Is Humanity Doomed?: The Gods Themselves by Isaac Asimov

Book Review
The Gods Themselves by Isaac Asimov

First Edition Published in 1972

Published by Bantam Spectra in 1990

My interest in science-fiction is not waning, especially after reading a couple of interesting science-fiction books recently (Stanislaw Lem's Solaris and Asimov's Caves of Steel). The Gods Themselves did not disappoint either. The synopsis is that Earthmen find a way to communicate and exchange "free" energy with other beings in a para-Universe. But is that energy really free or is there a hidden and dangerous cost in rushing into something not fully understood?

The significance of the story is humans' behavior: how far will we go to reach our professional goals?; is there anything to stop us in our search for more of everything?; are we overlooking downsides to our never-ending quest for cheap energy?; what are the dangers of listening to the status quo?; will we always look down upon those we deem different?.

As customary, Asimov treats us to a future that is realistic and perhaps possible. What makes this book a jewel is the slow build-up to the plot conclusion, the surprises and twists and turns, and the enjoyable and comedic (and not overly done) sexual innuendos.

Here, then, are a few snippets of The Gods Themselves!
------------------------------------------------------------

“‘The population is two billion now from its six billion peak.’
‘Earth is much better for that, isn’t it?’
‘Oh, undoubtedly, though I wish there had been a better way of achieving the drop…. But it’s left behind a permanent distrust of technology; a vast inertia; a lack of desire to risk change because of the possible side-effects. Great and possibly dangerous efforts have been abandoned because the danger was feared more than greatness was desired.’
‘I take it you refer to the program on genetic engineering.’
‘That’s the most spectacular case of course, but not the only one,’
…
‘…The Earth has retreated. Mankind has retreated, everywhere but on the Moon. The Lunar colony is man’s frontier not just physically, but psychologically, too. Here is a world that doesn’t have a web of life to disrupt; that doesn’t have a complex environment in delicate balance to upset. Everything on the Moon that is of any use to man is man-made. The Moon is a world constructed by man from the start and out of basics. There is no past.’
‘Well?’
‘On Earth, we are unmanned by our longing for a pastoral past that never really exited; and that, if it had existed, could never exist again. In some respects, much of the ecology was disrupted in the Crisis and we are making do with the remnants so that we are frightened, always frightened….On the Moon, there is no past to long for or dream about. There is no direction but forward.’”

******

“‘The Earthman was staring at the nameplate she wore on the blouse covering the upper slope of her high, not-too-large left breast. She decided it was really the nameplate he was looking at, not the breast, though the blouse was semi-transparent when it caught the light at a particular angle and there was no garment beneath it.’
…
‘The Earthman was lifting his for carefully. ‘I see what you mean. Even the simplest motions seem queer.’
‘Actually, you get used to it quickly enough. At least to little things like eating. Walking is harder. In ever saw an Earthman run efficiently out here. Not really efficiently.’
For a while they ate in silence. Then he said, ‘What does the L. stand for?’ He was looking at her nameplate again. It said, ‘Selene Lindstrom L.’
‘It just means Luna,’ she said, rather indifferently, ‘to distinguish me from the immigrants. I was born here.’
‘Really?’
‘That’s nothing to be surprised about. We’ve had a working society here for over half a century. Don’t you think babies are born here? We have people here who were born here and are grandparents.’
‘How old are you?’
‘Thirty-two,’ she said.
He looked startled, then mumbled, ‘Of course.’
Selene raised her eyebrows. ‘You mean understand? Most Earthmen have to have it explained.’
The Earthman said, ‘I know enough to know that most of the visible signs of again are the result of the inexorable victory of gravity over tissue-the sagging of cheek and the drooping of breast. With the Moon’s gravity one-sixth that of Earth, it isn’t really hard to understand that people will stay young-looking.’
Selene said, ‘Only young-looking. It doesn’t mean we have immortality here. The life-span is about that of Earth, but most of us are more comfortable in old age.’
…
Selene, who was similarly accoutered, laughed. ‘Now, Ben, there’s nothing wrong with your bare body, barring a certain flabbiness. It’s perfectly in fashion here. In fact, take off your briefs if they’re binding you.’
‘No!’ muttered Denison. He shifted the blanket so that it draped over his abdomen and she snatched it from him.
‘She said, ‘Now give me that thing. What kind of a Lunarite will you make if you bring your Earth Puritanism here? You know that prudery is only the other side of prurience. The words are even on the same page in the dictionary.’
‘I have to get used to it, Selene.’”