of politicians who seemed blind to its dangers, which he frequently wrote about in stories such as "Hell-Fire", "Silly Asses", Pebble in the Sky and The Stars, Like Dust. The Council of Science can be seen as wish-fulfillment on Asimov's (and sci-fi fans') part, as scientists in the future tilt the balance of power toward themselves and away from ignorant politicians and bureaucrats. Reception Writing in The New York Times, Ellen Lewis Buell reported that Asimov "ingeniously combines mystery with science fiction, saying that "his inventiveness and use of picturesque details" were reminiscent of Robert A. Heinlein. Groff Conklin praised the novel as effective juvenile fare: "no romance, parlous little science, but endless imagination, exciting ideas and events." Astounding reviewer P. Schuyler Miller described it as "fast-moving space opera of a type we all know, with no particular regard for scientific plausibility." References External links Science fiction novels by Isaac Asimov 1952 American novels Novels set on Mars American science fiction novels Doubleday (publisher) books Space Western novels Children's science fiction novels Fiction set on desert planets