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3.34 AVERAGE
3.34 AVERAGE
A bit of a slow starter, this is the first of a series of Foundation books authorized by Asimov's estate. But after you get over the idea that it would be written as Asimov would have, you are more free to immerse yourself in the story. And it is worth letting it pick up some steam. Our setting is when Hari Sheldon in just starting to get a handle on psychohistory. There are sims in the form of Voltaire and Joan of Arc , tiktoc rebellions and assassination attempts with a dash of aliens thrown in for variety. Really a good start and can't wait to see where they take this series.
One of the primary issues I encountered was its length. The story meanders through extensive passages, occasionally losing focus and dragging on unnecessarily. This made the pacing feel uneven, hindering the flow of the plot and making it challenging to stay fully engaged throughout.
Additionally, some of the side arcs felt underdeveloped, leaving certain characters with only superficial exploration. As a result, their motives and actions lacked depth, making it difficult to form a strong emotional connection with them. This missed opportunity to fully flesh out the supporting cast dampened the impact of their contributions to the story.
Furthermore, at times, "Foundation's Fear" delved into philosophical themes that seemed overly simplistic and reminiscent of a basic introduction to philosophy. While philosophical elements can enhance a sci-fi narrative, here they felt more like a distraction, diverting attention away from the main plot and reducing the book's potential impact.
Despite these shortcomings, the novel still possesses intriguing moments and carries forward Asimov's vision to some extent. Gregory Benford's attempt to expand upon the Foundation universe is commendable, and some ideas introduced in the story were thought-provoking.
In conclusion, "Foundation's Fear" might appeal to die-hard fans of the Foundation series seeking to explore additional perspectives. However, readers should be prepared for a lengthy read with underdeveloped side arcs and occasional philosophical detours. While it falls short of its full potential, the novel's dedication to the sci-fi legacy keeps it from being entirely forgettable.
Additionally, some of the side arcs felt underdeveloped, leaving certain characters with only superficial exploration. As a result, their motives and actions lacked depth, making it difficult to form a strong emotional connection with them. This missed opportunity to fully flesh out the supporting cast dampened the impact of their contributions to the story.
Furthermore, at times, "Foundation's Fear" delved into philosophical themes that seemed overly simplistic and reminiscent of a basic introduction to philosophy. While philosophical elements can enhance a sci-fi narrative, here they felt more like a distraction, diverting attention away from the main plot and reducing the book's potential impact.
Despite these shortcomings, the novel still possesses intriguing moments and carries forward Asimov's vision to some extent. Gregory Benford's attempt to expand upon the Foundation universe is commendable, and some ideas introduced in the story were thought-provoking.
In conclusion, "Foundation's Fear" might appeal to die-hard fans of the Foundation series seeking to explore additional perspectives. However, readers should be prepared for a lengthy read with underdeveloped side arcs and occasional philosophical detours. While it falls short of its full potential, the novel's dedication to the sci-fi legacy keeps it from being entirely forgettable.
Got the feeling that Gregory Benford really just wanted to write a rather absurd story concerning a love affair between Voltaire and Joan d'Arc. Otherwise, it was OK.
Meh. I love Asimov, Foundation and have enjoyed other Gregory Benford books but this one did nothing for me. I agree with the other negative reviews and won't repeat their words.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book did not age well. VR-type-shenanigans have been done better by a myriad of others, and its also difficult to believe this is thousands of years in the future when the tech described here is a few years away from being commercially available.
So disappointed. Who wouldn't want more of this series to read? Well, skip this book. Too long. Horribly boring tangents with Joan of Arc and Voltaire. Poor writing. Does not live up to the series. It was so bad that I don't think I will read the other two....should I?
I read it - I wasn't really sucked in to the story though. I felt like there were a lot of details - but not the ones I was interested in. Knowing how the general story ends didn't really help draw me in to the "what happens next" aspect of things either.
I found the Joan of Arc and Voltaire parts tedious. I see this book is 20 years old
Not sure how I missed it until now.
Not sure how I missed it until now.
It is far too different from the other foundation novels. I expected a bit of difference in style and other things. However this felt like a completely different type of novel than the previous foundation novels.