Rating: Summary: Outsatanding Review: I believe that Mr. Asimov had true inspiration in writing this as he did a very good job of tying together a great many small things from the previous books in this series that were left in such a state that he must have seen this whole series at once as if having either watched a movie or having been there. I say having been there, because he paints such vivid pictures with his character background, attitudes, & agendas while leaving some of the main points mysterious even to those who have a very good imagination and approach things logically.
Rating: Summary: "Mirror, mirror..." Review: Two very gifted men, Golan Trevize & Stor Gendibal, from the First and Second Foundations, respectively, find themselves catapulted into derring-do by the machinations of their domestic political opponents. And so the tale has a certain symmetry at outset. We intuitively sense that they will eventually meet with catalytic force. Each man is convinced of a hidden power behind Galactic Events: Trevize suspects Second Foundation influence while Gendibal intuits a deeper, more elusive, insidious force.Although I enjoyed F.E., Asimov strains credibility in the intricate plot twists brought about by the machinations of the story's protagonists... Perhaps not, because here we are dealing with a Terminus governor (Harla Branno) presiding over a federation of planets greater in extent than the late-lamented Empire of Trantor, and Second Foundation hierarch Stor Gendibal, past-master both of Seldon's psychohistorical equations AND an additionally-developed science of titanic psionics; consequently, great and deep minds' plotting is maybe not to be marvelled at. Stor Gendibal and Branno both find themselves ultimately outmaneuvered by .... [you'll have to read the book] ... . While I have yet to read "Forward the Foundation", it was disappointing to find that the eventual climax of the much-touted Seldon Plan does not appear to be forthcoming. This would have been a delectable volume, tying up numerous philosophical questions brought on by the broad thrust of the plot throughout the previous four volumes. (My present impression being that FTF is a regression to the early days of the Seldon Plan's incipience...) Obviously, if you've read the earlier volumes, you'll want to read this. While it was a Hugo and Nebula Award winner, it seemed no better than the earlier Foundation volumes. Which is to say, outstanding.
Rating: Summary: Asimov's Fine Piece Review: This story is the continuation of the foundation trilogy.The Story represent a incredible idea,fresh idea where science fiction become sort of reality. In fact the story line is superb.GET IT !
Rating: Summary: edge of your seat Review: this book keeps you wanting to read on, asimovs finest wor
Rating: Summary: Asimov pulls it all together Review: If you've already formed an opinion about Isaac Asimov's writing, FOUNDATION'S EDGE isn't likely to change your mind. The book has all of Asimov's earmarks, both good and bad: wooden characters who almost always know exactly how they feel and say exactly what they mean; dialogue-heavy scenes in which the exchanges are drenched with ideas and cerebral analysis but almost devoid of emotion or neurosis; an inventive setting replete with plausible details; and a propulsive, energetic plot that delivers lots of suspense and surprises. I already liked Asimov before I picked up the book, and it certainly didn't disappoint me, but it's not going to convert anybody who only wants to read about nuanced characters making subtle self-discoveries. Because the plot is one of the book's best features, to say too much about it would spoil the fun for too many readers, so I'll limit myself to one of its most interesting aspects, which is that it attempts to tie together a number of Asimov's works. Without giving too much away, it's fair to say that part of the book's project is to meld the fictional "universes" of the Robot stories, the Empire novels, and THE END OF ETERNITY with that of the FOUNDATION trilogy. Many Asimov fans have derided this decision, claiming that it marks the beginning of his decline as a science fiction writer. For myself, while I can't say that I find the attempt at retrofitting fictional consistency onto highly disparate works to be particularly compelling or convincing, I do find it interesting. Consider that Asimov was an atheist, who argued that in the absence of any persuasive evidence of a Supreme Being (of which he could find none), it was more rational to believe in God's nonexistence than in His existence. Yet for us to credit Asimov's notion of psychohistory, we must posit that certain characteristics are common to all humans. I would contend that the religious or spiritual impulse is such a characteristic, and that as people get older and their desire for comfort, security, and meaning increases, that impulse only gets stronger. I wonder: as Asimov aged, did he channel his own growing spiritual impulse into the project of forcing his fictional creations into an overall rubric, of imposing meaning where none previously existed? If you're an Asimov fan, FOUNDATION'S EDGE should be required reading. It did, after all, win the Good Doctor the 1983 Hugo award for best novel. On the other hand, if you're new to Asimov, this isn't the place to start. Instead, check out the FOUNDATION trilogy, or the Robot novels (THE CAVES OF STEEL and THE NAKED SUN -- the later ROBOTS OF DAWN and ROBOTS AND EMPIRE were part of Asimov's retrofitting project.) Better yet, read his short stories, collected in two excellent volumes titled THE COMPLETE STORIES I and II. It is those stories which cemented his reputation as a world class sf author, and I would argue that it is that reputation, rather than any particular virtue of this novel, that FOUNDATION'S EDGE's Hugo acknowledges.
Rating: Summary: Not a bad read Review: Foundation's Edge is not a bad read. Gaia is a bit silly, but all in all it was enjoyable. The thing that I find most confusing is why the follow-up, Foundation and Earth, is not in print as well. It provides some nice closure to the whole story.
Rating: Summary: A good Foundation book Review: Reading of this book presupposes that you have read the first three Foundation novels - "Foundation", "Foundation and Empire" and "The Second Foundation". ("Prelude to Foundation" is recommended, too.) If you haven't, please don't continue reading this review. This book starts with an inner-political conflict in Terminus, which leads to a young adventurer's leaving of Foundation and heading to a mysterious planet which just might provide an answer to a problem he badly needs to solve. What he finds there, lies completely beyond any man's recognition and I won't even try to give you a preview of it. You will be fascinated while watching closely the surprising moves of different Galactical forces trying to outcompete each other. The book is everything a Foundation fan would expect. Surely, Mr. Asimov's enthusiasm about a Galactic central goverment seems a bit out of date at the end of the 20th century, but that's not really disturbing. Though the book is not quite good as "The Second Foundation", it can be considered as a worthy follow-up.
Rating: Summary: After the trilogy Review: If you read the Foundation Trilogy and anxious about what happened next, get this book as well as Prelude to Foundation, Forward the Foundation, and Foundation and Earth. Also read the robot series connected to Foundation :The Caves of Steel, The Naked Sun, The Robots of Dawn, Robots and Empire.
Rating: Summary: Me/Myself/I enjoyed this book somewhat Review: This book was actually pretty good. Promising beginning and middle. Then out of nowhere comes Gaia (incrediabledumb idead) and in two seconds seldons plan is over. For thos e distraught with the ending read Foundation's Triumph
Rating: Summary: One of Asimov's Best!! An essential Foundation book!! Review: I loved this book! A very "action packed" sequel compared to the previous Foundation books,which got a little "boring" with all of the seemingly endless character dialog in them. The chemistry between the two lead characters is so very readable you will be as interested in them as you are the plot. I can see non-science fiction fans even liking this one! The author also brings into play concepts of "ancient" Earth from his earlier works that take place long before the entire "Foundation" world . Asimov creates a whole "future history" and this book is the essintial that ties it all together. You wont want to put it down!!
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