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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
I didn't dislike this book, but it didn't feel essential to the Foundation saga as a whole. Although the book comes together by the end, I felt as though the descriptions of location and society were sometimes overly drawn out and detracted from the pace of the narrative (even given the importance of studying distinct societies to the protagonist's development of psychohistory).
The book also seemed to have been written largely to tie together Asimov's Foundation and Robot series. I don't mind the connection, but the story needed more that this connection to justify itself.
As a fun and quick sci-fi adventure, the book did its job, but it didn't stand out enough to deserve a hearty recommendation.
The book also seemed to have been written largely to tie together Asimov's Foundation and Robot series. I don't mind the connection, but the story needed more that this connection to justify itself.
As a fun and quick sci-fi adventure, the book did its job, but it didn't stand out enough to deserve a hearty recommendation.
Spoiler
The standout feature of the story was the twist ending, which I didn't see coming and which may have been my favorite part of the book. Oh, also "computering" someone to mean looking someone up online.
adventurous
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very good! Helped set me up better for the Foundation series. Classic adventure story with a little romance.
Very enjoyable read. There were moments where I felt fully immersed in the story. But at other times I felt like a passive observer. Trantor is a really intriguing world with vastly different cultures. I would have liked to have felt like I was experiencing and in the midst of those distinct sectors more.
It wasn't bad. But it definitely wasn't for me. I think I'm going to wait a while before I read the next one.
It's kind of funny that I read this now, with the sad puppies or whatever they're called, going on. It feels to me like a complete combination of both the proponents and detractors of the movement: a guy traveling across a world, encountering dangers and tons of action, and at the same time being encountered by the injustices that face marginalized groups and learning to accept them. Ironically, that melding of the two is what annoyed me the most. None of this is to say that the book wasn't well executed, it just felt like an old white man telling me what the experience of others is. I'll take that from an "other", and I think that I actually preferred the previous books because it didn't have that preachy tone. But I guess that there are those that will only accept this kind of lesson coming from an old white man.
It's kind of funny that I read this now, with the sad puppies or whatever they're called, going on. It feels to me like a complete combination of both the proponents and detractors of the movement: a guy traveling across a world, encountering dangers and tons of action, and at the same time being encountered by the injustices that face marginalized groups and learning to accept them. Ironically, that melding of the two is what annoyed me the most. None of this is to say that the book wasn't well executed, it just felt like an old white man telling me what the experience of others is. I'll take that from an "other", and I think that I actually preferred the previous books because it didn't have that preachy tone. But I guess that there are those that will only accept this kind of lesson coming from an old white man.
Prelude to Foundation (Foundation Novels) by Isaac Asimov (1989)
It has been a while since I read the original Foundation trilogy, but this prequel drew me right in. This book also begins to reveal a connection with the Robot books in Asimov's canon. Like all the other Asimov I've read, there's a good mix of action, intrigue and high concept.
I opted to read this series chronologically instead of in the order written and I am BLOWN AWAY. This is my first Asimov book though I am familiar with his place in the annuls of Science-Fiction and most familiar with iRobot from the Will Smith movie. This was soo good. I can't wait to dive into the whole series and universe. I feel like this is going to compete well with my other two favorite series, Dune by Frank Herbert and Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card.
Definitely diving into the next book ASAP!
Definitely diving into the next book ASAP!
adventurous
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No