Rating: 
Summary: Wildly uneven, but sometimes brilliant
Review: Mankind discovers a method of energy transfer with the aliens of another universe that promises unlimited energy. Unfortunately, it also promises ultimate destruction. Only a few scientists are capable of seeing beyond their own self-interest and hubris to recognize this fact, but can they make others believe? Asimov has constructed an admirable allegory for the environment quandry that we face here on earth, although he fails to show how limitless power would transform our lives.The novel is constructed in three parts. The first and third sections involve human beings and rely too much on telling and not enough on showing--lots of long, didactic conversations and far too little incident. The third section is particularly weak; it is dull and bloodless with a take on human sexuality which is supposed to be advanced but, from today's standpoint, seems firmly mired in a seventies mentality. The triumph of this novel is the masterful middle section. Asimov depicts an alien society that is truly unlike mankind, yet he manages to depict distinct individuals. This is quite surprising coming from a writer who is known neither for characterization or alien-building. It's just a shame that the rest of the novel could not maintain this quality and had to end on such a tragically dull note.
Rating:
Summary: Gods Indeed
Review: To any reader of science fiction, Isaac Asimov is an old familiar. Not only did he create the three laws of robotics and 'Foundation', his name also presides over countless anthologies, awards, and one long running magazine. Unlike many of his contemporaries, people continue to read Asimov. The ideas are still engaging, the characters still 'typed-up' well enough to resemble people we might know - or be interested in knowing, and the writing still crisp and relatively free of all the dating that's so heavily sprinkled in other works from the sixties and seventies. In 'The Gods Themselves', Asimov deals not only with a people more like us, but a people much closer to us in time. This novel does not take place in a galaxy far far away (at least two thirds of it don't), but in one very close to now. Secondly, Asimov deals with chemistry (sprinkled heavily with some quantum mechanics), which was the field he pursued as a scientist - despite being one of the fathers of robotics. The story plays out in three almost completely distinct parts. A common practice with Asimov. Many of his novels, including the first two 'Foundation' books actually consisted of several novellas stringed together. These parts consist of characters - talking heads really - struggling for or against the new technology Asimov has created to serve as the plot device: the electron pump. However negative such a simple description may sound, the application of it to paper is beautiful. The electron pump itself is such an engaging scientific concept, it draws the characters toward inexorable toward it. Much of the talking-head criticism stems from the necessity for the characters, in dialogue, to explain certain scientific principles in order to elucidate for the reader just what the heck they're talking about. Part Two (and the titular part): "...The Gods Themselves..." might perhaps be the most brilliant alien creating I've ever read. The aliens not only have more character and personality than most of Asimov's human creations (maybe Asimov was alien?), but they somehow come across as completely alien and completely recognizable. It's a remarkable feat, and is almost disappointing that it doesn't end the book. Alas, part three is a necessity. Anyone who loves Asimov and likes real 'science' fiction - not space opera or fantasy - could do a lot worse than this one. In fact, they'd be hard pressed to do better.
Rating:
Summary: Three thematically distinct tales linked by a clever premise
Review: 'The Gods Themselves' can most accurately be described as three distinct novellas that are linked by a ingenious premise (the transfer of matter and energy between parallel universes) and several events. Taking place on different worlds, each section of the book features unique characters, divergent tones, and different themes; the structure of the book reflects the tenuous connections and detached existences of the parallel universes themselves. This trifocal approach almost necessarily results in loose ends, but the result is surprisingly effective. The first section is nearly unadulterated satire. A persistent but not very intelligent scientist, Hallam, accidentally discovers an impossible isotope (plutonium-186), which appears on our planet when aliens in another universe place it here, and its instability proves to be a 'free' source of energy. When another physicist, Lamont, discovers a potential flaw that might endanger our universe, his actions are motivated as much as by revenge against Hallam (and by the desire to be proven right) as by any thought of saving humankind from destruction. Although the explanation of the relate scientific concepts is both witty and brilliant, their basis in reality is absolutely ludicrous--but Asimov knows it. Instead, he uses this premise to skewer the foibles and egoism of scientists he spent most of his life observing. The second story enters the other universe and presents the bildungsroman of Dua, who is so different from her counterparts that she is an alien in her own world. While the first segment's spotlights scientists and science, the second section focuses on an exotic culture and society, and along the way Asimov comments on racism, conformism, and sexuality. Dua then accidentally discovers the link to our universe--but to say anything more would be to say too much. The concluding section is a more conventional science fiction tale, involving an older (male) traveler from Earth who moves to a lunar colony and falls in love with one of the younger (female) natives. Again, Asimov creates two very appealing characters, who become involved in the multiversal intrigues and who, in this episode, carry them to a crescendo. Yet the ending seems a bit contrived, and this third storyline doesn't have the impact or the cleverness of the first two parts. But 'The Gods Themselves' isn't really written for its plot(s) or its ending(s). Instead, the book's strengths are the inventiveness of its structure, the relevance of its themes, and the charm of its characters--and by those standards it's an otherworldly success.
Rating: 
Summary: Worthwile
Review: The book is based on the electron-pump as an unlimited source of energy, possibly the most creative idea I've ever seen in a science fiction book. Asimov handles very interestingly the existence of a paralel world, but I think the story lacks the narrative power that makes you refuse to stop reading the book.
Rating:
Summary: I don't know about this one...
Review: (there may be spoilers in my review... so don't read on if you wanna figure things out for yourself.) I got this one as part of the 'Masterpieces of Science Fiction' series from Easton Press. Which means it's supposed to be worthy of hardbound leather with gold edges, sewn-in pages, and a built-in bookmark. I would have rather bought the paperback for a few bucks than spend $ on the version I got. PROS: -Totally interesting science and pseudo-science. I actually understand more about atoms having read this book. I even understand how the fictional atom that is supposed to be impossible can be made to seem possible. Working it into a story was probably the best achievment of the book. Very well done. - I thought the beginning chapter was the best. It pumped things up enough to make me want to read more. - The alien race was interesting. I think what Asimov was doing was parallelling the 3 different parts of the atom with the 3 different alien sexes. Kinda reminded me of the description of the atom on WKRP where they used different street gangs..."Pros", "New Boys", and "Elected Ones" as I recall. It especially makes sense since the "Emotionals" move around a lot on the surface of the planet, and the "Parentals" and "Rationals" stay mostly underground. I also think Azimov was paralleling the electron pump, proton pump, and the need for energy in the way he describes the 3 sexes (in a minimal way). I could be wrong about this, but that's my take on it. Very cool if it's true. - life on the moon was interesting as well. Made a lot of sense. CONS: - I thought the beginning was a good hook. The middle was ok and had a decent cliffhanger. But the ending fizzled. There was absolutely no climax. It's like the book went in reverse. The beginning was more exciting than the end. When I was done, I felt let down. - The big 'surprise' or 'twist' at the end of the second part was absolutely no surprise to me. I figured it out about halfway through. Maybe there were too many clues. Maybe it was just too obvious. Maybe I'm really really smart... and stuff. I don't know. All-in-all, I wouldn't strongly recommend this book. I have no idea why it won an award. There are some scientific things that are very cool and are nicely told through the craft of storytelling, but the story itself was a let-down in the end. It's almost like Azimov found a girlfriend around the time he was writing the third part and he got mushy (or tired)... forgetting about the epic problem he had presented to the reader. This book might be worth what a paperback costs, but no more than that. If you know someone who has it, borrow it. Or maybe check it out of a library. Definitely DO NOT get a copy from Easton Press.
Rating:
Summary: 4 and 1/2 - Unique and captivating
Review: This book, like Asimov's Foundation series itself, took form in the author's mind from the germ of a very small and seemingly insignificant seed (see "An Introduction At Some Length" for details), but he managed to turn it into a (nearly) full-fledged masterpiece. The book starts out somewhat slow (for those who don't like a lot of technical details), as it has Asimov attempting to make the existence of something (Uranium-186) that isn't possible, seem possible. The average lay reader will certainly concede that he has accomplished the task, and may find the initial part a bit slow; the more scientifically-minded reader will admit that he did as good a job as could probably be done. If you find this part trying, trust me - stay with it. It's well worth your time and effort. The book, which deals with parallel universes, is written, appropriately enough, in a parallel structure: three separate, seemingly unconnected sections, which all stand on their own fairly well, come together in the end to form quite a conclusion. The book's sturcutre is quite similar to 2001: A Space Odyssey, in that it features individual sections that seem not to be related to one another, and then beging to cling together towards the end. The way that Asimov weaves the separate plot threads together to create a coherent whole is masterful, and I won't spoil it for you by describing it here. This is one of the book that you will just have to keep reading - and that will surprise you in the end. The good Doctor acccomplishes some clever things in this book (with chapter numberings, of all things), but something that is particularly of note (as has been well-pointed out by other reviewers) is the absolutely incredible second section. This section starts out strangely and is somewhat hard to follow at first (having seemingly nothing to do with the first part of the book), but weaves itself into such a shocking and masterful conclusion that it will absolutely leave you reeling. This section reads very well on its own, and would've made an excellent short story all by itself. Its impressiveness is heightened, however, by the fact that Asimov fits it into the general scheme of the book. Unfortunately, the more pedestrian middle section of the book is a bit of a letdown after the incredible middle section. It shares some similarities with the first section, and I can't help but finding the resolution to be a bit of a duex ex machina. Sure, it works, but - it just isn't entirely satisfying, for some reason. One wonders if Asimov had written himself into a corner, as it certainly seems that he perhaps took the easy way out - but then again, it may have just been that I was looking for a shocking conclusion (say, the destruction of the universe), as the book jacket seems to promise. In any case, I'm no one to argue with the Master. A truly captivating and original work that is a notch below perfection for the reasons just mentioned - hence the not-quite-5-stars rating. Essential Asimov, essential science fiction - the two seem to go hand-in-hand.
Rating: 
Summary: Looks like I'll never get tired of Asimov.
Review: Asimov is great because he combines science and stories in a perfect mix. His characters are memorable and human. His science, right. The three parts of the book are really enjoyable. The second part was my favorite, set in another universe with a different kind of intelligent life. The first and the last were full of human nature. This book reminded me a little about Asimov's "Nemesis", because of character development. Something I like in both these books is that there is not really an evil one: There are people, with weaknesses and strengths, and so the scenarios looks very pausible. That's what makes Asimov a SF master.
Rating:
Summary: There's no such thing as a free lunch!
Review: But how hard is to look for the occulted fee, when you are hungry and the meal is irresistible! Free energy is not a gift humankind would want to second guess. But it damned well should. This is probably the closest to hard sci fi Asimov got, and he excels at it. The way even the good ones in the history are really motivated by their own petty ambitions is simply excelent. This is a must read for any sci fi lover
Rating:
Summary: 37 people can't be wrong
Review: With one exception, everyone who has reviewed The Gods Themselves has raved about the middle section, and rightly so. In part two of The Gods Themselves, Asimov reaches a level of prosaic abilities he never achieved in any of his other works. Asimov creates a strong emotional attachment between the reader and Odeen, Dua, and Tritt. The effect he accomplishes has less to do with a well-designed alien culture than with a knack for showing the deepest feelings of these beings, feelings that are based on another culture but which we find ourselves relating to. That we end up caring so much about Odeen, Dua, and Tritt, only makes the other two parts of the book that much more uninspiring. The human characters, while not entirely cardboard, lack the depth of the aliens. Mostly it's because of a stylistic change. We see Odeen, Dua, and Tritt primarily through their own self-introspection. The humans are developed entirely through dialogue; we are never given a peek into their heads and so, frankly, don't really care about them. Parts one and three aren't terrible, but standing by themselves they are unmemorable. Part two, however, deserves to be read by every fan of the creative imagination. Without intending to take anything away from the first three Robot novels (in my opinion, Asimov's overall best fiction works), I submit that part two of The Gods Themselves deserves all of the accolades that have been heaped upon it.
Rating:
Summary: Against stupidity, the very gods Themselves... Schiller
Review: I read this book more than 25 years ago, and it still resonates with me as one of the best books by Asimov. "The Gods Themselves" is part of a quote by Schiller, that roughly goes, "Folly, thou conquerest, and I must yield!
Against stupidity the very gods
Themselves contend in vain. Exalted reason,
Resplendent daughter of the head divine,
Wise foundress of the system of the world,
Guide of the stars, who are thou then, if thou,
Bound to the tail of folly's uncurb'd steed,
Must, vainly shrieking, with the drunken crowd,
Eyes open, plunge down headlong in the abyss." It is from the Maid of Orleans. If you read the book, you will see why Asimov chose the quote by Schiller for his title. Read the other reviews. There is near unanimity of opinion about this book. Five stars all the way. Bob Kizlik
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