Pebble in the Sky

Robert Fass executes a straightforward and crisp narration of Asimov's 1950 novel about the dominance of a galactic empire and Earth's repeated challenges to reestablish itself as a hegemonic force. While an anthropologist works to determine the origin planet of human life, an Earth scientist begins improving human mental capabilities. All the while, the politics on the radioactive yet resilient Earth are heating up. Fass successfully juggles a range of colorful characters by establishing distinct speaking patterns for the different groups of human. His matter-of-fact narration helps acclimate listeners to an Earth that is both familiar and alien. L.E. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine