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A review by linlithgow
Foundation's Fear by Gregory Benford
3.0
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.