What do you think?
Rate this book
Foundation (Publication Order) #3
Second Foundation
So far the Foundation was safe. But there was a hidden Second Foundation to protect the first. The Mule has yet to find it, but he was getting closer all the time. The men of the Foundation sought it, too, to escape from Mule's mind control. Only Arkady, a 14 year-old girl seemed to have the answer, or did she...?
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1953
4,240 people are currently reading
65.1k people want to read
About the author
Isaac Asimov
4,576听books26.6k听followersWorks of prolific Russian-American writer Isaac Asimov include popular explanations of scientific principles,
The Foundation Trilogy
(1951-1953), and other volumes of fiction.
Isaac Asimov, a professor of biochemistry, wrote as a highly successful author, best known for his books.
Asimov, professor, generally considered of all time, edited more than five hundred books and ninety thousand letters and postcards. He published in nine of the ten major categories of the Dewey decimal classification but lacked only an entry in the category of philosophy (100).
People widely considered Asimov, a master of the genre alongside Robert Anson Heinlein and Arthur Charles Clarke as the "big three" during his lifetime. He later tied Galactic Empire and the Robot into the same universe as his most famous series to create a unified "future history" for his stories much like those that Heinlein pioneered and Cordwainer Smith and Poul Anderson previously produced. He penned "Nightfall," voted in 1964 as the best short story of all time; many persons still honor this title. He also produced well mysteries, fantasy, and a great quantity of nonfiction. Asimov used Paul French, the pen name, for the Lucky Starr, series of juvenile novels.
Most books of Asimov in a historical way go as far back to a time with possible question or concept at its simplest stage. He often provides and mentions well nationalities, birth, and death dates for persons and etymologies and pronunciation guides for technical terms. Guide to Science, the tripartite set Understanding Physics, and Chronology of Science and Discovery exemplify these books.
Asimov, a long-time member, reluctantly served as vice president of Mensa international and described some members of that organization as "brain-proud and aggressive about their IQs." He took more pleasure as president of the humanist association. The asteroid 5020 Asimov, the magazine Asimov's Science Fiction, an elementary school in Brooklyn in New York, and two different awards honor his name.
Isaac Asimov, a professor of biochemistry, wrote as a highly successful author, best known for his books.
Asimov, professor, generally considered of all time, edited more than five hundred books and ninety thousand letters and postcards. He published in nine of the ten major categories of the Dewey decimal classification but lacked only an entry in the category of philosophy (100).
People widely considered Asimov, a master of the genre alongside Robert Anson Heinlein and Arthur Charles Clarke as the "big three" during his lifetime. He later tied Galactic Empire and the Robot into the same universe as his most famous series to create a unified "future history" for his stories much like those that Heinlein pioneered and Cordwainer Smith and Poul Anderson previously produced. He penned "Nightfall," voted in 1964 as the best short story of all time; many persons still honor this title. He also produced well mysteries, fantasy, and a great quantity of nonfiction. Asimov used Paul French, the pen name, for the Lucky Starr, series of juvenile novels.
Most books of Asimov in a historical way go as far back to a time with possible question or concept at its simplest stage. He often provides and mentions well nationalities, birth, and death dates for persons and etymologies and pronunciation guides for technical terms. Guide to Science, the tripartite set Understanding Physics, and Chronology of Science and Discovery exemplify these books.
Asimov, a long-time member, reluctantly served as vice president of Mensa international and described some members of that organization as "brain-proud and aggressive about their IQs." He took more pleasure as president of the humanist association. The asteroid 5020 Asimov, the magazine Asimov's Science Fiction, an elementary school in Brooklyn in New York, and two different awards honor his name.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,771 reviews
February 8, 2022
(Book 527 from 1001 books) - Second Foundation (Foundation, #3), Isaac Asimov
Second Foundation is the third novel published of the Foundation Series by American writer Isaac Asimov, and the fifth in the in-universe chronology. It was first published in 1953 by Gnome Press.
Channis reveals his suspicions about the Second Foundation being located on the planet Tazenda, and takes the ship there. They first land on Rossem, a barren planet controlled by Tazenda, and meet with its governor, who appears ordinary. Once they return to the ship, Pritcher confronts Channis and believes him to have been too successful with the search. The Mule, who had placed a hyper-relay on their ship in order to trace them through hyper-space, appears, and reveals that Channis is a Second Foundationer. Pritcher's emotional bonds to the Mule are broken in the ensuing exchange between Channis and the Mule, and is made to fall into deep sleep.
With only the two of them left, the Mule reveals that he has brought his ships to Tazenda and has already destroyed the planet, and yet senses that Channis's dismay is only pretense. He forces Channis to reveal that Rossem is actually the Second Foundation, and that Tazenda is only a figurehead. ...
鬲丕乇蹖禺 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 禺賵丕賳卮: 乇賵夭 亘蹖爻鬲 賵 倬賳噩賲 賲丕賴 丿爻丕賲亘乇 爻丕賱1994賲蹖賱丕丿蹖
毓賳賵丕賳: 爻賯賵胤 丕賲倬乇丕胤賵乇蹖 讴賴讴卮丕賳賴丕 (亘賳蹖丕丿 丿賵賲)貨 賳賵卮鬲賴: 丌蹖夭丕讴 丌爻蹖賲賵賮貨 賲鬲乇噩賲: 丨爻賳 丕氐睾乇蹖貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 卮賯丕蹖賯貙 爻丕賱1371貨 丿乇358氐 賲賵囟賵毓 丿丕爻鬲丕賳賴丕蹖 賳賵蹖爻賳丿诏丕賳 乇賵爻 鬲亘丕乇 丕蹖丕賱丕鬲 賲鬲丨丿賴 丌賲乇蹖讴丕 - 爻丿賴 蹖20賲
毓賳賵丕賳: 亘賳蹖丕丿 丿賵賲 讴鬲丕亘 爻賵賲 丕夭 爻乇蹖 爻賴 诏丕賳賴 亘賳蹖丕丿貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 丌蹖夭丕讴 丌爻蹖賲賵賮貨 賲鬲乇噩賲 丨爻蹖賳 卮賴乇丕亘蹖貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 鬲賳丿蹖爻貙 爻丕賱1399貨 丿乇327氐貨 卮丕亘讴9786001826542貨 丕夭 卮丕賴讴丕乇賴丕蹖 毓賱賲蹖 鬲禺蹖賱蹖貨
爻乇蹖 芦亘賳蹖丕丿禄 毓賳賵丕賳 蹖讴 爻乇蹖 賴賮鬲 噩賱丿蹖 丕夭 芦丌蹖夭丕讴 丌爻蹖賲賵賮禄 丕爻鬲貙 讴賴 賳丕賲丿丕乇鬲乇蹖賳 爻乇蹖 毓賱賲蹖-鬲禺蹖賱蹖 禺賵丕賳丿賴 卮丿賴 鈥屫ж池� 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 丕蹖賳 爻乇蹖 亘賴 鬲乇鬲蹖亘 夭賲丕賳 丕賳鬲卮丕乇 倬蹖卮 賳賲蹖鈥屫辟堌� 亘賱讴賴 芦丌爻蹖賲賵賮禄 賳禺爻鬲 噩賱丿賴丕蹖 爻賵賲 (亘賳蹖丕丿)貙 噩賱丿 趩賴丕乇賲 (亘賳蹖丕丿 賵 丕賲倬乇丕胤賵乇蹖) 賵 噩賱丿 倬賳噩賲 (亘賳蹖丕丿 丿賵賲) 乇丕 賳賵卮鬲賳丿貨 賵 爻倬爻 亘丕 丿蹖乇 讴乇丿蹖 丿乇丕夭 賲丿鬲貙 亘賳丕 亘乇 禺賵丕爻鬲賴 蹖 禺賵丕賳卮诏乇丕賳 禺賵蹖卮 噩賱丿 卮卮賲 (賱亘賴 亘賳蹖丕丿) 賵 噩賱丿 賴賮鬲賲 (亘賳蹖丕丿 賵 夭賲蹖賳) 乇丕貙 亘賴 丌賳賴丕 丕賮夭賵丿賳丿貨 倬爻 丕夭 丌賳 亘丕 丿蹖乇 讴乇丿蹖 亘丕夭 賴賲 胤賵賱丕賳蹖貙 噩賱丿 賳禺爻鬲 丕夭 丕蹖賳 爻乇蹖 (爻乇丌睾丕夭 亘賳蹖丕丿)貙 賵 丿乇 倬丕蹖丕賳 賳蹖夭 丕賳丿讴蹖 倬蹖卮 丕夭 丿乇诏匕卮鬲卮丕賳 噩賱丿 丿賵賲 (倬蹖卮亘乇丿 亘賳蹖丕丿) 乇丕 賳诏丕卮鬲賳丿貨 鬲乇鬲蹖亘 賳诏丕乇卮 丕蹖賳 丿丕爻鬲丕賳鈥屬囏� 噩丿丕 賵 丿蹖诏乇诏賵賳賴 丕夭 禺胤 丿丕爻鬲丕賳蹖 丌賳鈥屬囏ж池�
鬲丕乇蹖禺 亘賴賳诏丕賲 乇爻丕賳蹖 31/01/1400賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 18/11/1400賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 丕. 卮乇亘蹖丕賳蹖
Second Foundation is the third novel published of the Foundation Series by American writer Isaac Asimov, and the fifth in the in-universe chronology. It was first published in 1953 by Gnome Press.
Channis reveals his suspicions about the Second Foundation being located on the planet Tazenda, and takes the ship there. They first land on Rossem, a barren planet controlled by Tazenda, and meet with its governor, who appears ordinary. Once they return to the ship, Pritcher confronts Channis and believes him to have been too successful with the search. The Mule, who had placed a hyper-relay on their ship in order to trace them through hyper-space, appears, and reveals that Channis is a Second Foundationer. Pritcher's emotional bonds to the Mule are broken in the ensuing exchange between Channis and the Mule, and is made to fall into deep sleep.
With only the two of them left, the Mule reveals that he has brought his ships to Tazenda and has already destroyed the planet, and yet senses that Channis's dismay is only pretense. He forces Channis to reveal that Rossem is actually the Second Foundation, and that Tazenda is only a figurehead. ...
鬲丕乇蹖禺 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 禺賵丕賳卮: 乇賵夭 亘蹖爻鬲 賵 倬賳噩賲 賲丕賴 丿爻丕賲亘乇 爻丕賱1994賲蹖賱丕丿蹖
毓賳賵丕賳: 爻賯賵胤 丕賲倬乇丕胤賵乇蹖 讴賴讴卮丕賳賴丕 (亘賳蹖丕丿 丿賵賲)貨 賳賵卮鬲賴: 丌蹖夭丕讴 丌爻蹖賲賵賮貨 賲鬲乇噩賲: 丨爻賳 丕氐睾乇蹖貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 卮賯丕蹖賯貙 爻丕賱1371貨 丿乇358氐 賲賵囟賵毓 丿丕爻鬲丕賳賴丕蹖 賳賵蹖爻賳丿诏丕賳 乇賵爻 鬲亘丕乇 丕蹖丕賱丕鬲 賲鬲丨丿賴 丌賲乇蹖讴丕 - 爻丿賴 蹖20賲
毓賳賵丕賳: 亘賳蹖丕丿 丿賵賲 讴鬲丕亘 爻賵賲 丕夭 爻乇蹖 爻賴 诏丕賳賴 亘賳蹖丕丿貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 丌蹖夭丕讴 丌爻蹖賲賵賮貨 賲鬲乇噩賲 丨爻蹖賳 卮賴乇丕亘蹖貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 鬲賳丿蹖爻貙 爻丕賱1399貨 丿乇327氐貨 卮丕亘讴9786001826542貨 丕夭 卮丕賴讴丕乇賴丕蹖 毓賱賲蹖 鬲禺蹖賱蹖貨
爻乇蹖 芦亘賳蹖丕丿禄 毓賳賵丕賳 蹖讴 爻乇蹖 賴賮鬲 噩賱丿蹖 丕夭 芦丌蹖夭丕讴 丌爻蹖賲賵賮禄 丕爻鬲貙 讴賴 賳丕賲丿丕乇鬲乇蹖賳 爻乇蹖 毓賱賲蹖-鬲禺蹖賱蹖 禺賵丕賳丿賴 卮丿賴 鈥屫ж池� 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 丕蹖賳 爻乇蹖 亘賴 鬲乇鬲蹖亘 夭賲丕賳 丕賳鬲卮丕乇 倬蹖卮 賳賲蹖鈥屫辟堌� 亘賱讴賴 芦丌爻蹖賲賵賮禄 賳禺爻鬲 噩賱丿賴丕蹖 爻賵賲 (亘賳蹖丕丿)貙 噩賱丿 趩賴丕乇賲 (亘賳蹖丕丿 賵 丕賲倬乇丕胤賵乇蹖) 賵 噩賱丿 倬賳噩賲 (亘賳蹖丕丿 丿賵賲) 乇丕 賳賵卮鬲賳丿貨 賵 爻倬爻 亘丕 丿蹖乇 讴乇丿蹖 丿乇丕夭 賲丿鬲貙 亘賳丕 亘乇 禺賵丕爻鬲賴 蹖 禺賵丕賳卮诏乇丕賳 禺賵蹖卮 噩賱丿 卮卮賲 (賱亘賴 亘賳蹖丕丿) 賵 噩賱丿 賴賮鬲賲 (亘賳蹖丕丿 賵 夭賲蹖賳) 乇丕貙 亘賴 丌賳賴丕 丕賮夭賵丿賳丿貨 倬爻 丕夭 丌賳 亘丕 丿蹖乇 讴乇丿蹖 亘丕夭 賴賲 胤賵賱丕賳蹖貙 噩賱丿 賳禺爻鬲 丕夭 丕蹖賳 爻乇蹖 (爻乇丌睾丕夭 亘賳蹖丕丿)貙 賵 丿乇 倬丕蹖丕賳 賳蹖夭 丕賳丿讴蹖 倬蹖卮 丕夭 丿乇诏匕卮鬲卮丕賳 噩賱丿 丿賵賲 (倬蹖卮亘乇丿 亘賳蹖丕丿) 乇丕 賳诏丕卮鬲賳丿貨 鬲乇鬲蹖亘 賳诏丕乇卮 丕蹖賳 丿丕爻鬲丕賳鈥屬囏� 噩丿丕 賵 丿蹖诏乇诏賵賳賴 丕夭 禺胤 丿丕爻鬲丕賳蹖 丌賳鈥屬囏ж池�
鬲丕乇蹖禺 亘賴賳诏丕賲 乇爻丕賳蹖 31/01/1400賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 18/11/1400賴噩乇蹖 禺賵乇卮蹖丿蹖貨 丕. 卮乇亘蹖丕賳蹖
February 8, 2024
English () / Italiano
芦The First Galactic Empire had endured for tens of thousands of years禄But now it no longer exists. The present is the Foundation, at war with an enemy with a terrible "psychic" power, i.e. the ability to influence the minds. The third chapter of the Foundation series is better than the two preceding it, with more action and suspense. It's the final showdown between the "Mule" and the Second Foundation, represented in the final battle by its "First Speaker". But above all the homeworld of the Second Foundation will now be revealed. Surprise!
Vote: 7,5
芦Il Primo Impero Galattico era esistito per decine di migliaia d'anni禄Ma adesso non esiste pi霉. Il presente 猫 della Fondazione, in lotta contro un nemico dotato di poteri "psichici" terribili, ovvero la capacit脿 di influenzare le menti. Il terzo capitolo del ciclo della Fondazione 猫 meglio dei due precedenti, secondo me, pi霉 ricco in azione e suspense. Siamo alla resa dei conti tra il "Mulo" e la Seconda Fondazione, rappresentata nello scontro decisivo dal suo "Primo Oratore". Ma soprattutto ci sta per essere rivelato il pianeta madre della Seconda Fondazione. Sorpresa!
Voto: 7,5
February 15, 2022
Robot/Empire/Foundation. Book #11: Chronologically the fifth book in the Foundation series, but the last published book of the original Foundation trilogy released in 1953. Another book essentially made up of novellas - the first Search by the Mule, is the a long epilogue to the last novella in the previous book as The Mule goes out all guns blazing in his quest for the Second Foundation; the second Search by Foundation, sees a galaxy where The Mule's actions appear to have doomed The Plan, thus encouraging external forces to go after Foundation; whilst in the Foundation itself, a small group of conspirators have began to see Second Foundation as a major threat!
Very 1950s grand adventure style stories overlaid with the wonderful psycho-history concept, as Asimov plays with the idea of a society that to a degree has become reliant on The Plan and lost it's mojo as a result. Also, pretty cool for a book published in the 1950s, is the that the key protagonist in the second novella, is a 14 year old girl! This, and the previous books, read much better as a trilogy, and not so well independently. Still, an interesting and at times gripping tale - 8 out of 12, Four Star read.
2021 read
Very 1950s grand adventure style stories overlaid with the wonderful psycho-history concept, as Asimov plays with the idea of a society that to a degree has become reliant on The Plan and lost it's mojo as a result. Also, pretty cool for a book published in the 1950s, is the that the key protagonist in the second novella, is a 14 year old girl! This, and the previous books, read much better as a trilogy, and not so well independently. Still, an interesting and at times gripping tale - 8 out of 12, Four Star read.
2021 read
September 22, 2015
What a great completion of the trilogy! This book, the last part of Foundation trilogy, was very captivating from the start and became even more interesting and enthralling leading to a great spellbinding climax. This trilogy has now entered to my all time favorite books. It has been a great experience reading Isaac Asimov.
August 20, 2012
The idea behind it's pretty good. Asimov has set up little philosopher kings to slowly shape the universe until they can accept being openly ruled by beings as superior as them, because of SCIENCE! It never actually handles the philosophical issues involved, but notes that they exist. Meanwhile, the plot is such:
Man1: Haha! I tricked you!
Man2: But I knew you were going to trick me. Instead, I tricked you!
Man1: But I knew you knew that I was going to trick you, so really *I* win!
Man2: NO! *dies*
Man3: I knew that you knew that he knew that you knew that he was going to trick you, and I set up the whole thing! So I win!
Man1: But I knew that you knew that I knew...
And so on. The hyper-crossing that occurs in this book, right in the very first chapters, is utterly ridiculous. It gets a bit better as time goes on, but by that point, the cats out of the bag and you pretty much expect it to pull a PDK and have everyone be alien robots with fake memories or something.
In short, a good book to wrap up the trilogy, but a pretty weak story on its own.
Man1: Haha! I tricked you!
Man2: But I knew you were going to trick me. Instead, I tricked you!
Man1: But I knew you knew that I was going to trick you, so really *I* win!
Man2: NO! *dies*
Man3: I knew that you knew that he knew that you knew that he was going to trick you, and I set up the whole thing! So I win!
Man1: But I knew that you knew that I knew...
And so on. The hyper-crossing that occurs in this book, right in the very first chapters, is utterly ridiculous. It gets a bit better as time goes on, but by that point, the cats out of the bag and you pretty much expect it to pull a PDK and have everyone be alien robots with fake memories or something.
In short, a good book to wrap up the trilogy, but a pretty weak story on its own.
March 21, 2024
Second Foundation wraps up Asimov鈥檚 brilliant early 50s classic SF series Foundation.
Twenty-nine years later (in 1982) Asimov would publish , but for most of the golden age, the Foundation trilogy would form a template (though never completely duplicated) for SF excellence.
Essentially divided into two parts 鈥� the first part a conclusion of with The Mule and then the conclusion of the Foundation story. The search for the ultra-secretive Second Foundation continues across the galaxy.
Both the first part and the second had themes of a chess match between actors with several conflicting solutions being developed and supported.
Parts of this, especially discussions about the advanced mental Second Foundation reminded me obliquely of Arthur C. Clarke鈥檚 . Not as strong as the other two, this is still a solid SF story and a good finale for a great SF trilogy.
*** 2024 reread -
I think it's important to break this series out every so often to remind ourselves of what a great foundation this was for SF.
YUK YUK!!
Corny? Not any more than mutton chop sideburns.
Just sayin'.
This time I paid more attention to Asimov's delivery and found quite the plethora of easter eggs and foreshadowing - well played, sir, well played.
This was also, I think, an elevation of his young literary powers. Perhaps emboldened by his earlier successes, he stretched his writing skills and on this second read I noticed the quality of Asimov's prose had improved and there are sections that are exceptional.
Twenty-nine years later (in 1982) Asimov would publish , but for most of the golden age, the Foundation trilogy would form a template (though never completely duplicated) for SF excellence.
Essentially divided into two parts 鈥� the first part a conclusion of with The Mule and then the conclusion of the Foundation story. The search for the ultra-secretive Second Foundation continues across the galaxy.
Both the first part and the second had themes of a chess match between actors with several conflicting solutions being developed and supported.
Parts of this, especially discussions about the advanced mental Second Foundation reminded me obliquely of Arthur C. Clarke鈥檚 . Not as strong as the other two, this is still a solid SF story and a good finale for a great SF trilogy.
*** 2024 reread -
I think it's important to break this series out every so often to remind ourselves of what a great foundation this was for SF.
YUK YUK!!
Corny? Not any more than mutton chop sideburns.
Just sayin'.
This time I paid more attention to Asimov's delivery and found quite the plethora of easter eggs and foreshadowing - well played, sir, well played.
This was also, I think, an elevation of his young literary powers. Perhaps emboldened by his earlier successes, he stretched his writing skills and on this second read I noticed the quality of Asimov's prose had improved and there are sections that are exceptional.
November 13, 2021
Re-Read 11/13/21:
Great mystery, lots of cat and mouse, and subterfuge.
And, of course, there is the grand attempt to put the proto-empire back together after the Mule (Humpty-Dumpty) had shattered it. The Foundation is cocky. So sure of itself. And yet鈥� the math must rule.
So classic.
Original Review:
I'm still amazed at how well this and the other two books in the trilogy holds up. It's easy to let little things go like all the focus on Atomic Reactors when they've still got FTL. We could replace one technology with another and still have the same core story shine.
And it really shines.
Yes, SF has had tons of telepathic SOBs, but I still count the Mule as one of the most savvy and intelligent dictators to ever topple a galactic empire. The first half of this book deals entirely with him and his long quest to hunt down the Second Foundation. It is an obsession with him.
And all the while? Yeah, the Second Foundation remains elusive and scarily effective, eventually trapping and defeating the Mule with wit and brilliant conversations and logical traps that are brilliant. I can't recommend this series more. The core stories are still as sharp as ever, even if we as readers are jaded by 60 years of authors riding on Asimov's coattails. :)
The second portion of this novel was slightly more special to me, oddly enough, and no matter how much I loved the Mule, I really enjoyed the First Foundation hunting for the Second Foundation even more. The characters involved in it were wonderful.
The First Foundation always seems to get things wrong, but this the same as usual. :) Still, the surprise at the end stayed with me after 30 years between readings and still made me smile after my second reading, so that *is* a very good sign, is it not? :)
Yes, this trilogy still remains in my top 10 list of (single books or trilogies) out of all the books I've ever read. :) Great stuff.
Great mystery, lots of cat and mouse, and subterfuge.
And, of course, there is the grand attempt to put the proto-empire back together after the Mule (Humpty-Dumpty) had shattered it. The Foundation is cocky. So sure of itself. And yet鈥� the math must rule.
So classic.
Original Review:
I'm still amazed at how well this and the other two books in the trilogy holds up. It's easy to let little things go like all the focus on Atomic Reactors when they've still got FTL. We could replace one technology with another and still have the same core story shine.
And it really shines.
Yes, SF has had tons of telepathic SOBs, but I still count the Mule as one of the most savvy and intelligent dictators to ever topple a galactic empire. The first half of this book deals entirely with him and his long quest to hunt down the Second Foundation. It is an obsession with him.
And all the while? Yeah, the Second Foundation remains elusive and scarily effective, eventually trapping and defeating the Mule with wit and brilliant conversations and logical traps that are brilliant. I can't recommend this series more. The core stories are still as sharp as ever, even if we as readers are jaded by 60 years of authors riding on Asimov's coattails. :)
The second portion of this novel was slightly more special to me, oddly enough, and no matter how much I loved the Mule, I really enjoyed the First Foundation hunting for the Second Foundation even more. The characters involved in it were wonderful.
The First Foundation always seems to get things wrong, but this the same as usual. :) Still, the surprise at the end stayed with me after 30 years between readings and still made me smile after my second reading, so that *is* a very good sign, is it not? :)
Yes, this trilogy still remains in my top 10 list of (single books or trilogies) out of all the books I've ever read. :) Great stuff.
December 24, 2021
鈥淕alaxy! When can a man know he is not a puppet? How can a man know he is not a puppet?鈥�
Isaac Asimov's Second Foundation centers around the search for Hari Seldon's elusive Second Foundation, both by the Mule as well as (many years later) those from the First Foundation. Questions about the Second Foundation and why it existed or whether it still exists swirl around as the search continues. This just felt like good story telling. Wonderful conclusion to a thought-provoking series! 4.5 stars
鈥淚t was a sign of decaying culture, of course, that dams had been built against the further development of ideas.鈥�
Isaac Asimov's Second Foundation centers around the search for Hari Seldon's elusive Second Foundation, both by the Mule as well as (many years later) those from the First Foundation. Questions about the Second Foundation and why it existed or whether it still exists swirl around as the search continues. This just felt like good story telling. Wonderful conclusion to a thought-provoking series! 4.5 stars
鈥淚t was a sign of decaying culture, of course, that dams had been built against the further development of ideas.鈥�
October 20, 2017
And so you take comfort in what once used to chafe and to frustrate: the man is smarter than you. Hari Seldon. At first you fought against his implacable logic, his elegant design mapping out the entire existence of your race, the human kind. But eventually you relaxed and embraced it: you and yours, your dreams, the human race... your goals and your future would be protected, protected by the plan. The Seldon Plan - and Foundation. And when Foundation and the Plan both suffered at the hands of the mutant The Mule, Seldon's secret guardians - Second Foundation - came to save the day. The Plan on one hand, that secret society of psychic saviors on the other, Foundation and Second Foundation, Mother and an absent but still watchful Father... all fears left you. You became comfortable. You became complacent!
And so there rose the frustrated few who still chafed at that soft control - at that absent Father with his invisible fingers, making a puppet of you and yours, "protecting" you. You are mommy's little darlings, hating your distant dad. You will control your own destiny, future be damned!
And so you acted against Second Foundation, you plotted and schemed and made intricate designs, you found those secretive psychic saviors, you executed each and every one of them. Or did you? Fortunately for you - oh, and for the future of all your kind, the human race - your goals and your frustrations are excruciatingly finite. Your own small-mindedness will protect you, your childlike inability to see the bigger picture. Poor baby; Second Foundation will save you and yours despite yourself. Just sit back and stop thinking so hard, you'll hurt yourself!
And so the original Foundation trilogy concludes with this work. Two ingenious novellas, one detailing the final passage of sympathetic villain The Mule, the other dealing with an attempt made by Foundation to upend Second Foundation. I found the first book to be interesting but flawed in its repetitiveness. The second book had two novellas: one entertaining but likewise limited, the second a brilliant leap forward.
And so it is with the third book, Second Foundation: the first novella entertaining and thoughtful but a bit of a retread of the second book's second novella... and like its predecessor, a second novella ("Search by the Foundation") that leaps forward into new, fascinating territory. All three of these books - their various stories and novellas coming together to form an intricate, elegant design - will stick in my mind. I can imagine revisiting this deep well of ideas a few years from now (if the human race still remains). Overall, despite some essentially inconsequential flaws, the original trilogy is a marvelous achievement and I think completely worthy of their classic status.
And so I wonder: should I continue with this series? Asimov is a smart man, certainly much much smarter than me. But I have found disappointment when reading series that are picked up decades later. They have read as if the author has grown too comfortable, complacent. The next novel in the series - Foundation and Earth - was written nearly three decades after this third book. Should I risk souring the well?
And so there rose the frustrated few who still chafed at that soft control - at that absent Father with his invisible fingers, making a puppet of you and yours, "protecting" you. You are mommy's little darlings, hating your distant dad. You will control your own destiny, future be damned!
And so you acted against Second Foundation, you plotted and schemed and made intricate designs, you found those secretive psychic saviors, you executed each and every one of them. Or did you? Fortunately for you - oh, and for the future of all your kind, the human race - your goals and your frustrations are excruciatingly finite. Your own small-mindedness will protect you, your childlike inability to see the bigger picture. Poor baby; Second Foundation will save you and yours despite yourself. Just sit back and stop thinking so hard, you'll hurt yourself!
And so the original Foundation trilogy concludes with this work. Two ingenious novellas, one detailing the final passage of sympathetic villain The Mule, the other dealing with an attempt made by Foundation to upend Second Foundation. I found the first book to be interesting but flawed in its repetitiveness. The second book had two novellas: one entertaining but likewise limited, the second a brilliant leap forward.
And so it is with the third book, Second Foundation: the first novella entertaining and thoughtful but a bit of a retread of the second book's second novella... and like its predecessor, a second novella ("Search by the Foundation") that leaps forward into new, fascinating territory. All three of these books - their various stories and novellas coming together to form an intricate, elegant design - will stick in my mind. I can imagine revisiting this deep well of ideas a few years from now (if the human race still remains). Overall, despite some essentially inconsequential flaws, the original trilogy is a marvelous achievement and I think completely worthy of their classic status.
And so I wonder: should I continue with this series? Asimov is a smart man, certainly much much smarter than me. But I have found disappointment when reading series that are picked up decades later. They have read as if the author has grown too comfortable, complacent. The next novel in the series - Foundation and Earth - was written nearly three decades after this third book. Should I risk souring the well?
January 26, 2023
The Seldon crisis is a literal mule mind penetration
Prelude, First Foundation, mule, Second Foundation, etc. scissors stone paper style
Asimov likes to introduce new plot twists by not just showing a new antagonist or meta event, but by using the weak spots of one ideology or person to fundamentally change the red line. I麓ve completely lost track of how often and in detail he did it over the whole series, because I麓ve just read the best rated 3 other parts before, during, and after (or somewhat like that, also lost track of that) besides the original series. However, one doesn麓t see it coming, which creates an incredible cliffhanger wtf moment each time it happens.
How many mutants does sci-fi need?
As many as there are stars, because they are what makes the genre so unpredictable, while still trying to explain and show serious and scientific future tech and social concepts. But by adding this kind of, still, fantasy, each abnormality doesn麓t just has the potential for big changes at the moment, but for reproducing, mixing with the original species, and thereby changing the course of evolution. (Except one is infertile of course, haha). And that麓s the reason why
Humanities and soft sciences should never be underestimated
While the first part of the series is totally serious science business with no science fantasy, except one deems psychohistory itself unscientific and a pseudo- and para science, the second part is already questioning the superiority of hard STEM power. In the final climax of the original series, fantasy style humanities and soft biological brain power are even superior to Clarketech. Maybe it was Asimovs麓intention to
Make STEM science a bit more open minded regarding alternative explanations
A scientist himself, Asimov maybe wanted to open borders for more interdisciplinary science. Not the voodoo stuff, but especially the things we simply don麓t understand. As a visionary dreamer, he maybe somewhat saw all these quantum nano irritations, astrophysical Space Webb space telescope mysteries, unexplainable reactions and processes in more and more things we see inside us and billions of years in the past in the stars, coming. Back then, it was just an assumption of some of the more progressive and alternative scientists who dared to question the dogmas, today, the facts are on the table. That麓s why he
Didn麓t just inspire everyday people to question everything, but certainly a bunch of scientists too
I guess I did already mention the legions of writers who name him as a core motivation and inspiration in one or another review of his amazing work. But each mind opened to the limitation of our current state of the art high tech achievements could be the next 鈥濬ill in your favorite prodigy science rockstar鈥�. Because who says that it麓s impossible that in 1, 1000, or 100.000 k, etc. years a multidimensional, quantum tunneling, time traveling, etc. entity can麓t exist? Some psi powers seem nothing compared to that and to definitively say forever impossible is a typical human style of arrogance, and megalomania to assume that one's own incapability explains everything.
Tropes show how literature is conceptualized and created and which mixture of elements makes works and genres unique:
Prelude, First Foundation, mule, Second Foundation, etc. scissors stone paper style
Asimov likes to introduce new plot twists by not just showing a new antagonist or meta event, but by using the weak spots of one ideology or person to fundamentally change the red line. I麓ve completely lost track of how often and in detail he did it over the whole series, because I麓ve just read the best rated 3 other parts before, during, and after (or somewhat like that, also lost track of that) besides the original series. However, one doesn麓t see it coming, which creates an incredible cliffhanger wtf moment each time it happens.
How many mutants does sci-fi need?
As many as there are stars, because they are what makes the genre so unpredictable, while still trying to explain and show serious and scientific future tech and social concepts. But by adding this kind of, still, fantasy, each abnormality doesn麓t just has the potential for big changes at the moment, but for reproducing, mixing with the original species, and thereby changing the course of evolution. (Except one is infertile of course, haha). And that麓s the reason why
Humanities and soft sciences should never be underestimated
While the first part of the series is totally serious science business with no science fantasy, except one deems psychohistory itself unscientific and a pseudo- and para science, the second part is already questioning the superiority of hard STEM power. In the final climax of the original series, fantasy style humanities and soft biological brain power are even superior to Clarketech. Maybe it was Asimovs麓intention to
Make STEM science a bit more open minded regarding alternative explanations
A scientist himself, Asimov maybe wanted to open borders for more interdisciplinary science. Not the voodoo stuff, but especially the things we simply don麓t understand. As a visionary dreamer, he maybe somewhat saw all these quantum nano irritations, astrophysical Space Webb space telescope mysteries, unexplainable reactions and processes in more and more things we see inside us and billions of years in the past in the stars, coming. Back then, it was just an assumption of some of the more progressive and alternative scientists who dared to question the dogmas, today, the facts are on the table. That麓s why he
Didn麓t just inspire everyday people to question everything, but certainly a bunch of scientists too
I guess I did already mention the legions of writers who name him as a core motivation and inspiration in one or another review of his amazing work. But each mind opened to the limitation of our current state of the art high tech achievements could be the next 鈥濬ill in your favorite prodigy science rockstar鈥�. Because who says that it麓s impossible that in 1, 1000, or 100.000 k, etc. years a multidimensional, quantum tunneling, time traveling, etc. entity can麓t exist? Some psi powers seem nothing compared to that and to definitively say forever impossible is a typical human style of arrogance, and megalomania to assume that one's own incapability explains everything.
Tropes show how literature is conceptualized and created and which mixture of elements makes works and genres unique:
April 23, 2021
Second Foundation (1953) is the 3rd novel of the The Foundation Trilogy and the one I found most compelling of the three.
The Mule, after conquering the First Foundation, which is at the forefront of the physical sciences in the Galaxy, is in a restless search to find and eliminate the Second Foundation. The Second Foundation is the Mule's only threat and obstacle in uniting the Galaxy under his tyrannical rule. The Mule is a mutant with supreme mental powers capable of tampering with and manipulating the emotions of others while converting them into his loyal devotees. But the Mule is in for a surprise, as the Second Foundationers have for centuries been developing and refining their intricate telepathic science and have acquired the mental capabilities that for the Mule are inborn. Has the Mule met his match? And does Arcadia, a 14-year-old girl, become the key link as the events unfold?
As far as I am concerned, this is not a sturdy stand-alone novel, therefore, you would need to read the previous two parts, for all of this to make sense. Although, the narration flow of this novel is smoother than in the previous parts and the dialogues are well developed and psychologically intriguing, though, some of the jargon is dated.
Throughout the book, Asimov gives the advantage to the Second Foundationers due to their education in neuroscience, psychology, and sociology as well as presenting in a positive light their egalitarian society with a horizontal structure of government. Compared to the First Foundation, which is governed by a more conventional hierarchical structure where their strengths are derived from nuclear power, high-tech technology, commerce, and education in the physical sciences. But what science, 'mental' or 'physical', shows to be superior? And what system of government, 'vertical' or 'horizontal', prevails at the end of the novel?
There is a whole series of these novels but I think that I will pause with completing just this Trilogy and perhaps come back to it one day.
The Mule, after conquering the First Foundation, which is at the forefront of the physical sciences in the Galaxy, is in a restless search to find and eliminate the Second Foundation. The Second Foundation is the Mule's only threat and obstacle in uniting the Galaxy under his tyrannical rule. The Mule is a mutant with supreme mental powers capable of tampering with and manipulating the emotions of others while converting them into his loyal devotees. But the Mule is in for a surprise, as the Second Foundationers have for centuries been developing and refining their intricate telepathic science and have acquired the mental capabilities that for the Mule are inborn. Has the Mule met his match? And does Arcadia, a 14-year-old girl, become the key link as the events unfold?
As far as I am concerned, this is not a sturdy stand-alone novel, therefore, you would need to read the previous two parts, for all of this to make sense. Although, the narration flow of this novel is smoother than in the previous parts and the dialogues are well developed and psychologically intriguing, though, some of the jargon is dated.
Throughout the book, Asimov gives the advantage to the Second Foundationers due to their education in neuroscience, psychology, and sociology as well as presenting in a positive light their egalitarian society with a horizontal structure of government. Compared to the First Foundation, which is governed by a more conventional hierarchical structure where their strengths are derived from nuclear power, high-tech technology, commerce, and education in the physical sciences. But what science, 'mental' or 'physical', shows to be superior? And what system of government, 'vertical' or 'horizontal', prevails at the end of the novel?
There is a whole series of these novels but I think that I will pause with completing just this Trilogy and perhaps come back to it one day.
September 27, 2023
[Original review, 2008]
It's so funny when SF writers, especially ones like Asimov who take themselves seriously, try to predict the future. This book contains one of my favorite examples of getting it completely wrong. We're God knows how many thousands of years on from now, they have faster-than-light travel and force fields and any number of other miraculous inventions, but what is the absolute latest, cutting-edge technology?
Well... it looks rather like Dragon Dictate, with a printer that produces cursive handwriting. Except that, hm, they don't seem to have invented Microsoft Word yet. Maybe WYSIWYG text editors aren't as obvious an idea as we all think?
___________________
[Update, Sep 2023]
Rereading this after a gap of fifty years, I liked it better than I did as a teen. The futurology is indeed ridiculous. But the idea of the Second Foundation is haunting and thought-provoking. The Galactic Empire doesn't make sense; as Asimov himself said, it's just an SF transposition of the Roman Empire. I didn't think of this in 1972, but suppose the book is telling the story of our own world in an indirect way? Suppose there really were a Second Foundation, guiding history towards a long-term goal which only they were properly aware of and fighting off unexpected challenges from charismatic human leaders who threaten to derail the Plan? You see echoes of this in Quigley's controversial Tragedy and Hope.
Needless to say, Quigley is mostly popular among conspiracy theorists, and I don't seriously believe the idea. But it's somehow a very attractive one. You can't help wondering, and perhaps this is what gives the "Foundation" series its force.
It's so funny when SF writers, especially ones like Asimov who take themselves seriously, try to predict the future. This book contains one of my favorite examples of getting it completely wrong. We're God knows how many thousands of years on from now, they have faster-than-light travel and force fields and any number of other miraculous inventions, but what is the absolute latest, cutting-edge technology?
Well... it looks rather like Dragon Dictate, with a printer that produces cursive handwriting. Except that, hm, they don't seem to have invented Microsoft Word yet. Maybe WYSIWYG text editors aren't as obvious an idea as we all think?
___________________
[Update, Sep 2023]
Rereading this after a gap of fifty years, I liked it better than I did as a teen. The futurology is indeed ridiculous. But the idea of the Second Foundation is haunting and thought-provoking. The Galactic Empire doesn't make sense; as Asimov himself said, it's just an SF transposition of the Roman Empire. I didn't think of this in 1972, but suppose the book is telling the story of our own world in an indirect way? Suppose there really were a Second Foundation, guiding history towards a long-term goal which only they were properly aware of and fighting off unexpected challenges from charismatic human leaders who threaten to derail the Plan? You see echoes of this in Quigley's controversial Tragedy and Hope.
Needless to say, Quigley is mostly popular among conspiracy theorists, and I don't seriously believe the idea. But it's somehow a very attractive one. You can't help wondering, and perhaps this is what gives the "Foundation" series its force.
November 15, 2021
This concludes my re-read of the original trilogy that I've read not too long ago. Reason for the re-read was the AppleTV+ show although the contents of this original trilogy isn't being handled just yet (I couldn't pace myself ;P).
As the title suggests, it's all about that elusive Second Foundation whose members have psychic abilities, which makes it much more of a threat to the mule. But he isn't the onyl one looking for it.
Interesting, here, was the fate of the First Foundation (another lesson in futility) and where it all led in the end, once the Mule was gone (it's no spoiler, his name gave it away long ago).
Originally, I wasn't too much into Asimov's story element of psychic abilities (they play a part in his robot stories as well), but I have to say that I had a change of heart. It makes for a nice equilibrium with all the tech and maths.
As always, for a more detailed look at the story itself as well as the writing, see my original review below. But rest assured, I'm still loving this tremendously. Which is why I shall continue with the other two books the author penned in this series.
Original review:
This book concludes the original tale of the Foundation and it is a worthy ending.
Like the second book, this had not several shorter stories forming a mosaic to introduce the reader to the galaxy as had the first, but had only two parts:
- Search by the Mule
- Search by the Foundation
The first part resumes the tale where it had left off at the end of the second book: the Mule is still ruling the galaxy after having beaten the Foundation and is more powerful than ever. He knows however that there is another, a Second Foundation, and that its members have mental powers much like he does (as opposed to the strictly technological approach by the First Foundation) and that is dangerous since it could undo all the conditioning he's done on most people within his galactic Empire. Two men are thus sent out to find the Second Foundation and destroy it, one of which was a character I liked very much: Han Pritcher. The other is a young and unconditioned upstart
There is a lot of back and forth with forcefully obtained information, some of which turns out to be intentionally wrong and then we get the showdown with the leader of the Second Foundation. The end actually surprised me a bit here.
The second part takes place 60 years after the above mentioned events. The Mule is dead and Moreover, since the true reason for the Mule's name was that he could not have any children, we are in a sort of limbo: we have the planet Kalgan on which the Mule ruled and which still stands apart from the rest of the galaxy that is under the rule of the Foundation once again. Moreover, most Foundationists are now aware of the existance of the Second Foundation but opinions differ greatly. Some see them as the safeguards of the Seldon plan, others are highly suspicious of them due to their mental powers.
Personally, I dislike the first group because they became lazy and understand the latter group because the whole idea of people being able (whether genetically or through training doesn't matter) to manipulate another person's mind is highly disturbing.
The ruler of Kalgan, at one point, declares war on the Foundation but loses (not really a spoiler), proving that the Foundation is strong enough to withstand even a violent conflict (they lacked the self-confidence at first after what had happened to them thanks to the Mule).
As a side character, we get the granddaughter of Bayta (the woman who made sure the Mule couldn't find the Second Foundation in the previous book). A bright 14-year-old, slightly too romantic in her notions, but I liked her very much. Especially since the view on women throughout the galaxy (no matter who rules) is preposterous!
We get another chase through a couple of worlds and a mystery and then there is the question of where exactly the Second Foundation is. You see, there are people who try to find them in order to kill them all so nobody can manipulate any minds anymore. But the Second Foundation has foreseen this (and many other) problems and they have set in motion a plan (or several, actually) of their own.
I won't say more about the conclusion other than that I knew where the Second Foundation was pretty early on. Again, Asimov leaves enough bread crumbs for the reader to follow which is quite nice. The funny thing is that my thinking was a bit too complicated in fact.
It is also revealed just how intricate Hari Seldon's plan really was and how the Second Foundation works, what they regard (apparently correctly) as their "job", why there was never any psycho-scientist in the First Foundation and any other question readers might have had from the start. That was VERY large-scale.
What I definitely did not like, once again, is the notion of the uber-powerful Second Foundation. First, I don't think they would be this selfless - humans usually aren't. Secondly, I definitely don't like that everything had been calculated despite the fact that this was not predictable by psychohistory (remember: psychohistory can only predict the course of history where billions of people or more are involved, not individuals). It diminished ! When all was revealed at the end, this enraged me so much in fact, that I almost deducted a star (especially since it's a theme that irked me in the previous book already)! Except for the reveal who the First Speaker at that time was - that was hilarious! :D
And again I didn't deduct a star. Because this work is truly great in the literal sense of the word. Asimov deserves the title of "master" or "father of science fiction". His writing style remained top notch throughout, was "simple" yet unique, amiable and even got me through the drier parts where the Second Foundationists discussed (in infuriatingly vague but lengthy terms) what they must do or what was happening or what which theory means/entails (actually, the explanations were quite nice because it left nothing to be desired for, but still).
Getting into the story was easy and although Asimov seems to purposefully keep the reader a bit at a distance, you find yourself infuriated with the arrogance, ignorance or complacency of certain people / the repetition of events and actually feel for characters like Arkady (Bayta's granddaughter). He also manages to give each and every one of them a realistic and distinct voice although they are all quite different.
In fact, I am so happy I read this trilogy that I might read the other volumes too, just for completion's sake.
As the title suggests, it's all about that elusive Second Foundation whose members have psychic abilities, which makes it much more of a threat to the mule. But he isn't the onyl one looking for it.
Interesting, here, was the fate of the First Foundation (another lesson in futility) and where it all led in the end, once the Mule was gone (it's no spoiler, his name gave it away long ago).
Originally, I wasn't too much into Asimov's story element of psychic abilities (they play a part in his robot stories as well), but I have to say that I had a change of heart. It makes for a nice equilibrium with all the tech and maths.
As always, for a more detailed look at the story itself as well as the writing, see my original review below. But rest assured, I'm still loving this tremendously. Which is why I shall continue with the other two books the author penned in this series.
Original review:
This book concludes the original tale of the Foundation and it is a worthy ending.
Like the second book, this had not several shorter stories forming a mosaic to introduce the reader to the galaxy as had the first, but had only two parts:
- Search by the Mule
- Search by the Foundation
The first part resumes the tale where it had left off at the end of the second book: the Mule is still ruling the galaxy after having beaten the Foundation and is more powerful than ever. He knows however that there is another, a Second Foundation, and that its members have mental powers much like he does (as opposed to the strictly technological approach by the First Foundation) and that is dangerous since it could undo all the conditioning he's done on most people within his galactic Empire. Two men are thus sent out to find the Second Foundation and destroy it, one of which was a character I liked very much: Han Pritcher. The other is a young and unconditioned upstart
There is a lot of back and forth with forcefully obtained information, some of which turns out to be intentionally wrong and then we get the showdown with the leader of the Second Foundation. The end actually surprised me a bit here.
The second part takes place 60 years after the above mentioned events. The Mule is dead and Moreover, since the true reason for the Mule's name was that he could not have any children, we are in a sort of limbo: we have the planet Kalgan on which the Mule ruled and which still stands apart from the rest of the galaxy that is under the rule of the Foundation once again. Moreover, most Foundationists are now aware of the existance of the Second Foundation but opinions differ greatly. Some see them as the safeguards of the Seldon plan, others are highly suspicious of them due to their mental powers.
Personally, I dislike the first group because they became lazy and understand the latter group because the whole idea of people being able (whether genetically or through training doesn't matter) to manipulate another person's mind is highly disturbing.
The ruler of Kalgan, at one point, declares war on the Foundation but loses (not really a spoiler), proving that the Foundation is strong enough to withstand even a violent conflict (they lacked the self-confidence at first after what had happened to them thanks to the Mule).
As a side character, we get the granddaughter of Bayta (the woman who made sure the Mule couldn't find the Second Foundation in the previous book). A bright 14-year-old, slightly too romantic in her notions, but I liked her very much. Especially since the view on women throughout the galaxy (no matter who rules) is preposterous!
We get another chase through a couple of worlds and a mystery and then there is the question of where exactly the Second Foundation is. You see, there are people who try to find them in order to kill them all so nobody can manipulate any minds anymore. But the Second Foundation has foreseen this (and many other) problems and they have set in motion a plan (or several, actually) of their own.
I won't say more about the conclusion other than that I knew where the Second Foundation was pretty early on. Again, Asimov leaves enough bread crumbs for the reader to follow which is quite nice. The funny thing is that my thinking was a bit too complicated in fact.
It is also revealed just how intricate Hari Seldon's plan really was and how the Second Foundation works, what they regard (apparently correctly) as their "job", why there was never any psycho-scientist in the First Foundation and any other question readers might have had from the start. That was VERY large-scale.
What I definitely did not like, once again, is the notion of the uber-powerful Second Foundation. First, I don't think they would be this selfless - humans usually aren't. Secondly, I definitely don't like that everything had been calculated despite the fact that this was not predictable by psychohistory (remember: psychohistory can only predict the course of history where billions of people or more are involved, not individuals). It diminished ! When all was revealed at the end, this enraged me so much in fact, that I almost deducted a star (especially since it's a theme that irked me in the previous book already)! Except for the reveal who the First Speaker at that time was - that was hilarious! :D
And again I didn't deduct a star. Because this work is truly great in the literal sense of the word. Asimov deserves the title of "master" or "father of science fiction". His writing style remained top notch throughout, was "simple" yet unique, amiable and even got me through the drier parts where the Second Foundationists discussed (in infuriatingly vague but lengthy terms) what they must do or what was happening or what which theory means/entails (actually, the explanations were quite nice because it left nothing to be desired for, but still).
Getting into the story was easy and although Asimov seems to purposefully keep the reader a bit at a distance, you find yourself infuriated with the arrogance, ignorance or complacency of certain people / the repetition of events and actually feel for characters like Arkady (Bayta's granddaughter). He also manages to give each and every one of them a realistic and distinct voice although they are all quite different.
In fact, I am so happy I read this trilogy that I might read the other volumes too, just for completion's sake.
July 7, 2020
The book alone, I probably would have rated 3 stars out of 5, but I just noticed I rated 3 stars also the first two books in the trilogy, which baffles me because when I think of the Foundation trilogy, I do not think 3 stars. It seemed appropriate, therefore, to up the average rating of the series with this last chapter.
鈥淓very human being lived behind an impenetrable wall of choking mist within which no other but he existed.鈥�
What I loved about this particular instalment, and a thing that is quite evident more or less in all Asimov books, is that the solution of its plot is so layered, the reader gets lost in its endless folds. Second Foundation comprises more than one episode like its two predecessors, two in the case at hand, and in each of these halfway through the story the narrator starts offering us different explanations, preferably through the perspective of one of the characters, and this successfully contributes to creating an escalation of tension that masterfully resolves into the achievement of the last solution, necessarily the correct one. It's an extremely simple scheme, and yet an infallible one鈥攁t least in hands as capable as Asimov's.
As always, I could continue with various attempts at clarifying why I love this author, but I've written dozens of reviews/comments about him that you can find in a minute by browsing my shelves, so I won't repeat myself. (Though I would love to: my love for Asimov is a marvelous excuse for me to become repetitively verbose.)
And speaking of the devil--aka my tendency to repeat myself--of course I recommend the Foundation trilogy; in fact, to be precise, I recommend Asimov's whole bibliography in spite of not having read it all myself. That's how much I love him.
鈥淓very human being lived behind an impenetrable wall of choking mist within which no other but he existed.鈥�
What I loved about this particular instalment, and a thing that is quite evident more or less in all Asimov books, is that the solution of its plot is so layered, the reader gets lost in its endless folds. Second Foundation comprises more than one episode like its two predecessors, two in the case at hand, and in each of these halfway through the story the narrator starts offering us different explanations, preferably through the perspective of one of the characters, and this successfully contributes to creating an escalation of tension that masterfully resolves into the achievement of the last solution, necessarily the correct one. It's an extremely simple scheme, and yet an infallible one鈥攁t least in hands as capable as Asimov's.
As always, I could continue with various attempts at clarifying why I love this author, but I've written dozens of reviews/comments about him that you can find in a minute by browsing my shelves, so I won't repeat myself. (Though I would love to: my love for Asimov is a marvelous excuse for me to become repetitively verbose.)
And speaking of the devil--aka my tendency to repeat myself--of course I recommend the Foundation trilogy; in fact, to be precise, I recommend Asimov's whole bibliography in spite of not having read it all myself. That's how much I love him.
March 1, 2023
亘賳蹖丕丿貙 倬丕蹖賴鈥屬囏й� 跇丕賳乇 毓賱賲蹖鈥屫屬勠�
丕夭 乇賵夭诏丕乇丕賳 賯丿蹖賲 爻丕丿賴 賳賵卮鬲賳 爻禺鬲鈥屫臂屬� 賳賵毓 賳賵蹖爻賳丿诏蹖 亘賵丿賴 丕爻鬲貙 賲賴丕乇鬲蹖 讴賴 丌蹖夭丕讴 丌爻蹖賲賵賮 丿乇 丌賳 丕爻鬲丕丿 亘賵丿貙 丕賵 丿乇 胤蹖 丿賵乇丕賳 賳賵蹖爻賳丿诏蹖 禺賵丿 丌孬丕乇 夭蹖丕丿蹖 趩賴 丿丕爻鬲丕賳蹖 賵 趩賴 睾蹖乇丿丕爻鬲丕賳蹖 丕夭 禺賵丿 亘賴 噩丕蹖 诏匕丕卮鬲賴 讴賴 亘丕賱睾 亘乇 鄞鄯郯 讴鬲丕亘 丿乇 賲賵囟賵毓丕鬲蹖 賲鬲賳賵毓貙 丕夭 毓賱賲 诏乇賮鬲賴 鬲丕 卮讴爻倬蹖乇 賵 鬲丕乇蹖禺貙 丕爻鬲 賵 賴賲賵丕乇賴 毓賳氐乇 賲卮鬲乇讴 丌孬丕乇 丕賵 爻丕丿诏蹖 賵 爻乇乇丕爻鬲 亘賵丿賳 賴爻鬲貙 賲賳馗賵乇 賲丕 丕夭 爻丕丿诏蹖 丿乇 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬囏й� 丌爻蹖賲賵賮 氐乇賮丕賸 爻丕丿诏蹖 賳孬乇 賵 讴賱賲丕鬲 賳蹖爻鬲貙 亘賱讴賴 丌爻蹖賲賵賮 爻丕丿诏蹖 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬囏й� 禺賵丿 乇丕 賵丕乇丿 賳賵毓 賮囟丕爻丕夭蹖 賵 乇賵丕蹖鬲 賴賲 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀� 亘賳蹖丕丿 丕孬乇 卮丕禺氐 丌爻蹖賲賵賮 賴賲 丿賯蹖賯丕賸 亘賴 賴賲蹖賳 爻亘讴 賵 爻蹖丕賯 賳賵卮鬲賴 卮丿賴 丕爻鬲.
賴乇 鬲賲丿賳蹖 讴賴 丿爻鬲 亘賴 丕亘丿丕毓 賵 賳賵丌賵乇蹖 賳夭賳丿貙 賴乇 鬲賲丿賳蹖 讴賴 倬丕爻禺 倬乇爻卮鈥屬囏й屫� 乇丕 丿乇 鬲丨賯蹖賯丕鬲 诏匕卮鬲诏丕賳 亘噩賵蹖丿貙 賴乇 鬲賲丿賳蹖 讴賴 丿丕賳爻鬲賴鈥屬囏й屫� 亘蹖卮鬲乇 丕夭 賳丿丕賳爻鬲賴鈥屬囏й屫� 亘丕卮丿貙 賲丨讴賵賲 亘賴 賳丕亘賵丿蹖 賴爻鬲. 丕賲倬乇丕胤賵乇蹖 讴賴卮讴丕賳 亘賴 賲丿鬲 丿賵丕夭丿賴 賴夭丕乇 爻丕賱 亘乇 亘蹖爻鬲 賲蹖賱蹖賵賳 爻蹖丕乇賴鈥屰� 亘卮乇 丨讴賲 乇丕賳丿賴 賵 丿乇 鬲賲丕賲 丕蹖賳 丿賵乇丕賳 氐賱丨 賵 丌乇丕賲卮 乇丕 亘乇賯乇丕乇 讴乇丿賴. 丕賲丕 亘賴 丌賳 賲卮讴賱丕鬲蹖 丿趩丕乇 卮丿賴 讴賴 鬲賲丿賳鈥屬囏й� 丿蹖诏乇 乇丕 亘賴 賳丕亘賵丿蹖 讴卮丕賳丿賴 賵 丿乇 賳鬲蹖噩賴 賮乇賵倬丕卮蹖 賳夭丿蹖讴 丕爻鬲. 亘丕 丕蹖賳 賴賲賴貙 鬲賳賴丕 賴乇蹖 爻賱丿賵賳 乇蹖丕囟蹖丿丕賳 丕蹖賳 賲爻卅賱賴 乇丕 賲蹖鈥屫з嗀�. 爻賱丿賵賳 毓賱賲蹖鈥� 丕亘丿丕毓 讴乇丿賴 丕爻鬲 亘賴 賳丕賲 芦乇賵丕賳 鬲丕乇蹖禺禄 讴賴 亘丕 讴賲讴 丌賳 賲蹖鈥屫堌з嗀� 丌蹖賳丿賴 乇丕 芦亘亘蹖賳丿禄 乇蹖丕囟蹖丕鬲 丕賵賳 賳卮丕賳 賲蹖鈥屫囏� 讴賴 賵賯鬲蹖 丕賲倬乇丕胤賵乇蹖 賮乇賵亘倬丕卮丿貙 爻蹖 賴夭丕乇 爻丕賱 亘乇亘乇蹖鬲 賵 亘蹖鈥屫呚嗃� 亘乇 讴賴讴卮丕賳 丨丕讴賲 禺賵丕賴丿 卮丿 鬲丕 丕賲倬乇丕胤賵乇蹖 鬲丕夭賴鈥屫й� 爻乇 亘乇亘蹖丕賵乇丿.
丌蹖夭丕讴 丌爻蹖賲賵賮 賳賵卮鬲賳 賲噩賲賵毓賴鈥屰� 芦亘賳蹖丕丿禄 乇丕 丿乇 爻賳 鄄鄄 爻丕賱诏蹖 丌睾丕夭 讴乇丿 賵 讴賱賲賴 亘賴 讴賱賲賴 亘乇 丌賳 丕賮夭賵丿 鬲丕 丿乇 賳賴丕蹖鬲 芦亘賳蹖丕丿禄 鬲亘丿蹖賱 亘賴 蹖讴蹖 丕夭 毓馗蹖賲鈥屫臂屬� 倬丕蹖賴鈥屬囏й� 跇丕賳乇 毓賱賲蹖鈥屫屬勠� 卮賵丿貙 賵 丕夭 禺賵丿 丌爻蹖賲賵賮 亘賴 毓賳賵丕賳 蹖讴蹖 丕夭 賳賵蹖爻賳丿诏丕賳 賲孬賱孬 胤賱丕蹖蹖 丿賵乇丕賳 毓賱賲蹖鈥屫屬勠� 蹖丕丿 卮賵丿.
丕賵賱蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 丕夭 賲噩賲賵毓賴 賴賮鬲鈥屫勜� 丌爻蹖賲賵賮 亘賴 賳丕賲 亘賳蹖丕丿 丿乇 爻丕賱 郾酃鄣郾 趩丕倬 卮丿 賵 賲卮鬲讴賱 丕夭 趩賴丕乇 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 亘賱賳丿 亘賵丿貙 亘毓丿鈥屬囏� 丌爻蹖賲賵賮 亘乇丕蹖 丿乇讴 亘賴鬲乇 賲禺丕胤亘丕賳 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 倬賳噩賲蹖 賴賲 賳賵卮鬲 讴賴 亘賴 氐賵乇鬲 賲賯丿賲賴 讴鬲丕亘 丕賵賱 賲噩賲賵毓賴 丿乇 丌賲丿.
亘賴 氐賵乇鬲 讴賱蹖 爻賴鈥屭з嗁� 丕氐賱蹖 亘賳蹖丕丿 毓亘丕乇鬲鈥屫з嗀� 丕夭: 郾. 亘賳蹖丕丿 (Foundation) 鄄. 亘賳蹖丕丿 賵 丕賲倬乇丕胤賵乇蹖 (Foundation and Empire) 鄢. 亘賳蹖丕丿 丿賵賲 (Second Foundation). 亘賴 賴賲蹖賳 賲賳賵丕賱 丿賳亘丕賱賴鈥屬囏й� 賴賲 亘賴 鬲乇鬲蹖亘 夭賲丕賳亘賳丿蹖 丿丕爻鬲丕賳蹖貙 賳賴 鬲乇鬲蹖亘 丕賳鬲卮丕乇 毓亘丕乇鬲鈥屫з嗀� 丕夭: 郾. 爻乇丌睾丕夭 亘賳蹖丕丿 (Prelude To Foundation) 鄄. 倬蹖卮亘乇丿 亘賳蹖丕丿 (Forward The Foundation) 讴賴 夭賲丕賳 賵賯賵毓鈥屫簇з� 賯亘賱 丕夭 亘賳蹖丕丿貙 蹖毓賳蹖 噩賱丿 丕賵賱 爻賴鈥屭з嗁� 丕爻鬲貨 鄢. 賱亘賴 亘賳蹖丕丿 (Foundation's Edge) 賵 鄞. 亘賳蹖丕丿 賵 夭賲蹖賳 (Foundation and Earth) 丕爻鬲 讴賴 夭賲丕賳 賵賯賵毓鈥屫簇з� 亘毓丿 丕夭 亘賳蹖丕丿 丿賵賲 蹖毓賳蹖 噩賱丿 爻賵賲 爻賴鈥屭з嗁� 丕爻鬲.
亘禺卮 賵爻蹖毓蹖 丕夭 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賲噩賲賵毓賴 亘賳蹖丕丿 丿乇 賲讴丕賱賲丕鬲 亘蹖賳 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬囏� 丿乇 噩乇蹖丕賳 丕爻鬲貙 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬囏й屰� 讴賴 賲毓賲賵賱丕賸 鬲讴鈥屫ㄘ关屸€屫з嗀� 丌爻蹖賲賵賮 賴蹖趩賵賯鬲 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬矩必ж� 禺賵亘蹖 賳亘賵丿賴 賵 丿乇 賵丕賯毓 賳賲蹖鈥屫堌з囏� 賵賯鬲 禺賵丿 乇丕 亘丕 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬矩必ж槽� 鬲賱賮 讴賳丿貙 賵 鬲賲乇讴夭 禺賵丿 乇丕 丿乇 倬蹖卮亘乇丿 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賵 丕蹖丿賴 丕氐賱蹖 賲蹖鈥屭柏ж必�.
丕夭 亘賳蹖丕丿 亘賴鈥屫官嗁堌з� 睾蹖乇丌爻蹖賲賵賮蹖鈥屫臂屬� 丕孬乇 丌爻蹖賲賵賮 蹖丕丿 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁嗀� 賵 丿賱蹖賱 丌賳 賴賲 賮賯丿丕賳 賴蹖噩丕賳 賵 囟乇亘丌賴賳诏 鬲賵丕賱蹖 丕鬲賮丕賯丕鬲 倬蹖賵爻鬲賴 讴賴 丕诏乇 亘禺賵丕賴蹖賲 爻丕丿賴鈥屫� 亘诏賵蹖蹖賲 賴賲丕賳 鬲毓賱蹖賯 賴爻鬲貨 鬲賵噩賴 丿丕卮鬲賴 亘丕卮蹖丿 跇丕賳乇 毓賱賲蹖鈥屫屬勠� 賴賲蹖卮賴 亘賴 爻乇毓鬲 乇賵丕蹖鬲 爻乇蹖毓 禺賵丿 賵 丿乇诏蹖乇蹖鈥屬囏й� 賱丨馗賴鈥屫й� 倬乇 丕夭 賴蹖噩丕賳 賲毓乇賵賮 丕爻鬲 讴賴 丕孬乇 卮丕禺氐 丌爻蹖賲賵賮 匕乇賴鈥屫й� 丕夭 丌賳 乇丕 賳丿丕乇丿貨 鬲賳賴丕 鬲賵氐蹖賮 賳亘乇丿 丿乇 亘賳蹖丕丿 亘賴 丿賵 禺胤 賲丨丿賵丿 賲蹖鈥屫促堌� 讴賴 丌賳 賴賲 丕夭 夭亘丕賳 卮禺氐蹖鬲蹖 賴爻鬲 讴賴 讴丕賲賱丕賸 亘賴 丿賵乇 丕夭 賲賴賱讴賴 賵 丿乇 丌乇丕賲卮 鬲賲丕賲 賳丕馗乇 鬲賲丕賲 賲丕噩乇丕爻鬲.
爻賵丕賱蹖 讴賴 賲賲讴賳 丕爻鬲 亘乇丕蹖 卮賲丕 倬蹖卮 亘蹖丕蹖丿 丨鬲賲丕賸 丕蹖賳 丕爻鬲 讴賴 倬爻 趩乇丕 亘賳蹖丕丿 丕蹖賳賯丿乇 賲毓乇賵賮 賲丕賳丿賴 丕爻鬲 賵 趩乇丕 丕夭 丌賳 亘賴 毓賳賵丕賳 蹖讴蹖 丕夭 亘賴鬲乇蹖賳 丿丕爻鬲丕賳鈥屬囏й� 毓賱賲蹖鈥屫屬勠� 鬲丕乇蹖禺 (鬲賳賴丕 丿丕爻鬲丕賳蹖 讴賴 亘賴 丕賳鬲禺丕亘 賲噩賱賴 芦World Science Fiction Convention禄 亘乇賳丿賴 噩丕蹖夭賴 亘賴鬲乇蹖賳 賲噩賲賵毓賴 诏賲丕賳賴鈥屫操� 鬲丕乇蹖禺 卮丿貙 丿乇 丨丕賱蹖 讴賴 賳丕賲夭丿 丿蹖诏乇 賴賲蹖賳 噩丕蹖夭賴 丕乇亘丕亘 丨賱賯賴鈥屬囏� 卮丕賴讴丕乇 噩賴丕賳鈥屫⒇促堌� 鬲丕賱讴蹖賳 亘賵丿.) 蹖丕丿 賲蹖鈥屫促堌� 噩賵丕亘 賲丕 亘賴 卮賲丕 賵丕囟丨 丕爻鬲貙 丕蹖丿賴 亘賳蹖丕丿 賵 毓馗賲鬲 丿丕爻鬲丕賳蹖 讴賴 乇賵丕蹖鬲 賲蹖鈥屫促堌� 亘賳蹖丕丿 乇丕噩毓 賴蹖趩 卮禺氐蹖鬲 賵 丿賵乇賴 讴賵鬲丕賴 賲丿鬲蹖 賳蹖爻鬲貙 亘賳蹖丕丿 乇丕噩毓 亘賴 爻賯賵胤 賵 馗賴賵乇 丕賲倬乇丕胤賵乇蹖鈥屬囏й� 讴賴讴卮丕賳蹖鈥屫池� 亘賴 毓亘丕乇鬲蹖 亘賳蹖丕丿 賴賲丕賳 鬲丕乇蹖禺 丕爻鬲貙 鬲丕乇蹖禺蹖 讴賴 亘賴 賵丕爻胤賴 毓賱賲 芦乇賵丕賳鈥屫ж臂屫� 讴賴 讴丕乇卮 倬蹖卮鈥屫ㄛ屬嗃� 丕鬲賮丕賯丕鬲蹖 賴爻鬲 讴賴 亘乇丕蹖 讴賱蹖鬲 亘卮乇 丿乇 賲賯蹖丕爻 讴賴讴卮丕賳蹖 乇禺 賲蹖鈥屫囏� 賲賳鬲賴丕 乇賵丕賳鈥屫ж臂屫� 賳賲蹖鈥屫堌з嗀� 夭賳丿诏蹖 賮乇丿賴丕 賵 賮乇丿蹖鬲鈥屬囏� 乇丕 倬蹖卮鈥屫ㄛ屬嗃� 讴賳丿 亘賱讴賴 賱丕夭賲賴 讴丕乇讴乇丿 丌賳 賵噩賵丿 鬲賵丿賴鈥屬囏й� 毓馗蹖賲 噩賲毓蹖鬲 賴爻鬲 讴賴 賴賲蹖賳 賲賵囟賵毓 賳蹖夭 賲蹖鈥屫堌з嗀� 毓丿賲 賵噩賵丿 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬矩必ж槽� 賯賵蹖 賵 毓賲蹖賯 讴鬲丕亘 乇丕 鬲賵噩蹖賴 讴賳丿貙 丿賱蹖賱蹖 讴賴 賲蹖鈥屭堐屫� 亘賳蹖丕丿 亘賴 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬囏� 丕賴賲蹖鬲蹖 賳賲蹖鈥屫囏� 亘乇丕蹖 賲孬丕賱 賵賯鬲蹖 賲蹖鈥屫堌з囒屫� 氐亘丨鬲 丕夭 毓賱賲蹖 賲丕賳賳丿 夭賲蹖賳鈥屫促嗀ж驰� 讴賳蹖丿 丿賵乇賴鈥屬囏й� 夭賲丕賳蹖 讴賵鬲丕賴鈥屬呚� 賵 丨鬲蹖 氐丿 爻丕賱賴 亘乇丕蹖鬲丕賳 亘賴 丨丕賱鬲 趩卮賲鈥� 亘乇賴賲鈥屫藏� 賲蹖鈥屭柏必� 賵 丌賳趩賳丕賳 丕賴賲蹖鬲蹖 亘賴 丌賳 賳賲蹖鈥屫囒屫� 亘丕蹖丿 亘賴 卮賲丕 亘诏賵蹖蹖賲 亘賴 賴賲蹖賳 賳爻亘鬲 亘賳蹖丕丿 亘賴 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬囏й屰� 讴賴 賲蹖鈥屫③屬嗀� 賵 賲蹖鈥屫辟堎嗀� 丕賴賲蹖鬲蹖 賳賲蹖鈥屫囏�.
乇丕噩毓 亘賴 賳讴丕鬲 賲孬亘鬲 亘賳蹖丕丿 賲蹖鈥屫堌з嗃屬� 鬲丕 丕亘丿蹖鬲 丨乇賮 亘夭賳蹖賲 賵賱蹖 亘诏匕丕乇蹖丿 丕賳丿讴蹖 賴賲 乇丕噩毓 亘賴 囟毓賮鈥屬囏й� 亘賳蹖丕丿 賴卮丿丕乇 亘丿賴蹖賲貨 讴賲蹖 賯亘賱鈥屫� 匕讴乇 讴乇丿蹖賲 亘賳蹖丕丿 丕孬乇蹖 亘丕 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬矩必ж槽� 毓賲蹖賯 賳蹖爻鬲貙 賵 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬囏й� 丌賳 毓賲賵賲丕賸 丕賳爻丕賳鈥屬囏й屰� 鬲讴鈥屫ㄘ关� 賵 賮丕賯丿 丿乇賵賳蹖丕鬲 倬蹖趩蹖丿賴 賴爻鬲賳丿貙 丨丕賱丕 亘丕蹖丿 亘诏賵蹖蹖賲 毓賱丕賵賴 亘乇 鬲讴鈥屫ㄘ关� 亘賵丿賳 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬囏й� 丌爻蹖賲賵賮 丕夭 鬲讴鈥屫嗀驰� 亘賵丿賳 賴賲 乇賳噩 賲蹖鈥屫ㄘ辟嗀� 丌爻蹖賲賵賮 胤亘賯 诏賮鬲賴 禺賵丿 鬲丕 賯亘賱 丕夭 賳賵卮鬲賳 亘賳蹖丕丿 賵 丿乇 讴賱 鬲丕 賯亘賱 丕夭 丕夭丿賵丕噩 讴乇丿賳 賴蹖趩鈥屭堎嗁� 賲毓丕卮乇鬲蹖 亘丕 夭賳鈥屬囏� 賳丿丕卮鬲貙 卮丕蹖丿 亘賴 賴賲蹖賳 毓賱鬲 丕爻鬲 讴賴 賲噩賲賵毓賴 亘賳蹖丕丿 丿乇 爻賴鈥屭з嗁� 丕賵賱 鬲賯乇蹖亘丕賸 賮丕賯丿 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬囏й� 夭賳 賴爻鬲貙 賵 丕诏乇 卮禺氐蹖鬲 夭賳蹖 賴爻鬲 氐乇賮丕賸 丕爻鬲賮丕丿賴鈥屫й� 讴賱蹖卮賴鈥屫й� 賵 亘賴 賯賵賱 賲毓乇賵賮 賮賳 爻乇賵蹖爻蹖 丕夭 丌賳 卮丿賴 丕爻鬲貙 亘乇丕蹖 賴賲蹖锟斤拷 禺賵丕賳丿賳 亘賳蹖丕丿 亘乇丕蹖 卮賲丕 禺賵丕賳賳丿賴 丕賲乇賵夭蹖 賵 丿乇 賯乇賳 丨丕囟乇 賲賲讴賳 丕爻鬲 爻禺鬲 亘丕卮丿 賵 賳鬲賵丕賳蹖丿 亘賴 乇丕丨鬲蹖 丕夭 禺賵丕賳丿賳 讴鬲丕亘 賵 丕蹖丿賴鈥屬囏й� 噩匕丕亘 丌賳 賱匕鬲 亘亘乇蹖丿.
丿乇 讴賱丕賲 丌禺乇 亘賴 鬲賲丕賲 卮賲丕 禺賵丕賳賳丿诏丕賳 毓夭蹖夭 賱丕夭賲 賲蹖鈥屫堎嗁� 蹖丕丿丌賵乇蹖 讴賳賲 讴賴 賲噩賲賵毓賴 亘賳蹖丕丿 丌爻蹖賲賵賮 卮丕賴讴丕乇蹖 亘蹖鈥屬囐呚ж池� 賴蹖趩賵賯鬲 亘賴 賲丕賳賳丿 丌賳 趩蹖夭蹖 賳賵卮鬲賴 賳卮丿賴 賵 丕丨鬲賲丕賱丕賸 亘毓丿賴丕 賴賲 賳賵卮鬲賴 賳禺賵丕賴丿 卮丿貨 乇賲丕賳鈥屬囏й� 亘賳蹖丕丿 亘賴鈥屫必嘿� 賮賯丿丕賳 鬲毓賱蹖賯鈥屬囏й� 賲毓賲賵賱 賵 亘賴鈥屫必嘿� 賳亘賵丿賳 賯賴乇賲丕賳 賵 囟丿賯賴乇賲丕賳貙 亘蹖鈥屫з嗀ж操� 賴蹖噩丕賳鈥屫з嗂屫操嗀� 賵 亘乇丕蹖 卮賲丕 胤乇賮丿丕乇丕賳 丿賵 丌鬲卮賴 毓賱賲蹖鈥屫屬勠� 賳賵卮鬲賴 卮丿賴鈥屫з嗀� 賲賳鬲賴丕蹖 毓賲賱 亘賱賴 亘賳蹖丕丿 丕蹖乇丕丿丕鬲蹖 賴賲 丿丕乇丿貙 丨丕賱 賵 賴賵丕蹖 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬囏й� 亘賳蹖丕丿 亘丕 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬囏й� 丿丕爻鬲丕蹖賮爻讴蹖 賲鬲賮丕賵鬲 丕爻鬲! 鬲賵氐蹖賮丕鬲 賵 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬囏� 丌賳趩賳丕賳 禺賵亘 賳蹖爻鬲賳丿 賵 丕蹖乇丕丿丕鬲 毓賱賲蹖鈥� 賴賲 賵噩賵丿 丿丕乇賳丿貙 賲賳鬲賴丕蹖 毓賲賱 亘賳蹖丕丿 賯氐賴鈥屫й� 賴爻鬲 讴賴 亘丕蹖丿 亘禺賵丕賳蹖丿 賵 丌賳 賮乇氐鬲蹖 丿賴蹖丿 讴賴 丕賮讴丕乇 賵 丨丿 賵 賲乇夭賴丕蹖 匕賴賳 卮賲丕 乇丕 丿乇賴賲 卮讴賳丿.
丕夭 乇賵夭诏丕乇丕賳 賯丿蹖賲 爻丕丿賴 賳賵卮鬲賳 爻禺鬲鈥屫臂屬� 賳賵毓 賳賵蹖爻賳丿诏蹖 亘賵丿賴 丕爻鬲貙 賲賴丕乇鬲蹖 讴賴 丌蹖夭丕讴 丌爻蹖賲賵賮 丿乇 丌賳 丕爻鬲丕丿 亘賵丿貙 丕賵 丿乇 胤蹖 丿賵乇丕賳 賳賵蹖爻賳丿诏蹖 禺賵丿 丌孬丕乇 夭蹖丕丿蹖 趩賴 丿丕爻鬲丕賳蹖 賵 趩賴 睾蹖乇丿丕爻鬲丕賳蹖 丕夭 禺賵丿 亘賴 噩丕蹖 诏匕丕卮鬲賴 讴賴 亘丕賱睾 亘乇 鄞鄯郯 讴鬲丕亘 丿乇 賲賵囟賵毓丕鬲蹖 賲鬲賳賵毓貙 丕夭 毓賱賲 诏乇賮鬲賴 鬲丕 卮讴爻倬蹖乇 賵 鬲丕乇蹖禺貙 丕爻鬲 賵 賴賲賵丕乇賴 毓賳氐乇 賲卮鬲乇讴 丌孬丕乇 丕賵 爻丕丿诏蹖 賵 爻乇乇丕爻鬲 亘賵丿賳 賴爻鬲貙 賲賳馗賵乇 賲丕 丕夭 爻丕丿诏蹖 丿乇 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬囏й� 丌爻蹖賲賵賮 氐乇賮丕賸 爻丕丿诏蹖 賳孬乇 賵 讴賱賲丕鬲 賳蹖爻鬲貙 亘賱讴賴 丌爻蹖賲賵賮 爻丕丿诏蹖 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬囏й� 禺賵丿 乇丕 賵丕乇丿 賳賵毓 賮囟丕爻丕夭蹖 賵 乇賵丕蹖鬲 賴賲 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀� 亘賳蹖丕丿 丕孬乇 卮丕禺氐 丌爻蹖賲賵賮 賴賲 丿賯蹖賯丕賸 亘賴 賴賲蹖賳 爻亘讴 賵 爻蹖丕賯 賳賵卮鬲賴 卮丿賴 丕爻鬲.
賴乇 鬲賲丿賳蹖 讴賴 丿爻鬲 亘賴 丕亘丿丕毓 賵 賳賵丌賵乇蹖 賳夭賳丿貙 賴乇 鬲賲丿賳蹖 讴賴 倬丕爻禺 倬乇爻卮鈥屬囏й屫� 乇丕 丿乇 鬲丨賯蹖賯丕鬲 诏匕卮鬲诏丕賳 亘噩賵蹖丿貙 賴乇 鬲賲丿賳蹖 讴賴 丿丕賳爻鬲賴鈥屬囏й屫� 亘蹖卮鬲乇 丕夭 賳丿丕賳爻鬲賴鈥屬囏й屫� 亘丕卮丿貙 賲丨讴賵賲 亘賴 賳丕亘賵丿蹖 賴爻鬲. 丕賲倬乇丕胤賵乇蹖 讴賴卮讴丕賳 亘賴 賲丿鬲 丿賵丕夭丿賴 賴夭丕乇 爻丕賱 亘乇 亘蹖爻鬲 賲蹖賱蹖賵賳 爻蹖丕乇賴鈥屰� 亘卮乇 丨讴賲 乇丕賳丿賴 賵 丿乇 鬲賲丕賲 丕蹖賳 丿賵乇丕賳 氐賱丨 賵 丌乇丕賲卮 乇丕 亘乇賯乇丕乇 讴乇丿賴. 丕賲丕 亘賴 丌賳 賲卮讴賱丕鬲蹖 丿趩丕乇 卮丿賴 讴賴 鬲賲丿賳鈥屬囏й� 丿蹖诏乇 乇丕 亘賴 賳丕亘賵丿蹖 讴卮丕賳丿賴 賵 丿乇 賳鬲蹖噩賴 賮乇賵倬丕卮蹖 賳夭丿蹖讴 丕爻鬲. 亘丕 丕蹖賳 賴賲賴貙 鬲賳賴丕 賴乇蹖 爻賱丿賵賳 乇蹖丕囟蹖丿丕賳 丕蹖賳 賲爻卅賱賴 乇丕 賲蹖鈥屫з嗀�. 爻賱丿賵賳 毓賱賲蹖鈥� 丕亘丿丕毓 讴乇丿賴 丕爻鬲 亘賴 賳丕賲 芦乇賵丕賳 鬲丕乇蹖禺禄 讴賴 亘丕 讴賲讴 丌賳 賲蹖鈥屫堌з嗀� 丌蹖賳丿賴 乇丕 芦亘亘蹖賳丿禄 乇蹖丕囟蹖丕鬲 丕賵賳 賳卮丕賳 賲蹖鈥屫囏� 讴賴 賵賯鬲蹖 丕賲倬乇丕胤賵乇蹖 賮乇賵亘倬丕卮丿貙 爻蹖 賴夭丕乇 爻丕賱 亘乇亘乇蹖鬲 賵 亘蹖鈥屫呚嗃� 亘乇 讴賴讴卮丕賳 丨丕讴賲 禺賵丕賴丿 卮丿 鬲丕 丕賲倬乇丕胤賵乇蹖 鬲丕夭賴鈥屫й� 爻乇 亘乇亘蹖丕賵乇丿.
丌蹖夭丕讴 丌爻蹖賲賵賮 賳賵卮鬲賳 賲噩賲賵毓賴鈥屰� 芦亘賳蹖丕丿禄 乇丕 丿乇 爻賳 鄄鄄 爻丕賱诏蹖 丌睾丕夭 讴乇丿 賵 讴賱賲賴 亘賴 讴賱賲賴 亘乇 丌賳 丕賮夭賵丿 鬲丕 丿乇 賳賴丕蹖鬲 芦亘賳蹖丕丿禄 鬲亘丿蹖賱 亘賴 蹖讴蹖 丕夭 毓馗蹖賲鈥屫臂屬� 倬丕蹖賴鈥屬囏й� 跇丕賳乇 毓賱賲蹖鈥屫屬勠� 卮賵丿貙 賵 丕夭 禺賵丿 丌爻蹖賲賵賮 亘賴 毓賳賵丕賳 蹖讴蹖 丕夭 賳賵蹖爻賳丿诏丕賳 賲孬賱孬 胤賱丕蹖蹖 丿賵乇丕賳 毓賱賲蹖鈥屫屬勠� 蹖丕丿 卮賵丿.
丕賵賱蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 丕夭 賲噩賲賵毓賴 賴賮鬲鈥屫勜� 丌爻蹖賲賵賮 亘賴 賳丕賲 亘賳蹖丕丿 丿乇 爻丕賱 郾酃鄣郾 趩丕倬 卮丿 賵 賲卮鬲讴賱 丕夭 趩賴丕乇 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 亘賱賳丿 亘賵丿貙 亘毓丿鈥屬囏� 丌爻蹖賲賵賮 亘乇丕蹖 丿乇讴 亘賴鬲乇 賲禺丕胤亘丕賳 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 倬賳噩賲蹖 賴賲 賳賵卮鬲 讴賴 亘賴 氐賵乇鬲 賲賯丿賲賴 讴鬲丕亘 丕賵賱 賲噩賲賵毓賴 丿乇 丌賲丿.
亘賴 氐賵乇鬲 讴賱蹖 爻賴鈥屭з嗁� 丕氐賱蹖 亘賳蹖丕丿 毓亘丕乇鬲鈥屫з嗀� 丕夭: 郾. 亘賳蹖丕丿 (Foundation) 鄄. 亘賳蹖丕丿 賵 丕賲倬乇丕胤賵乇蹖 (Foundation and Empire) 鄢. 亘賳蹖丕丿 丿賵賲 (Second Foundation). 亘賴 賴賲蹖賳 賲賳賵丕賱 丿賳亘丕賱賴鈥屬囏й� 賴賲 亘賴 鬲乇鬲蹖亘 夭賲丕賳亘賳丿蹖 丿丕爻鬲丕賳蹖貙 賳賴 鬲乇鬲蹖亘 丕賳鬲卮丕乇 毓亘丕乇鬲鈥屫з嗀� 丕夭: 郾. 爻乇丌睾丕夭 亘賳蹖丕丿 (Prelude To Foundation) 鄄. 倬蹖卮亘乇丿 亘賳蹖丕丿 (Forward The Foundation) 讴賴 夭賲丕賳 賵賯賵毓鈥屫簇з� 賯亘賱 丕夭 亘賳蹖丕丿貙 蹖毓賳蹖 噩賱丿 丕賵賱 爻賴鈥屭з嗁� 丕爻鬲貨 鄢. 賱亘賴 亘賳蹖丕丿 (Foundation's Edge) 賵 鄞. 亘賳蹖丕丿 賵 夭賲蹖賳 (Foundation and Earth) 丕爻鬲 讴賴 夭賲丕賳 賵賯賵毓鈥屫簇з� 亘毓丿 丕夭 亘賳蹖丕丿 丿賵賲 蹖毓賳蹖 噩賱丿 爻賵賲 爻賴鈥屭з嗁� 丕爻鬲.
亘禺卮 賵爻蹖毓蹖 丕夭 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賲噩賲賵毓賴 亘賳蹖丕丿 丿乇 賲讴丕賱賲丕鬲 亘蹖賳 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬囏� 丿乇 噩乇蹖丕賳 丕爻鬲貙 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬囏й屰� 讴賴 賲毓賲賵賱丕賸 鬲讴鈥屫ㄘ关屸€屫з嗀� 丌爻蹖賲賵賮 賴蹖趩賵賯鬲 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬矩必ж� 禺賵亘蹖 賳亘賵丿賴 賵 丿乇 賵丕賯毓 賳賲蹖鈥屫堌з囏� 賵賯鬲 禺賵丿 乇丕 亘丕 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬矩必ж槽� 鬲賱賮 讴賳丿貙 賵 鬲賲乇讴夭 禺賵丿 乇丕 丿乇 倬蹖卮亘乇丿 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賵 丕蹖丿賴 丕氐賱蹖 賲蹖鈥屭柏ж必�.
丕夭 亘賳蹖丕丿 亘賴鈥屫官嗁堌з� 睾蹖乇丌爻蹖賲賵賮蹖鈥屫臂屬� 丕孬乇 丌爻蹖賲賵賮 蹖丕丿 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁嗀� 賵 丿賱蹖賱 丌賳 賴賲 賮賯丿丕賳 賴蹖噩丕賳 賵 囟乇亘丌賴賳诏 鬲賵丕賱蹖 丕鬲賮丕賯丕鬲 倬蹖賵爻鬲賴 讴賴 丕诏乇 亘禺賵丕賴蹖賲 爻丕丿賴鈥屫� 亘诏賵蹖蹖賲 賴賲丕賳 鬲毓賱蹖賯 賴爻鬲貨 鬲賵噩賴 丿丕卮鬲賴 亘丕卮蹖丿 跇丕賳乇 毓賱賲蹖鈥屫屬勠� 賴賲蹖卮賴 亘賴 爻乇毓鬲 乇賵丕蹖鬲 爻乇蹖毓 禺賵丿 賵 丿乇诏蹖乇蹖鈥屬囏й� 賱丨馗賴鈥屫й� 倬乇 丕夭 賴蹖噩丕賳 賲毓乇賵賮 丕爻鬲 讴賴 丕孬乇 卮丕禺氐 丌爻蹖賲賵賮 匕乇賴鈥屫й� 丕夭 丌賳 乇丕 賳丿丕乇丿貨 鬲賳賴丕 鬲賵氐蹖賮 賳亘乇丿 丿乇 亘賳蹖丕丿 亘賴 丿賵 禺胤 賲丨丿賵丿 賲蹖鈥屫促堌� 讴賴 丌賳 賴賲 丕夭 夭亘丕賳 卮禺氐蹖鬲蹖 賴爻鬲 讴賴 讴丕賲賱丕賸 亘賴 丿賵乇 丕夭 賲賴賱讴賴 賵 丿乇 丌乇丕賲卮 鬲賲丕賲 賳丕馗乇 鬲賲丕賲 賲丕噩乇丕爻鬲.
爻賵丕賱蹖 讴賴 賲賲讴賳 丕爻鬲 亘乇丕蹖 卮賲丕 倬蹖卮 亘蹖丕蹖丿 丨鬲賲丕賸 丕蹖賳 丕爻鬲 讴賴 倬爻 趩乇丕 亘賳蹖丕丿 丕蹖賳賯丿乇 賲毓乇賵賮 賲丕賳丿賴 丕爻鬲 賵 趩乇丕 丕夭 丌賳 亘賴 毓賳賵丕賳 蹖讴蹖 丕夭 亘賴鬲乇蹖賳 丿丕爻鬲丕賳鈥屬囏й� 毓賱賲蹖鈥屫屬勠� 鬲丕乇蹖禺 (鬲賳賴丕 丿丕爻鬲丕賳蹖 讴賴 亘賴 丕賳鬲禺丕亘 賲噩賱賴 芦World Science Fiction Convention禄 亘乇賳丿賴 噩丕蹖夭賴 亘賴鬲乇蹖賳 賲噩賲賵毓賴 诏賲丕賳賴鈥屫操� 鬲丕乇蹖禺 卮丿貙 丿乇 丨丕賱蹖 讴賴 賳丕賲夭丿 丿蹖诏乇 賴賲蹖賳 噩丕蹖夭賴 丕乇亘丕亘 丨賱賯賴鈥屬囏� 卮丕賴讴丕乇 噩賴丕賳鈥屫⒇促堌� 鬲丕賱讴蹖賳 亘賵丿.) 蹖丕丿 賲蹖鈥屫促堌� 噩賵丕亘 賲丕 亘賴 卮賲丕 賵丕囟丨 丕爻鬲貙 丕蹖丿賴 亘賳蹖丕丿 賵 毓馗賲鬲 丿丕爻鬲丕賳蹖 讴賴 乇賵丕蹖鬲 賲蹖鈥屫促堌� 亘賳蹖丕丿 乇丕噩毓 賴蹖趩 卮禺氐蹖鬲 賵 丿賵乇賴 讴賵鬲丕賴 賲丿鬲蹖 賳蹖爻鬲貙 亘賳蹖丕丿 乇丕噩毓 亘賴 爻賯賵胤 賵 馗賴賵乇 丕賲倬乇丕胤賵乇蹖鈥屬囏й� 讴賴讴卮丕賳蹖鈥屫池� 亘賴 毓亘丕乇鬲蹖 亘賳蹖丕丿 賴賲丕賳 鬲丕乇蹖禺 丕爻鬲貙 鬲丕乇蹖禺蹖 讴賴 亘賴 賵丕爻胤賴 毓賱賲 芦乇賵丕賳鈥屫ж臂屫� 讴賴 讴丕乇卮 倬蹖卮鈥屫ㄛ屬嗃� 丕鬲賮丕賯丕鬲蹖 賴爻鬲 讴賴 亘乇丕蹖 讴賱蹖鬲 亘卮乇 丿乇 賲賯蹖丕爻 讴賴讴卮丕賳蹖 乇禺 賲蹖鈥屫囏� 賲賳鬲賴丕 乇賵丕賳鈥屫ж臂屫� 賳賲蹖鈥屫堌з嗀� 夭賳丿诏蹖 賮乇丿賴丕 賵 賮乇丿蹖鬲鈥屬囏� 乇丕 倬蹖卮鈥屫ㄛ屬嗃� 讴賳丿 亘賱讴賴 賱丕夭賲賴 讴丕乇讴乇丿 丌賳 賵噩賵丿 鬲賵丿賴鈥屬囏й� 毓馗蹖賲 噩賲毓蹖鬲 賴爻鬲 讴賴 賴賲蹖賳 賲賵囟賵毓 賳蹖夭 賲蹖鈥屫堌з嗀� 毓丿賲 賵噩賵丿 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬矩必ж槽� 賯賵蹖 賵 毓賲蹖賯 讴鬲丕亘 乇丕 鬲賵噩蹖賴 讴賳丿貙 丿賱蹖賱蹖 讴賴 賲蹖鈥屭堐屫� 亘賳蹖丕丿 亘賴 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬囏� 丕賴賲蹖鬲蹖 賳賲蹖鈥屫囏� 亘乇丕蹖 賲孬丕賱 賵賯鬲蹖 賲蹖鈥屫堌з囒屫� 氐亘丨鬲 丕夭 毓賱賲蹖 賲丕賳賳丿 夭賲蹖賳鈥屫促嗀ж驰� 讴賳蹖丿 丿賵乇賴鈥屬囏й� 夭賲丕賳蹖 讴賵鬲丕賴鈥屬呚� 賵 丨鬲蹖 氐丿 爻丕賱賴 亘乇丕蹖鬲丕賳 亘賴 丨丕賱鬲 趩卮賲鈥� 亘乇賴賲鈥屫藏� 賲蹖鈥屭柏必� 賵 丌賳趩賳丕賳 丕賴賲蹖鬲蹖 亘賴 丌賳 賳賲蹖鈥屫囒屫� 亘丕蹖丿 亘賴 卮賲丕 亘诏賵蹖蹖賲 亘賴 賴賲蹖賳 賳爻亘鬲 亘賳蹖丕丿 亘賴 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬囏й屰� 讴賴 賲蹖鈥屫③屬嗀� 賵 賲蹖鈥屫辟堎嗀� 丕賴賲蹖鬲蹖 賳賲蹖鈥屫囏�.
乇丕噩毓 亘賴 賳讴丕鬲 賲孬亘鬲 亘賳蹖丕丿 賲蹖鈥屫堌з嗃屬� 鬲丕 丕亘丿蹖鬲 丨乇賮 亘夭賳蹖賲 賵賱蹖 亘诏匕丕乇蹖丿 丕賳丿讴蹖 賴賲 乇丕噩毓 亘賴 囟毓賮鈥屬囏й� 亘賳蹖丕丿 賴卮丿丕乇 亘丿賴蹖賲貨 讴賲蹖 賯亘賱鈥屫� 匕讴乇 讴乇丿蹖賲 亘賳蹖丕丿 丕孬乇蹖 亘丕 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬矩必ж槽� 毓賲蹖賯 賳蹖爻鬲貙 賵 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬囏й� 丌賳 毓賲賵賲丕賸 丕賳爻丕賳鈥屬囏й屰� 鬲讴鈥屫ㄘ关� 賵 賮丕賯丿 丿乇賵賳蹖丕鬲 倬蹖趩蹖丿賴 賴爻鬲賳丿貙 丨丕賱丕 亘丕蹖丿 亘诏賵蹖蹖賲 毓賱丕賵賴 亘乇 鬲讴鈥屫ㄘ关� 亘賵丿賳 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬囏й� 丌爻蹖賲賵賮 丕夭 鬲讴鈥屫嗀驰� 亘賵丿賳 賴賲 乇賳噩 賲蹖鈥屫ㄘ辟嗀� 丌爻蹖賲賵賮 胤亘賯 诏賮鬲賴 禺賵丿 鬲丕 賯亘賱 丕夭 賳賵卮鬲賳 亘賳蹖丕丿 賵 丿乇 讴賱 鬲丕 賯亘賱 丕夭 丕夭丿賵丕噩 讴乇丿賳 賴蹖趩鈥屭堎嗁� 賲毓丕卮乇鬲蹖 亘丕 夭賳鈥屬囏� 賳丿丕卮鬲貙 卮丕蹖丿 亘賴 賴賲蹖賳 毓賱鬲 丕爻鬲 讴賴 賲噩賲賵毓賴 亘賳蹖丕丿 丿乇 爻賴鈥屭з嗁� 丕賵賱 鬲賯乇蹖亘丕賸 賮丕賯丿 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬囏й� 夭賳 賴爻鬲貙 賵 丕诏乇 卮禺氐蹖鬲 夭賳蹖 賴爻鬲 氐乇賮丕賸 丕爻鬲賮丕丿賴鈥屫й� 讴賱蹖卮賴鈥屫й� 賵 亘賴 賯賵賱 賲毓乇賵賮 賮賳 爻乇賵蹖爻蹖 丕夭 丌賳 卮丿賴 丕爻鬲貙 亘乇丕蹖 賴賲蹖锟斤拷 禺賵丕賳丿賳 亘賳蹖丕丿 亘乇丕蹖 卮賲丕 禺賵丕賳賳丿賴 丕賲乇賵夭蹖 賵 丿乇 賯乇賳 丨丕囟乇 賲賲讴賳 丕爻鬲 爻禺鬲 亘丕卮丿 賵 賳鬲賵丕賳蹖丿 亘賴 乇丕丨鬲蹖 丕夭 禺賵丕賳丿賳 讴鬲丕亘 賵 丕蹖丿賴鈥屬囏й� 噩匕丕亘 丌賳 賱匕鬲 亘亘乇蹖丿.
丿乇 讴賱丕賲 丌禺乇 亘賴 鬲賲丕賲 卮賲丕 禺賵丕賳賳丿诏丕賳 毓夭蹖夭 賱丕夭賲 賲蹖鈥屫堎嗁� 蹖丕丿丌賵乇蹖 讴賳賲 讴賴 賲噩賲賵毓賴 亘賳蹖丕丿 丌爻蹖賲賵賮 卮丕賴讴丕乇蹖 亘蹖鈥屬囐呚ж池� 賴蹖趩賵賯鬲 亘賴 賲丕賳賳丿 丌賳 趩蹖夭蹖 賳賵卮鬲賴 賳卮丿賴 賵 丕丨鬲賲丕賱丕賸 亘毓丿賴丕 賴賲 賳賵卮鬲賴 賳禺賵丕賴丿 卮丿貨 乇賲丕賳鈥屬囏й� 亘賳蹖丕丿 亘賴鈥屫必嘿� 賮賯丿丕賳 鬲毓賱蹖賯鈥屬囏й� 賲毓賲賵賱 賵 亘賴鈥屫必嘿� 賳亘賵丿賳 賯賴乇賲丕賳 賵 囟丿賯賴乇賲丕賳貙 亘蹖鈥屫з嗀ж操� 賴蹖噩丕賳鈥屫з嗂屫操嗀� 賵 亘乇丕蹖 卮賲丕 胤乇賮丿丕乇丕賳 丿賵 丌鬲卮賴 毓賱賲蹖鈥屫屬勠� 賳賵卮鬲賴 卮丿賴鈥屫з嗀� 賲賳鬲賴丕蹖 毓賲賱 亘賱賴 亘賳蹖丕丿 丕蹖乇丕丿丕鬲蹖 賴賲 丿丕乇丿貙 丨丕賱 賵 賴賵丕蹖 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬囏й� 亘賳蹖丕丿 亘丕 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬囏й� 丿丕爻鬲丕蹖賮爻讴蹖 賲鬲賮丕賵鬲 丕爻鬲! 鬲賵氐蹖賮丕鬲 賵 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬囏� 丌賳趩賳丕賳 禺賵亘 賳蹖爻鬲賳丿 賵 丕蹖乇丕丿丕鬲 毓賱賲蹖鈥� 賴賲 賵噩賵丿 丿丕乇賳丿貙 賲賳鬲賴丕蹖 毓賲賱 亘賳蹖丕丿 賯氐賴鈥屫й� 賴爻鬲 讴賴 亘丕蹖丿 亘禺賵丕賳蹖丿 賵 丌賳 賮乇氐鬲蹖 丿賴蹖丿 讴賴 丕賮讴丕乇 賵 丨丿 賵 賲乇夭賴丕蹖 匕賴賳 卮賲丕 乇丕 丿乇賴賲 卮讴賳丿.
May 30, 2023
Again, our beloved Foundation is imperiled by powerful enemies. The Mule reigns victorious and apparently unstoppable in his megalomania. Plans within plans are laid to discover the rumored Second Foundation, a potential ally seemingly created by Hari Seldon himself at the opposite end of the galaxy, but for what purpose? And, in the midst of the intrigue (and perhaps a result of it) a new player with a fleet of starships attacks.
November 30, 2024
鈥炐澭徯夹� 写邪 褉邪蟹斜械褉械褌械 蟹邪褖芯 械 褌邪泻邪, 芯褋胁械薪 邪泻芯 芯褖械 胁械写薪褗卸 锌芯褔褍胁褋褌胁邪褌械 懈薪褌械谢械泻褌褍邪谢薪邪褌邪 邪褌屑芯褋褎械褉邪 薪邪 写薪懈褌械, 泻芯谐邪褌芯 械 褍屑懈褉邪谢邪 袠屑锌械褉懈褟褌邪. 袘懈谢芯 械 胁褉械屑械 薪邪 邪斜褋芯谢褞褌薪懈 褋褌芯泄薪芯褋褌懈, 薪邪 胁械谢懈泻懈 锌芯褋谢械写薪懈 芯斜械褖邪薪懈褟, 锌芯薪械 胁 屑懈褋谢芯胁薪邪褌邪 芯斜谢邪褋褌.鈥�
小邪屑芯 械写薪邪 邪谢褌械褉薪邪褌懈胁邪 胁 薪懈泻邪泻褗胁 褋谢褍褔邪泄 薪械 械 写芯褋褌邪褌褗褔薪邪, 泻芯谢泻芯褌芯 懈 写芯斜褉械 写邪 械 蟹邪屑懈褋谢械薪邪 懈 懈蟹谐褉邪写械薪邪. 啸邪褉懈 小械谢写褗薪 械 锌褉械写胁懈写懈谢 胁褗蟹屑芯卸薪芯褋褌褌邪 斜褗写械褖懈褌械 锌芯泻芯谢械薪懈褟 褏芯褉邪, 泻芯懈褌芯 褋邪 褔邪褋褌 芯褌 肖芯薪写邪褑懈褟褌邪, 写邪 写芯锌褍褋泻邪褌 谐芯谢械屑懈 谐褉械褕泻懈 懈谢懈 写邪 褋械 谐谢邪胁芯蟹邪屑邪泄胁邪褌 芯褌 褍褋锌械褏懈褌械, 蟹邪褉邪写懈 泻芯械褌芯 械 褋褗蟹写邪谢 褌邪泄薪褋褌胁械薪邪 袙褌芯褉邪 肖芯薪写邪褑懈褟.
袗泄蟹褗泻 袗蟹懈屑芯胁 械 胁谢芯卸懈谢 胁 泻薪懈谐邪褌邪 褋懈 懈蟹泻谢褞褔懈褌械谢薪芯 褋褌芯泄薪芯褋褌薪懈 屑懈褋谢懈, 褉邪蟹泻邪蟹胁邪泄泻懈 屑薪芯谐芯锌谢邪褋褌芯胁邪 薪邪褍褔薪芯褎邪薪褌邪褋褌懈褔薪邪 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟, 懈蟹锌褗谢薪械薪邪 褋 胁褗谢薪褍胁邪褖懈 芯斜褉邪褌懈! 鈥炐捬傂狙€邪褌邪 肖芯薪写邪褑懈褟鈥� 锌褉械写褋褌邪胁谢褟胁邪 褔褍写械褋械薪 蟹邪胁褗褉褕械泻 薪邪 薪械谐芯胁邪褌邪 胁械谢懈泻芯谢械锌薪邪 锌褗褉胁芯薪邪褔邪谢薪邪 褌褉懈谢芯谐懈褟 蟹邪 鈥炐ば拘叫葱把喰秆徰傂扳€�.
袙 锌褗褉胁邪褌邪 褔邪褋褌 芯褌 褉芯屑邪薪邪 写械泄褋褌胁懈械褌芯 褋械 褉邪蟹胁懈胁邪 芯泻芯谢芯 300 谐. 褋谢械写 褋屑褗褉褌褌邪 薪邪 谢械谐械薪写邪褉薪懈褟 小械谢写褗薪. 袦芯谐褗褖 屑褍褌邪薪褌, 薪邪褉懈褔邪薪 袦褍谢械褌芯, 锌褉懈褌械卸邪胁邪 褋锌芯褋芯斜薪芯褋褌褌邪 写邪 屑邪薪懈锌褍谢懈褉邪 械屑芯褑懈芯薪邪谢薪芯 褏芯褉邪褌邪. 孝芯泄 懈蟹薪械薪邪写胁邪褖芯 褍褋锌褟胁邪 写邪 褍薪懈褖芯卸懈 肖芯薪写邪褑懈褟褌邪 懈 蟹邪锌芯褔胁邪 写邪 锌褉芯褟胁褟胁邪 懈屑锌械褉褋泻懈 邪屑斜懈褑懈懈 蟹邪 蟹邪胁谢邪写褟胁邪薪械 薪邪 谐邪谢邪泻褌懈泻邪褌邪. 袦褍谢械褌芯 械 锌褉懈褌械褋薪械薪 芯褌 褋谢褍褏芯胁械褌械 蟹邪 袙褌芯褉邪 肖芯薪写邪褑懈褟, 泻芯褟褌芯 斜懈 屑芯谐谢邪 写邪 屑褍 褋械 锌褉芯褌懈胁芯锌芯褋褌邪胁懈, 蟹邪褌芯胁邪 懈蟹锌褉邪褖邪 啸邪薪 袩褉懈褌褔褗褉 懈 袘械泄谢 效邪薪懈褋 薪邪 芯锌邪褋薪邪 屑懈褋懈褟, 褔懈褟褌芯 褑械谢 械 写邪 褟 芯褌泻褉懈褟褌...
袙褌芯褉邪褌邪 褔邪褋褌 芯锌懈褋胁邪 褋褗斜懈褌懈褟褌邪, 泻芯懈褌芯 褋械 褋谢褍褔胁邪褌 50 谐. 褋谢械写 褌械蟹懈 芯褌 锌褉械写薪邪褌邪. 袚谢邪胁薪邪 谐械褉芯懈薪褟 胁 薪械褟 械 袗褉泻邪写懈褟 袛邪褉褗谢, 泻芯褟褌芯 械 屑薪芯谐芯 懈薪褌械谢懈谐械薪褌薪芯 屑芯屑懈褔械 懈 写褗褖械褉褟 薪邪 懈蟹胁械褋褌械薪 褍褔械薪. 袦械卸写褍胁褉械屑械薪薪芯 袩褗褉胁邪褌邪 肖芯薪写邪褑懈褟 褋械 械 胁褗蟹褋褌邪薪芯胁懈谢邪 懈 褋械 褉邪蟹胁懈胁邪, 芯斜邪褔械 薪械泄薪懈褌械 褔谢械薪芯胁械 褋邪 锌褉懈褌械褋薪械薪懈 芯褌 胁褗蟹屑芯卸薪芯褋褌褌邪 蟹邪 褋褗褖械褋褌胁褍胁邪薪械褌芯 薪邪 蟹邪谐邪写褗褔薪邪褌邪 袙褌芯褉邪 肖芯薪写邪褑懈褟, 褋屑褟褌邪泄泻懈 褟 蟹邪 褋胁芯泄 胁褉邪谐. 啸芯屑懈褉 袦褍薪 芯褌懈胁邪 薪邪 锌谢邪薪械褌邪褌邪 袣邪谢谐褗薪 胁 褌褗褉褋械薪械 薪邪 褑械薪薪邪 懈薪褎芯褉屑邪褑懈褟, 邪 锌褗泻 袗褉泻邪写懈褟 褉械褕邪胁邪 写邪 褌褉褗谐薪械 褋 薪械谐芯. 孝邪屑 谐芯褋褌褍胁邪褌 薪邪 薪邪褋褌芯褟褖懈褟 褍锌褉邪胁薪懈泻 谢芯褉写 小褌械褌懈薪, 泻芯泄褌芯 褋械 芯泻邪蟹胁邪 写芯褋褌邪 邪谢褔械薪 蟹邪 胁谢邪褋褌, 邪 胁锌芯褋谢械写褋褌胁懈械 锌褉械写褋褌芯褟褌 芯锌邪褋薪懈 锌褉懈泻谢褞褔械薪懈褟...
鈥炐靶叫秆� 褋械 褍褏懈谢懈 褋 褕懈褉芯泻邪 褍褋屑懈胁泻邪.
鈥� 袟薪邪褟 泻邪泻胁芯 懈褋泻邪褕 写邪 泻邪卸械褕. 袛芯褋褌邪 褋泻褍褔薪芯 械, 薪邪谢懈?
鈥� 袧械, 邪泻芯 褋械 薪邪褋谢邪卸写邪胁邪褕 薪邪 谢懈褔薪懈 褏褉芯薪懈泻懈 薪邪 胁谢邪写械褌械谢懈. 袘懈褏 泻邪蟹邪谢, 褔械 胁械褉芯褟褌薪芯 褋邪 薪械写芯褋褌芯胁械褉薪懈 懈 胁 写胁械褌械 锌芯褋芯泻懈. 袣芯谐邪褌芯 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟褌邪 褋械 蟹邪薪懈屑邪胁邪 锌褉械写懈屑薪芯 褋 谢懈褔薪芯褋褌懈, 懈谢褞褋褌褉邪褑懈懈褌械 褋褌邪胁邪褌 褋邪屑芯 褔械褉薪懈 懈谢懈 褋邪屑芯 斜械谢懈, 胁 蟹邪胁懈褋懈屑芯褋褌 芯褌 懈薪褌械褉械褋懈褌械 薪邪 邪胁褌芯褉邪. 袦懈褋谢褟, 褔械 褌邪蟹懈 薪邪褍泻邪 械 斜械蟹锌芯谢械蟹薪邪.鈥�
鈥炩€� 袠褋泻邪褕 写邪 泻邪卸械褕, 褔械 褋褗屑 锌芯褋褌懈谐薪邪谢 褌胁褗褉写械 谐芯谢褟屑 褍褋锌械褏?
鈥� 袩褉械泻邪谢械薪 褍褋锌械褏 蟹邪 胁褋械泻懈 锌褉械写邪薪 褔芯胁械泻.
鈥� 袩芯薪械卸械 锌芯褋褌邪胁械薪懈褌械 芯褌 褌械斜 褋褌邪薪写邪褉褌懈 蟹邪 褍褋锌械褏 斜褟褏邪 褌胁褗褉写械 薪懈褋泻懈?鈥�
鈥炐澬靶葱拘谎� 懈 胁褋械 薪邪写芯谢褍鈥� 鈥� 褉械蟹褍谢褌邪褌懈褌械 屑芯卸械褏邪 写邪 褋械 锌褉芯褋谢械写褟褌 懈 褑褟谢芯褌芯 褋褌褉邪写邪薪懈械, 泻芯械褌芯 褔芯胁械褔械褋褌胁芯褌芯 斜械 锌芯蟹薪邪谢芯 胁褗芯斜褖械, 褖械褕械 写邪 褋械 褋胁械写械 写芯 锌褉芯褋褌懈褟 褎邪泻褌, 褔械 薪懈泻邪泻胁懈 褏芯褉邪 胁 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟褌邪 薪邪 袚邪谢邪泻褌懈泻邪褌邪 锌褉械写懈 啸邪褉懈 小械谢写褗薪 懈 屑邪谢泻芯 薪邪 斜褉芯泄 褋谢械写 薪械谐芯 褍褋锌褟胁邪褏邪 写邪 褋械 褉邪蟹斜械褉邪褌 懈褋褌懈薪褋泻懈 锌芯屑械卸写褍 褋懈. 袙褋褟泻芯 褔芯胁械褕泻芯 褋褗褖械褋褌胁芯 卸懈胁械械褕械 蟹邪写 薪械锌褉芯薪懈褑邪械屑邪褌邪 褋褌械薪邪 芯褌 蟹邪写褍褕邪胁邪褖邪 写褍褏芯胁薪邪 屑褗谐谢邪, 胁 泻芯褟褌芯 薪械 褋褗褖械褋褌胁褍胁邪褕械 薪懈泻芯泄, 芯褋胁械薪 褋邪屑懈褟褌 薪械谐芯.鈥�
鈥炐熜拘夹叫笛傂�, 蟹邪 写邪 斜褗写械褌械 写械泄褋褌胁懈褌械谢薪芯 械褎懈泻邪褋械薪, 薪械 械 薪械芯斜褏芯写懈屑芯 写邪 写褗褉卸懈褌械 褋褗蟹薪邪薪懈械褌芯 褋懈 锌芯写 褋褌褉芯谐邪 泻芯薪褌褉芯谢懈褉邪褖邪 斜邪褉懈械褉邪, 泻芯褟褌芯 蟹邪 懈薪褌械谢懈谐械薪褌薪芯褌芯 褋芯薪写懈褉邪薪械 械 锌芯-芯褋胁械写芯屑褟胁邪褖邪, 芯褌泻芯谢泻芯褌芯 褉邪蟹谐芯谢械薪芯褌芯 褋褗蟹薪邪薪懈械. 袩芯-褋泻芯褉芯 褔芯胁械泻 褌褉褟斜胁邪 写邪 泻褍谢褌懈胁懈褉邪 薪械胁懈薪薪芯褋褌, 谢懈锌褋邪 薪邪 褔褍胁褋褌胁芯 蟹邪 锌褉械胁褗蟹褏芯写褋褌胁芯 薪邪 褋芯斜褋褌胁械薪邪褌邪 褋懈 谢懈褔薪芯褋褌, 泻芯懈褌芯 薪械 胁懈 芯褋褌邪胁褟褌 泻邪泻胁芯 写邪 泻褉懈械褌械.鈥�
鈥炩€� 孝芯胁邪 械 锌褗褉胁懈褟褌 褍褉芯泻, 芯褌 泻芯泄褌芯 褌褉褟斜胁邪 写邪 褋械 芯褌褍褔懈褌械. 小械谢写褗薪芯胁懈褟褌 锌谢邪薪 薪械 械 薪懈褌芯 锌褗谢械薪, 薪懈褌芯 斜械蟹谐褉械褕械薪. 孝芯泄 锌褉芯褋褌芯 械 斜懈谢 薪邪泄-写芯斜褉懈褟褌, 泻芯泄褌芯 械 屑芯谐谢芯 写邪 褋械 褋褗褋褌邪胁懈 薪邪 胁褉械屑械褌芯.鈥�
鈥炐澬� 袗褉泻邪写懈褟 褉邪蟹斜褉邪, 褔械 褌芯泄 锌褉芯褋褌芯 薪械 谐芯褉械褕械 芯褌 卸械谢邪薪懈械 写邪 锌芯褋械褌懈 斜懈斜谢懈芯褌械泻邪褌邪 鈥� 褋懈谐褍褉薪芯 锌芯 褋褗褖邪褌邪 锌褉懈褔懈薪邪, 锌芯褉邪写懈 泻芯褟褌芯 泻邪谢谐褗薪褑懈 懈蟹斜褟谐胁邪褏邪 写胁芯褉械褑邪 薪邪 袦褍谢械褌芯. 小褍械胁械褉薪懈褟褌 褋褌褉邪褏, 褋泻芯胁邪胁邪褖 写薪械褕薪懈褌械 锌懈谐屑械懈 锌褉械写 褉械谢懈泻胁懈褌械 薪邪 谐懈谐邪薪褌懈褌械 薪邪 屑懈薪邪谢芯褌芯.鈥�
鈥炐溠€邪蟹械褕械 薪懈 懈 蟹邪胁懈卸写邪褕械 薪邪 薪邪褕械褌芯 锌褉械胁褗蟹褏芯写褋褌胁芯, 薪芯 锌褉懈 褌芯胁邪 褉邪蟹褔懈褌邪褕械 斜械蟹褉械蟹械褉胁薪芯 薪邪 薪邪褋 写邪 谐芯 芯锌邪蟹懈屑.鈥�
小邪屑芯 械写薪邪 邪谢褌械褉薪邪褌懈胁邪 胁 薪懈泻邪泻褗胁 褋谢褍褔邪泄 薪械 械 写芯褋褌邪褌褗褔薪邪, 泻芯谢泻芯褌芯 懈 写芯斜褉械 写邪 械 蟹邪屑懈褋谢械薪邪 懈 懈蟹谐褉邪写械薪邪. 啸邪褉懈 小械谢写褗薪 械 锌褉械写胁懈写懈谢 胁褗蟹屑芯卸薪芯褋褌褌邪 斜褗写械褖懈褌械 锌芯泻芯谢械薪懈褟 褏芯褉邪, 泻芯懈褌芯 褋邪 褔邪褋褌 芯褌 肖芯薪写邪褑懈褟褌邪, 写邪 写芯锌褍褋泻邪褌 谐芯谢械屑懈 谐褉械褕泻懈 懈谢懈 写邪 褋械 谐谢邪胁芯蟹邪屑邪泄胁邪褌 芯褌 褍褋锌械褏懈褌械, 蟹邪褉邪写懈 泻芯械褌芯 械 褋褗蟹写邪谢 褌邪泄薪褋褌胁械薪邪 袙褌芯褉邪 肖芯薪写邪褑懈褟.
袗泄蟹褗泻 袗蟹懈屑芯胁 械 胁谢芯卸懈谢 胁 泻薪懈谐邪褌邪 褋懈 懈蟹泻谢褞褔懈褌械谢薪芯 褋褌芯泄薪芯褋褌薪懈 屑懈褋谢懈, 褉邪蟹泻邪蟹胁邪泄泻懈 屑薪芯谐芯锌谢邪褋褌芯胁邪 薪邪褍褔薪芯褎邪薪褌邪褋褌懈褔薪邪 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟, 懈蟹锌褗谢薪械薪邪 褋 胁褗谢薪褍胁邪褖懈 芯斜褉邪褌懈! 鈥炐捬傂狙€邪褌邪 肖芯薪写邪褑懈褟鈥� 锌褉械写褋褌邪胁谢褟胁邪 褔褍写械褋械薪 蟹邪胁褗褉褕械泻 薪邪 薪械谐芯胁邪褌邪 胁械谢懈泻芯谢械锌薪邪 锌褗褉胁芯薪邪褔邪谢薪邪 褌褉懈谢芯谐懈褟 蟹邪 鈥炐ば拘叫葱把喰秆徰傂扳€�.
袙 锌褗褉胁邪褌邪 褔邪褋褌 芯褌 褉芯屑邪薪邪 写械泄褋褌胁懈械褌芯 褋械 褉邪蟹胁懈胁邪 芯泻芯谢芯 300 谐. 褋谢械写 褋屑褗褉褌褌邪 薪邪 谢械谐械薪写邪褉薪懈褟 小械谢写褗薪. 袦芯谐褗褖 屑褍褌邪薪褌, 薪邪褉懈褔邪薪 袦褍谢械褌芯, 锌褉懈褌械卸邪胁邪 褋锌芯褋芯斜薪芯褋褌褌邪 写邪 屑邪薪懈锌褍谢懈褉邪 械屑芯褑懈芯薪邪谢薪芯 褏芯褉邪褌邪. 孝芯泄 懈蟹薪械薪邪写胁邪褖芯 褍褋锌褟胁邪 写邪 褍薪懈褖芯卸懈 肖芯薪写邪褑懈褟褌邪 懈 蟹邪锌芯褔胁邪 写邪 锌褉芯褟胁褟胁邪 懈屑锌械褉褋泻懈 邪屑斜懈褑懈懈 蟹邪 蟹邪胁谢邪写褟胁邪薪械 薪邪 谐邪谢邪泻褌懈泻邪褌邪. 袦褍谢械褌芯 械 锌褉懈褌械褋薪械薪 芯褌 褋谢褍褏芯胁械褌械 蟹邪 袙褌芯褉邪 肖芯薪写邪褑懈褟, 泻芯褟褌芯 斜懈 屑芯谐谢邪 写邪 屑褍 褋械 锌褉芯褌懈胁芯锌芯褋褌邪胁懈, 蟹邪褌芯胁邪 懈蟹锌褉邪褖邪 啸邪薪 袩褉懈褌褔褗褉 懈 袘械泄谢 效邪薪懈褋 薪邪 芯锌邪褋薪邪 屑懈褋懈褟, 褔懈褟褌芯 褑械谢 械 写邪 褟 芯褌泻褉懈褟褌...
袙褌芯褉邪褌邪 褔邪褋褌 芯锌懈褋胁邪 褋褗斜懈褌懈褟褌邪, 泻芯懈褌芯 褋械 褋谢褍褔胁邪褌 50 谐. 褋谢械写 褌械蟹懈 芯褌 锌褉械写薪邪褌邪. 袚谢邪胁薪邪 谐械褉芯懈薪褟 胁 薪械褟 械 袗褉泻邪写懈褟 袛邪褉褗谢, 泻芯褟褌芯 械 屑薪芯谐芯 懈薪褌械谢懈谐械薪褌薪芯 屑芯屑懈褔械 懈 写褗褖械褉褟 薪邪 懈蟹胁械褋褌械薪 褍褔械薪. 袦械卸写褍胁褉械屑械薪薪芯 袩褗褉胁邪褌邪 肖芯薪写邪褑懈褟 褋械 械 胁褗蟹褋褌邪薪芯胁懈谢邪 懈 褋械 褉邪蟹胁懈胁邪, 芯斜邪褔械 薪械泄薪懈褌械 褔谢械薪芯胁械 褋邪 锌褉懈褌械褋薪械薪懈 芯褌 胁褗蟹屑芯卸薪芯褋褌褌邪 蟹邪 褋褗褖械褋褌胁褍胁邪薪械褌芯 薪邪 蟹邪谐邪写褗褔薪邪褌邪 袙褌芯褉邪 肖芯薪写邪褑懈褟, 褋屑褟褌邪泄泻懈 褟 蟹邪 褋胁芯泄 胁褉邪谐. 啸芯屑懈褉 袦褍薪 芯褌懈胁邪 薪邪 锌谢邪薪械褌邪褌邪 袣邪谢谐褗薪 胁 褌褗褉褋械薪械 薪邪 褑械薪薪邪 懈薪褎芯褉屑邪褑懈褟, 邪 锌褗泻 袗褉泻邪写懈褟 褉械褕邪胁邪 写邪 褌褉褗谐薪械 褋 薪械谐芯. 孝邪屑 谐芯褋褌褍胁邪褌 薪邪 薪邪褋褌芯褟褖懈褟 褍锌褉邪胁薪懈泻 谢芯褉写 小褌械褌懈薪, 泻芯泄褌芯 褋械 芯泻邪蟹胁邪 写芯褋褌邪 邪谢褔械薪 蟹邪 胁谢邪褋褌, 邪 胁锌芯褋谢械写褋褌胁懈械 锌褉械写褋褌芯褟褌 芯锌邪褋薪懈 锌褉懈泻谢褞褔械薪懈褟...
鈥炐靶叫秆� 褋械 褍褏懈谢懈 褋 褕懈褉芯泻邪 褍褋屑懈胁泻邪.
鈥� 袟薪邪褟 泻邪泻胁芯 懈褋泻邪褕 写邪 泻邪卸械褕. 袛芯褋褌邪 褋泻褍褔薪芯 械, 薪邪谢懈?
鈥� 袧械, 邪泻芯 褋械 薪邪褋谢邪卸写邪胁邪褕 薪邪 谢懈褔薪懈 褏褉芯薪懈泻懈 薪邪 胁谢邪写械褌械谢懈. 袘懈褏 泻邪蟹邪谢, 褔械 胁械褉芯褟褌薪芯 褋邪 薪械写芯褋褌芯胁械褉薪懈 懈 胁 写胁械褌械 锌芯褋芯泻懈. 袣芯谐邪褌芯 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟褌邪 褋械 蟹邪薪懈屑邪胁邪 锌褉械写懈屑薪芯 褋 谢懈褔薪芯褋褌懈, 懈谢褞褋褌褉邪褑懈懈褌械 褋褌邪胁邪褌 褋邪屑芯 褔械褉薪懈 懈谢懈 褋邪屑芯 斜械谢懈, 胁 蟹邪胁懈褋懈屑芯褋褌 芯褌 懈薪褌械褉械褋懈褌械 薪邪 邪胁褌芯褉邪. 袦懈褋谢褟, 褔械 褌邪蟹懈 薪邪褍泻邪 械 斜械蟹锌芯谢械蟹薪邪.鈥�
鈥炩€� 袠褋泻邪褕 写邪 泻邪卸械褕, 褔械 褋褗屑 锌芯褋褌懈谐薪邪谢 褌胁褗褉写械 谐芯谢褟屑 褍褋锌械褏?
鈥� 袩褉械泻邪谢械薪 褍褋锌械褏 蟹邪 胁褋械泻懈 锌褉械写邪薪 褔芯胁械泻.
鈥� 袩芯薪械卸械 锌芯褋褌邪胁械薪懈褌械 芯褌 褌械斜 褋褌邪薪写邪褉褌懈 蟹邪 褍褋锌械褏 斜褟褏邪 褌胁褗褉写械 薪懈褋泻懈?鈥�
鈥炐澬靶葱拘谎� 懈 胁褋械 薪邪写芯谢褍鈥� 鈥� 褉械蟹褍谢褌邪褌懈褌械 屑芯卸械褏邪 写邪 褋械 锌褉芯褋谢械写褟褌 懈 褑褟谢芯褌芯 褋褌褉邪写邪薪懈械, 泻芯械褌芯 褔芯胁械褔械褋褌胁芯褌芯 斜械 锌芯蟹薪邪谢芯 胁褗芯斜褖械, 褖械褕械 写邪 褋械 褋胁械写械 写芯 锌褉芯褋褌懈褟 褎邪泻褌, 褔械 薪懈泻邪泻胁懈 褏芯褉邪 胁 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟褌邪 薪邪 袚邪谢邪泻褌懈泻邪褌邪 锌褉械写懈 啸邪褉懈 小械谢写褗薪 懈 屑邪谢泻芯 薪邪 斜褉芯泄 褋谢械写 薪械谐芯 褍褋锌褟胁邪褏邪 写邪 褋械 褉邪蟹斜械褉邪褌 懈褋褌懈薪褋泻懈 锌芯屑械卸写褍 褋懈. 袙褋褟泻芯 褔芯胁械褕泻芯 褋褗褖械褋褌胁芯 卸懈胁械械褕械 蟹邪写 薪械锌褉芯薪懈褑邪械屑邪褌邪 褋褌械薪邪 芯褌 蟹邪写褍褕邪胁邪褖邪 写褍褏芯胁薪邪 屑褗谐谢邪, 胁 泻芯褟褌芯 薪械 褋褗褖械褋褌胁褍胁邪褕械 薪懈泻芯泄, 芯褋胁械薪 褋邪屑懈褟褌 薪械谐芯.鈥�
鈥炐熜拘夹叫笛傂�, 蟹邪 写邪 斜褗写械褌械 写械泄褋褌胁懈褌械谢薪芯 械褎懈泻邪褋械薪, 薪械 械 薪械芯斜褏芯写懈屑芯 写邪 写褗褉卸懈褌械 褋褗蟹薪邪薪懈械褌芯 褋懈 锌芯写 褋褌褉芯谐邪 泻芯薪褌褉芯谢懈褉邪褖邪 斜邪褉懈械褉邪, 泻芯褟褌芯 蟹邪 懈薪褌械谢懈谐械薪褌薪芯褌芯 褋芯薪写懈褉邪薪械 械 锌芯-芯褋胁械写芯屑褟胁邪褖邪, 芯褌泻芯谢泻芯褌芯 褉邪蟹谐芯谢械薪芯褌芯 褋褗蟹薪邪薪懈械. 袩芯-褋泻芯褉芯 褔芯胁械泻 褌褉褟斜胁邪 写邪 泻褍谢褌懈胁懈褉邪 薪械胁懈薪薪芯褋褌, 谢懈锌褋邪 薪邪 褔褍胁褋褌胁芯 蟹邪 锌褉械胁褗蟹褏芯写褋褌胁芯 薪邪 褋芯斜褋褌胁械薪邪褌邪 褋懈 谢懈褔薪芯褋褌, 泻芯懈褌芯 薪械 胁懈 芯褋褌邪胁褟褌 泻邪泻胁芯 写邪 泻褉懈械褌械.鈥�
鈥炩€� 孝芯胁邪 械 锌褗褉胁懈褟褌 褍褉芯泻, 芯褌 泻芯泄褌芯 褌褉褟斜胁邪 写邪 褋械 芯褌褍褔懈褌械. 小械谢写褗薪芯胁懈褟褌 锌谢邪薪 薪械 械 薪懈褌芯 锌褗谢械薪, 薪懈褌芯 斜械蟹谐褉械褕械薪. 孝芯泄 锌褉芯褋褌芯 械 斜懈谢 薪邪泄-写芯斜褉懈褟褌, 泻芯泄褌芯 械 屑芯谐谢芯 写邪 褋械 褋褗褋褌邪胁懈 薪邪 胁褉械屑械褌芯.鈥�
鈥炐澬� 袗褉泻邪写懈褟 褉邪蟹斜褉邪, 褔械 褌芯泄 锌褉芯褋褌芯 薪械 谐芯褉械褕械 芯褌 卸械谢邪薪懈械 写邪 锌芯褋械褌懈 斜懈斜谢懈芯褌械泻邪褌邪 鈥� 褋懈谐褍褉薪芯 锌芯 褋褗褖邪褌邪 锌褉懈褔懈薪邪, 锌芯褉邪写懈 泻芯褟褌芯 泻邪谢谐褗薪褑懈 懈蟹斜褟谐胁邪褏邪 写胁芯褉械褑邪 薪邪 袦褍谢械褌芯. 小褍械胁械褉薪懈褟褌 褋褌褉邪褏, 褋泻芯胁邪胁邪褖 写薪械褕薪懈褌械 锌懈谐屑械懈 锌褉械写 褉械谢懈泻胁懈褌械 薪邪 谐懈谐邪薪褌懈褌械 薪邪 屑懈薪邪谢芯褌芯.鈥�
鈥炐溠€邪蟹械褕械 薪懈 懈 蟹邪胁懈卸写邪褕械 薪邪 薪邪褕械褌芯 锌褉械胁褗蟹褏芯写褋褌胁芯, 薪芯 锌褉懈 褌芯胁邪 褉邪蟹褔懈褌邪褕械 斜械蟹褉械蟹械褉胁薪芯 薪邪 薪邪褋 写邪 谐芯 芯锌邪蟹懈屑.鈥�
December 2, 2021
This was a fabulous conclusion to the original trilogy!
In the first book, we see the rise of the Foundation 鈥� the kernel of civilization around which the Second Galactic Empire will eventually rise after the fall of the First Galactic Empire鈥� a foundation established for precisely that reason by the inestimable Hari Seldon, who 鈥� through his mathematics 鈥� can predict the future.
In the second book, we see Seldon鈥檚 Plan shattered by the unexpected rise of a conqueror with mutant mental powers (the 鈥淢ule鈥�) 鈥� something Seldon鈥檚 mathematics could not foresee nor account for. Thankfully, the Mule is stopped through the bravery and intelligence of one woman, and through the help of the secret Second Foundation.
In this book, we are about 500 years into the single millennium Seldon鈥檚 Plan predicts before the Foundation will establish the Second Galactic Empire. The problem? The Second Foundation, whose purpose it is to protect and continue Seldon鈥檚 Plan, is no longer secret. Both the Mule (who was stopped in his expansion) wants to find the Second Foundation and wipe it out and the Foundation (the First Foundation) doesn鈥檛 like the idea of being manipulated by some secret outer force and, therefore, also wants to find the Second Foundation and wipe out for reasons of its own.
The first half of this book is about the Mule鈥檚 search for the Second Foundation which revolves around a bunch of intrigue involving mind control. I love this part of the book because the Mule is such a fascinating and enigmatic creature (well鈥� man, but still鈥� creature might be a better descriptor). This part of the book also includes a lot of double-double crosses that keep the reader guessing all the way.
The second half of this book is about (after the Mule鈥檚 eventual death) the search for the Second Foundation by the First. I love this part of the book because the heroine is Arkady, a 14-year-old girl who has all the spunk, intelligence and teenaged neurosis/romance you could want in a heroine. (Example: She stows away on a spaceship in her guaranteed-wrinkle-proof jacket with food stores and water, convinced that all she has to do is keep herself from sneezing because that is what gives away all the spies in the movies, but soon realizes that the movies never talk about where/how the stowaway is going to pee鈥� ha ha!) She caroms around the galaxy, from Terminus to Kalgan (where she gains the eye of the ruler as a future wife, escapes and is almost arrested until her escape) to Trantor, all the while trying to hide from the Second Foundation 鈥� and knowing that she is the most important person in the galaxy because she knows where the Second Foundation鈥檚 secret location is! Just great stuff! I also love Preem Palver, humble farmer who helps Arkady along the way.
The ending鈥� well the ending is just sublime. So sublime. Love it!
I highly recommend this entire series to lovers of classic science fiction. But even if you are uninterested in reading the entire series, Asimov includes 鈥� as a prologue 鈥� a synopsis of the first two books, so this could be read as a standalone novel. This is probably my favorite of the three, so I definitely suggest reading it. No, maybe not my favorite. Yes, probably so. Errr鈥� just read them all 鈥� they鈥檙e great!
In the first book, we see the rise of the Foundation 鈥� the kernel of civilization around which the Second Galactic Empire will eventually rise after the fall of the First Galactic Empire鈥� a foundation established for precisely that reason by the inestimable Hari Seldon, who 鈥� through his mathematics 鈥� can predict the future.
In the second book, we see Seldon鈥檚 Plan shattered by the unexpected rise of a conqueror with mutant mental powers (the 鈥淢ule鈥�) 鈥� something Seldon鈥檚 mathematics could not foresee nor account for. Thankfully, the Mule is stopped through the bravery and intelligence of one woman, and through the help of the secret Second Foundation.
In this book, we are about 500 years into the single millennium Seldon鈥檚 Plan predicts before the Foundation will establish the Second Galactic Empire. The problem? The Second Foundation, whose purpose it is to protect and continue Seldon鈥檚 Plan, is no longer secret. Both the Mule (who was stopped in his expansion) wants to find the Second Foundation and wipe it out and the Foundation (the First Foundation) doesn鈥檛 like the idea of being manipulated by some secret outer force and, therefore, also wants to find the Second Foundation and wipe out for reasons of its own.
The first half of this book is about the Mule鈥檚 search for the Second Foundation which revolves around a bunch of intrigue involving mind control. I love this part of the book because the Mule is such a fascinating and enigmatic creature (well鈥� man, but still鈥� creature might be a better descriptor). This part of the book also includes a lot of double-double crosses that keep the reader guessing all the way.
The second half of this book is about (after the Mule鈥檚 eventual death) the search for the Second Foundation by the First. I love this part of the book because the heroine is Arkady, a 14-year-old girl who has all the spunk, intelligence and teenaged neurosis/romance you could want in a heroine. (Example: She stows away on a spaceship in her guaranteed-wrinkle-proof jacket with food stores and water, convinced that all she has to do is keep herself from sneezing because that is what gives away all the spies in the movies, but soon realizes that the movies never talk about where/how the stowaway is going to pee鈥� ha ha!) She caroms around the galaxy, from Terminus to Kalgan (where she gains the eye of the ruler as a future wife, escapes and is almost arrested until her escape) to Trantor, all the while trying to hide from the Second Foundation 鈥� and knowing that she is the most important person in the galaxy because she knows where the Second Foundation鈥檚 secret location is! Just great stuff! I also love Preem Palver, humble farmer who helps Arkady along the way.
The ending鈥� well the ending is just sublime. So sublime. Love it!
I highly recommend this entire series to lovers of classic science fiction. But even if you are uninterested in reading the entire series, Asimov includes 鈥� as a prologue 鈥� a synopsis of the first two books, so this could be read as a standalone novel. This is probably my favorite of the three, so I definitely suggest reading it. No, maybe not my favorite. Yes, probably so. Errr鈥� just read them all 鈥� they鈥檙e great!
February 15, 2016
鈥淲as his controlled mind so concerned with obedience as to lose initiative? He felt a thickening despondency drive him down into a strange lassitude.鈥�Poor Captain Han Pritcher. Mind control is a common sci-fi trope but the feelings or thoughts of the person under control are rarely explored. This is what makes Part 1 of Second Foundation so special. As I mentioned in my review of Foundation and Empire The Mule is a terrific villain, clever and ruthless but no exactly evil and a little pitiful. This part of the book is entirely concerned with The Mule鈥檚 battle of wits against the eponymous Second Foundation. Where the First Foundation that we have come to know from the previous two books is made up of scientists the eponymous Second Foundation is made up of psychohistorians (or psychologists-cum-mathematicians). Their study and development of psychology over hundreds of years make the best of them the equals of the Mule in term of mental power. The showdown between a Second Foundation leader (鈥渇irst Speaker鈥�) and the Mule consist of moves and counter-moves almost entirely through dialog. This being Asimov the kickass climax does not actually involve feet coming into contact with posteriors; be that as it may the scene is very tautly written and has stayed with me for decades since I first read it.
Part 2 of Second Foundation is mainly concerned with the First Foundation鈥檚 search for the Second with the intent of destroying it. This turn of event surprises me a bit, suddenly the Second Foundation is cast in the role of antagonists (鈥渦biquitous menace鈥�) in spite of having saved the First鈥檚 bacon in the preceding part. This makes the First Foundation seems like terrible ingrates. On the other hand, nobody likes to have their minds tampered with so their hostility is somewhat understandable. Mixed into the main story arc of the search for the Second Foundation is a subplot concerning the First Foundation鈥檚 war with Kalgan. I personally find this warfare section a little dull compared to the much more interesting major plot; I am not at all surprised that I remember nothing of this aspect of the book from my previous reading.
The world building in this third volume is the best of in the trilogy, I particularly enjoy Asimov鈥檚 description of the Second Foundation鈥檚 culture. They do not communicate by telepathy but conduct whole conversations in micro-gestures (actually much more interesting this way). The denouement at the end of the book is particularly ingenious. Asimov does seem to enjoy pulling the rug from under the readers鈥� feet, and his enjoyment is infectious.
So that鈥檚 it, the entire legendary trilogy read in just one week due to the total page count being under 700 pages. My main reason for the reread is to go on to and subsequent Foundation novels, published around 30 years after the original trilogy which I have never read before. Really looking forward to that!
November 22, 2023
It's been 5 years since the Mule's unexpected "defeat" on Trantor, since his new Galactic Empire has stopped its expansion. According to the official propaganda, this was meant to be a period of consolidation, where rules and regulations were supposed to be cemented. Unofficially though, the Mule has been engaged in a frantic search for the mythical Second Foundation, all over the Galaxy.
So there is this Second Foundation that we've all known about since the beginning, becausethe Founding Fathers Hari Seldon made sure to mention it in the constitution his message to the early settlers. But nobody really knows whether they're a boogie-man or a benevolent saviour... watching creepily from the shadows.
So people try all sorts of tricks to unmask them, only to get so cleverly thwarted that they don't even realise they've been had. And if you think that as a reader you get to oooh and aaah over said thwarting at your leisure, well you're sadly mistaken. You will need to wade through a page-long treatise on just how evolved the psychohistorians are, and how they've transcended normal speech, and that the entire dialogue you're about to read is the result of dumbing things down for your intellectual capacities. Oh and this happens at the start of every chapter involving a dialogue between the Second Foundationers...
Otherwise, the underlying idea is great, especially with the additional information revealed about the final events from Foundation and Empire. And I thoroughly enjoyed all of Dr. Darell's attempts in "sciencing" the heck out of psychohistory. Arkady's plot lines however... started out nicely enough, but Asimov's reticence in giving most of his characters any significant depth eventually turned her into a clich茅d caricature.
Score: 3/5 stars
... the plot in a nutshell.
It's fairly clever/intriguing/funny the first few times, but I dare you to keep a straight face by the fifth iteration. And yes, I'm still hooked enough to continue with the series reread.
=================
Review of book 1 (chronological order): Prelude to the Foundation
Review of book 3 (chronological order): Foundation
Review of book 4 (chronological order): Foundation and Empire
So there is this Second Foundation that we've all known about since the beginning, because
So people try all sorts of tricks to unmask them, only to get so cleverly thwarted that they don't even realise they've been had. And if you think that as a reader you get to oooh and aaah over said thwarting at your leisure, well you're sadly mistaken. You will need to wade through a page-long treatise on just how evolved the psychohistorians are, and how they've transcended normal speech, and that the entire dialogue you're about to read is the result of dumbing things down for your intellectual capacities. Oh and this happens at the start of every chapter involving a dialogue between the Second Foundationers...
Otherwise, the underlying idea is great, especially with the additional information revealed about the final events from Foundation and Empire. And I thoroughly enjoyed all of Dr. Darell's attempts in "sciencing" the heck out of psychohistory. Arkady's plot lines however... started out nicely enough, but Asimov's reticence in giving most of his characters any significant depth eventually turned her into a clich茅d caricature.
Score: 3/5 stars
"You see, I happen to know where the Second Foundation really is."
... the plot in a nutshell.
It's fairly clever/intriguing/funny the first few times, but I dare you to keep a straight face by the fifth iteration. And yes, I'm still hooked enough to continue with the series reread.
=================
Review of book 1 (chronological order): Prelude to the Foundation
Review of book 3 (chronological order): Foundation
Review of book 4 (chronological order): Foundation and Empire
May 25, 2022
讴鬲丕亘 爻賵賲 乇賵 亘賴 丕賳丿丕夭賴贁 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬囏й� 賯亘賱 丿賵爻鬲 賳丿丕卮鬲賲貙 趩賵賳 毓賳氐乇 丕氐賱蹖 丿丕爻鬲丕賳貙 賳蹖乇賵蹖 賳丕丿蹖丿賳蹖鈥屫й� 讴賴 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬囏� 乇賵 賳丕禺賵丿丌诏丕賴 倬蹖卮 賲蹖鈥屫ㄘ必� 賴蹖倬賳賵鬲蹖夭賲 賵 讴賳鬲乇賱 匕賴賳 亘賵丿貙 賳賴 噩亘乇 乇賵丕賳鬲丕乇蹖禺蹖. 丨亘乇 乇賵丕賳鬲丕乇蹖禺蹖 毓賳氐乇 丕亘鬲讴丕乇蹖 賵 禺賱丕賯丕賳賴贁 丿賵 讴鬲丕亘 賯亘賱貙 賲賮賴賵賲蹖 亘讴乇 賵 丿爻鬲 丕賵賱 鬲賵蹖 丕丿亘蹖丕鬲 毓賱賲蹖 鬲禺蹖賱蹖賴貙 丕賲丕 賴蹖倬賳賵鬲蹖夭賲 賵 讴賳鬲乇賱 匕賴賳貙 賳賴 趩賳丿丕賳.
丕賲丕 禺賵亘蹖 丌爻蹖賲賵賮 丕蹖賳賴 讴賴 賴賲蹖卮賴 趩賳丿 鬲丕 睾丕賮賱诏蹖乇蹖 鬲賵蹖 丿丕爻鬲丕賳鈥屬囏ж� 丿丕乇賴. 噩匕丕亘蹖鬲 丿丕爻鬲丕賳鈥屬囏ж� 乇賵 亘賴 丕蹖丿賴鈥屬囏ж� 賵丕诏匕丕乇 賳賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁�. 亘丕 睾丕賮賱诏蹖乇蹖鈥屬囏ж� 丿丕爻鬲丕賳卮 乇賵 噩匕丕亘 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁�. 亘乇丕蹖 賴賲蹖賳 丨鬲蹖 丕诏賴 丕蹖丿賴贁 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 趩賳丿丕賳 亘丕亘 胤亘毓 丌丿賲 賳亘丕卮賴 (賲孬賱 賴賲蹖賳 讴賳鬲乇賱 匕賴賳) 賴賲趩賳丕賳 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賲蹖鈥屫堎嗁� 丌丿賲 乇賵 亘賴 賴蹖噩丕賳 亘蹖丕乇賴.
丕賲丕 禺賵亘蹖 丌爻蹖賲賵賮 丕蹖賳賴 讴賴 賴賲蹖卮賴 趩賳丿 鬲丕 睾丕賮賱诏蹖乇蹖 鬲賵蹖 丿丕爻鬲丕賳鈥屬囏ж� 丿丕乇賴. 噩匕丕亘蹖鬲 丿丕爻鬲丕賳鈥屬囏ж� 乇賵 亘賴 丕蹖丿賴鈥屬囏ж� 賵丕诏匕丕乇 賳賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁�. 亘丕 睾丕賮賱诏蹖乇蹖鈥屬囏ж� 丿丕爻鬲丕賳卮 乇賵 噩匕丕亘 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁�. 亘乇丕蹖 賴賲蹖賳 丨鬲蹖 丕诏賴 丕蹖丿賴贁 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 趩賳丿丕賳 亘丕亘 胤亘毓 丌丿賲 賳亘丕卮賴 (賲孬賱 賴賲蹖賳 讴賳鬲乇賱 匕賴賳) 賴賲趩賳丕賳 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賲蹖鈥屫堎嗁� 丌丿賲 乇賵 亘賴 賴蹖噩丕賳 亘蹖丕乇賴.
June 22, 2017
Like the other Foundation novels I have read this book (non GR or pre GR) many times since the wonderful fist reading in the 70s. Do I enjoy it every time ? Yes of course, otherwise I wouldn't re-read. Do I enjoy as much or more, hmm, difficult, in some ways no, its not new to me, but in some ways yes, because I get more every time, and I realise every time what an amazing author Asimov was.
So I have just finished it for 2017 as part of the Foundation (7 book version) series read for SF Aficionados and again I realise what an amazing book and series this is.
(One of my dreams is to read Asimov from Robot novels through the Empire novels and then into all of the Foundation novels - I've been told its over 30 novels, so I really look forward to that, maybe 2019, a special year)
So I have just finished it for 2017 as part of the Foundation (7 book version) series read for SF Aficionados and again I realise what an amazing book and series this is.
(One of my dreams is to read Asimov from Robot novels through the Empire novels and then into all of the Foundation novels - I've been told its over 30 novels, so I really look forward to that, maybe 2019, a special year)
March 2, 2021
鈥渁 circle has no end.鈥�
second foundation is the third and final book in what started out as a trilogy, and attempts to satisfyingly wrap up all loose ends from the first two books.
this trilogy has been steadily going downhill for me.
and this third book proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that (1) i do not think asimov explores his themes in-depth enough, and (2) barely-there characters with zero agency does not an engaging story make.
anyhow, let me briefly summarize where we stand right now.
foundation (#1) busied itself with showing the sociological development of a society created specifically to mitigate the effects of a falling galactic empire and the subsequent dark age that would follow. foundation & empire (#2) showed us how psychohistory cannot account for everything, and what would occur if a fledgeling foundation would be threatened by exceptional individuals with exceptional powers.
throughout these books, we are constantly reminded that a second foundation exists: a mysterious society created at the opposite end of the galaxy, which has supposedly been manipulating everyone to ensure a successful progression of hari sheldon鈥檚 plan from the get-go.
the first foundation has the power of physical science; it鈥檚 technologically advanced, possesses the knowledge of atomic energy, and it can dominate the societies around it through such means (as well as religious control) because of its weapons and military power.
the second foundation is rumored to have the power of psychohistory, with none of the technological advancement. though it is also a society of scientists, these are scientists that focus only on the mind (sociological / psychological) and not on physics. hence, they are incredibly weak when it comes to military matters and brute force.
three-hundred years after book one, this story (#3) deals with the two strongest powers in the galaxy each trying to locate the second foundation to see whether it truly exists and what its powers actually are.
in part one, we meet a familiar face as we join 鈥榲illain鈥� the mule on his quest to eradicate and annex the second foundation into his empire, since it proves to him the larger threat than the first one ever could be.
and in part two, we join new characters from the first foundation in trying to uncover whether the second foundation is real at all, and whether or not it proves a threat to their existence.
漏
like i said in the beginning: this book just wasn鈥檛 it.
in previous books, i felt that asimov rather neatly sidestepped the pitfalls of having one big statistical theory that can predict anything -- there was still tension and character agency, mostly due to the fact that the theory can鈥檛 account for exceptional individuals AND several characters were concocting plans of their own.
here, however? the second foundation is so ridiculously overpowered that nobody even stands a chance. we spend pages upon pages of characters cleverly setting up traps and trying to bait each other out, only for another character to pop up and yell, 鈥渉a! but i knew that you knew! so i changed the plan!鈥�
and then another character runs in, confesses to be a secret agent who sabotaged the plan, and the first character admits to knowing the other character was a secret agent so the plan was not the plan but fake. repeat ad nauseam.
there are even chapter titles referencing this (鈥榯he answer that satisfied鈥� versus 鈥榯he answer that was true鈥�) and asimov plays all of this Extremely Seriously. i mean, this is an actual quote from the book:
鈥測ou don鈥檛 look surprised. but i don鈥檛 waste time doubting that you feel surprised. yes, i knew about it. and now, having shown you that i knew of something you didn鈥檛 think i did, i鈥檒l tell you something you don鈥檛 know, that i know you don鈥檛.鈥�what am i even reading? a serious sci-fi classic or a monologue drafted for doofenschmirtz evil incorporated?
and cheap, clunky stuff like this keeps happening all the time. i found it hard to take the characters and the narrative seriously because of it.
speaking of characters, we have old favorite the mule taking center stage in the first half of the book. with his special powers -- the ability to induce / manipulate emotions and control people en masse through that -- he鈥檚 one of the few people who can stand up to the second foundation. in this book, he goes toe-to-toe with them directly.
his ending was such an anti-climactic one, and i felt so sorry for how his story had to end and how the foundation viewed him as a person. the way he鈥檚 described in the latter half of the book once his story is over is honestly heartbreaking.
you can鈥檛 tell me we鈥檙e meant to sympathize with the people who talk about the only person who could ever be the second foundation鈥檚 peer like this:
鈥�... the mule was a freak, physical as well as mental. [...] his ill-adjusted body could no longer struggle its creaking machinery along. for several years before his death he was an invalid. his best health was never more than an ordinary man鈥檚 feebleness. all right, then. he conquered the galaxy and, in the ordinary course of nature, proceeded to die. it鈥檚 a wonder he proceeded as long and as well as he did.鈥�and then there鈥檚 the fact that the second female main character we ever get, who鈥檚 arguably the protagonist of the second half of the book, is also treated horrendously in-text.
arcadia 鈥渁rkady鈥� darell is the granddaughter of bayta darell, the somewhat legendary foundation historian who stopped the mule in the previous book. she鈥檚 a brash fourteen-year-old with romantic notions who sneaks her way into the plans of the adults to uncover the whereabouts of the second foundation -- and actually starts playing a pretty pivotal role in attempting to locate it.
this is how one of the foundation protagonists and her dad talk about her:
鈥渇ourteen? great galaxy -- tell me, has she ever said she expects to marry someday?鈥�plus, at the end of the story, it is of course revealed that the second foundation kind of had a manipulative hand in just how pivotal the roles were that she and her grandmother played in the story. because women cannot be brave or intelligent without outside manipulation.
鈥渘o, she hasn't. not to me.鈥�
鈥渨ell, if she ever does, shoot him. the one she's going to marry, i mean. i'm serious. life could hold no greater horror than living with what she'll be like when she's twenty. i don't mean to offend you, of course.鈥�
鈥測ou don't offend me. i think i know what you mean.鈥�
and so i found myself rooting for literally ANYONE ELSE than the second foundation.
the condescending attitude, the inherent superiority, the constant manipulation, and the idea that they somehow have a greater right to exist and live more freely than others -- it tripped me up immensely. nobody ever questions whether the second foundation鈥檚 creation, subsequent survival, and manipulative power are a good thing.
nobody ever asks if all of that gives them a right to rule the galaxy.
it鈥檚 supposedly good because it would lessen the galaxy鈥檚 鈥渄ark age鈥�, but what that dark age would actually be and for whom it would be dark is never explored in-depth. all we hear is that it will be thirty-thousand years of 鈥渋gnorance and violence鈥�, and we just have to take that at face value.
to me, it is there that asimov fails spectacularly in exploring the themes surrounding the rise and fall of empires. i鈥檝e been wracking my brain wondering whether it was truly asimov鈥檚 intent to have me root for an unsympathetic bunch of dickbags who believe they鈥檙e inherently smarter and better than anyone else, but the tone and framing of the text (see quotes above) betray no deeper commentary.
and as long as the jury鈥檚 still out on that one and that鈥檚 all that i鈥檓 being given, it just leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth.
so! an unsatisfying conclusion to a trilogy that, to me, did not properly explore the deeper themes behind its initial concept -- a concept that i greatly enjoyed and appreciated when it was set up in the first book.
two things that asimov did very right in this book, however: (1) i don鈥檛 think i ever saw anyone smoke any tobacco of any kind, and (2) he managed to make me care for and empathize with a character to the point where i鈥檓 actually pissed about his fate, even though most of the characters are just walking nameplates.
gotta give credit where credit is due.
this was an interesting field trip into classic sci-fi that i don鈥檛 regret taking, and i genuinely enjoyed reading the first book. however, its lack of depth re: theme and character made the last book fall flat on its face for me.
i hope i鈥檒l fare better with the robot series!
read my review of the second book here.
鉁� 2.0 stars.
June 11, 2021
噩賱丿 爻賵賲貙 毓丕賱蹖 卮乇賵毓 卮丿. 賲毓乇讴賴. 讴丕賲賱丕 賴蹖噩丕賳 丕賳诏蹖夭. 卮乇賵毓蹖 倬乇讴卮卮 讴賴 亘丕毓孬 卮丿 賴賲賵賳 賱丨馗賴 鬲丕 氐賮丨賴 郾郾鄄 賵 蹖讴 賳賮爻 亘禺賵賳賲 賵 亘乇賲 噩賱賵. 噩匕丕亘 卮乇賵毓 卮丿貙 噩匕丕亘 丕丿丕賲賴 倬蹖丿丕 讴乇丿 賵 毓丕賱蹖 鬲賲丕賲 卮丿...
賲噩賲賵毓賴鈥屰� 亘賳蹖丕丿 亘賴 馗丕賴乇 蹖讴 賲噩賲賵毓賴 讴鬲丕亘賽 毓賱賲蹖-鬲禺蹖賱蹖 丕爻鬲. 亘賱賴 賴爻鬲! 賵賱蹖 氐丿 丿乇氐丿 賳賻賴!. 丿乇 丨賯蹖賯鬲 丌蹖賳丿賴鈥屰� 夭賳丿诏蹖 亘卮乇 丕爻鬲. 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 丕蹖賳 賲噩賲賵毓賴 丿乇 丌蹖賳丿賴 乇禺 賲蹖丿賴丿貙 丕氐賱蹖鬲 賲丕噩乇丕賴丕 賲乇亘賵胤 亘賴 噩丕賲毓賴鈥屰� 亘卮乇蹖鈥屫池�. 丿乇 丨賯蹖賯鬲 丕夭 亘賳蹖丕丿 丕賳鬲馗丕乇 噩賳诏 賵 卮賱蹖讴 賵 鬲賮賳诏 賵 丕亘夭丕乇賴丕蹖 賮賵賯 毓噩蹖亘 賵 睾蹖乇賴 賳丿丕卮鬲賴 亘丕卮蹖丿.
賮讴乇卮賵 亘讴賳蹖丿貙 丿乇 夭賲丕賳蹖 讴賴 賳賲蹖丿賵賳蹖賲 趩賴 鬲丕乇蹖禺蹖鈥屫池� 丕賲丕 賯胤毓丕 乇禺 禺賵丕賴丿 丿丕丿貙 賳爻賱 亘卮乇 讴賴讴卮丕賳鈥屬囏й屰� 乇賵 讴卮賮 讴乇丿賴 讴賴 賲賳 賵 卮賲丕 丿乇 丨丕賱 丨丕囟乇 丕氐賱丕 丨鬲蹖 亘賴卮賵賳 賮讴乇 賴賲 賳賲蹖讴賳蹖賲 賵 蹖讴 乇賵夭蹖 乇爻蹖丿賴 讴賴 賲乇夭 丕賲倬乇丕胤賵乇蹖鈥屬囏� 賲丨丿賵丿 亘賴 禺丕讴鈥屬囏й� 夭賲蹖賳蹖 賳蹖爻鬲 賵 蹖讴 丨讴賵賲鬲 賵丕丨丿 亘乇 讴賱 丕蹖賳 讴賴讴卮丕賳 賴丕 丨讴賲乇丕賳蹖 賲蹖讴賳賴. 亘丕夭 賴賲 亘丕 鬲賲丕賲 丕蹖賳賴丕 乇賵夭蹖 賲蹖乇爻賴 讴賴 蹖讴 賳賮乇 賲蹖丕丿 賵 亘丕 毓賱賲蹖 賳丕賲毓賱賵賲 亘賴 賳丕賲 "乇賵丕賳鈥屫ж臂屫�" 倬蹖卮亘蹖賳蹖鈥屬囏й� 毓噩蹖亘蹖 亘乇丕蹖 丕蹖賳 丕賲倬乇丕胤賵乇蹖 賲蹖讴賳賴 賵 丕夭 丌賲丿賳 賳丕亘賵丿蹖 賵 鈥屫ㄛ屸€屫呚嗃� 禺亘乇 賲蹖丿賴. 鬲乇爻賳丕讴 賳蹖爻鬲責 賵 丕夭 丕蹖賳 賴賲 鬲乇爻賳丕讴鈥屫� 丕蹖賳賴 讴賴 乇丕賴 丨賱 鈥屬囏й屰� 丕乇丕卅賴 亘卮賴 賵 亘賴 丕噩乇丕 诏匕丕卮鬲賴 亘卮賴 丕賲丕 亘丕夭 賴賲 賴賲蹖賳噩丕蹖蹖 讴賴 賮讴乇 賲蹖讴賳蹖 賲卮讴賱丕鬲 丨賱 卮丿賴 丕鬲賮丕賯丕鬲蹖 乇禺 亘丿賴 讴賴 賴蹖趩 賮讴乇蹖 丿乇 賲賵乇丿卮賵賳 賳丿丕卮鬲蹖. 亘賱賴貙 亘賳蹖丕丿 趩賳蹖賳 丿丕爻鬲丕賳蹖 丿丕乇賴.
亘丕 鬲賲丕賲 丕蹖賳鈥屬囏ж� 亘賳蹖丕丿 蹖讴爻乇蹖 丕蹖乇丕丿丕鬲 賴賲 丿丕乇賴. 賲孬賱 卮禺氐蹖鬲 倬乇丿丕夭蹖卮. 讴丕乇丕讴鬲乇賴丕 讴丕賲賱丕 乇賵 賴賵丕 賴爻鬲賳丿貙 賴蹖趩 鬲賵氐蹖賮丕鬲蹖 丿乇 賲賵乇丿 馗丕賴乇卮賵賳 丿丕丿賴 賳賲蹖卮賴 賵 氐乇賮丕 亘丕 賳賯卮賴鈥屬囏й屰� 讴賴 賲蹖讴賽卮賳丿 賵 讴丕乇賴丕蹖蹖 讴賴 賲蹖讴賳賳丿 賵 讴賱丕 亘丕 賳賵毓 噩丕蹖诏丕賴卮賵賳 丿乇 乇賵賳丿 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賲蹖卮賳丕爻蹖賲卮賵賳. 丕賱亘鬲賴 卮丕蹖丿 賳卮賴 亘賴 丕蹖賳 賴賲 亘诏蹖賲 賳賯胤賴 囟毓賮貙 趩賵賳 亘賳蹖丕丿 丕氐賱丕 卮禺氐蹖鬲 賲丨賵乇 賳蹖爻鬲 亘賱讴賴 蹖讴 乇賲丕賳 亘丕 趩丕卮賳蹖 鬲丕乇蹖禺賴!...
丕蹖賳 賲噩賲賵毓賴 丕丿丕賲賴 丿丕乇賴 丕賲丕 鬲賵蹖 丕蹖賳 爻賴 噩賱丿 亘賴 蹖讴 賳賯胤賴 禺丕氐 賲蹖乇爻賴 賵 亘賴 賲禺丕胤亘 丕蹖賳 丨賯 丕賳鬲禺丕亘 乇賵 賲蹖丿賴 讴賴 丕丿丕賲賴 亘丿賴 蹖丕 賳賴 讴賴 賲賳 賯胤毓丕 丕丿丕賲賴鈥屫� 賲蹖丿賲.
賳賲蹖丿賵賳賲 亘丕蹖丿 丿賯蹖賯丕 亘賴 趩賴 讴爻丕賳蹖 倬蹖卮賳賴丕丿 禺賵賳丿賳 丕蹖賳 賲噩賲賵毓賴 乇賵 亘丿賲. 丕賲丕 丕诏乇 毓賱賲蹖-鬲禺蹖賱蹖 丿賵爻鬲 丿丕乇蹖丿 讴賴 賯胤毓丕 亘丕蹖丿 亘禺賵賳蹖丿貙 丕诏乇 丿賵爻鬲 丿丕乇蹖丿 蹖讴 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 毓賱賲蹖-鬲禺蹖賱蹖 丕賲丕 賳賴 趩賳丿丕賳 噩賳诏蹖 乇賵 亘禺賵賳蹖丿 丕蹖賳 賲噩賲賵毓賴 亘乇丕蹖 卮賲丕爻鬲.
賲噩賲賵毓賴鈥屰� 亘賳蹖丕丿 亘賴 馗丕賴乇 蹖讴 賲噩賲賵毓賴 讴鬲丕亘賽 毓賱賲蹖-鬲禺蹖賱蹖 丕爻鬲. 亘賱賴 賴爻鬲! 賵賱蹖 氐丿 丿乇氐丿 賳賻賴!. 丿乇 丨賯蹖賯鬲 丌蹖賳丿賴鈥屰� 夭賳丿诏蹖 亘卮乇 丕爻鬲. 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 丕蹖賳 賲噩賲賵毓賴 丿乇 丌蹖賳丿賴 乇禺 賲蹖丿賴丿貙 丕氐賱蹖鬲 賲丕噩乇丕賴丕 賲乇亘賵胤 亘賴 噩丕賲毓賴鈥屰� 亘卮乇蹖鈥屫池�. 丿乇 丨賯蹖賯鬲 丕夭 亘賳蹖丕丿 丕賳鬲馗丕乇 噩賳诏 賵 卮賱蹖讴 賵 鬲賮賳诏 賵 丕亘夭丕乇賴丕蹖 賮賵賯 毓噩蹖亘 賵 睾蹖乇賴 賳丿丕卮鬲賴 亘丕卮蹖丿.
賮讴乇卮賵 亘讴賳蹖丿貙 丿乇 夭賲丕賳蹖 讴賴 賳賲蹖丿賵賳蹖賲 趩賴 鬲丕乇蹖禺蹖鈥屫池� 丕賲丕 賯胤毓丕 乇禺 禺賵丕賴丿 丿丕丿貙 賳爻賱 亘卮乇 讴賴讴卮丕賳鈥屬囏й屰� 乇賵 讴卮賮 讴乇丿賴 讴賴 賲賳 賵 卮賲丕 丿乇 丨丕賱 丨丕囟乇 丕氐賱丕 丨鬲蹖 亘賴卮賵賳 賮讴乇 賴賲 賳賲蹖讴賳蹖賲 賵 蹖讴 乇賵夭蹖 乇爻蹖丿賴 讴賴 賲乇夭 丕賲倬乇丕胤賵乇蹖鈥屬囏� 賲丨丿賵丿 亘賴 禺丕讴鈥屬囏й� 夭賲蹖賳蹖 賳蹖爻鬲 賵 蹖讴 丨讴賵賲鬲 賵丕丨丿 亘乇 讴賱 丕蹖賳 讴賴讴卮丕賳 賴丕 丨讴賲乇丕賳蹖 賲蹖讴賳賴. 亘丕夭 賴賲 亘丕 鬲賲丕賲 丕蹖賳賴丕 乇賵夭蹖 賲蹖乇爻賴 讴賴 蹖讴 賳賮乇 賲蹖丕丿 賵 亘丕 毓賱賲蹖 賳丕賲毓賱賵賲 亘賴 賳丕賲 "乇賵丕賳鈥屫ж臂屫�" 倬蹖卮亘蹖賳蹖鈥屬囏й� 毓噩蹖亘蹖 亘乇丕蹖 丕蹖賳 丕賲倬乇丕胤賵乇蹖 賲蹖讴賳賴 賵 丕夭 丌賲丿賳 賳丕亘賵丿蹖 賵 鈥屫ㄛ屸€屫呚嗃� 禺亘乇 賲蹖丿賴. 鬲乇爻賳丕讴 賳蹖爻鬲責 賵 丕夭 丕蹖賳 賴賲 鬲乇爻賳丕讴鈥屫� 丕蹖賳賴 讴賴 乇丕賴 丨賱 鈥屬囏й屰� 丕乇丕卅賴 亘卮賴 賵 亘賴 丕噩乇丕 诏匕丕卮鬲賴 亘卮賴 丕賲丕 亘丕夭 賴賲 賴賲蹖賳噩丕蹖蹖 讴賴 賮讴乇 賲蹖讴賳蹖 賲卮讴賱丕鬲 丨賱 卮丿賴 丕鬲賮丕賯丕鬲蹖 乇禺 亘丿賴 讴賴 賴蹖趩 賮讴乇蹖 丿乇 賲賵乇丿卮賵賳 賳丿丕卮鬲蹖. 亘賱賴貙 亘賳蹖丕丿 趩賳蹖賳 丿丕爻鬲丕賳蹖 丿丕乇賴.
亘丕 鬲賲丕賲 丕蹖賳鈥屬囏ж� 亘賳蹖丕丿 蹖讴爻乇蹖 丕蹖乇丕丿丕鬲 賴賲 丿丕乇賴. 賲孬賱 卮禺氐蹖鬲 倬乇丿丕夭蹖卮. 讴丕乇丕讴鬲乇賴丕 讴丕賲賱丕 乇賵 賴賵丕 賴爻鬲賳丿貙 賴蹖趩 鬲賵氐蹖賮丕鬲蹖 丿乇 賲賵乇丿 馗丕賴乇卮賵賳 丿丕丿賴 賳賲蹖卮賴 賵 氐乇賮丕 亘丕 賳賯卮賴鈥屬囏й屰� 讴賴 賲蹖讴賽卮賳丿 賵 讴丕乇賴丕蹖蹖 讴賴 賲蹖讴賳賳丿 賵 讴賱丕 亘丕 賳賵毓 噩丕蹖诏丕賴卮賵賳 丿乇 乇賵賳丿 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賲蹖卮賳丕爻蹖賲卮賵賳. 丕賱亘鬲賴 卮丕蹖丿 賳卮賴 亘賴 丕蹖賳 賴賲 亘诏蹖賲 賳賯胤賴 囟毓賮貙 趩賵賳 亘賳蹖丕丿 丕氐賱丕 卮禺氐蹖鬲 賲丨賵乇 賳蹖爻鬲 亘賱讴賴 蹖讴 乇賲丕賳 亘丕 趩丕卮賳蹖 鬲丕乇蹖禺賴!...
丕蹖賳 賲噩賲賵毓賴 丕丿丕賲賴 丿丕乇賴 丕賲丕 鬲賵蹖 丕蹖賳 爻賴 噩賱丿 亘賴 蹖讴 賳賯胤賴 禺丕氐 賲蹖乇爻賴 賵 亘賴 賲禺丕胤亘 丕蹖賳 丨賯 丕賳鬲禺丕亘 乇賵 賲蹖丿賴 讴賴 丕丿丕賲賴 亘丿賴 蹖丕 賳賴 讴賴 賲賳 賯胤毓丕 丕丿丕賲賴鈥屫� 賲蹖丿賲.
賳賲蹖丿賵賳賲 亘丕蹖丿 丿賯蹖賯丕 亘賴 趩賴 讴爻丕賳蹖 倬蹖卮賳賴丕丿 禺賵賳丿賳 丕蹖賳 賲噩賲賵毓賴 乇賵 亘丿賲. 丕賲丕 丕诏乇 毓賱賲蹖-鬲禺蹖賱蹖 丿賵爻鬲 丿丕乇蹖丿 讴賴 賯胤毓丕 亘丕蹖丿 亘禺賵賳蹖丿貙 丕诏乇 丿賵爻鬲 丿丕乇蹖丿 蹖讴 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 毓賱賲蹖-鬲禺蹖賱蹖 丕賲丕 賳賴 趩賳丿丕賳 噩賳诏蹖 乇賵 亘禺賵賳蹖丿 丕蹖賳 賲噩賲賵毓賴 亘乇丕蹖 卮賲丕爻鬲.
February 11, 2017
Second Foundation is a decent enough conclusion to the original Foundation trilogy, although it was by far the weakest book in the trilogy in my eyes.
The problem is that whereas the first book, despite its own flaws, is both intriguing and original, both the second and third volumes focus on deviation from, and restoration of, the psychohistorical master plan of Hari Seldon. The whole story of the Mule feels quite pointless and could be considered the weakest point of Asimov's ideas. Both the sequels seem to be diversions adding little of value to the story as a whole.
Still, the Foundation series is a classic for a reason, and I am happy to have read them. Whether I will continue with the newer books is a matter for another time.
The problem is that whereas the first book, despite its own flaws, is both intriguing and original, both the second and third volumes focus on deviation from, and restoration of, the psychohistorical master plan of Hari Seldon. The whole story of the Mule feels quite pointless and could be considered the weakest point of Asimov's ideas. Both the sequels seem to be diversions adding little of value to the story as a whole.
Still, the Foundation series is a classic for a reason, and I am happy to have read them. Whether I will continue with the newer books is a matter for another time.
June 9, 2019
螆蟺蔚喂蟿伪 伪蟺蠈 蟺蔚蟻委蟺慰蠀 未蠉慰 蟺慰位蠉 蟺蔚蟻委蔚蟻纬慰蠀蟼 渭萎谓蔚蟼, 蟺慰蠀 未蔚谓 蠀蟺萎蟻蠂蔚 蟺蔚蟻委蟺蟿蠅蟽畏, 蠈蠂喂 尾喂尾位委慰 - 伪位位维 慰蠉蟿蔚 纬蟻伪渭渭萎 谓伪 渭蟺慰蟻苇蟽蠅 谓伪 未喂伪尾维蟽蠅, 蔚蟺苇蟽蟿蟻蔚蠄伪 蟽蟿畏谓 伪纬伪蟺畏渭苇谓畏 渭慰蠀 伪蟽蠂慰位委伪.
螌蟽慰 纬喂伪 蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰, 渭维位位慰谓 未蔚谓 苇蠂蔚喂 蟿畏 未蠀谓伪渭喂魏萎 蟿蠅谓 未蠉慰 蟺蟻蠋蟿蠅谓 魏伪喂 蔚委渭伪喂 蟽委纬慰蠀蟻慰蟼 蠈蟿喂 苇蠂蔚喂 蟺维蔚喂 伪位位慰蠉 伪蟺蠈 伪蠀蟿蠈 蟺慰蠀 慰 Asimov 蔚委蠂蔚 蟽蟿慰 渭蠀伪位蠈 蟿慰蠀 尉蔚魏喂谓蠋谓蟿伪蟼 蟿慰 Foundation.
蟺伪蟻蠈位伪 伪蠀蟿维, 蟺伪蟻伪渭苇谓蔚喂 苇谓伪 维尉喂慰 蟿苇位慰蟼 蟽蔚 苇谓伪 魏位伪蟽喂魏蠈 苇蟺慰蟼 蟿畏蟼 蔚蟺喂蟽蟿畏渭慰谓喂魏萎蟼 蠁伪谓蟿伪蟽委伪蟼.
螌蟽慰 纬喂伪 蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰, 渭维位位慰谓 未蔚谓 苇蠂蔚喂 蟿畏 未蠀谓伪渭喂魏萎 蟿蠅谓 未蠉慰 蟺蟻蠋蟿蠅谓 魏伪喂 蔚委渭伪喂 蟽委纬慰蠀蟻慰蟼 蠈蟿喂 苇蠂蔚喂 蟺维蔚喂 伪位位慰蠉 伪蟺蠈 伪蠀蟿蠈 蟺慰蠀 慰 Asimov 蔚委蠂蔚 蟽蟿慰 渭蠀伪位蠈 蟿慰蠀 尉蔚魏喂谓蠋谓蟿伪蟼 蟿慰 Foundation.
蟺伪蟻蠈位伪 伪蠀蟿维, 蟺伪蟻伪渭苇谓蔚喂 苇谓伪 维尉喂慰 蟿苇位慰蟼 蟽蔚 苇谓伪 魏位伪蟽喂魏蠈 苇蟺慰蟼 蟿畏蟼 蔚蟺喂蟽蟿畏渭慰谓喂魏萎蟼 蠁伪谓蟿伪蟽委伪蟼.
November 19, 2016
Intergalactic chess game - shall the Seldon Plan unravel, leaving the galaxy to savagery and digression or shall carefully laid undertakings based on probabilities save the galaxy from such a fate, and if so at what cost?
This, the third of the series, was simply comprised of a better story than it's predecessors. It still had that intelligent tilt, but it also fleshed out the characters and concealed the twists in plot in a much more satisfactory way. This was a page turner and by the end I felt invested in the outcome.
As always, I refuse to go too much into the plot when the book is plot-driven, but I will say that this book not only deals with external threats to life and peace, but also has the reader start to question whether a plan such as Seldon's is acceptable to us if it threatens our own sense of self and free-will. What is the greater evil? What is the greater threat? The further into this book you read the more you come to appreciate the careful weaving of the plots. Asimov deserves praise for this series of books, in them he manages to provide credibility to a genre that many of us readers too often turn our noses up at.
This, the third of the series, was simply comprised of a better story than it's predecessors. It still had that intelligent tilt, but it also fleshed out the characters and concealed the twists in plot in a much more satisfactory way. This was a page turner and by the end I felt invested in the outcome.
As always, I refuse to go too much into the plot when the book is plot-driven, but I will say that this book not only deals with external threats to life and peace, but also has the reader start to question whether a plan such as Seldon's is acceptable to us if it threatens our own sense of self and free-will. What is the greater evil? What is the greater threat? The further into this book you read the more you come to appreciate the careful weaving of the plots. Asimov deserves praise for this series of books, in them he manages to provide credibility to a genre that many of us readers too often turn our noses up at.
May 12, 2021
鈥淟a galaxia no es tal y como la plasmamos en dibujos y creemos que se construye. La galaxia es una espiral doble鈥�
Me gust贸 mucho el final. Y si es verdad que es sencillo, cuando se es lector y escritor a la vez, se comprende m谩s el porqu茅 es imposible mantener un鈥漢ype鈥� de cumplimientos expectativas al m谩ximo nivel durante tanto tiempo. Me refiero a la consecuci贸n de novedades, una detr谩s de otra, con el objetivo de mantener en tensi贸n, en este caso al lector, durante toda la obra. La Paz debe llegar, y la obra, tal y como lo hacer el pensamiento, debe detenerse un poco en los albores de un ritmo m谩s pausado para su disfrute y an谩lisis. Esto es lo que, en mi opini贸n, y despu茅s de comparar diferentes rese帽as de por aqu铆, he comprendido que le ha sucedido a algunas lectores con el final. El final es sencillo porque la obra en s铆 ha derrochado magnificencia durante todo el tiempo, a lo largo de su comienzo y desarroll贸. Ojo, que las aclaraciones del final hayan sido sencillas, no significa que la obra haya perdido su calidad, muy por el contrario! Tal y como se dice 鈥淎 veces menos, es m谩s鈥�. La obra hay que mirarla desde el contexto de una trilog铆a y su historia completa, y est谩 obra es una biblia una enciclopedia en s铆 para el pensamiento y el desarrollo de la conciencia a escala universal.
Cuando me le铆 la primera parte hace veinte a帽os, ni siquiera la comprend铆 del todo.Ahora, veinte a帽os despu茅s, no solo rele铆 la primera parte, disfrut谩ndola como nunca, sino que tuve la necesidad de acabar la trilog铆a completa! Una obra completa desde el punto de vista cient铆fico-especulativo y el an谩lisis del comportamiento social a escala universal, m谩s el desarrollo de la conciencia en el manejo de las ideas e importancia del pensamiento que debe perdurar.
No me extiendo m谩s...para qu茅?
Un genio, el Asimov. 5猸愶笍
Me gust贸 mucho el final. Y si es verdad que es sencillo, cuando se es lector y escritor a la vez, se comprende m谩s el porqu茅 es imposible mantener un鈥漢ype鈥� de cumplimientos expectativas al m谩ximo nivel durante tanto tiempo. Me refiero a la consecuci贸n de novedades, una detr谩s de otra, con el objetivo de mantener en tensi贸n, en este caso al lector, durante toda la obra. La Paz debe llegar, y la obra, tal y como lo hacer el pensamiento, debe detenerse un poco en los albores de un ritmo m谩s pausado para su disfrute y an谩lisis. Esto es lo que, en mi opini贸n, y despu茅s de comparar diferentes rese帽as de por aqu铆, he comprendido que le ha sucedido a algunas lectores con el final. El final es sencillo porque la obra en s铆 ha derrochado magnificencia durante todo el tiempo, a lo largo de su comienzo y desarroll贸. Ojo, que las aclaraciones del final hayan sido sencillas, no significa que la obra haya perdido su calidad, muy por el contrario! Tal y como se dice 鈥淎 veces menos, es m谩s鈥�. La obra hay que mirarla desde el contexto de una trilog铆a y su historia completa, y est谩 obra es una biblia una enciclopedia en s铆 para el pensamiento y el desarrollo de la conciencia a escala universal.
Cuando me le铆 la primera parte hace veinte a帽os, ni siquiera la comprend铆 del todo.Ahora, veinte a帽os despu茅s, no solo rele铆 la primera parte, disfrut谩ndola como nunca, sino que tuve la necesidad de acabar la trilog铆a completa! Una obra completa desde el punto de vista cient铆fico-especulativo y el an谩lisis del comportamiento social a escala universal, m谩s el desarrollo de la conciencia en el manejo de las ideas e importancia del pensamiento que debe perdurar.
No me extiendo m谩s...para qu茅?
Un genio, el Asimov. 5猸愶笍
August 21, 2024
賳賲乇賴 丿丕丿賳 賵 賳賯丿 讴乇丿賳 噩賱丿 賴丕蹖 賲禺鬲賱賮 蹖賴 賲噩賲賵毓賴 賵賯鬲蹖 讴賴 丕賵賳 賲噩賲賵毓賴 亘賴 賴賲鈥屬聚屬堌池団€屫� 賵 賳賲蹖鬲賵賳蹖 賴蹖趩讴丿賵賲 丕夭 讴鬲丕亘 賴丕 乇賵 丨匕賮 讴賳蹖 亘乇丕蹖 賲賳 爻禺鬲賴 賵 毓賱丕賯賴鈥屫й� 賴賲 賳丿丕乇賲 丕賳噩丕賲卮 亘丿賲.
賲诏賴 丕蹖賳讴賴 鬲賵 讴蹖賮蹖鬲 噩賱丿鈥屬囏й� 賲禺鬲賱賮 鬲賮丕賵鬲 禺蹖賱蹖 夭蹖丕丿蹖 賵噩賵丿 丿丕卮鬲賴 亘丕卮賴.
亘賴 胤賵乇 賲孬丕賱 丕乇亘丕亘 丨賱賯賴鈥屬囏� 蹖丕 賴乇蹖鈥屬矩ж� 蹖丕 賴賲蹖賳 亘賳蹖丕丿 乇賵 賲賳 丿賵爻鬲 丿丕乇賲 亘賴 讴賱 賲噩賲賵毓賴 賳賲乇賴 亘丿賲 賵 讴賱 賲噩賲賵毓賴 乇賵 丿乇 賳馗乇 亘诏蹖乇賲.
讴鬲丕亘 爻賵賲 亘賳蹖丕丿 賴賲 鬲賲賵賲 卮丿 賵 倬丕蹖丕賳 禺賵亘蹖 亘乇丕蹖 丕蹖賳 賲噩賲賵毓賴 亘賵丿. 亘乇丕蹖 賲賳 丕蹖丿賴 賵 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賵 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥� 賲孬賱 丿賵鈥屫勜� 賯亘賱 賳亘賵丿 賵賱蹖 亘丕夭賲 丿賵爻鬲卮 丿丕卮鬲賲.
卮丕蹖丿 亘賴 讴賱 丕蹖賳 爻賴 噩賱丿 丕賲鬲蹖丕夭 鄞/鄣 丕夭 鄣 亘丿賲 賵 賵丕賯毓丕 丕夭 亘賴鬲乇蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬囏й� 毓賱賲蹖-鬲禺蹖賱蹖 讴賴 禺賵賳丿賲 丨爻丕亘 賲蹖卮賴. 鬲乇讴蹖亘蹖 丕夭 丕蹖丿賴 賳丕亘 賵 乇賵賳丿 丿丕爻鬲丕賳蹖 賲鬲賮丕賵鬲 亘丕 賯賱賲 噩匕丕亘 丌爻蹖賲賵賮. 趩蹖夭蹖 讴賴 亘乇丕蹖 賲賳 丕蹖賳 賲噩賲賵毓賴 乇賵 鄣/鄣 賳賲蹖讴賳賴 賴賲賵賳 賳亘賵丿 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬矩必ж槽� 賯賵蹖 賵 賮囟丕爻丕夭蹖 亘賵丿. 賲噩賲賵毓賴 鬲賲賵賲 卮丿 賵 丿賵爻卮 丿丕卮鬲賲 賵賱蹖 丕丨爻丕爻 賳讴乇丿賲 亘禺卮蹖 丕夭 丕蹖賳 賲噩賲賵毓賴 亘丕卮賲. 賳鬲賵賳爻鬲賲 亘丕 卮禺氐蹖鬲 賴丕 爻賮乇 讴賳賲 蹖丕 亘賵丿賳 鬲賵 丕賵賳 丿賳蹖丕 賴丕 乇賵 鬲噩爻賲 讴賳賲.
February 25, 2019
Hay muchas cosas que decir de Asimov tras releer la Fundaci贸n y continuar con las siguientes dos partes de la trilog铆a. Obra que, para decir una obviedad es, en su conjunto, la serie de ciencia 蹿颈肠肠颈贸苍 m谩s influyente de todos los tiempos. La guerra por ser la obra m谩s importante del g茅nero es una pelea con Dune (yo me inclino por esta 煤ltima).
Mi primera reacci贸n es que la gran pregunta que me queda es qu茅 tanto deben perdon谩rsele cosas a Asimov en aras de lo impactante, influyente y visionaria de la obra. Perdonar cosas como una caracterizaci贸n que empieza mal y mejora sustancialmente a la mitad de la trilog铆a (curiosamente cuando se acuerda de que existen las mujeres). Cosas como esa maldita costumbre de no usar siempre el punto y aparte cuando tiene que hacerlo. Cosas como darle la misma voz a una serie casi intercambiable de comerciantes, bur贸cratas y militares. En suma, suele decirse que Asimov era un escritor limitado con grandes ideas.
Pero esto del escritor limitado debe verse en el ambiente de pulp de donde se publicaron los cuentos y novellas que amalgamados forman la trilog铆a. En ese ambiente convendr铆a comparar a Asimov con un Robert Howard, que ten铆a la enorme virtud de esbozar brillantemente un cuadro y arrojarnos a la acci贸n escandalosa. Haciendo la comparacion, Asimov a veces acierta y otras falla: El primer pasaje de la trilog铆a, cuando Dornick ve las estrellas en su primera aproximaci贸n a Trantor y la primera descripci贸n del planeta es verdaderamente arrebatador. El juego de twists y volteretas que empieza al introducir a los mutantes es espectacular, de la calidad de un escritor de misterio de los grandes. Pero hay otros aspectos como las pocas batallas apenas dibujadas y lo ya mencionado de los personajes que s贸lo aparecen en un cap铆tulo/historia que quedan a deber.
En cuanto al trasfondo, pues s煤per influyente. Me parece siempre curioso el amor que despierta la serie entre los economistas. Si es por la c谩tedra de historia econ贸mica que imparte Asimov, bravo. Si es por un deseo secreto de que la psicohistoria fuera real y que ellos fuesen algo as铆 como los que intervienen para encauzarla, tengo que hacer mi obligatoria advertencia de que en el papel suena bonito, pero en la pr谩ctica intentar manipular los outcomes de un sistema complejo suele ser una piedrita que pavimenta el camino a la tiran铆a.
Concluyo con una serie de curiosidades cincuenteras que not茅 de la novela y que me llamaron la atenci贸n del tiempo en el que fue escrita:
- La incapacidad de la mayor铆a de los autores de ciencia 蹿颈肠肠颈贸苍 de la 茅poca de imaginar un futuro totalmente digital. Aqu铆 casi todo es an谩logo. Los aparatos tienen palancas y diales. Hay peri贸dicos impresos y la gente usa transcriptores para poner cosas en papel f铆sico.
-Todos fuman y toman whisky como en un cap铆tulo de Mad Men.
-Cosas que seguro a Asimov le pareci贸 s煤per visionario imaginar pero que hoy son de lo m谩s normal: mapas tridimensionales de cualquier lugar al alcance de la mano, pantallas de una pared de alto, aparatos en las mu帽ecas que transmiten mensajes, etc.
Mi primera reacci贸n es que la gran pregunta que me queda es qu茅 tanto deben perdon谩rsele cosas a Asimov en aras de lo impactante, influyente y visionaria de la obra. Perdonar cosas como una caracterizaci贸n que empieza mal y mejora sustancialmente a la mitad de la trilog铆a (curiosamente cuando se acuerda de que existen las mujeres). Cosas como esa maldita costumbre de no usar siempre el punto y aparte cuando tiene que hacerlo. Cosas como darle la misma voz a una serie casi intercambiable de comerciantes, bur贸cratas y militares. En suma, suele decirse que Asimov era un escritor limitado con grandes ideas.
Pero esto del escritor limitado debe verse en el ambiente de pulp de donde se publicaron los cuentos y novellas que amalgamados forman la trilog铆a. En ese ambiente convendr铆a comparar a Asimov con un Robert Howard, que ten铆a la enorme virtud de esbozar brillantemente un cuadro y arrojarnos a la acci贸n escandalosa. Haciendo la comparacion, Asimov a veces acierta y otras falla: El primer pasaje de la trilog铆a, cuando Dornick ve las estrellas en su primera aproximaci贸n a Trantor y la primera descripci贸n del planeta es verdaderamente arrebatador. El juego de twists y volteretas que empieza al introducir a los mutantes es espectacular, de la calidad de un escritor de misterio de los grandes. Pero hay otros aspectos como las pocas batallas apenas dibujadas y lo ya mencionado de los personajes que s贸lo aparecen en un cap铆tulo/historia que quedan a deber.
En cuanto al trasfondo, pues s煤per influyente. Me parece siempre curioso el amor que despierta la serie entre los economistas. Si es por la c谩tedra de historia econ贸mica que imparte Asimov, bravo. Si es por un deseo secreto de que la psicohistoria fuera real y que ellos fuesen algo as铆 como los que intervienen para encauzarla, tengo que hacer mi obligatoria advertencia de que en el papel suena bonito, pero en la pr谩ctica intentar manipular los outcomes de un sistema complejo suele ser una piedrita que pavimenta el camino a la tiran铆a.
Concluyo con una serie de curiosidades cincuenteras que not茅 de la novela y que me llamaron la atenci贸n del tiempo en el que fue escrita:
- La incapacidad de la mayor铆a de los autores de ciencia 蹿颈肠肠颈贸苍 de la 茅poca de imaginar un futuro totalmente digital. Aqu铆 casi todo es an谩logo. Los aparatos tienen palancas y diales. Hay peri贸dicos impresos y la gente usa transcriptores para poner cosas en papel f铆sico.
-Todos fuman y toman whisky como en un cap铆tulo de Mad Men.
-Cosas que seguro a Asimov le pareci贸 s煤per visionario imaginar pero que hoy son de lo m谩s normal: mapas tridimensionales de cualquier lugar al alcance de la mano, pantallas de una pared de alto, aparatos en las mu帽ecas que transmiten mensajes, etc.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,771 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.