Foundation and Empire
by Isaac Asimov
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Read in February, 2007
recommends it for:
masochists
I hated Foundation and Empire. I was more forgiving of Foundation when I read it because I was consciously trying to give the series a chance. Slogging through F&E all I could think was, “If nothing an individual does impacts the outcome then why should I care?” Heck, I even basically agree with that statement as a philosophy, but it doesn’t mean I want to be confronted with my universal insignificance in my pleasure reading. Plus, it just gave a futile sense to the whole...more
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As Asimov kept writing Foundation shorts, they kept getting longer. There are actually only two stories in this volume, and the second is significantly longer than the other. For this reason it really dominates the read, and so I'll focus on it.
The whole premise of psychohistory and the Foundation is to use mathematics to predict a macroscopic view future, and then use those predictions to make a macroscopic plan of how to (with some known and less than 100% probability of success) steer t...more
The whole premise of psychohistory and the Foundation is to use mathematics to predict a macroscopic view future, and then use those predictions to make a macroscopic plan of how to (with some known and less than 100% probability of success) steer t...more
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Read in October, 2007
Do not read the back of this book unless you want it spoiled for you. I think I would have liked it more if the "secret" had not been obvious to me all along. This was in large part because of a not so subtle hint on the back of the book. That aside there are a few points of interest I would like to address.
It amazes me that, for all of the other interesting ideas Asimov has about the universe's future, computers are not part of it. People still right things on scraps of paper and...more
It amazes me that, for all of the other interesting ideas Asimov has about the universe's future, computers are not part of it. People still right things on scraps of paper and...more
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Read in October, 2007
Nah..kalo yang di buku ini masih menceritakan bagaimana si foundation tetap berada di perasingannya dan menjadi suatu komunitas yang cukup berpengaruh dalam empire. Tapi karena empire pertama telah runtuh (sesuai dengan ramalan). Maka planet2 mulai berubah sistem kekuasaannya menjadi kerajaan. Planet yang satu bisa menyerang dan menguasai planet yang lain. Sebenernya cukup membingungkan juga karena walaupun begitu masih ada satu emperor yang berpengaruh terhadap semua planet. (???????). Tapi di ...more
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Read in November, 2002
Book 1 of this novel was an effort. The only reason I stuck with it was I had read in other reviews that Book II, The Mule, more than made up for it. Well, 50 pages into The Mule was when it struck me that I really didn't care anymore. So I flew ahead to the last two chapters just to cut to the chase and satisfy my curiousity of The Mule.
So, Asimov was a giant of SF huh? I can see how this series is classic; his vision of humanity's political progressions and cycles are certainly impressive, a...more
So, Asimov was a giant of SF huh? I can see how this series is classic; his vision of humanity's political progressions and cycles are certainly impressive, a...more
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Read in June, 2007
This book is made up of two parts "The General" and "The Mule". The General is an interesting examination of how Seldon's psychohistory enables the survival of the Foundation even against seemingly overwhelming odds.
"The Mule" is an interesting attempt to throw a spanner into the works - an element of the unpredictable in the form of a mutant with special powers resulting in unforeseen consequences to Seldon's plan.
The concept of Psychohistory starts to we...more
"The Mule" is an interesting attempt to throw a spanner into the works - an element of the unpredictable in the form of a mutant with special powers resulting in unforeseen consequences to Seldon's plan.
The concept of Psychohistory starts to we...more
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Read in December, 2007
recommends it for:
Asimov / Foundation / Sci-Fi Fans
A far less political novel than the chronologically preceding Foundation books, this one includes (so far) the biggest epiphany, one that I thought seemed a bit forced and cheap, though it was, after logical explanation from the author, believable. Asimov has a wonderful way of rationally explaining just about anything he wants. I suspect he lost very few arguments in real life.
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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The Foundation happens upon something they can't predict: a genetic eunuch despot they call the Mule. Now I will spoil it for you. He is the innocuous character who follows the others around the whole book and ends up dying in the end.
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Read in January, 1983
"Great" science fiction, for my opinion. Brilliant plot and end, and pushed me to think outside the tiny box that is my head. Left me with a wistful feeling of wanting to explore his universe further.
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Read in January, 2007
MUCH better than Foundation. Another clever epithet is one character's use of the word "unprintable," as in, "You unprintable fool!" I wonder if that was Asimov's idea or his editor's.
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Read in January, 2001
better than foundation, the series gets going. you will have an understanding of the setting, and that makes the characters stronger. the new situations are very interesting.
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Read in March, 2007
recommends it for:
everyone that read the first
not quite as good as the first but still smashing! I was happy to see a female character introduced, really, what's an empire without women? a sad empire, that's what.
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Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
Foundation Series Fans
Wow, another great book in the Foundation series! I really enjoy this series. It really gets your thinking about society and large scale thoughts.
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Read in October, 2007
Not as great as the first book, but I still really enjoyed it. I'll be interested to see how he takes the series after this point.
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Read in July, 2007
recommends it for:
SciFi/Fantasy fans
This is book 4 in a series. I like the story and theory behind it but I will admit that sometimes the writing annoys me slightly.
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Read in January, 1984
A true classic of the old-school science fiction. Anyone who considers themselves a fan of the genre needs to read this.
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Read in January, 2007
A continuation of the first book. Just as good as the first and we get to explore Asimov's universe a little deeper.
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Read in May, 2008
Better than the first one, I think. The story was a bit more engaging, but I still not impressed by the writing.
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Read in November, 2007
It almost lost me near the end, but at the very end it got me back. Now I can't wait for the 3rd one.
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book data (includes all editions)
avg rating (all editions): 3.97 (2284 ratings) avg rating (this edition): 3.96 (1696 ratings) number of reviews: 41popular shelves
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quote
"To a thoughtful biographer, [Ebling Mis's house] was "the symbolization of a retreat from a non-academic reality", a society columnist gushed silkily at its "frightfully masculine atmosphere of careless disorder", a University Ph.D called it brusquely, "bookish, but unorganized", a non-university friend said, "good for a drink anytime and you can put your feet on the sofa", and a breezy newsweekly broadcast, that went in for color, spoke of the "rooky, down-to-earth, no-nonsense living quarters of blaspheming, Leftish, balding Ebling Mis".
To Bayta, who thought of no audience but herself at the moment, and who had the advantage of first-hand information, it was merely sloppy."
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