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simon326's review against another edition
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Foundation is a classic sci-fi novel which tells the story of the vast and complicated plan to build rebuild the failing Galactic Empire. As such the timescale of the story is long and we read snapshots of the crucial events of each generation which go on to shape the next. As a result we are introduced to successive new main characters the result of which - while the author does his best to imbue each one with a unique personality - is that we never feel that we have enough time to get to know them. The side characters receive even less attention, such that I would sometimes forget who is who.
However, this is not a story of individuals, but a story of the masses of people which inhabit planets and star systems. The book focuses on the movements of government and culture which bring about each historic change and the plots, schemes and intrigues involved are never unsatisfactory. As the author often reminds us, the psychology governing a single person and the psychology governing a million people are very different. And it is this which the book explores, instead of the growth of individual, short-lived characters.
Overall, it is an enjoyable sci-fi classic, sure to be enjoyed by lovers of plots and intrigue, but not so by those who want to get attached to a main character.
However, this is not a story of individuals, but a story of the masses of people which inhabit planets and star systems. The book focuses on the movements of government and culture which bring about each historic change and the plots, schemes and intrigues involved are never unsatisfactory. As the author often reminds us, the psychology governing a single person and the psychology governing a million people are very different. And it is this which the book explores, instead of the growth of individual, short-lived characters.
Overall, it is an enjoyable sci-fi classic, sure to be enjoyed by lovers of plots and intrigue, but not so by those who want to get attached to a main character.
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence and Cursing
zosiablue's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
It was time to finally read this and I'm mostly glad I did. It had a strong start with the birds-eye view of a guy essentially inventing religion in order to control a (scientifically predicted) chaotic destiny 300 years into the future.
And then it suffered from monologuing and dull space politics in the later chapters. I wanted more philosophy! More prognostication! It was originally published as 5 short stories which explains the wild timeline jumps, but doesn't explain the tedious conversations.
Also, I know it was the '50s, but where were the women? There was, like, one lady and she was a wife who slithered on stage for a sec and left. Regardless of these complaints, I had a pretty good time! I'll probably read the rest of the series.
And then it suffered from monologuing and dull space politics in the later chapters. I wanted more philosophy! More prognostication! It was originally published as 5 short stories which explains the wild timeline jumps, but doesn't explain the tedious conversations.
Also, I know it was the '50s, but where were the women? There was, like, one lady and she was a wife who slithered on stage for a sec and left. Regardless of these complaints, I had a pretty good time! I'll probably read the rest of the series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Murder, and Violence
maeverose's review
Dnfed at 67%
TL;DR: I found it boring and it does in fact read like it was written in the 40s for a male-only audience.
I wanted to read the books after watching season one of the show because I really liked it, but unfortunately I found this book to be pretty boring. I really like the changes that they made for the show, tbh I think those changes make for a much more interesting story. Obviously I can’t fairly compare it to the books being as I couldn’t even finish the first one, but I already know based on what I did read that I personally prefer the show, and I’d rather not waste my time reading the books if I’m just gonna be bored…
As for my thoughts on what I did read: This book is all politics. Yes the show has a lot of politics as well but at least there are some breaks from it… Plus in the show I felt much more invested in the characters and therefore the plot. I felt zero connection to the characters in the book because we didn’t get to know them at all. They’re also almost all old men. I did know going in that there were no female characters but it just feels so strange to read a book where you hardly know if women even exist because they’re never mentioned… It’s also super dialogue heavy. There’s very little description of the environment, people’s thoughts, or what’s actually happening visually. Which I think added to my boredom. Not that I expected poetic writing but some description would’ve been nice.
Sorry to all the cishet dudebros out there who will get mad at this review lol (except I’m not actually sorry..)
TL;DR: I found it boring and it does in fact read like it was written in the 40s for a male-only audience.
I wanted to read the books after watching season one of the show because I really liked it, but unfortunately I found this book to be pretty boring. I really like the changes that they made for the show, tbh I think those changes make for a much more interesting story. Obviously I can’t fairly compare it to the books being as I couldn’t even finish the first one, but I already know based on what I did read that I personally prefer the show, and I’d rather not waste my time reading the books if I’m just gonna be bored…
As for my thoughts on what I did read: This book is all politics. Yes the show has a lot of politics as well but at least there are some breaks from it… Plus in the show I felt much more invested in the characters and therefore the plot. I felt zero connection to the characters in the book because we didn’t get to know them at all. They’re also almost all old men. I did know going in that there were no female characters but it just feels so strange to read a book where you hardly know if women even exist because they’re never mentioned… It’s also super dialogue heavy. There’s very little description of the environment, people’s thoughts, or what’s actually happening visually. Which I think added to my boredom. Not that I expected poetic writing but some description would’ve been nice.
Sorry to all the cishet dudebros out there who will get mad at this review lol (except I’m not actually sorry..)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Suicide
Moderate: Fatphobia, Gore, Misogyny, Violence, Ableism, Confinement, Sexism, War, Xenophobia, and Colonisation
Minor: Animal death
shieldbearer's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Y'know I would have liked this a lot better if it was actually about the encyclopedia. For what it is it's well constructed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Violence, Colonisation, War, Murder, Gun violence, and Death
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