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207th out of 879 books
—
900 voters
Forward the Foundation (Foundation (Chronological Order) Prequel 2)
by
Isaac Asimov
A stunning testament to his creative genius. Forward The Foundation is a the saga's dramatic climax -- the story Asimov fans have been waiting for. An exciting tale of danger, intrigue, and suspense, Forward The Foundation brings to vivid life Asimov's best loved characters: hero Hari Seldon, who struggles to perfect his revolutionary theory of psychohistory to ensure the...more
Paperback, 464 pages
Published
February 1st 1994
by Bantam/Spectra
(first published 1993)
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A fantastic prequel to the book "Foundation" and the original Foundation series. This is the second prequel taking place after Prelude To Foundation and before Foundation. This book is similar to "Prelude" and for a comparison between "Forward" and the original Foundation series please read my review of "Prelude". Forward the Foundation tells the history of Hari Seldon's life during his development of psychohistory. It goes beyond the initial announcement of his theory and his "flight" to escape...more
What to say about this book ... well, I believe that Asimov was masterfully transitioning between the spectacular story telling in Prelude to Foundation and the more stilted, episodic story telling of Foundation. If that were not the case, then I'd be forced to confront a not-as-well-written novel with disappointment.
Forward the Foundation (Foundation: Prequel, #2) is supposed to tell the story of the actual formation of the mathematical discipline psychohistory. It tells a story, but not of tha...more
Forward the Foundation (Foundation: Prequel, #2) is supposed to tell the story of the actual formation of the mathematical discipline psychohistory. It tells a story, but not of tha...more
Mar 23, 2013
Eric
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Eric by:
Those reading the entire series
Shelves:
sci-fi
The critical reviews of this book are astounding.
"The breathtaking conclusion to the greatest science fiction epic of all time" is a strange thing to say about a book that serves as a second prequel...and not the last of the series either.
"The Foundation series has enthralled readers for more than 40 years, and this work is a dramatic climax." Again, for a prequel, and, frankly, it's not particularly dramatic.
"A moving valedictory performance..." which means...I'm not sure what...
Little known f...more
"The breathtaking conclusion to the greatest science fiction epic of all time" is a strange thing to say about a book that serves as a second prequel...and not the last of the series either.
"The Foundation series has enthralled readers for more than 40 years, and this work is a dramatic climax." Again, for a prequel, and, frankly, it's not particularly dramatic.
"A moving valedictory performance..." which means...I'm not sure what...
Little known f...more
After reading the awful "Foundation and Earth," I was highly skeptical about Asimov's prequel novels, "Prelude to Foundation" and "Forward the Foundation," which he wrote toward the tail end of his career and life.I was skeptical because, chronologically, he ended the series so terribly with "Foundation and Earth," which was overly long and left the reader furiously hanging. It's entirely inconclusive about the future of mankind and the Foundation, and it just doesn't work. It's a overlly wordy,...more
Isaac Asimov's "Foundation" series is considered to be one of the best sci-fi series ever written. That is perhaps a matter of personal opinion, but it is clear that Asimov has staying power based on the popularity of his books, roughly sixty years after many of them were published. "Forward the Foundation" is actually, in terms of the storyline's chronology, the second book in the series, a sequel to "Prelude to Foundation" and the book leading in to "Foundation", but it was actually the most r...more
The serial format of the book was less polished and less appealing to me than Prelude to Foundation. The author does a good job of conveying the sense of overall deterioration throughout the galaxy in general and in the life of the hero in particular. I enjoyed the continued development of the characters, and I continued to find them lovable.
The book suffers from problems I've observed before in prequels. Much of the audience already knows the end because it's where the original book (in this ca...more
The book suffers from problems I've observed before in prequels. Much of the audience already knows the end because it's where the original book (in this ca...more
I remember reading the original Foundation trilogy in the 70s, followed (or possibly preceded) by listening to Hari Seldon's vision as recounted in the BBC radio dramatisation. I wasn't totally convinced by Asimov's psychohistory plot device then, but accepted that this was a reflection of a growing tendency to try to more accurately predict what was coming up in the future, whether in the markets, in technological or manufacturing trends or in developments in popular culture. Mix in some mathem...more
In terms of Asimov's writing, this is the last work exploring the Foundation; the copyright date is actually after his death. As some have noted, there is something of a contradiction here. By the time the Foundation series ends (with "Foundation and Earth"), the Foundation is kaput in terms of the future, and Galaxia is to take its place. So, to make his last novel a Hari Seldon novel is a bit strange. Still and all, though, this is a fascinating novel.
There are a couple other books that link t...more
There are a couple other books that link t...more
Just finished reading Forward the Foundation and I honestly don't recall reading it previously, which makes me wonder if my memory is on the fritz. I had a copy for Nook and the OCR job on it was rather dismal. Still, it was readable. Then around page 320 or so, ending a dramatic section I turn the page and I'm back about 120 pages starting all over again. Talk about confused. It was about 120 pages later I come to the last few pages of the novel. Seems like the story ended with those last few p...more
This book is really five short stories highlighting portions of Seldon's life. It is well-written, highly consistent, and moves fluidly.
While the main focus is on the trials and tribulations of psychohistory, there are glimpses at Seldon's humanity. He worries about dying and losing those closest to him. He feels age begin to wear on his body, making him slower and more dependent on others. He fails and makes mistakes. This full characterization of Seldon makes him into someone the reader would...more
While the main focus is on the trials and tribulations of psychohistory, there are glimpses at Seldon's humanity. He worries about dying and losing those closest to him. He feels age begin to wear on his body, making him slower and more dependent on others. He fails and makes mistakes. This full characterization of Seldon makes him into someone the reader would...more
This was the last novel Isaac Asimov completed before his death in 1992, and it is pervaded by an undercurrent of mortality. Not only does this volume tie up most of the remaining loose ends in the sporadic Foundation series, but by focusing on the latter half of Hari Seldon's life, it provides Asimov with a platform for expressing his own views on growing older.
There is a very clear progression in Asimov's writing style over the years. Although he never entirely overcame his fundamental geekine...more
There is a very clear progression in Asimov's writing style over the years. Although he never entirely overcame his fundamental geekine...more
This book continues the fluffy prelude of the foundation story. Like "Prelude" it provides some fun filler and entertaining stories to show how the theories we see in the Foundation stories have their beginnings. This book helps to show how psycohistory isn't so much a prediction of the future as it is an evolution of the most likely and desirable course for history to take.
I love the books but do not think they are high literature. They provide a nice link and give a human side to the persona...more
I love the books but do not think they are high literature. They provide a nice link and give a human side to the persona...more
A long time ago I was a big fan of the Foundation trilogy, as well as the follow up Foundation edge. When the first prequel was out (Prelude to Foundation) I jumped on this book, because I thought this would be the book where we learn about the events leading to the origins of Foundation serie. I was severely disappointed, so much so that I did not bother with the other prequel, Forward. But recently I reread the trilogy and after reading a few reviews here I decided to give a try to Forward the...more
Well, I'm trying to read Foundation in the order Asimov suggests, so that makes this the second one I've read. It was decent, readable.. I was really disappointed that Daneel was only in the first fourth though ;_; still, the rest was easy to get through and interesting.. I know it sets up for his original trilogy which gets such strong reviews that I'm really curious what it is like. It was weird being jerked around in time so often, ten years here, ten years there, but I can see that it was ne...more
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This is actually the second prequel to the Foundation Trilogy, and the last book Asimov wrote (see the Author's note in Prelude to Foundation for the chronology of the series vs. when actually penned).
As I read 'Prelude' first, and got accustomed to the later writing style of Asimov before getting to the Foundation Trilogy, it was easy for me to rejoin Hari, Dors, and Raych. The book is separated in sections by character focus, similar to others of the series. Each section jumps forward in time,...more
As I read 'Prelude' first, and got accustomed to the later writing style of Asimov before getting to the Foundation Trilogy, it was easy for me to rejoin Hari, Dors, and Raych. The book is separated in sections by character focus, similar to others of the series. Each section jumps forward in time,...more
Fascinating book.
Somehow it combines sci-fi world and all what belongs to it (tremendous distances, wonderful devices, enormous changes in everyday life) and feeling and emotions of people who devote themself to something very important for whole mankind. Yet, these people know that will never see final result. They continue to work and fight for idea. Of course there are many books about fighting for idea. But I never, ever read so detailed and deep analysis of emotions people who can lose ever...more
Somehow it combines sci-fi world and all what belongs to it (tremendous distances, wonderful devices, enormous changes in everyday life) and feeling and emotions of people who devote themself to something very important for whole mankind. Yet, these people know that will never see final result. They continue to work and fight for idea. Of course there are many books about fighting for idea. But I never, ever read so detailed and deep analysis of emotions people who can lose ever...more
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The second prequel in the foundation series and probably the last novel written by Asimov, maybe that explains why he was so comfortable handling emotions here. This one is more of an emotional read than a sci-fi one. The story gets sadder and sadder by the minute, especially in the latter half, with death after death thrown in. This prequel picks off Hari from the Prelude and concludes with his death in his old age. It also shows the developments in psycho history, the mad scramble to power amo...more
A story much thicker with intricate details of politics of all kinds, Forward the Foundation lacks the fantastic stuff Asimov showed us in Prelude to Foundation. No more awesome technologies, no more exotic places and no more strange customs. And yet, the story is riveting, at least... interesting enough.
To sum it up, with a few emissions here and a few alterations there, this could easily pass off as some non science fiction novel.
The story spans quite huge time period compared to that of Prelu...more
To sum it up, with a few emissions here and a few alterations there, this could easily pass off as some non science fiction novel.
The story spans quite huge time period compared to that of Prelu...more
I wasn't as impressed with this book compared to Prelude to Foundation. I found a lot of this book to be disjointed and jumped around quite a bit. It felt like it was a way to get all of the information out that needed to be answered for the foundation series. It was more like a collection of novellas then a single cohesive book. Of course, that is how it was originally written, but I would have like to see fewer massive jumps in the book.
That said, the writing was still very engaging, and I enj...more
That said, the writing was still very engaging, and I enj...more
Great details of Hari Seldon's life, as well as fun nerdy details on how the Second Foundation gets rolling. But the real pleasure is in the cuts of Seldon's life at 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80. Watching him struggle with money problems, government bureaucracy, inter-departmental politics and following the fates of all the characters who have to be swept off the stage by the time we end up at the original trilogy's beginning. Nice sense of the reality of the failing body and mind and how others regard...more
Personally, prequels are not my favorites. It is hard to maintain the necessary tension when certain things are obviously known. Yes, I found myself wondering HOW certain things would work out, but obviously knew they would. I would say that overall I enjoyed it despite that, but how much of that is just because I'm I completist I couldn't say. Also, in the previous prequel it was noted that Hari had some martial training, but little was made of it beyond that. In this one, Asimov had apparently...more
This wasn't the best of the series, but it's a fun read. If you're new to the series, don't start here. Go back to Foundation.
Fans who haven't read it will love the insights on the 2nd Foundation, the surprising amount of action and strong plot, and finally an explanation on how the 2nd Foundation really came to be.
People call Asimov's characters robots, but I still say they're wrong. I used to think so too, but this book is perhaps Asimov's best answer to those criticisms. I really felt like I...more
Fans who haven't read it will love the insights on the 2nd Foundation, the surprising amount of action and strong plot, and finally an explanation on how the 2nd Foundation really came to be.
People call Asimov's characters robots, but I still say they're wrong. I used to think so too, but this book is perhaps Asimov's best answer to those criticisms. I really felt like I...more
My goal was to read the series in the chronological order rather than the order in which they were published. I read the first, then accidentally read the third. I actually didn't realize I had skipped the second until I looked it up. I knew there was a big jump between the Prelude and The Foundation, but I figured Asimov wanted to hurry through the millennia of dark ages. I remember I was saddened that there was no real closure to Hari Seldon's life and story, so I was delighted to learn that t...more
• When I looked at some of the reviews on Amazon when I ordered this book it said that this was in some way an autobiographical account of Asimov’s life. Now, I will fully admit that I don’t know much about his life, but I doubt it was this dramatic. Asimov was the most prolific writer in the 20th century, and maybe ever. I’m sure that his accomplishments were many and important. The character that is supposed to represent him, though, literally saves civilization for an entire galaxy. I think t...more
I FINISHED THE SERIES!!!!! I can now say that I have read Asimov. Prelude and Forward the Foundation were pages turners for me, the other four books were a bit harder to wade through. Science-fiction is not generally my genre of choice, but I am glad to have read the books. Upon closing the las t book, I am left with many questions. I've considered reading Asimov's other series' to see if I get answers, but I'm not dedicating another couple of months to sci-fi for quite awhile!
Ok ... So apparent...more
Ok ... So apparent...more
The worst of the Foundation novels, and possibly Asimov's worst novel. This was the last book he wrote before he died, and was released only after his death. It seems that for this book, he forgot about consistency or good writing, and just wrote what he felt like. I suppose he'd earned it.
For all that, it's not awful. It just doesn't really fit in with the rest of the canon. At that, I think it's better than some of the Foundation books that other authors have written (Foundation's Fear comes t...more
For all that, it's not awful. It just doesn't really fit in with the rest of the canon. At that, I think it's better than some of the Foundation books that other authors have written (Foundation's Fear comes t...more
This is the first book in the Foundation "trilogy", which is actually four books. This particular book was written years after the original trilogy was finished, mainly to provide readers with more background to the story. In fact, I think this is one of the last books that Asimov wrote before he died. Anyway, most of the book was very well written and fun to read, but you could tell by the end that Asimov just wanted to get it over with. All the surprise was gone, and the ways he went about tyi...more
This is the last, and in my opinion, one of the best novels written by the author. It tells the life story of the pivotal character of Asimov's "Foundation" series, Hari Seldon, who lives at the heart of a galactic empire about to enter into a period of great decline. Asimov presents this character in such a strong and compelling way; in part because of his lifetime of writing experience, but also because in many ways Seldon is his alter ego. I felt a lot of emotion as I read this final novel by...more
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Isaac Asimov was a Russian-born, American author, a professor of biochemistry, and a highly successful writer, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books.
Professor Asimov is generally considered the most prolific writer of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000 letters and postcards. He has works published in nine of the te...more
More about Isaac Asimov...
Professor Asimov is generally considered the most prolific writer of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000 letters and postcards. He has works published in nine of the te...more
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“Goodbye, Hari, my love. Remember always--all you did for me.”
-I did nothing for you.”
-You loved me and your love made me--human.”
—
10 people liked it
-I did nothing for you.”
-You loved me and your love made me--human.”
“Intuition is the art, peculiar to the human mind, of working out the correct answer from data that is, in itself, incomplete or even, perhaps, misleading.”
—
5 people liked it
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Mar 11, 2013 08:38pm