Prelude to Foundation

Rating:
Summary: What true sci-fi is all about
Review: Not only was this my first Foundation novel, but also my first Asimov. The name is the A in the A,B,C's of science fiction, and I wanted to see why this man was so touted. Well I got my lesson! 'Prelude to Foundation' was an amazing book. Though some have reported that it was boring in places, I found the 500+ page book to just flow along. Asimov sets up an interesting premise with the decaying galactic Empire, and the adventures of those who seek to save it. What pleased me the most about this book was the different aspects Asimov manages to tie together. It tackles everything from science (obviously), the nature of religion, prejudice, politics, human nature and even manages to fit in some action scenes. What surprised me even more was the tender scene in the final section. I always saw sci-fi as a cold, technology driven genre, but Asimov actually manages to create some romantic tension between the characters that ties up nicely in the end. An awesome book, and a series I will definately continue.

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Prelude
Review: After reading Foundation, I quickly picked up a copy of Prelude of Foundation to just see what Asimov's Hari Seldon went through to create psychohistory. I expected a Star Wars-type adventure with a twist of intellect, betrayal, and cleverness combined into one book, and that's exactly what I got. Asimov's writing style tends to give a punch at the very last line of each chapter, but its so persistent that I couldn't put it down. Its a moderately-paced novel that efficiently uses words - no long, boring dialogue or descriptions. Beginning from the description of the fascinating cultures he's fathomed, Prelude to Foundation is a wonderful prelude and certainly worthy to buy.

However, this novel has its problems. People will become attached to Hari Seldon and recognize his dilemma, but with the overdoing of the hero/villain formula stories, one can guess this book's ending. Although formulaic for our time, Asimov is still a mastermind. Prelude to Foudnation will not disappoint anyone who enjoy Foundation.

I would recommend people to buy Foundation before this book because Foundation is shorter and a better book.

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining scifi novel. A little boring in parts.
Review: This was the first Asimov book I've ever read. It was entertaining, but lacked the depth of a Ray Bradbury or Arthur C Clarke novel. Basically the story was more there to entertain you than captivate you. I am a big fan of Clarke's 2001 and Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 and if you've read those you know what I mean by both of them having gripping stories. This book wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. I'll get around to reading the rest of the series at some point, but I'm in no hurry after reading this one.

Rating:
Summary: You can't put it down!
Review: Isaac Asimov uses great, descriptive words (and big ones). As usual there is a lot of mathematics and science included. The action scence glue you to the book, and the ending is remarkable.

Rating:
Summary: The most interesting book of Foundation series
Review: This is the most entertaining book among the Foundation series. Other Fondation books usually deal with political issues and lots of talk and talk and talk but this book has some action. (Poor Harry Seldon would have never imagined that himself would have been a active young man who could do some martial art and do some physical stuffs when he first appeared in the Foundation) The style is very much like the Currents of Space and this book is just as well written as the Currents of Space. If you like adventure and thrill just try this book even if u don't know what Foundation series is. Well, but 'some' knowledge over the history of Earth (Asimov history, that is) would be quite helpful to understand the whole situation. (When I read the book i didn't know about the Aurora and Earth stuffs and didn't quite understand..so i had to read it again after i finished the Robot triology)

Rating:
Summary: Exceedingly Well Done
Review: On the whole I am not fond of books written to round out a series. They tend to lack the depth that the books of the series itself possess. In this case, this book is an equal to the others in the series.

First of all, I would read the Foundation series first, before you read this. I would also read the Robot series before you read this. There are aspects of this book what would spoil the suprises in the other books if this was read first.

It gives you an in-depth look at the sheer diversity of mankind, all from the diversity he finds fleeing the government, a diversity that offsets the making of a mathematics that deals with our similitude.

The ending is also a suprise, even if you have read the other books, and for that, I must give Asimov credit.

Hari Seldon is given an impossible task, to find a way to quantify all of human activity, and he doesn't think he can do it. Meanwhile, he is being hounded by agents of the government of Trantor, capitol of the Galaxy. Yes, this book takes place when psychohistory is just an idea, before Hari became the all-knowing sage that he is pictured as in other books.

Rating:
Summary: Best in the series
Review: After reading the original foundation series I was pleasantly surprised to find this novel sitting on a local bookstore shelf.

The most amazing thing to me is, when reading the foundation series, I found that each successive novel got better and better (quite the opposite of what I usually find from authors). And Prelude to Foundation is actually the first book in the series ---time-wise --- but the last one written. Which made it exquisitely sweet to me. I absolutely loved it (except for the cover which was a serious turn off and looked cartoon-ish). The domed world, the chase scenes, the action behind how the foundation would come into existence, all made this world real and intriguing. I absolutely loved it! Asimov created a remarkable series and I mourn his passing (just like that of Frank Herbert, author of Dune).

Rating:
Summary: Great read, but one annoyance
Review: I remember as a kid reading the Foundation trilogy and being *so angry* about Asimov's literary "dirty trick" of revealing at the end that two characters that have previously been introduced in the book are actually the *same person*! When I read a book, I play a "movie" in my mind, so I could actually "see" those two characters, and they were clearly two different people, so to claim at the end that they were the same person seemed SO UNFAIR to me! Now as a (much older) reader, I read Prelude, and unsuspectingly DARNED IF HE DIDN'T PULL THE SAME TRICK ON ME! This is probably childish, and I should get over it, but now I've got it off my chest, and I feel so much better! :) Yes, I do recommend this book, the series, and anything by Asimov.

Rating:
Summary: The starting point.
Review: Now, before hand, I must say I'm not done with the Foundation series, as a matter of fact, I have only read this and "Towards the Foundation", with the rest of the series dusting itself in my shelf waiting for the time when I am done with the "waiting list" of books I have to read.

This is a fine starting point for the series, but it all really depends on the reader; that is, if you prefer to read the series on chronological order, or order of publication, it's all a matter of taste.

This book is based in different situations, each one a story on its own, but linked to the others in a way, making of this book a collection of stories instead of one.

A fine book by a great author.

Rating:
Summary: "Get a load of this guy!"
Review: My significant past acquaintance with Asimov has been his outstanding "History of Physics".

This well-paced, infectious fictional work definitely keeps the interest; I read several hundred pages over the space of two days while otherwise busily occupied at work. The chapters are nicely brief, and the style is very clear to a degree.

The plot device is to present an innocent man propelled into being a fugitive through his cooking up a mathematical theory which may be no more than a cockamamey pot of hooey. Also, one is awaiting, page by page, the crucial insight which will provide the pretext for his successful delivery of his mathematical miracle [prediction by computer software rather than Tarot - does Microsoft already have it?].

There ARE things that don't suit me about it...

For one, the notion of a galaxy where the only sentient life forms are human beings FROM EARTH - a little disappointing. (This is explained in "Foundation's Edge".)

For another, Asimov does not have a good ear for dialogue. I tired pretty quickly of constantly reading dialogues which seemed written more for the benefit of the reader than the characters' development.

Also, the protagonist Hari Seldon, as a person, is neither very likeable nor interesting EXCEPT for his theory. I mean - LOOK AT THIS GUY! He comes up with all sorts of puerile, dopey notions; for example, he actually imagines that somehow he can ferret out information regarding an ancient arcane religious tradition from a Mycogenian woman adherent, (Raindrop 43). To compound this naivete, he actually insults her sensibilities, imagining this will REALLY work the trick and get her to open up to him [?!]. I really just had to shake my head at this, (as did his friend Dors Venabili).

After a while, he starts insisting on even dopier notions because he imagines that somehow or other that this sort of irresponsible recklessness will provide him the missing key to his theory of "psychohistory".

Similarly his arrival at the city of Mycogen on planet Trantor; he starts demanding that the local culture bow to his wishes and not treat his female companion Dors in their traditional patriarchal manner. Anybody who has ever been in a traditional culture knows that this sort of rudeness is the height of incivility and barbarity. You just don't do that. Period. (I don't know about you, but if my life was in danger, and a group with rather eccentric social mores offered me protection, I would be VERY sure to be civil and observe the local customs!) Then he starts raving because he can't get a bite to eat...

You have to hand it to Asimov that he makes this story work, and work really well, with such a disappointing hero. I suspect he made the character intentionally pretentious and not too likeable; let's face it, that's how mathematicians are [just kidding!].

Finally, I just don't think Asimov is as good a writer as, say, Zelazny. I don't like putting Zelazny down; one needs a break from Asimov - O.K., maybe just 10 seconds between chapters, but his style is just not as good. One also misses the restrained prurience of Zelazny - but that's just my personal taste... Nevertheless, the remaining Foundation books are all excellent, and I highly recommend 'Prelude' to anybody that wants to get away from it all by reading a book.