Yesterday I finished reading “The Currents of Space” which is the second “Empire” novel by Asimov and part of his “Foundation series.”
The Galactic Empire is in the background and hasn’t yet reached the point of its decline. The book though, stands on it’s own merits and one doesn’t need to know anything about the previous books to enjoy this one. Asimov once again brings out the “slavery” concept – about one world subjugating and exploiting another. It makes one wonder whether there’s any point to technological advancement when humans are still so throughly savage.
At the heart of the book is a detective story which is solved only at the very end. Asimov convincingly talks about interplanetary politics and presents and excellent picture of all the factors involved.
However, for me the highlight of the book was a section towards the end where the rulers of a planet were willing to let a planet with all its people on it be destroyed rather than give up their economic interests. Here is the exact quote:
“Junz found revulsion growing strong within him. A planet full of people meant nothing against the dictates of economic necessity!”
The parallel in our modern day world is our corporations who would have the whole world end rather than give up their profits (say by paying to clean up their pollution). After all, what difference does it make to them? Profits are the end all for a corporation and fewer profits equals death to them. So no motivation to do the right thing at all. It’s also the reason why they can be completely money minded at the cost of everything else. There’s absolutely no hope..
In the end, “The Currents of Space” is an excellent sci fi thriller that delivers some important messages. A good read and well worth the time spent on it.