Rating: 
Summary: Space adventure/mystery as only Dr. A can deliver...
Review: Of course this is science fiction and quite notable science fiction at that. But in the hands of Isaac Asimov, it's also a mystery although not in the style of the first three robot novels. Somebody used a psychic probe on an Earthman, wiping out his memory, and dumped him in a small village on the planet, Florina. The woman who takes charge of him and the village's townsman eventually team up as the man begins regaining memory, and all become embroiled in political machinations. We're introduced to the planet Trantor, the center of the Galactic Empire.While this is the last of the Empire trilogy written by Asimov, it's the earliest in the fictional time sequence, occuring in an era much later than that era covered in the Robot novels. This is an engaging, tightly written novel with twists which will keep the reader involved.
Rating: 
Summary: In any setting but sci-fi, this would be Wouk via Ludlum
Review: One day, on an agricultural colony planet run by a empire as harsh as the Roman Empire in biblical times, a local functionary finds a man whose mind has been destroyed in one of his town's fields. A peasant woman is tasked to re-raise this man from pretty much a second infancy. But now things are starting to come back, and the supervisor, although a native himself, sees the threat this poses to his masters' power. The principal crop on this world is a form of cotton that grows only this way on his planet--it's used in expensive clothing. But before his mind was "wiped", the victim was a scientist who had discovered a menace which threatened that planet. Although the story has Ludlumesque head games by people in power, its strong point is in the human factor in the form of the victim, his female protector, as well as his former boss who's concerned about what became of him. That's why I say Wouk. But this is a sci fi book, right? Well, don't let that scare you off. It's a hell of a story in a middlin' size book--you don't get the two in a single package all that often.
Rating:
Summary: A solid slab of science fiction, if not a classic
Review: The Currents of Space is the second of Isaac Asimov's Empire novels, the first one being The Stars, Like Dust, and the final one being Pebble In The Sky. The Empire books fill the chronological gap between his Robot book and his Foundation books, all of which intertwine together to form a very long and convoluted fictional universe (this is ignoring the books set in this universe that were written by other authors.) Sound confusing? It is; but don't let that worry you. Although the books are best read in sequence, they all work fine on their own as well, outside of the larger universe in which they are set, and they will serve the reader just fine, if he or she elects to pick and choose, though they will be missing a lot. I have no doubt that, after reading any one of the books, any reader will want to read all of them, owing to their high level of quality. This particular novel is a fast-moving, suspenseful, science fiction/mystery/adventure romp. Improving upon the previous Empire novel, Asimov here wrote a very tight, smooth book that is very entertaining to read and can be enjoyed by almost anyone, whether they are a fan of science fiction or not. Like most of Asimov's novels, the book, though ostensibly science fiction, has the basic structure and feel of a mystery novel. Not surprisingly, then, his novels, though always scientifically literate and full of interesting scientific ideas, not to mention eminently worthy political and philosophical concepts, have a generally wide appeal. This is one of the reasons that Asimov is one of the most well-known and perennially popular of all science fiction writers: many of his novels feature a mainstream appeal that is atypical for the genre. His books are also invariably well-written and deserving of their large readership. The Currents of Space is no exception. Here Asimov displays his immense plotting talents, which would come to full fruition in his later works, weaving an interesting and complex web of mystery, intrigue, and suspense. He writes a solid, tight story that will keep the reader interested and entertained -- not to mention on his or her toes -- all the way through. It also makes very clear one of the most admirable traits of Dr. Asimov's: his love of peace. This book, like the later Foundation stories, features practical, sensible political solutions as an alternative to war. One cannot help but admire the good doctor for not using his premise of a futuristic world and technology as an excuse to fill his pages with senseless interstellar wars, as many science fiction writers, even the great ones, often do. This is a book that any fan of Asimov will definitely want to read. That said, although it is a definite improvement on its prequel, this is not on the same level as some of the author's later and better-known work: though it is a solid story, well-told, it lacks, for the most part, the extra layer of deeper meaning that much of his later work would contain. It is for this reason that I give the work four stars. It is a bloody shame that the entire Empire series is no longer in print: they are a worthy series of books and fill in an important chronological niche in the Asimovian universe. Pick it up if you can find it.
Rating:
Summary: The Empire-building Continues
Review: The world of Sark exists in the minority in having thus far eluded annexation by the Empire of Trantor. The sole reason for this evasion rests in Sark's dominion over a no-account world called Florina. No-account, that is, except for a wondrous crop that grows only upon Florina. This crop is so entwined in the culture of the galaxy that Sark has become unbelievably wealthy, so much so that Trantor fears the large army to be raised by such wealth. Upon the planet Florina, there is a man whose memory has been erased for the danger it poses to the delicate balance that exists over Florina's condition. In his profession he uncovered a secret now lost, one of paramount importance to the safety of all Florina. This novel chronicles the mystery surrounding this mind-wiped man and the adventures that ensue as his memory begins to return. Asimov again displayed his excellent plotting ability as he leads you in various directions, so that you come to conclusions that are completely wrong, lest you recall the earlier-placed clues that would prevent such erroneous conclusions. When the questions are all finally answered, too many viable suspects have been eliminated, and there is left only the guilty. Asimov was successful in twisting the events such that any reader would be kept guessing. This book is the second of the three Empire novels, which depict different time periods in the creation of the Galactic Empire. This takes place after the Empire is relatively well established. Preceding these novels, but not necessary for any understanding (as Asimov did not tie them together until well after the Empire novels were published) of the events. Following the Empire novels are the Foundation novels, which chronicle the fall of the Empire. In order to truly get the feel of this universe, this book clues the reader in as to how Trantor progressed in its Imperial goal. Also, he provides information that indicate the state of things in the third Empire novel, Pebble in the Sky.
Rating:
Summary: The Empire-building Continues
Review: The world of Sark exists in the minority in having thus far eluded annexation by the Empire of Trantor. The sole reason for this evasion rests in Sark's dominion over a no-account world called Florina. No-account, that is, except for a wondrous crop that grows only upon Florina. This crop is so entwined in the culture of the galaxy that Sark has become unbelievably wealthy, so much so that Trantor fears the large army to be raised by such wealth. Upon the planet Florina, there is a man whose memory has been erased for the danger it poses to the delicate balance that exists over Florina's condition. In his profession he uncovered a secret now lost, one of paramount importance to the safety of all Florina. This novel chronicles the mystery surrounding this mind-wiped man and the adventures that ensue as his memory begins to return. Asimov again displayed his excellent plotting ability as he leads you in various directions, so that you come to conclusions that are completely wrong, lest you recall the earlier-placed clues that would prevent such erroneous conclusions. When the questions are all finally answered, too many viable suspects have been eliminated, and there is left only the guilty. Asimov was successful in twisting the events such that any reader would be kept guessing. This book is the second of the three Empire novels, which depict different time periods in the creation of the Galactic Empire. This takes place after the Empire is relatively well established. Preceding these novels, but not necessary for any understanding (as Asimov did not tie them together until well after the Empire novels were published) of the events. Following the Empire novels are the Foundation novels, which chronicle the fall of the Empire. In order to truly get the feel of this universe, this book clues the reader in as to how Trantor progressed in its Imperial goal. Also, he provides information that indicate the state of things in the third Empire novel, Pebble in the Sky.
Rating:
Summary: An all around good book
Review: This book is truly a remarkable book. The complex ideas and thoughts put Asimov right where he should be, as one of the best Sci-Fi authors of our time, and times to come. The Empire Novels are a must read.
Rating:
Summary: This is the best book I have red in this series.
Review: This is a great book. It is intriguing and complex. I would recomened it for any Asimov reader.
Rating:
Summary: Definitely one of Asimov's best
Review: This is certainly the best of the three Empire novels, and one of Asimov's best science fiction novels of any type. I love his early fiction in general more than his later stuff, like FOundation and Earth and Robots and Empire and Nemesis. In comparison, Currents is much tighter, and more cleanly written, with a plot that GRIPS you like a good mystery(which, I think, is the type of writer Asimov was at heart). My one regret about this novel is that it is one of the last of his that I have to read, and I don't want to be left without any more. And if there was one thing I was left wanting in the book, it was for a certain kiss(not to give away anything) to develop into something more-- but I suppose that is the working of modern hack-fiction on me, and Asimov's abstinence from such cheap "attention-catchers" demonstrates his superior writing ability. He didn't NEED that to make the book more interesting.
Rating:
Summary: Great Adventure
Review: This is easily the best of the three "Empire Novels". In fact, I found this story to be better than those from Asimov's more famous Foundation Trilogy. I enjoyed the Townman character, especially when he posed as a "Patroller".
Rating:
Summary: Great suspense and mystery to rival Robots of Dawn.
Review: This is not one of his best known books, and I knew nothing about it when I read it. But almost immediately I knew I'd enjoy this one. The momentum builds steadily, and the reader soon becomes as paranoid and unsure of reality as Rik, who tries to discover his true identity, erased at an early age by unknown persons for unknown reasons. Events repeatedly prove to be other than they appear. When it was all over I desperately wanted to read another one like this. Unfortunately very few can compete with the intense suspense of this one. Robots of Dawn accomplished it, but at a slower pace. This book is shorter and moves faster but still manages the same joyous effect. Just like events in the story, this book is much more than it seems. I was lucky to have stumbled upon it.
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