The Gods Themselves
by Isaac Asimov · first published 1972
48% recommend48% neutral4% critical
Why HN recommends it
Self-contained Asimov novel spanning a parallel universe with different physics, a lunar human society, and strange triad aliens. Idea-driven and easy to read, with strong worldbuilding
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
The year is 2100 A.D.… And Man no longer stands alone in the universe. Now there are other worlds, other living beings. Alien beings who mate in threes and live on pure energy. New breeds of humans who have created their own environment and freed themselves from every social and sexual taboo. Yes, it is the future of new worlds, ever-changing worlds. And yet among them there is still Earth. Earth, where Man still strives to be the best. To advance himself beyond all other beings and their worlds. And this final, glorious step in mankind’s technical progress has been achieved: the d
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This reminds me of 'The Gods Themselves', by Asimov. Doesn't talk about a mirror universe per se, but a parallel one. It's one of my favourite Asimov stories outside the Foundation/Robots series.
on “Scientists are searching for a mirror universe” ↗"The Gods Themselves" is a easy to read but truly mind blowing book. Asimov's characters are a bit wooden but the ideas in the book really got me to look at the world differently. The line "I have an idea, a simple idea,…
on “Ask HN: What is the most mind blowing book you've ever read?” ↗…(Aldous Huxley, 1932) "Reason" (Isaac Asimov, 1941, short story) "Animal Farm" (George Orwell, 1945) "Nineteen Eighty-Four" (George Orwell, 1949) "Starship Troopers" (Robert A. Heinlein, 1959) "The Gods Themselves" (Isaac Asimov, 1972) "Time Enough for Love" (Robert A. Heinlein, 1973)
on “Ask HN: Books you wish you had read earlier?” ↗Some iconic science fiction books that can stand alone: Asimov: The Gods Themselves Clarke: Childhood's End, Rendezvous with Rama Herbert: Dune, Whipping Star Bradbury: Fahrenheit 451 Bester: The Demolished Man, The Stars My Destination (also called "Tiger, Tiger")…
on “Beginnings of Science Fiction” ↗Most of Asimov's books, specially: * Foundation Series / Robot Series / Empire Series * The Gods Themselves
on “What are your favourite sci-fi books?” ↗Asimov, Isaac The Gods Themselves. 1972, That's my favorite Sci-fi novel of all times; the aliens come in triads; one is the rational, the other the emotional the third one is the parent/Mother. They have sex by melting into each other,…
on “Science Fiction Stories with Good Astronomy and Physics: A Topical Index (2014)” ↗For those not familiar with it, the above quote is from "The Gods Themselves" by Isaac Asimov--a very good science fiction novel.
on “Why Do People Who Need Help from the Government Hate It So Much?” ↗Reminds me of The Gods Themselves by Isaac Asimov. The third part of the book takes place on the moon where there is a divergent human species / society. Great book, and there are some really interesting thoughts on how two divergent…
on “How settling Mars could create a new human species” ↗A competitive team sport in a chamber taking advantage of the lunar gravity was a very minor part of the world building of a moon base in The Gods Themselves by Isaac Asimov, honestly I thought he spent too long explaining it but you may enjoy it keeping in mind he only had the science of 1972 to work with. :)
on “Private companies will launch a new fleet of moon landers” ↗The Gods Themselves by Isaac Asimov explores this very idea of what would happen if two parallel universes were to interact but had different laws of physics.
on “Ask HN: Is there any fiction that's based on a world with different physics?” ↗I really enjoyed The Gods Themselves by Isaac Asimov and Walls of Wind by J. A. McLachlan this year.
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2022 and recommend for 2023” ↗Apologies for the spoiler, but I just wanted to mention that this rule plays a pivotal role in Asimov's highly recommended "The Gods Themselves" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gods_Themselves
on “Zero One Infinity Rule” ↗Asimov’s The Gods Themselves description of economics reads sort of like Onion headlines of today but from fifty years ago.
on “As ocean oxygen levels dip, fish face an uncertain future” ↗…excellent. Disclaimer: first half of book one is a slog to get through but the second half onwards is fantastic, in my opinion. I keep thinking about the book many years later on a near biweekly basis). "The Gods Themselves" by Asimov isn't a book mentioned here yet—it has nice math-physics energy ideas.
on “Best Mathematical Science Fiction Books” ↗…plausible sounding technology (psychohistory) and find lots of ways to break it and/or explain it. If you were actually looking for Asimov at his most "Lord of the Rings" I'd actually suggest probably "The Gods Themselves". There the worldbuilding was far more central and important to the narrative.
on “Tomorrow people: For a century, it felt like telepathy was around the corner” ↗