Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6830 in Books
• Published on: 1994-03-28
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

Synopsis
The second volume in the "Foundation" saga. Catastrophic events unfold as predicted by Hari Seldon. The First Galactic Empire is crumbling at its centre; conflict rages at its periphery, where the Traders of the Foundation based on Terminus have become a mighty power.

Customer Reviews

Its the original "Empire strikes Back"
If you consider Star Wars as George Lucas's answer to Asmiov's "Foundation" then this is very much in the mode of Episode V. Asimov spent the first book building up his psychohistory paradigm just to knock it down in Foundation and Empire. A much darker and more intense book, downbeat in mood, and leading to the inevitable conclusion in Second Foundation.

An absolute classic from a classic of a series
Asimov is probably the best science fiction writer to date, and the foundation series is in my opinion his finest series of books. Any science fiction fan in my opinion will love the entire foundation series including this book.

Subtle Story Development Can Lull You into Stalled Thinking
Ultimately, the hardest decision about the Foundation books is to decide the order in which to read them. Maybe I'm being ridiculous, but I think you will enjoy them more if you read them in the order they were written. If so, this is the second book. If you have not yet read Foundation, then you need to go back and do so before tackling this one.

Your other choice is to read the prequels first, then go onto Foundation. In that case, this is the fourth book you should read.

Whichever choice you make, don't read this book first.

On the surface, Foundation and Empire will seem like an uninspired playing out of Hari Seldon's vision for the future. Ah! But there's much more happening, so pay attention. When you get to the end of the book, you may find you have missed the mainstream and will have to go back. Don't worry, almost everyone has that reaction.

Asimov is a brilliant conceptual writer, but not someone who slaved over every word (in fact, he was famous for writing most of his many books in only 1 or 2 drafts, with little editing after that). This book begins to develop the full Foundation concept in all of its stunning beauty.

In many ways, you will be reading this book from the eyes of the first Foundation. But that's the unimportant one. The real action is with the second Foundation. Be sure to keep that in mind.

When you meet the Mule, don't think of him as an aberration but rather as an extension of today's potential. That will make the book more interesting for you.

Many people find this book to be the least interesting one of the Foundation series. Let me warn you that reading this one will greatly increase your pleasure in the following books beginning with the Second Foundation (which is your next pleasant reading assignment).

Enjoy this irresistible series!