Still entertaining
3 stars
Even though this book is generally considered to be Asimov's worst, also by the author himself, it was still an entertaining read
Foundation Foundation and Empire Second Foundation
Isaac Asimov's Foundation novels are some of the great masterworks of science fiction. Unsurpassed for their unique blend of nonstop action, daring ideas, and extensive world-building, they chronicle the struggle of a courageous group of men and women working to preserve humanity’s light against an inexorable tide of darkness and violence.
Led by its founding father, the great psychohistorian Hari Seldon, and taking advantage of its superior science and technology, the Foundation has survived the greed and barbarism of its neighboring warrior-planets. Yet now it must face the Empire—still the mightiest force in the Galaxy even in its death throes. When an ambitious general determined to restore the Empire’s glory turns the vast imperial fleet toward the Foundation, the only hope for the small planet of scholars and scientists lies in the prophecies of Hari Seldon.
But not even Hari Seldon could have predicted …
Foundation Foundation and Empire Second Foundation
Isaac Asimov's Foundation novels are some of the great masterworks of science fiction. Unsurpassed for their unique blend of nonstop action, daring ideas, and extensive world-building, they chronicle the struggle of a courageous group of men and women working to preserve humanity’s light against an inexorable tide of darkness and violence.
Led by its founding father, the great psychohistorian Hari Seldon, and taking advantage of its superior science and technology, the Foundation has survived the greed and barbarism of its neighboring warrior-planets. Yet now it must face the Empire—still the mightiest force in the Galaxy even in its death throes. When an ambitious general determined to restore the Empire’s glory turns the vast imperial fleet toward the Foundation, the only hope for the small planet of scholars and scientists lies in the prophecies of Hari Seldon.
But not even Hari Seldon could have predicted the birth of the extraordinary creature called The Mule, a mutant intelligence with a power greater than a dozen battle fleets… a power that can turn the strongest-willed human into an obedient slave.
Even though this book is generally considered to be Asimov's worst, also by the author himself, it was still an entertaining read
By jove, what?! In the eponymous book, the Second Foundation begins to come into focus. Just who are the Second Foundationers? Will they save the First Foundation? Are they antagonistic towards the First Foundation? Where are they based? Just what is the other end of the Galaxy?
Asimov is one step ahead of his reader; the shadow of suspicion clings to several characters in this story, and perhaps some of them are decidedly dodgy - but reader, prepare to be dumbfounded at the big reveal right at the end. That's it. I'll say no more. Gosh, what a story!
An audiobook of BBC's radio adaptation. The adaptation shows it's age in the production style, still I quite loved the old fashioned intonation and over the top performance in some cases. Also a sign of age, hundreds and hundreds of years pass and only a handful of women make an appearance, even fewer a contribution to the story.