Rating: 
Summary: Confessions of an Asimovfan
Review: OK, I admit it. I am totally incapable of writing an unbiased, objective review of this book, just as I am unable to say unbiased, objective things about my first girl friend. This was the first SF novel that I read (actually, I bought it for a friend and then read it before I gave it to him -- the beginning of a life-long nasty habit) when I was 14.The scope of the story is breathtaking, the pace is good -- especially for Asimov who tended to be pretty wordy -- and the details engaging. Asimov wrote this as a series of connected stories for "Astounding" magazine, and this shows in the oddly repeated facts that allowed the 'zine readers to follow the plot even when they missed earlier stories. It also adds a certain pulpy flavor to the text, which I think works well. SF about grand civilizations that are galactic in scope doesn't need to -- and probably shouldn't -- sound like Great Fiction. I think the gritty, quick style of Asimov's pulp writing works well. One of my favorite things about the whole "Foundation" series (you need to real all three of the originals, by the way, the newer ones are optional) is the way they presaged certain now-routine SF conventions. The most notable, of course, is the globe-encovering city/planet of Trantor, most recently replicated by George Lucas in "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace." (The less said about SW:TPM the better...) You can also see in my signature above that Asimov has had other influences on me. Salvor Hardin was a character in this novel: a trader and an agent of the First Foundation.
Rating:
Summary: Overcome Stalled Thinking About Predestination With Vision
Review: Twenty Stars ******************** Long before the notion of using a vision of the future to help shape the future, there was Foundation by Isaac Asimov. This popular book and series have undoubtedly played a role in developing the importance of vision in our society in the 50 years since these stories were first written. The book is also prescient in another way. The current best thinking about problem solving is that scenario-based exercises are the best way to prepare to influence the future. Sure enough, that is what Asimov was talking about with Seldon's forecasting techniques. If that was all that Asimov accomplished, this would be one of the greatest science fiction novels of all time. But he did even more. He conceptualized the significance of finding offsets to the kind of bureaucratic stalls that can delay progress. While Joseph Heller was inventing Catch 22 to identify the problem, Asimov was already onto the cure. Asimov's solution: a secret second foundation that works behind the scenes without bureaucracy to do the real work of making a difference. In my own research on how change happens in organizations, it is always the stealth activities that work best. In a sense, any view of history would lead to the same conclusion -- that progress and regression will usually succeed one another in that order. That was the point of Toynbee's work on history. Asimov has made that point very elegantly here. What I love about this book are the many brilliant philosophical perspectives woven into the story. I wish my philosophy classes had been this interesting! The drawback of the book is that Asimov is not one to overly polish his writing. So it works, but lacks the beauty we normally associate with great books. Don't let that hold you back. These ideas and concepts for dealing with them are among the most irresitible ever conceived of for thinking about our futures. As you read and enjoy this wonderful novel, be sure to consider what its lessons are for existing organizations, like the one your work for, the schools your children or grandchildren attend, the government, and volunteer organizations like the Red Cross. You'll be amazed how much more you will get from this book if you do. For this is really a management book, as well as a science fiction book. This book has constantly inspired me. I hope it will do the same for you!
Rating: 
Summary: There's a reason this is a classic...
Review: The Foundation trilogy is really a rebinding of stories published serially in Astounding Magazine, so each part really stands on its own, making only passing references to previous stories and explaining anything necessary to the current plot. Asimov's writing is rather dialog-heavy, and evolves slowly enough that I couldn't get past the first book when I read it the first time (in high school). Coming back to it years later, I've really enjoyed these three volumes, and am looking forward to reading the extension novels by Greg Bear and David Brin, two of my favorite authors (and the reason I picked up Foundation again). It's not as slow as Lord of the Rings (also worthwhile for those with patience). The story is very interesting, and lets you into the psyche of the characters only through their words and actions, so your understanding of them builds slowly through your reading. I definitely recommend Foundation. I also read Bujold's "Warrior's Apprentice" recently, which I find to be similar in style, and I recommend that as well.
Rating: 
Summary: I just cant do it.
Review: I read the foundation books and was reminded why I don't like asimov. The man has Phd's in chemistry and a gazillion other physical sciences and he likes to show it off. And that makes it very hard for us lay scifi geeks.
Rating:
Summary: The beginning of a wonderful sci-fi series
Review: I would recommend this series to anyone. Asimov is a great writer, who's very prolific (He's written over 400 books! ) This is the start of his Foundation series which is a well-developed series detailing the fall of a Galactic Empire and one man's attempt to shorten the dark ages that are to come after the fall. For those of you who like hard sci-fi this is the series for you.
Rating:
Summary: Can I borrow another star?
Review: So adictive that you finish it in 3 days, maximum. But the better is... You keep reading the 2nd and third books of the original foundation trilogy. All of them amazingly perfect. The first book tell about the stablishment of the Foundation and it's romantic era, with the first Great mayors Salvor Hardin and Hobber mallow. a must have.
Rating:
Summary: Magnificent book!
Review: Asimov is truly a master of science fiction (among other subjects), and the Foundation series is one of the most incredible stories ever told. Never mind that this book was written many decades ago - It is absolutely timeless and you will not regret reading it.
Rating:
Summary: Foundation and the complete series
Review: Couldn't put any of the books in this series down. There is a college education in those books!
Rating:
Summary: The endless story of an ampire
Review: What can be said about this book? every thing... this is truely one of the best books ever written. for one thing its written very very well, and lets the reader connect to even the most minor characters. then off course there is the endless twining of the plot, which stretches over the next too books in the series. in all three books just when you're sure you understand the general plot and way of things, asimov comes and changes every thing completely... this is of course a very good comparison to any empire, especially rome, and in my opinion also the USA. it doesnt matter if you like this book or that book and this genere or that genere, this is a book for every one, and its one of the few books which i can honestly call ingenious. in short...buy it, read it, read it again...and again.... P.S. the 4'th and 5'th books, foundation's edge and foundation and earth...are simply spoilers after the first 3 amazing books.
Rating:
Summary: The best book I've ever read!
Review: This is the first book I have read on my own and really fallen in love with. I am in 8th grade, and I found it very easy to understand and tremendously engrossing. I just couldn't put it down after I started it. Sometimes I would laugh out loud as the characters would pull such amazingly witty and ingenious double-crosses on their enemies. A definite must read for any sci-fi fan.
| 
