Day 2 of Reading

In the next couple chapters of the book I am reading, Pebble in the Sky, by Isaac Asimov, the main character, Joseph Schwartz, ends up at a house in which three farmers live. However, the farmers believe Schwartz to be mentally insane because he is speaking rapidly in what sounds like complete gibberish. The farmers fear him, and decide to get rid of him by volunteering him for a research project by a scientist in the nearby city of Chica. The scientist is experimenting with a method of increasing human intelligence, and the farmers decide that if Schwartz can become more intelligent, they can get him to help them on the farm.
Like some science fiction novels, Pebble in the Sky shows two different stories that combine together to show the same point or idea. While Joseph Schwartz is being driven to Chica to become part of an experiment, a man by the name of Bel Arvadan from another planet in the galaxy arrives at the palace of Earth's Procurator, Lord Ennius. Lord Ennius considers himself in some kind of exile because Earth is one of the lowliest planets. However, Arvadan believes that Earth is where humankind first originated. The funny thing about Arvadan's theory is that it is true, for we humans are currently nowhere but Earth in our current time period, yet most people of the galaxy do not believe Arvadan. He has come to Earth to try and prove his point, and while speaking with the Procurator, he basically lays out what is happening in today's world, but is only a theory to the people of the future. One thing Arvadan must first do is prove to the Galaxy that people on Earth are not all savages, and sends Lord Ennius to Chica to speak with a Dr. Shekt, an "Earthman" scientist believed to have invented a mechanism which can increase human intelligence. I will not go into detail of how it works, as it is explained quite thoroughly in the book. The connection is that Dr. Shekt's machine is the one which Joseph Schwartz is being experimented with.
Joseph Schwartz ends up much more intelligent after the experiment is over, but resents being stuck in one room all of the time like some kind of prisoner. He eventually escapes the room. I think this plot build is interesting. This allows Schwartz to learn the new language and understand the society of Earth. Where will Schwartz go now? That question is one that I am sure will be answered in the next couple of chapters of Pebble in the Sky.

Independent Reading Day 1

I just started reading a novel entitled Pebble in the Sky by Isaac Asimov. The book is about a man named Joseph Schwartz who is warped into the future by a nuclear experimental accident. The story is about a well colonized universe, but mostly takes place on Earth. I think that this book has a very intruiging plot base to it. I have not yet read far enough in the book to find out what the future universe looks like except for the fact that Earth has been neglected when it comes to the hundreds of planets in existence. Earth is not the capital of the universe, it is actually on another planet! I think it will be interesting to find out what will happen to Joseph Schwartz when he sees the rest of Earth!