From the Bookshelf of Reading List Completists…

Foundation (Foundation, #1)

Isaac Asimov

Start date: December 1, 2020

Finish date: December 31, 2020

Discussion: Group Reads

Why we're reading this: December 2020 Completist Selection
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Group Reads

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What Members Thought

Aug 30, 2013 Jason rated it liked it

Shelves: own

The beginning of the decent. The preservation of knowledge to fight ignorance. A review of human history wrapped in science fiction decoupage.

This is a study of macro-psychology, anthropology, politics, religion, statistical analysis, and so much more. An intelligently realized, massively scoped fiction that is also fun to read. Emotionally engaging?... meh, but intelligent and fun none the less. The best analogy I can think of is to compare reading this book to watching the process of a truly The beginning of the decent. The preservation of knowledge to fight ignorance. A review of human history wrapped in science fiction decoupage.

This is a study of macro-psychology, anthropology, politics, religion, statistical analysis, and so much more. An intelligently realized, massively scoped fiction that is also fun to read. Emotionally engaging?... meh, but intelligent and fun none the less. The best analogy I can think of is to compare reading this book to watching the process of a truly magnificent Rube Goldberg Machine doing it's thing - you are amazed by the ingenuity, forethought, and complexity of it all, but perhaps are not all that invested in the actual task it accomplishes (prove me wrong Asimov, make me care, I am committing to reading the first three).

I am going to resist going into the specifics in this case, because I know that I can not describe Psychohistory or delve into the brilliant underpinning themes and analysis without getting sucked into a black hole that will consume my soul at this keyboard - plus so many have done so, brilliantly, and I doubt I have anything to add to the plethora of information and debate that already exists.

Seldon, Hardin, and Mallow are the sequential protagonists of this book and they are fun and likeable, but in an uncomplicated way, they make hard choices and are all playing the long-game, but if there is one thing that irks me it tends to be flat characters. I crave depth and that is not what this book is about, there is not nearly enough time to do so when such an expanse of plot needs to be covered. I do wish there was a bit more of Ponyets, a somewhat minor protagonist who seemed to be clever and pragmatic, but unlike so many others not as interested in the intergalactic far-reaching future. This book in it's need to provide such a large scale and wide scope leaps through time from one crisis to the era of the next, leaving the two-dimensional characters from the prior generation behind.

A fun summer read that will make you think, if not feel. ...more

7 likes · Like · see review

Apr 14, 2018 Melissa added it

Shelves: 2010s, boxall-1000-must-reads, library, time-top-100

I wanted to try this book because it is so renowned for being a classic science fiction novel. I confess I am not a sci-fi aficionado and had low expectations of myself. I read about 20% but just couldn’t get into it. I am sure that any sci-fi reader would love it though. The writing style is great.

7 likes · Like · see review

Apr 02, 2011 Jenbebookish rated it it was ok

Shelves: books-turned-into-movies

To be totally honest, I was 2/3 into the book & I STILL didn't care about the characters. The story just doesn't grab you. ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Feb 01, 2018 Valerie rated it liked it

Shelves: sf-f-bookclub, swordandlaser, z2018sffchallenge

I didn't love this one the way that I have other books by Asimov. It got off to a rather slow start in my opinion, or at the very least it felt a bit dry. I considered lemming it, but pushed on since it is not a long book. I am glad that I did because I felt it got better as it went. However, there was a still a vague sense about it, so I don't think I was ever fully able to gel with it. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review