Prelude to Foundation

Rating:
Summary: The beginning book of the famous Foundation series.
Review: In 1988, Asimov published a prequel to his famous Foundation series. He also uses this book to continue to tie in other novels that he had already written, most notably all of the robot stories, particularly involving R. Daneel Olivaw and Lije Baley, as well as "Pebble in the Sky" (1950) (in fact, in such a larger scheme, "Prelude to Foundation" follows "Pebble in the Sky" and precedes "Forward the Foundation" (1993)). In this novel, he finally uses Hari Seldon as a main character. A young assistant professor of mathematics, Hari Seldon, travels to the planet Trantor (the governing planet of the galactic empire) to present a paper at a convention on a new field he has begun referred to as psychohistory. In his paper, Seldon suggests that it might be theoretically possible to develop mathematical equations and techniques of analyses to predict, with strong statistical analysis, future events of human history on a broad scale (in which the discipline only is applicable to extremely large numbers of people). Asimov provides some hints that this field might use chaos theory as well, although he never uses that term. Seldon also believes that, while theoretically possible, it isn't practical. There are those, however, who believe that the galactic empire is collapsing and hope to use a developed psychohistory theory to help direct human society. Seldon finds himself running from the Emperor's agents and hiding in various different enclaves throughout the planet Trantor, and thus learning more and more about Trantor (those reviewers who criticize this trek are obviously missing its importance in the greater scheme of the series). He is attempting to find a smaller model of galactic populations that would allow him the ability to develop his theory. There are legends that tens of thousands of years ago, man had lived on only one planet: Earth. He is hoping to find some historical evidence for Earth and, in so doing, he discovers some surprising facts and events. I am probably unusual in that I enjoyed this book the most in the series. Perhaps its because I also live in an academic environment and see many similarities to Hari's problems. Asimov was obviously drawing on his own experiences.

Rating:
Summary: Prelude to Asimov
Review: Prelude to Foundation was the first Asimov novel I ever read and I am currently reading it again for the fourth time ! Many people told me to read his famous 'Foundation Trilogy' in my youth (20yrs ago) but I never got around to it. Fortunately by the time I did 'Prelude' had just been published, so it seemed a logical place to start !! I did not regret it..

Prelude to Foundation is just one episode in Asimov's sci-fi tapestry woven from several independent series of novels and short stories, all set in the future but with some connecting threads. It comes after the 'Robot' and 'Empire' novels and sets the scene for the later 'Foundation' books.

Its setting is about 20,000 years in the future after mankind has invented hyper-spatial travel and populated the galaxy. We are introduced to Hari Seldon a math professor from a small planet Helicon, who travels to Trantor the galactic capital of the empire to attend the 10-year math conference. There he makes the claim that the future of man might be predicted mathematically, since the net actions of quadrillions of humans become more predictable rather than less so (just like for atoms !) Whilst Hari realises that his theory is correct but impractical, it excites the interest of the emperor's minister Demerzel. The emperor Cleon, is fearful of assassination, so would like the future to predict a long and successful reign.. Soon poor Hari is in over his head as both imperial forces and their enemies seek to use him as a pawn to further their political aims.

With the aid of the benevolent Chetter Hummin, who wants Hari to actually work on his prediction theory called 'Psychohistory' in order to save mankind from an impending collapse of the empire Hari escapes, but only proceeds from one mishap to another. He is encouraged in his work on Psychohistory and also protected by a colleague of Hummin, the adorable red-head Dors Venabili who is a academic historian, has great legs, but can also wield a mean knife...!

The plot is fast moving and varied, with a hint of mystery. As usual with Asimov there is a twist or two in the tail..

I think 'Prelude' is a lot of fun and more enjoyable each time I re-read it (I have gone through Asimov's history of the future three times now!!) I think it is my favorite - it has a feel-good ambience pervading the book and I'm sure Isaac had a lot of fun writing it..no doubt there is a lot of himself (a former biochem asst. professor) in the Seldon character !!

Isaac Asimov has left a staggering legacy and an irreplaceable hole for his multitude of fans. Asimov's work is highly complex and not always accessible, some of his writing is now half a century old. Asimov has done a great job in 'Prelude' in linking up many of his future-based novels. In his preface to Prelude he gives a potted history of his future universe and indicates how his books fit chronologically together. As he says some inconsistencies arose since the books were not originally planned to form one future.. but it kind of evolved that way !!

For newcomers to Asimov I encourage you to go no further and start here, many of you will become hooked for life...

For afficionados of 'Robot'-lore and the 'Empire' this is a continuation of these novels and the action is all set on magnificent Trantor in its heyday and splendor. It will not dissappoint. The master sci-fi story teller was also at his mature best. A partial solution to the question of what ever happened to the spacers of Aurora is also revealed...

For first or second 'Foundationers' this book is a beautifully crafted piece linking the different halves of Asimov's future together, where Seldon is the fulcrum.

I wonder if his works will still be read in 20,000 years and what they will make of it all....

Rating:
Summary: 4 stars? Not even!
Review: Maybe its because I'm not much of a fan of Asimov, but I was disappointed in this book. Asimov's "Foundation" was OK 3.5/5 stars, but Prelude to Foundation was a very disappointing 2/5. Why? The plot is "super extra simple", Hari Seldon has no dimension to him (he functions like a thinking robot more than a human), and not much happens in the book. There are pages where Asimov's characters comment endlessly about how good the food is, but the commentary, while long, isn't even very descriptive so it turns out plain old boring. You never get much of a sense of the danger Hari is in. The only really fun part is when Hari gets stuck on the roof of Trantor and has to stay the night. But that's short lived, and in the end, you wish he'd been left up there to die.

The only real interesting parts to the book are Asimov's commentary on science. His social commentaries, told through Hari Seldon are a total snorefest. I'm really suprised so many people liked this book. But I guess its because they are Asimov fans. If you're new to Sci Fi, or an Asimov fan, you might like it. If you're a sci fi veteran, you'll probably be disappointed like me.

I would recommend instead, if you prefer a richer more complex and compelling Sci Fi tale, to pick up a copy of "Nova" by Samuel R. Delany, "Dune" by Frank Herbert, or "Revelation Space" by Alistair Reynolds - all three are excellent.

Now I'm off to the bookstore to give "Hyperion" by Dan Simmons a try.

Rating:
Summary: Stands on its own
Review: I want to give a Four star (for lack of character development) but the ideas Asimov works with and the way the story shifts and turns force me to give the exalted "five". The one thing I particularly liked about this book was that it was necessary to read the Foundation Trilogy to enjoy it. So many times, writers make the assumption that you have read all the other books of a series and present the reader with strange and unexplained ideas and people.

One advantage Asimov had in writing this story was time. He had over 30 years to think about the original series and how it fit in with the other works. He also could update the science which made it much more believable. We are on Trantor and this is the story of Seldon, his fights, his studies, his love life (very high-level as in all Asimov novels) and his triumphs.

Robots play a part in this prequel that they do not in the series itself for the obvious reason that Asimov had not yet come up with the idea of tying them together. After 30+ years he has most of the pieces in place and can manipulate them at will. The revelation of his "wife" was only too good.

Rating:
Summary: I know why this is a classic...
Review: This is the first book I read by the author Asimov. I know there are many more famous books from him like the Robots collections and Foundation. I picked this one for the first book simply because this is the first entry to the Foundation series, on a chronological sense. I must say surprisingly, this is a very easy-to-read (compare to Dune, Lord of the Ring, etc), but exciting, and full-of-surprises book. At times, it also gives us thoughful issues (e.g. can we 'predict' the future?), which is what we are anticipating from a sci-fi. I know from many many readers that Foundation is the best among all the volumes, but I can imagine that this is already an enjoyable read, I cannot imagine how exciting the Foundation book will be. It also thrills me to read all other series (Robot, Empire, etc) so as to get a full understanding of the history under Asimov's reign. I recommend this one to everyone who has never touch Asimov's work before.

Rating:
Summary: A superb page-turner
Review: Prelude to Foundation is chronologically the first novel in Asimov's Foundation series. Hari Seldon has just introduced his theory of psychohistory to the public on Trantor and is now sought after for his potential to one day mathematically predict the future. In this book we learn much about the Imperial home planet of Trantor and the time period of the beginning of the Empire's decline. I haven't yet read the rest of the Foundation series but I'm looking forward to it, the more so after this enjoyable start.

Since Prelude was written many years after the original Foundation trilogy, Asimov chose to tie in a few plot elements from the four-book Robot series and the old Empire trilogy. In fact, a major character from the Robot series also shows up here in a marvelous twist at the end of the book! Having recently read both the Robot and Empire series, I feel that Asimov did a wonderful job considering that something like 20,000 years have passed since the time setting of the Robot series. I highly recommend reading the Robot novels before you start Prelude.

Prelude describes "The Flight" period of Seldon's life during which he was hiding from the Emperor Cleon I to prevent psychohistory from falling into the wrong hands (or so he thinks). This book is quite difficult to put down and the 400+ pages flew by for me in less than two weeks, which is unusual given how much time I usually devote to sci-fi. The ending has a couple great surprises in store for you, just make sure you don't peek!

Rating:
Summary: Foundation of Foundation
Review: Although I am an Asimov fan, this book was disappointing. As he explained, the sole purpose for this volume was to connect the dots in his previous Foundation series, but I am not sure why that was necessary and why it had to be so dry.

Much of the dialogues are contrived and contain Asimov's musings about food, society and state of the Galaxy thousands of years from now. It is interesting that he projects the kind of social injustices and class struggles that dominated our political discourse during the cold war decades that far into the future. This theme of challenge of maintaining social order is common in most of his works. It would be so depressing if that were really the case for future civilizations that have supposedly solved so many of the fundamental problems of humanity.

The plot does have a few pleasant surprises, especially at the end and one also detects the innocent romanticism of Asimov throughout. I do not think it is a must to read this book to enjoy the other books in the series; they were all very well done and memorable on their own.

Rating:
Summary: 4 stars? Not even!
Review: Maybe its because I'm not much of a fan of Asimov, but I was disappointed in this book. Asimov's "Foundation" was OK 3.5/5 stars, but Prelude to Foundation was a very disappointing 2/5. Why? The plot is "super extra simple", Hari Seldon has no dimension to him (he functions like a thinking robot more than a human), and not much happens in the book. There are pages where Asimov's characters comment endlessly about how good the food is, but the commentary, while long, isn't even very descriptive so it turns out plain old boring. You never get much of a sense of the danger Hari is in. The only really fun part is when Hari gets stuck on the roof of Trantor and has to stay the night. But that's short lived, and in the end, you wish he'd been left up there to die.

The only real interesting parts to the book are Asimov's commentary on science. His social commentaries, told through Hari Seldon are a total snorefest. I'm really suprised so many people liked this book. But I guess its because they are Asimov fans. If you're new to Sci Fi, or an Asimov fan, you might like it. If you're a sci fi veteran, you'll probably be disappointed like me.

I would recommend instead, if you prefer a richer more complex and compelling Sci Fi tale, to pick up a copy of "Nova" by Samuel R. Delany, "Dune" by Frank Herbert, or "Revelation Space" by Alistair Reynolds - all three are excellent.

Now I'm off to the bookstore to give "Hyperion" by Dan Simmons a try.

Rating:
Summary: More than a Prelude
Review: This Prelude is actually, in my opinion, better than the Foundation itself. It is much easier to read, more friendly, more human. It is a good starting place for new readers, but be forwarned, the style of the story changes to a much more technical dry story as you reach into the later parts of the series (Asimov's earlier work).

Rating:
Summary: Best of the foundation
Review: Can't say enough about Isaac Asimov, reading 'Prelude' was a great experience and seeing the peak of life on Trantor. What was most fascinating was Daneel Olivaw's appearance. Many of you remember him from the Robot series.

Harry Seldon's adventures start here; he is a very human and fallible subject (unlike the phrophesizing old man in Foundation.) I think you will find that this is the best of the foundation series and it'll be hard to put down