Thoughts on Asimov's "Nemesis"
Full disclosure, I am a huge Asimov fan. I love his character and world-building, and the way he connects his plotlines. However, I must admit that I haven't read his entire bibliography. The Foundation and Robot series, and everything remotely related to them, were so satisfying that I haven't really touched the books that don't connect to this universe.
Unfortunately, Nemesis is one of those books. That is, it was until today. When I saw a clean, second-hand hardcover copy in a bookstore, I snatched it up immediately and finished it within a few days.
The book begins as a typical Asimov novel with its plot and character development. After establishing a scientific basis for the subject without overwhelming the reader, the story begins to flow like water. After the first 3/4 of the book, which you read with excitement wondering what will happen next, where the subject will lead, and what will befall the characters, a lot of things suddenly start to happen in rapid succession. Then, following what I believe is a not-so-convincing causal chain, the novel abruptly ends with huge coincidences (divine coincidences, I might even say "fate" if it weren't an Asimov novel).
Nemesis became a novel that made me say, "I wish the ending hadn't been tied up so quickly." It's an easy-to-read, enjoyable novel with a fluent and intriguing story and interesting characters you can't quite empathize with, making you think, "this could have actually been a short story." I have deliberately not mentioned the plot or content of the novel, because I would have revealed almost all of its noteworthy points of interest.
If you are looking for a light science fiction novel that can be read with pleasure and without getting bored, don't miss it. But if this is going to be your first Asimov novel, I suggest you don't. Dive into the Robot or Foundation series as soon as possible.