Review of 'Foundation and Chaos (Second Foundation Trilogy)' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
A broad and diverse cast of characters, expertly portrayed.
The Second Foundation Trilogy (Foundation Trilogy Series) Second Foundation (2)
416 pages
English language
Published May 1, 1999 by Eos.
Isaac Asimov's renowned Foundation trilogy pioneered many of the familiar themes of modern science fiction and shaped many of its best writers. With the permission and blessing of the Asimov estate, the epic saga left unfinished by the Grand Master himself now continues with this second masterful volume.
With Hari Seldon on trial for treason, the Galactic Empire's long-anticipated migration to Star's End is about to begin. But the mission's brilliant robot leader, R. Daneel Olivaw, has discovered a potential enemy far deadlier -- and closer -- than he ever imagined: one of his own kind.
A freak accident erases the basic commandments in humaniform robot Lodovik Trema's positronic brain. Now Lodovic's service to humankind is no longer bound by destiny, but by will. To ensure his loyalty, Daneel has Lodovic secretly reprogrammed. But can he be trusted? Now, other robots are beginning to question their mission -- and Daneel's …
Isaac Asimov's renowned Foundation trilogy pioneered many of the familiar themes of modern science fiction and shaped many of its best writers. With the permission and blessing of the Asimov estate, the epic saga left unfinished by the Grand Master himself now continues with this second masterful volume.
With Hari Seldon on trial for treason, the Galactic Empire's long-anticipated migration to Star's End is about to begin. But the mission's brilliant robot leader, R. Daneel Olivaw, has discovered a potential enemy far deadlier -- and closer -- than he ever imagined: one of his own kind.
A freak accident erases the basic commandments in humaniform robot Lodovik Trema's positronic brain. Now Lodovic's service to humankind is no longer bound by destiny, but by will. To ensure his loyalty, Daneel has Lodovic secretly reprogrammed. But can he be trusted? Now, other robots are beginning to question their mission -- and Daneel's strategy.
Stirrings of rebellion, too, are infecting their human counterparts. Among them is a young woman with awesome psychic abilities, a reluctant leader with the power to join man and robot in a quest for common freedom. Or mutual destruction.
The Foundation Saga continues. Read Gregory Benford's "Foundation's Fear", the first novel in this bold new series and "Secret Foundation", the concluding volume from David Brin.
A broad and diverse cast of characters, expertly portrayed.
An excellent and intriguing addition to Asimov's legacy. Greg Bear's contribution to this second trilogy carries Hari Seldon to the very cusp of the future. His writing skills most certainly do not disappoint. The plot and characters bob & weave through the eddies of time and history. I hope that the trilogy's final novel by David Brin brings this saga to a satisfying close.
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. Well, this was definitely better than Benford's entry in the Foundation series in that at no point while reading this did I want to gouge my eyes out. However, I can't really say it was a good or necessary part of the Foundation saga. I wouldn't call it a complete waste of time (again, unlike Foundation's Fear)...but I was pretty glad to finish it. I did gain a healthy respect for Bear's writing (he's one of my wife's favorites) and am interested in reading something else. I just hope it has more of a plot than this had.
Mostly rather meh but the last 100 or so pages sucked me in, as evidenced by me staying up till 3:00 AM reading the end.