Rating: 
Summary: This was a longer read than all Isaac's works combined
Review: I have read essentially all of Asimov's fantasy, science fiction and nonfiction works, and I never labored to finish a single one. I wish I could say the same about this effort. The editor did Mr. Benford (and the readers) a disservice by not redlining out at least 200 pages. If Hari Seldon had truly taken as long to reach obvious conclusions as depicted in this novel, the Empire would have collapsed and been reborn before psychohistory was ready (and Hober Mallow would have long since run out of cigars). On its own merit, I might have rated this as two stars. It gets a one-star penalty when viewed in an Asimovian context.
Rating: 
Summary: Expertly written addition to Foundation lore
Review: I was worried as I started this book, having read all of the Foundation and Robot novels in the past. As I began this journey into Seldon's Trantor, I reveled in the marvelous manner that Benford described the moods and the feel of this world and time. I loved the Joan and Voltaire sections and the dialogue that ensued, as well as the Pan adventure and conclusions drawn from this. I can't wait to start the next book and wait (hopefully not long) for the third !!
Rating:
Summary: A book in the true tradition of the master
Review: This book is a great tribute to the foundation series. It fits in well with the original series and updates it for a noew generation of readers. I belive the style fits well with that of Asimov. The story line answers many of the long standing questions, which one can only speculate from the original series. I would classify it as a must read for any true fan of the Foundation series.
Rating: 
Summary: Remember... It's the Story Stupid!
Review: I'll start off with a little bit of blasphemy. I really didn't like the original Foundation Series. The writing was boring and nothing really ever happens. And then came Gaia............... So, when I heard that three of my favorite current SF writers were going to create a new Foundation Series, I was hoping for something. Unfortunately, Benford's book stinks! (I'm following the rules for Amazon reviews here!) Hari Seldon has nothing to do. He's running from assissination attempts, but at no time did I believe that the reason for any of the attempts was plausible. Not only was there no good reason, Seldon is not interested in the post of First Minister, but how could such a heavily fortified Emperor's Palace be the place where two non-Emperor attempts on Seldon's life take place. Just not plausible. And then there's the Pan's (BIG YAWN HERE). Voltaire and Joan of Arc are pointless. Most of the passages written for their characters are confusing and poorly written. I only finished the book because I'm hoping that the other two contributors can save the series.
Rating:
Summary: Doesn't live up to the original trilogy AT ALL.
Review: Sorry, but what in the world was the point of Joan of Arc and Voltaire??? Everytime they came into the picture, I basically skipped over the chapter. Their entire place in the book was over my head completely. The story would have been about 5 times better if they had just been left out of the story altogether. And Hari and Dors immitating or "immersing" into chimpanzees??? Come on! Not only that, but there was even an assasination attempt on them when they were in chimp form. PLEASE! Aren't there easier ways to kill someone?? Hari even has a sword fight with another monkey-type being while trying to escape!! CHEESE anyone?
They go back to Trantor and suddenly realize they must escape the planet again. They "tour" the centre of the galaxy only go back to Trantor in the end...what??? What was the purpose of that???
25 million worlds, and they HAD to go back to the same old snake pit??
And, yes, I've also read Timescape by Benford as well, and I didn't think too much of that book either...too long winded...and BORING.
Asimov's original trilogy maybe wasn't as "intellectual", but it was certainly a lot more ENTERTAINING. And that's what counts in the end, EH?
I gave this one a 2 because some SMALL parts were kinda okay....the ones involving Daneel most notably...
Rating: 
Summary: The sequel is never as good...but this one comes close.
Review: I've read a LOT of Asimov, not just Sci-Fi, but nearly everything he's written. Since "Foundation's Fear" I've tried to read more of Benford's works as well. While I did not enjoy this work as much as the Robot series or the Empire series, this is at least a decent start to what could be a interesting sequel. My view is this, if you like the idea of Foundation or Asimov's original concept of it, this is an excellent book to add to your library. R. Daneel Olivaw was always my favorite character, since the early days in "Stars Like Dust" or "Naked Sun," and I was really glad to have him back. It seemed that Asimov's vision left a lot to be asked, very large holes could be seen even by mere mortals like myself. I found that while the writting style was a little too conversational for my tastes, it did fill a nice gap in the Foundation history. It focused on a certain time instead of leaping millenia into the future. I only hope the 2nd and 3rd books are as good.
Rating:
Summary: Not bad on its own... but
Review: This itself is a great epic story, focusing on Hari Seldon's early life. He is a First Minister for Cleon I (ironic because under Cleon II, his cohorts are expelled in the original Foundation). With a little help from R. Daneel Olivaw, he discovers the science called psychohistory. Personally, I like it a lot, and this series should continue. It gives more background info on Dr. Seldon and his work. However, I agree with most other reviewers here in that it's time for short stories of the Foundation to start again. (A few of the first Empire and of Daneel's efforts to build it wouldn't hurt. Plus, could that other strange robot, Caliban, be brought into the conflict???) Lots of potential exists in the series for exploitation, and personally, I wish I had an agent (and a big enough reputation) to continue the Foundation unto the Second Stage, immediately following Second Foundation with the post-Empire Galaxy.
Rating:
Summary: A tough read and Asimov wouldn't have written it.
Review: Isaac Asimov would not have had to explain Hari Seldon or Dors Venabali, his text would have done that for him. This was not an easy read. I have enjoyed Isaac Asimov's writings for many years having been initiated by my father who took up reading Asimov's works from the 1940'S. My first book was "Foundation and Earth" and from there was addicted. These books made sense as Isaac Asimov wrote with easy prose, not he said, she said, they did. Books that were written, using Asimov's name after his death, are mere stories by amateurish wannabes. Regretfully, no one can imitate his style and description.
Rating:
Summary: A waste of paper. An excuse for cyber-babble at its worst.
Review: What a complete disappointment. Instead of a true expansion of Asimov's Foundation universe, Benford gives us a token amount of Hari Seldon while going off the deep end into Imperial yuppies playing sex, drug and power games. Even worse, the yuppies are only a mechanism to introduce us to 20,000 year old cyber recreations of Voltair and Joan of Arc, who seem to be in some kind of menage a trois with a robot waiter that has a crush on a blonde cook. And somewhere in this mess he drags in giant worms ala Dune. I had to give up after wading through the first third, which is almos unheard of for me.
Rating: 
Summary: Oh Isaac! We miss you so much
Review: Well... nice try Gregory. It would have been a totally different picture if you had ommitted the dreadfull line: "foundation... there's an idea" Trying to fill the gaps in Asimov's monumental work is a big task. You don't necesary have to try to imitate the original writing style for every book has portrayed already different Asimovs. Just focus on the storyline, what made the saga so good in the first place. Otherwise, it's allways good to hear something more from Hari and Daneel.
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