captaind's Full Review: Isaac Asimov - Foundation's Edge
In case you haven't read any of the Foundation novels before, let me give you a brief run-down. Over time a galactic empire had formed, bringing with it peace and stability. As all good things must come to an end, however, it was pointed out by Mathematician Harry Sheldon in the first Foundation novel that the empire was falling apart. He based this premise on a method he'd developed called, “psychohistory”. That is, the mathematical prediction of the movements, actions and responses of large groups of people. He also predicted that, when the collapse came, it would be a great collapse, and all knowledge would be lost and mankind would have to basically start again from scratch. To combat this, he proposed to create a library in the outer reaches of the galaxy, containing all the knowledge in the galaxy. This would cut the time to re-establish the second empire down from 30,000 years to a mere 1,000. As he was an embarrassment to the empire and he would be out of everyone's site doing this, the emperor agreed. Thus the Foundation was formed.
Over time Sheldon was proved right. The empire did brake up, and “The Seldon Plan” was put into effect. Through the cunning of individuals and the effects of psychohistory, the plan proceeded and the foundation prospered.
After some time the existence of a Second Foundation was suspected. They were placed at the other end of the galaxy, set up in secrecy. While the first Foundation developed their technological skill, the second developed mental powers. The first Foundation are a bit upset by this knowledge, and set about to destroy it. Due to a devious plan and great sacrifices, the second Foundation stay in existence while the first Foundation think they've destroyed them.
Added to confuse things, a freak mutant named the Mule threatens to wreck the Seldon Plan because it could not possibly have been predicted and thus was outside the range of psychohistory. But eventually the Seldon Plan is restored to order and all is right with the galaxy.
Or is it?…
This is the point where Foundation's Edge begins. There are 2 main strands to the story, one from a young man in the First Foundation who doubts whether the Seldon Plan is relevant any more. He feels that the Second Foundation are controlling things to make sure that the Plan is fulfilled perfectly, and thus psychohistory itself is no part of the proceedings. He gets exiled from his home planet, looking for the Second Foundation; his companion, a historian, is looking for the fabled planet Earth. A Speaker in the Second Foundation has reached the same conclusion of the invalidity of the Sealdon Plan”, albeit via rather different methods, and is also effectively outlawed from his home planet.
The 2 strands go from these different sides until, near the end, the mysterious planet of Gaia weaves them both together. Both Foundations find out that thing's aren't quite as they thought they were…
This is a very engaging book, and has as much to do with psychology as science fiction. If you're a fan of the Foundation series already you will not be disappointed by this offering; to my mind it is the best of all the Foundation novels. On a web site I stumbled upon the other day it featured the most memorable quotes from different Sci-Fi author's books – about half of Isaac Asimov's came from Foundation's Edge.
It doesn't matter though if you're not familiar with the Foundation series; you can read this without reading the others first. There are a number of references to past events that fill the gaps, though not obtrusively – there are even a number of new ideas about the history of the Foundation galaxy which weren't in any of the earlier books. (Unless my memory is playing tricks on me, that is!) One small word of warning, though – if you do read this first you are bound to want to go out and get the rest of the series as well!
All science fiction fans, except perhaps die-hard action freaks, will find this book appealing. I know one or two people find Asimov's style slightly lacklustre, but I don't agree at all. I feel he is in, at the very least, the top 5 skiffy writers of all time. (My number 2 after H.G.Wells.) Unless you already know you don't like his work, you almost definitely will!
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 n...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.