Pebble in the Sky by Isaac Asimov, first published in 1950, is the author’s first novel and part of his broader Galactic Empire series.
The story follows Joseph Schwartz, a retired tailor from 20th-century Chicago, who is accidentally transported thousands of years into the future by a nuclear accident. He wakes up on Earth, now a radioactive, isolated, and politically powerless planet seen as backward by the wider Galactic Empire. Earth’s inhabitants are treated as second-class citizens, subject to strict laws and even a euthanasia policy for the elderly.
Caught in a clash between imperial authorities and Earth’s underground resistance movement, Schwartz—who unknowingly gains telepathic abilities from the accident—becomes a pivotal figure in a growing conflict. Alongside scientist Dr. Affret Shekt and his daughter Poli, Schwartz must navigate a world of power struggles, prejudice, and rebellion.
Asimov blends time travel, political intrigue, and speculative science in this thought-provoking novel. Pebble in the Sky explores themes of ageism, cultural arrogance, and the tension between science and authoritarianism. Though it is among Asimov’s earlier works, it lays the groundwork for the vast universe later explored in his Foundation and Robot series.
