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Summary: My first non-star trek science fiction.
Review: I really liked this book, but I want to give you some warnings about my tastes & what I found odd about it. First I used to read history books for fun & sometimes I still do. Second there were absolutely no female characters in this one. This struck me as bizarre then & it still does (by the way I'm a male & most definitely not a feminist)The later foundation books ,especially those written in the 80's & 90's, are better characterized & women are much better characterized. Also this is a 1940's view of the future. That doesn't mean it's dated (are Dumas or Poe dated?) it just means you have to put it in context. Why did I like it then? My love of history, the ideas, the grandness, & unrepentant sentimentality. I think if I read it again I might not like it as much, but the memory of it's great. If you know a teenager reading star trek books do what my dad did & give them this.
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Summary: A pleasant book for a beginning reader, not much else...
Review: I read this book as a teenager, and loved it. Read it again several years later, and could not understand what it was that I liked. Sure, Asimov writes with ease - and it is equally easy to read. But the characters are totally flat, the plot (?if any) is thoroughly predictable, and he also shows a terrible amount of prejudice against women, minority people and just about anything that does not fit the template of "middle-age white american male". The book generally left a bad taste, as if you'd stuffed yourself on marshmallows - mostly air but enough sugar to make you feel sick.
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Summary: Great Series
Review: I have read every book in the Foundation Series. The First must be read to fully appreciate all the others, but the best one in the series is Foundation and Earth. It's so unfortunate that the publishers who don't have the rights to this novel in the series don't include it in their lists.
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Summary: The first novel. As good as the others?No. Excellent? Yes!
Review: I have read 5 of the 7 foundation books. I find this one to be the least enjoyable, but I still consider it a classic. While Asimov's writing style improved over the years, Foundation is still a great read. Psychohistory is such an interesting idea, that it makes one think if it is possible. Although the books get better as the publishing years increase, the first one is still a great one. One note, though. Asimov's style of "action" here is not excellent, so be forewarned. Personally, I find his Robot series more enjoyable, but Foundation is still one of the best series ever written. I would give 4.5 stars, but unfortunately I cant.
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Summary: Never gets old
Review: Having just finished Greg Bear's brilliant "Foundation & Chaos", I've decided I can no longer wait to begin re-reading the original again. I wish I could take the next few months to start off with the Robot series, move on to the Galactic Empire series, and then finsh with the entire collection of the Foundation books (because it's all one big wunnerful story, doncha' know!). Well, not this year, perhaps, but in a few I may do just that. In the meantime, I will re-read "Foundation" with yet another new perspective of Hari Seldon and all that came before this original masterpiece... it truly never gets old.
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Summary: An Example of What is "Classically" Wrong with SciFi.
Review: I only recently read this so called masterpiece. I even went do far as to order the special complete edition from the Science Fiction Book Club. Even though I got through it I cannot believe all of the outstanding reviews and awards this series has received. No characters, no science, no mystery (who couln't figure out the identitiy of the Mule?). In addition the story is basically one of the collapse of the Roman Empire. It probably could have been rewritten replacing historical language instead of spacefare and it would not have mattered in the slightest. The only science fictional element was Psychohistory which is not developed at all due to the nature of the plot. If this is a classic, I shall stick to more obscure and worthwhile reads. Blech.
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Summary: A movie version? I sure hope not.
Review: This is a great book, but it's not one that would translate to film. It converted me from Star Trek books to real sf. (Although Star Trek started me out so I'm not too harsh on it.) As a lover of history it drew me in. One of the major advantages of science fiction is it's ability to deal with grand scope of history & it does it. Interestingly I like the later books too. In conclusion A movie version?????? I sure hope not they'd ruin it. However his End of Eternity ,which is one of my favorites, might be cinematic if they did it right.
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Summary: this is the best
Review: The Foundation trilogy is the best work of science fiction I have ever read. Put it at the top of your list. Note that the books following the 3rd were written later, and do not share the same stature as the first three, although they are enjoyable reading.
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Summary: IT IS INTERESTING
Review: Everybody like to know your fast and future. Everybody see it as want.
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Summary: perhaps the best sci-fi trilogy ever
Review: An excellent start to the trilogy. You may find the science of psychohistory a bit hard to believe, perhaps more so because history always celebrates the individual heros. But all leaders make use of mass belief to reach their goals. Asimov combines his observations of society with his scientific knowledge to create a masterpiece. A must read for sci-fi enthusiasts like me.
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