After a 30 year hiatus
|
After a hiatus of nearly 30 years, Asimov's next instalment in the Foundation Series feels like he never stopped writing. Fast-paced, with the usual last-minute plot-twists, this book will not disappoint Asimov and Sci-Fi fans alike.
The book follows the story of Golan Trevize (an opinionated Federation Councilman) and Janov Pelorat (a hermit Historian). The two venture out as Mayor Branno's Lightening Rod to attract the attention of the still-troublesome Second Foundation and stumble upon a world unlike no other, discovering an ancient secret, and setting Asimov up for his next blockbuster.
|
|
A damning rating for a book that is actually not that bad
|
|
As a stand alone book, this is not that bad, Golan Trevize is an amusing enough guy, and the story meanders along. However, it completely changes the meaning of the foundation story. While still preferrable to the insipid "Foundation and Earth" it will all come down to whether you prefer the "I Robot" side of Asimov or the "Foundation" side. If you are like me, you prefer the non-robot texts and didn't appreciate the merger of two different storylines, to the detriment of both.
|
|
|
Good, but could have been a lot better
|
|
The good news? This is very well-written compared with almost any other SF novel, and the plot does grip you (and the way that various revelations are revealed is masterly). You really do want to read what happens next. The bad news? Firstly, there is an awful lot of padding in the descriptions of life in the Second Foundation - this is just plain boring. Secondly, when we meet Bliss from Gaia, the wonder of the concepts described here is ruined by the feebly-motivated dislike that Trevize takes to Bliss. In this book Bliss doesn't respond in the same nasty way, but it warns us what is to come in the (even more flawed) sequel.
|
|
|
Foundation's Edge
|
|
This book is written in the exact same style as the first three and as such is a good book on its own. However it doesn't seem to fit with the original three. Since these additions to the series were in effect forced upon the author, I was expecting a simple continuation of the intellectual battles between characters of the first foundation and its enemies or perhaps some more on the intentions of the second foundation. However, where at first the foundation was a force mysteriously protected by the Seldon plan, and then it was demoted in intrigue by the second foundation, now in this one both foundations are reduced to triviality by newcomers on the scene. It forces the first three into a subservient position induced by this rather implausible plot development. That aside it is still full of the usual twist and turns and character development which are all so characteristic of asimov's style.
|
|
The older and more experienced Asimov revisits his creation
|
|
It seems to me that so many have missed a very important point at what's happened here. Isaac Asimov created, in his youth and from his brilliance, a future universe. Then, as is so with all authors, he moved on to other projects, developing his philosophy and his story telling skills and also his sense of humor as his career continued. Of his own, he really had no idea of returning to Foundation, but of course, readers wanted and began to demand more. Finally, his publishers applied pressure, and the result was FOUNDATIONS EDGE, FOUNDATION AND EARTH, PRELUDE TO FOUNDATION, & FORWARD THE FOUNDATION. Just as the earlier "novels" were actually shorter stories strung together, FOUNDATIONS EDGE and FOUNDATION AND EARTH are two longer segments of the next step in his future history. Much has happened during the thirty years to affect the author's philosophy, and these two books which represent the necessary trip back to the beginning of it all reflect changes in thinking and of course of advances in scientific knowledge. We see what is happening from two different viewpoints, the First Foundation viewpoint and the Second Foundation viewpoint. Each has its flaws and one can see that the Second Empire will indeed be deeply flawed if either of the foundations has its way over the other. Humanity, however, is being guided by intelligence beyond that of Hari Seldon's plan, and those who have read PRELUDE TO FOUNDATION are quite aware of this. FOUNDATION'S EDGE works to lead us in the direction of the true master plan. Read this book with an open mind, and do continue the thread by reading FOUNDATION AND EARTH before coming to concussions...er, conclusions...about it.
|
|
|
United States | 
United Kingdom | 
Canada