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Foundation (Foundation Novels)

Isaac Asimov

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 347 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Foundation marks the first of a series of tales set so far in the future that Earth is all but forgotten by humans who live throughout the galaxy. Yet all is not well with the Galactic Empire. Its vast size is crippling to it. In particular, the administrative planet, honeycombed and tunneled with offices and staff, is vulnerable to attack or breakdown. The only person willing to confront this imminent catastrophe is Hari Seldon, a psychohistorian and mathematician. Seldon can scientifically predict the future, and it doesn't look pretty: a new Dark Age is scheduled to send humanity into barbarism in 500 years. He concocts a scheme to save the knowledge of the race in an Encyclopedia Galactica. But this project will take generations to complete, and who will take up the torch after him? The first Foundation trilogy (Foundation, Foundation and Empire, Second Foundation) won a Hugo Award in 1965 for "Best All-Time Series." It's science fiction on the grand scale; one of the classics of the field. --Brooks Peck

Second Foundation (Foundation Novels)

Isaac Asimov

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 67 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Isaac Asimov's Foundation novels are one of the great masterworks of science fiction. As unsurpassed blend of nonstop action, daring ideas, and extensive world-building, they chronicle the struggle of a courageous group of men and women dedicated to preserving humanity's light in a galaxy plunged into a nightmare of ignorance and violence thirty thousand years long.

After years of struggle, the Foundation lies in ruins—destroyed by the mutant mind power of the Mule. But it is rumored that there is a Second Foundation hidden somewhere at the end of the Galaxy, established to preserve the knowledge of mankind through the long centuries of barbarism. The Mule failed to find it the first time—but now he is certain he knows where it lies.

The fate of the Foundation rests on young Arcadia Darell, only fourteen years old and burdened with a terrible secret. As its scientists gird for a final showdown with the Mule, the survivors of the First Foundation begin their desperate search. They too want the Second Foundation destroyed…before it destroys them.

Foundation and Empire (Foundation Novels)

Isaac Asimov

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 87 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

The Foundation novels of Isaac Asimov are one of the great masterworks of science fiction. Unsurpassed for their unique blend of nonstop action, daring ideas, and extensive world-building, they chronicle the struggle of a courageous group of men and women to preserve humanity’s light against an inexorable tide of darkness and violence.

Led by its founding father, the great psychohistorian Hari Seldon, and taking advantage of its superior science and technology, the Foundation has survived the greed and barbarism of its neighboring warrior-planets. Yet now it must face the Empire—still the mightiest force in the Galaxy even in its death throes. When an ambitious general determined to restore the Empire’s glory turns the vast Imperial fleet toward the Foundation, the only hope for the small planet of scholars and scientists lies in the prophecies of Hari Seldon.

But not even Hari Seldon could have predicted the birth of the extraordinary creature called The Mule—a mutant intelligence with a power greater than a dozen battle fleets…a power that can turn the strongest-willed human into an obedient slave.

I, Robot (The Robot)

Isaac Asimov

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 213 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Great concepts, poor story execution 2 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

As a fan of Asimov's I found this a difficult read. I've loved his Robot series and his Foundation series from cover to cover. But this was a collection of experiments for Asimov, put together ultimately I assume due either to their novelty in the time and day or due to his rising star.

I knew before reading the book that the movie had no relation to it. I had seen the movie a year or two prior and had enjoyed it as a fun romp that understood Asimov's "Three Laws of Robotics," while having lots of great action. So, going in to read the book I had no real expectation. But what I found was that Asimov had obviously written this collection of short stories to help him work through concepts and explore how the laws of robotics though great on paper could still experience problems in real life. At times it is amusing and interesting. But the writing is not as consistent as in his later books, including character actions that are not always true to themselves. Ultimately I don't believe he really intended this for print, though of course as most were written back in the 40's I would presume that the novelty of the concept was enough to make it salable, and these may very well have been his first stories published (I'm not sure) so perhaps it was merely a young writer getting his feet wet.

I wouldn't recommend this book beyond a curiosity, even die hard Asimov fans may not find this to be worth their time, though at least it is short.

Editorial Review:

In this collection, one of the great classics of science fiction, Asimov set out the principles of robot behavior that we know as the Three Laws of Robotics. Here are stories of robots gone mad, mind-reading robots, robots with a sense of humor, robot politicians, and robots who secretly run the world, all told with Asimov's trademark dramatic blend of science fact and science fiction.

Foundation's Edge (Foundation Novels)

Isaac Asimov

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 69 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Not Free SF Reader 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

More than the Foundations?


There may be an as yet undiscovered third leg in the struggle for control, and this leads to a couple of the characters involved searching for Earth.

Not sure there is any real reason to read this if you have read the original Foundation books, but if you are more of a fan you will likely enjoy it, with all the psychohistory, prediction and mind games.

Editorial Review:

At last, the costly and bitter war between the two Foundations had come to an end. The scientists of the First Foundation had proved victorious; and now they retum to Hari Seldon's long-established plan to build a new Empire that the Second Foundation is not destroyed after all-and that its still-defiant survivors are preparing their revenge. Now the two exiled citizens of the Foundation-a renegade Councilman and the doddering historian-set out in search of the mythical planet Earth. . .and proof that the Second Foundation still exists. Meanwhile someone-or something-outside of both Foundations sees to be orchestrating events to suit its own ominous purpose. Soon representatives of both the First and Second Foundations will find themselves racing toward a mysterious world called Gaia and a final shocking destiny at the very end of the universe!

Forward the Foundation (Foundation Novels)

Isaac Asimov

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 53 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Kind of a strange book, but still worth reading 4 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

In terms of Asimov's writing, this is the last work exploring the Foundation; the copyright date is actually after his death. However, in terms of the Foundation chronology, it comes early on in the series of novels exploring the Foundation and Second Foundation. Over the past few months, I have felt a need to go back and reread the Asimov works again (it's been quite awhile since I last read these), and this review is one of the byproducts of that.

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 the Robot series with the Foundation series. In some senses, this represents the apogee of that linkage, as we see in the first part of the novel, "Eto Semerzel." This character is a top advisor to King Cleon I, one of the last competent royals of the already declining Empire. And, oh boy, what a link is revealed in this segment to the Robot series.

There are three other main episodes, one focusing on Cleon himself; one is entitled "Dors Venabili"; the final part is "Wanda Seldon." Then, a very brief epilogue representing Hari Seldon's last moments. The varying parts of this novel are not seamlessly welded together. However, by the end of his career, Asimov was capable of creating characters (compare with the essentially lifeless, cardboard figures of the original Foundation trilogy). As a result, this work is fascinating in that it is also an index of Asimov's growth as a writer. He went from an academic teaching Chemistry (if memory serves) to a pretty skilled author.

Anyhow, the work is not tightly pulled together, but it is fascinating in its character development, its place in the Foundation series, its linking of the Robot series to the Foundation series. Surely not the best of the Foundation series, but one of the most intriguing.

Editorial Review:

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 survival of humanity; Cleon II, the vain and crafty emperor of the Galactic Empire,

Isaac Asimov: The Complete Stories, Vol. 1

Isaac Asimov

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Heck yeah! 5 out of 5 stars.
9 of 9 people found this review helpful.

This is a GREAT collection of short stories by Isaac Asimov, one of the best science-fiction short-story writer ever. It contains over forty of his best works, including Nightfall and the Ugly Little Boy. The book itself is pretty big, with nice-sized font. Overall, a nice, sturdy copy of awesome short-stories. A must for an Isaac Asimov fan.

Old, but still very good 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 12 people found this review helpful.

The worst part: Some of the stories in this volume are old, and you can tell that without looking at the published date. There are a significant number of them about the "future" where large companies have an entire computer of their own, or use jargon that is outdated.

Saying that, they are unlikely to seem any older in another 50 years and only a few of the stories are harmed due to the oldness (and those that are can just be ignored -- there are a LOT of stories here).

On the very positive side, there are a lot of stories that could have been written yesterday and are VERY GOOD (5 out of 5) ... and probably 90% are at least GOOD (4-5 out of 5).

Editorial Review:

The first book of the definitive three-volume collection of short stories by the prolific Isaac Asimov, whose tales have delighted countless fans for over half a century--a must for every science fiction bookshelf.

Prelude to Foundation (Foundation Novels)

Isaac Asimov

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 115 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Overrated 1 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I wanted a good Sci-Fi book or fantasy book. I remember the Xanth series, John Carter of Mars books, but this was rediculously dull. If I hate a book half way I'll stop reading it, which I did. It seemed like a story about a scientist running away from agents of a leader who were trying to kill him. He wanders around on a top of a dome for several pages and I told myself, that's it. I'm done. I'm sure Asimov has done well for himself with the other books, but this one seemed like he was just trying to stretch out a story way too long.

Editorial Review:

It is the year 12,020 G.E. and Emperor Cleon I sits uneasily on the Imperial throne of Trantor. Here in the great multidomed capital of the Galactic Empire, forty billion people have created a civilization of unimaginable technological and cultural complexity. Yet Cleon knows there are those who would see him fall - those whom he would destroy if only he could read the future.

Hari Seldon has come to Trantor to deliver his paper on psychohistory, his remarkable theory of prediction. Little does the young Outworld mathematician know that he has already sealed his fate and the fate of humanity. For Hari possesses the prophetic power that makes him the most wanted man in the Empire... the man who holds the key to the future - an apocalyptic power to be know forever after as the Foundation.

Pebble in the Sky

Isaac Asimov

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 32 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A satisfactory read for Asimov fans 3 out of 5 stars.
2 of 4 people found this review helpful.

This is the third novel in what Asimov fans sometimes call his "Empire" series (the other two being "The Currents of Space" and "The Stars, Like Dust). This novel takes place on Earth, shortly after the establishment of the full Galactic Empire, which has its capital on the distant planet of Trantor.

Earth is a backwater in the Empire. It is radioactive--the legacy of some ancient atomic catastrophe. Earthmen are the subject of prejudice by other planets in the Empire, who believe that Earth's people are radioactive, eccentric, and unclean. Most of humanity has, in fact, forgotten that Earth is the original home of humanity.

This novel is centered on a human being of the 20th century who is transported in time to the Galactic Era, and through an unlikely mishap then becomes the object of experimentation--which experimentation causes him to acquire "wild talent" mental powers.

Personally, I thought that this might have been a better novel had the great Asimov left out the time travel and "wild talent" elements to the story, and simply made this another one of his excellent suspense-Sci Fi novels. But Asimov did not check in with me when he designed his plots, and in fact this novel is quite readable, the plot moves along smartly, and the story holds the reader's interest. Asimov's speculations about the nature of planet Earth, and of the Empire, in the context of the assumed facts he presents are quite interesting. Further, this novel has an interesting plot (no spoilers here) which stands very well on its own, and keeps the reader in suspense.

Not Asimov's greatest work, by far, but certainly a novel to be enjoyed by all of his many fans.

Editorial Review:

One moment Joseph Schwartz is a happily retired tailor in Chicago, 1949. The next he's a helpless stranger on Earth during the heyday of the first Galactic Empire.

Earth, as he soon learns, is a backwater, just a pebble in the sky, despised by all the other 200 million planets of the Empire because its people dare to claim it's the original home of man. And Earth is poor, with great areas of radioactivity ruining much of its soil--so poor that everyone is sentenced to death at the age of sixty.

Joseph Schwartz is sixty-two.

This is young Isaac Asimov's first novel, full of wonders and ideas, the book that launched the novels of the Galactic Empire, culminating in the Foundation series. This is Golden Age SF at its finest.

The Gods Themselves

Isaac Asimov

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 79 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

read for the middle section only 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Aliens in film and literature tend to be highly anthropomorphized. They are usually humanoid, or else they resemble some form of earth life, like insects or lizards. In this book, Asimov gives us aliens who are really alien. There is nothing cliche about their body type, their life cycle, their culture, or their motivations. The only thing familiar about them is their emotions, and I think that makes sense. If readers can't understand why the characters do what they do, then the book would fail completely.

Even better is that the aliens are not treated as "others" viewed from a human perspective. There are no human characters in the middle section. The action is therefore seen from the aliens own point of view. Everything makes sense to them, so things aren't explained as if they were unusual. This makes it difficult to understand the aliens at first, because their culture is shown from an insider's perspective. Things slowly get clearer as their relationships, their desires, and even their gestures, become more familiar and begin to make sense.

This is the most original, inventive treatment of intelligent alien life I've ever encountered. If you must, read only the middle section of the book to understand why it is so special. The rest is standard Asimov fare: a sort of interesting premise, but written in a style drier than dust.

Editorial Review:

Winner of the Hugo Award and Nebula Award.