she wants. This all makes her "struggle" completely underwhelming and predictable. Sprinkle in the occasional "I'm sorry mama" kid talk and it's a little schizo. It's a story line that maybe could have been decent if they'd written her character out and made her mom the hero. Comes across to me as just a lazy story.

Disclaimer:
I only got through half and then gave up because it just got silly.

This will always be my favorite book.

I've read it more than a dozen times, and will gladly reach for it when I am struggling to read anything else. It's nice to have an audio option in addition to my battered old paperback.

Frustrating

This book had some interesting ideas which all got overshadowed by the main plotline of 'teenage girl thinks she's better than everyone and she really is'.

Characters were completely unrealistic, dialogue was forced and tedious. MANY conversations postulating about scenarios that don't matter in any way, and many more about how cool and amazing the teenager is. And don't forget the many references to people and events in the 18-1900s because that's what people in the 4000s think about.

Several conflicts were introduced and every one of them dissolved making the biggest struggle to finish the book. The one conflict that got serious attention was the preparation for a catastrophe set to happen in 5000 years, and every character treats the subject like it's going to happen in 1 year. But it's okay, because genius teenager whose better than everyone else solves everything with her special power of being special.

It was hard, but I finished it, and I don't know that I should have.

Not Science Fiction

This story is basically about the politics and some of the social issues surrounding a problem. It could have been plugged in, in numerous situations. In this one they add some space travel and such in the periphery but it really has nothing to do with the main story and gives you no real science fiction. Narrator as always is great.

Decent novel, don't expect too much

It's pretty easy going task to go through the whole novel. Easy to understand and not much of going on. Seems like a great setup for larger story with more details, or could be much shorter and accomplish the same effect. I'd love if there was more developed character of you know who, don't want to spoil, it was really just glanced over, I'd love to see much more on how Asimov imagined it exist, a missed opportunity.

Worse than dated

The characters in this book are all supposed to be spies, scientists, and talented administrators. Why are they all idiots?

Also, the books central conflict/threat (the oncoming star) has no weight, as it is so far in the future of any of the book's characters, that they barely have any bearing on the course it will take.

It's ok. Better than The Gods Themselves...but...

Not on par with Foundation. The human relationships and shallow physical references weaken the story.

Just as good as I remember the book

I read Nemesis in paperback long ago and have wait a long time to listen to as an audiobook. Scot Brick is my favorite reader and I would also like to have him read the Robert Silverberg expansion of the Asimov short story Nightfall. Please

Wrong voice

I like Scott Brick as a narrator, but not for this story. Scott's voice was heavy handed. At least, there should have been a higher voice part for the female dialog.