Valerie's review
The Foundation Trilogy
by Isaac Asimov
I love that this shows up right above 'Lover Enshrined' on my homepage for what you've marked to read. I just love that.
I know - I'm so complex, huh? I thought about adding The Brothers Karamavoz, too. That probably would have blown your mind.
Still, Val? still reading?
I think I've only read about ten pages of it this week, but I guess that counts as a yes. At this rate, I'll be finished with it in a couple of years.
Well, this book does have an initial hump that needs to be gotten by. I would guess it was about 1/3 of the way through the first "book." Hopefully that's where you still are!
No such luck. I'm almost done the first book - I'm at the part where the traders have just been introduced as the main characters (for the moment, anyway). I actually think they're the most interesting part of the story so far, mostly because I think I'm trying to picture them as Han Solo-like characters cruising around the inter-galactic empire in the Millenium Falcon.
I know someone who couldn't read it - so don't feel bad. (It does seem to do well with other Goodread readers, however.)
Sure Bob, throw the other GoodReads readers right in my face, why don't you?!
Who did you know that couldn't read it? Can you let me know, because I think I'm going to send them an invitation to join GoodReads :)
I think the person's name was G. Bush. ( There weren't enough pictures!!) (And I know you have a newfound interest in picture books too!! :) )
I think I know who you're talking about, but I didn't quite know how to get in touch with him, so I was wondering if you could pass this message along to him for me (since you're "friends"):
Dear G. Bush,
I used to think you were a big chucklehead, but since I heard from my brother, Bob, that you also had trouble with The Foundation Trilogy, I've changed my opinion. I'll bet that you, like me, were wondering why this book didn't have ONE dang lady in it. And I'm sure, like me, that you were a little disappointed that Chewbacca never showed up. I wouldn't be surprised, G., if this book is the reason you just up and quit on books and turned to the booze. Anyway, if you want to talk about it, give me a call. My brother can give you my number.
That should about do it. I was hoping that the person who hadn't been able to read it might be B.A., so that we'd have something to commiserate about the next time I stopped by, but I'll take G. Bush. It sure would explain why he's been messing up the country so badly - he's obviously distracted because he's busy trying to keep all the Foundation characters straight in his head :)
P.S. If I get you for the name exchange next holiday, you are so getting a big box of picture books.
Just to set the record straight, there are at least several main character women (Bayta, Arkady) - but you do have to make it past the first book.
I will try to pass your message on to G.
Don't you think it's time to change who will be drawing names this year?
No such luck on the name draw, Bob.
Yesterday, I read ten more pages of TFT. Then I took an inadvertent nap.
:)
Thanks. I might actually try to read 2001: A Space Odyssey (on your Clarke recommendation). Do you think that's an easier read than this one?
wow Val, I'm confused just reading your review. But kudos on the attempt!
Valerie's review
The Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov
Valerie's review
rating:
I have to admit that I was only able to get through the first book of The Foundation Trilogy: Foundation.
This novel was not for me. It's obviously a highly revered, acclaimed novel in the science fiction genre - some say the BEST in the genre - and maybe it was too lofty a goal for my first sci-fi book.
On the plus side, I thought Asimov's ideas of what the future might be like were interesting: the study and application of psychohistory (using mathematics to predict how large numbers of people will act, thus being able - in a sense - to predict the future), and the over-development of planets and loss of their resources.
On the negative side, I found it difficult to keep the characters straight. Because the book takes place over the course of many years, the characters change frequently as each generation gives way to the next. No one who is present at the beginning of the novel is there at the end (although I suppose it's possible that Hari Seldom may continue to return in ...more
This novel was not for me. It's obviously a highly revered, acclaimed novel in the science fiction genre - some say the BEST in the genre - and maybe it was too lofty a goal for my first sci-fi book.
On the plus side, I thought Asimov's ideas of what the future might be like were interesting: the study and application of psychohistory (using mathematics to predict how large numbers of people will act, thus being able - in a sense - to predict the future), and the over-development of planets and loss of their resources.
On the negative side, I found it difficult to keep the characters straight. Because the book takes place over the course of many years, the characters change frequently as each generation gives way to the next. No one who is present at the beginning of the novel is there at the end (although I suppose it's possible that Hari Seldom may continue to return in ...more
I love that this shows up right above 'Lover Enshrined' on my homepage for what you've marked to read. I just love that.
I know - I'm so complex, huh? I thought about adding The Brothers Karamavoz, too. That probably would have blown your mind.
Still, Val? still reading?
I think I've only read about ten pages of it this week, but I guess that counts as a yes. At this rate, I'll be finished with it in a couple of years.
Well, this book does have an initial hump that needs to be gotten by. I would guess it was about 1/3 of the way through the first "book." Hopefully that's where you still are!
No such luck. I'm almost done the first book - I'm at the part where the traders have just been introduced as the main characters (for the moment, anyway). I actually think they're the most interesting part of the story so far, mostly because I think I'm trying to picture them as Han Solo-like characters cruising around the inter-galactic empire in the Millenium Falcon.
I know someone who couldn't read it - so don't feel bad. (It does seem to do well with other Goodread readers, however.)
Sure Bob, throw the other GoodReads readers right in my face, why don't you?!Who did you know that couldn't read it? Can you let me know, because I think I'm going to send them an invitation to join GoodReads :)
I think the person's name was G. Bush. ( There weren't enough pictures!!) (And I know you have a newfound interest in picture books too!! :) )
I think I know who you're talking about, but I didn't quite know how to get in touch with him, so I was wondering if you could pass this message along to him for me (since you're "friends"):
Dear G. Bush,
I used to think you were a big chucklehead, but since I heard from my brother, Bob, that you also had trouble with The Foundation Trilogy, I've changed my opinion. I'll bet that you, like me, were wondering why this book didn't have ONE dang lady in it. And I'm sure, like me, that you were a little disappointed that Chewbacca never showed up. I wouldn't be surprised, G., if this book is the reason you just up and quit on books and turned to the booze. Anyway, if you want to talk about it, give me a call. My brother can give you my number.
That should about do it. I was hoping that the person who hadn't been able to read it might be B.A., so that we'd have something to commiserate about the next time I stopped by, but I'll take G. Bush. It sure would explain why he's been messing up the country so badly - he's obviously distracted because he's busy trying to keep all the Foundation characters straight in his head :)
P.S. If I get you for the name exchange next holiday, you are so getting a big box of picture books.
Just to set the record straight, there are at least several main character women (Bayta, Arkady) - but you do have to make it past the first book.I will try to pass your message on to G.
Don't you think it's time to change who will be drawing names this year?
No such luck on the name draw, Bob.Yesterday, I read ten more pages of TFT. Then I took an inadvertent nap.
:)
Thanks. I might actually try to read 2001: A Space Odyssey (on your Clarke recommendation). Do you think that's an easier read than this one?
wow Val, I'm confused just reading your review. But kudos on the attempt!
