Excellent Asimov classic from the 50s.
The Horsehead Nebula region of the galaxy was divided into a large number of smallish aristocratic nations, until they were all suddenly overrun by the banally named Tyranni about a generation before the story is set. The old royal families have been left in place in a ceremonial role; the hero of The Stars Like Dust is the son and heir of the titular ruler of one of these planets. Biron Farrill is studying on Earth - largely ruined in an ancient nuclear war - when his father dies, executed for treason by the Tyranni. An apparent attempt on his own life leads him to flee back to the Horsehead Nebula, to the palace of the Hinriads on the planet of Rhodia. A series of adventures follow, which even at the time must have seemed derivative, ending with a stupendous discovery which should mark the end of the Tyranni.
When I finished reading this book, my impression was that Isaac Asimov watched several black and white espionage flicks, took his 3-4 favorite plot lines, twisted them together and wrote The Stars, Like Dust, and set it in space. The characters are a bit one dimensional, the plot predictable, and cliches have a free run. I think this is one of his earliest published novels; I can tell a significant difference in his story-building skills just between this novel and The Currents of Space.
With that said, it was still fun.
With that said, it was still fun.
Here is an early evil empire novel by one of the masters of science fiction. The Tyranni Empire has conquered the vast Nebular Kingdoms, but, being universally hated, there is an ever-present threat of rebellion. A rebel base is suspected to be established deep underground. The problem: Where is the rebel base? Sound familiar? Youre sure to find some parallels to Star Trek and Star Wars as you barrel through hyperspace is search of the answer.
