"The Stars, Like Dust" Isaac Asimov

This is another audible.com book.  I suspect it was on sale, or I had to use up some credits and decided to get it.  I know we own the book, because I recognize the cover, but I don't remember reading it.  It is part of the Galactic Empire series, but is a prequel to "Pebble in the Sky."

This is definitely a space cowboy book.  The main character, Biron Farrill, has the title of Rancher of Widemos, so you can't get more cowboy than that.  Since I listened to the book, I wasn't sure about the spelling, and I thought the planet Biron was from was Rodea (making it sound even more cowboy), but alas, it was Rhodia.

The bad guys, actually the ruling race, are the Tyranni from Tyrann.  Can't get more obvious than that, can you Isaac.  Why is it that the rulers are always bad guys and there is always a revolution afoot?

With typical Asimov style, the women, or in this case the woman, is cast as a brainless Virgin Mary.  This is the very thing that Joanna Russ was ranting against in "The Female Man."  Deep sigh.  And Asimov's literature was a big part of my adolescence, so no wonder it took me so long to get the point.

Okay, here's the gist.  Biron is the college-aged son of the Rancher of Widemos, a titled position on the planet Rhodia.  Sander Jonti, a friend of his, tells him that his father has died.  Through some round-about reverse psychology, Jonti, who is really the ruler of another planet, tricks Biron into returning to Rhodia, where he is captured and sentenced as a traitor.  He miraculously escapes in a Tyranni ship with Artemesia and Gilbret, the daughter and cousin of the Director of Rhodia who is manipulated by everyone and probably a little insane.  They are off to enlist the help of the Autarch of Lingane to help them find the rebel planet deep in the Horsehead Nebula.  Whew!

Of course, there is more, but I wouldn't want to spoil it.

I like a silly little read every once in awhile, and Asimov fits the bill.  I wish, though, that I had chosen a Bradbury book instead.  He died this week, and so I am sure I will be reading some of his books in the next few months.  Bradbury wrote more speculative fiction than space cowboy pulp, so it will be interesting to read (or reread), but I'm still curious to remind myself how women fair in his books.

Gitty-up and ride 'em cowboy!