Foundation by Isaac Asimov Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Foundation
Book Review: The greatest sci-fi book ever
Summary: 5 Stars
If you only read one sci-fi book this should be the one. Complex ideas delivered in a simple way, a great story written in an elegant style. I hunted down the hardback version because I know that this is one series I will want to re-read.Book Review: True Classic
Summary: 5 Stars
I first read this in the early 80's when I was a teen, and I was blown away by the economic theory. I just reread it, great short story's. The story of the galactic empire is very interesting.Book Review: Truly unparralleled among sci-fi classics
Summary: 5 Stars
A brilliant, original story that shows how ahead of his time Asimov truly was. The premise and scope of this novel are staggering and the plot develops at a blistering pace. You will not be able to put this book down once you start. The only minor critique I have of this book is that, as a series of novellas that continually advance into the future, characters you have grown to care about are quickly whisked away and replaced by new ones. Therefore, it is helpful to approach this book as a set of separate, though interconnected stories. When all is said and done, this book sets the stage for one of the greatest sci-fi series of all time. Complete with larger-than-life characters, unforgettable twists and suprises, this book is sure to satisfy any who have an interest in science fiction. Highly recommended.Book Review: Unique transposition of our history
Summary: 4 Stars
It's my third read of this book. First two I read about ten years ago, when my English hasn't been that matured, so after reading the book in original, I immediately found a copy in my native language. Now I decided to read the whole saga and of course started from the very beginning.
Just as addictive as before. And with fair certainty I can say that this is the saga that has inspired George Lucas or whoever he took his ideas from. And yet it all started with "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire"...
Book Review: Well thought out Sci-Fi
Summary: 4 Stars
"Foundation" by Isaac Asimov
In the distant future: humanity has spread to the stars and it has been so long that most have forgotten which planet humanity originated from. All of the inhabited planets (almost 25 million) owe allegiance to the Empire, a gigantic centralized government that is located on the planet of Trantor. Hari Seldon is a scientist and the utmost expert of new science known as "Psychohistory". Hari uses psychohistory which is mathematics based to map out the future in detail. He has determined that the Empire will fall within 300 years. Hari knows that he cant stop the fall but wishes to minimize the dark ages that follow in which he predicts that most science will be lost and that it will take humanity over 30,000 years to get back to where they currently are. Hari thinks he can minimize this amount of time by forming the Foundation whose job it will be to compile all knowledge into a galactic encyclopedia.........
This was actually a very good and well thought out story. The story unwinds in an interesting and unique way that is very different from most sci-fi stories I have read.
The Good: The story was well thought out and unfolds interestingly. Asimov is a great world/universe builder and his take on the emerging society of the foundation and its purpose driven evolutions is excellent. The story is well paced and never really felt like it had time to slow down. It is surprising that Asimov managed to tell his tale which covers an expansive amount of time in just under 250 pages and still make it feel fleshed out.
The Bad: Some say the characters in "Foundation" are flat. This isn't untrue however as surprising as it may sound this doesn't have an extreme adverse effect on the story. The reason it doesn't is because the story isn't character driven. The characters act more as small pieces in a large extended chess game and merely serve to move an event driven story along its path.
Overall: Foundation was a great and unique read. Pick it up and give it a read!