Foundation's Triumph (Second Foundation Trilogy)

Amazon.com

Isaac Asimov's 1951-53 Foundation trilogy is a rough-hewn classic of far future SF, honored with a unique 1965 Hugo for Best All-Time Series. It begins with "psychohistorian" Hari Seldon mapping the best possible course for humanity's next millennium, after the fall of the doomed Galactic Empire. Late in life Asimov revisited the series and awkwardly linked it with his popular robot stories--introducing vast conspiracy theories to explain the Empire's total lack of visible robots.

Asimov's estate authorized three SF notables to fill out Seldon's life in the Second Foundation Trilogy, which David Brin here wraps up after Gregory Benford's Foundation's Fear and Greg Bear's Foundation and Chaos. Chaos is the new keyword, because chaos theory seemingly makes nonsense of psychohistorical prediction. Whole planetary populations can lapse into chaotic rebellion despite secret mind-controlling agencies behind the scenes. So Seldon makes his last interstellar journey, harried, lectured, and even kidnapped by the warring factions of robots and not-quite-robots that have long manipulated humanity. The robots' dilemma:

"We are loyal, and yet far more competent than our masters. For their own sake, we have kept them ignorant, because we know too well what destructive paths they follow, whenever they grow too aware."

Brin does his best with Asimov's overcrowded legacy, skillfully steering Seldon to an insight about the much-foretold future that satisfies both the old man and the reader, with a spark of human free will and constructive chaos shining through the grayness of predestination. Asimov would have approved. --David Langford, Amazon.co.uk

Book Description

Isaac Asimov's Foundation Trilogy is one of the highwater marks of science fiction.The monumental story of a Galactic Empire in decline and a secret society of scientists who seek to shorten the coming Dark Age with tools of Psychohistory, Foundation pioneered many themes of modern science fiction.Now, with the approval of the Asimov estate, three of today's most acclaimed authors have completed the epic the Grand Master left unfinished.

The Second Foundation Trilogy begins with Gregory Benford's Foundation's Fear, telling the origins of Hari Seldon, the Foundation's creator. Greg Bear's Foundation and Chaos relates the epic tale of Seldon's downfall and the first stirrings of robotic rebellion. Now, in David Brin's Foundation's Triumph, Seldon is about to escape exile and risk everything for one final quest-a search for knowledge and the power it bestows. The outcome of this final journey may secure humankind's future-or witness its final downfall...

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Isaac Asimov's Foundation Trilogy pioneered many themes of modern science fiction. Now, with the approval of the Asimov estate, three of today's most acclaimed authors have completed the epic the Grand Master left unfinished. The Second Foundation Trilogy begins with Gregory Benford's Foundation's Fear, telling the origins of Hari Seldon, the Foundation's creator. Gregory Bear's Foundation and Chaos relates the epic tale of Seldon's downfall and the first stirrings of robotic rebellion. Now, in David Brin's Foundation's Triumph, Seldon is about to escape exile and risk everything for one final quest -- the outcome of which may secure humankind's future -- or witness its final downfall ..

One Last Adventure!

Isaac Asimov's Foundation Trilogy is one of the highwater marks of science fiction.The monumental story of a Galactic Empire in decline and a secret society of scientists who seek to shorten the coming Dark Age with tools of Psychohistory, Foundation pioneered many themes of modern science fiction. Now, with the approval of the Asimov estate, three of today's most acclaimed authors have completed the epic the Grand Master left unfinished.

Customer Reviews:

At last---a triumph.......2005-03-30

Foundation's Triumph is just that, especially after the tedious, overlong first book (with its uninteresting Voltaire/Joan of Arc subplot) and the very good, very enjoyable but un-spectacular second book. This one clicks on all levels. It has majesty and sweep. It has complexity, lots of gray areas, philosophical debates where the answer is never quite clear. Well written and conceived. This makes wading through the first book worthwhile. Superb.

Bizarro.......2004-09-06

This book is the most boring and bizarre of the 3. If I hadn't read the other 2 I would've just stop reading this one. Several times I just wanted to hurl it across the room never to be picked up again. I should've because nothing happens requiring anyone to read it.

Brin just repeatedly re-hashes everything I already knew from Asimov's books, and then turned eveything around so that Daneel and Hari (and, to a lesser extent, Wanda), once the good guys, are now megalomaniacs. If that's not enough to turn anyone off, how about this: Dors falls in lust with another robot. And these are just a couple of examples of the nonsense in this book. I've never read Brin before, and I certainly never will again.

This book couldn't be further from Asimov's Foundation in every way except for the use of Foundation in the title.

A good wrap to a good project........2003-12-16

I think Brin, Bear, and Benford did a very good job on these books (the second foundation trilogy). They took these ideas from Asimov and agreed to not take literary license with them but to merely bring them to life in the way Asimov would have if he had lived to write them. I think that Brin actually might even be a better writer per se than Asimov, but it was Asimov's storyline, not the way Brin wrote it that made it a great book. It answers many questions that Asimov never got around to answering but I think always meant to at some point because they were in the notes that the three B's used to write this series. Great job!

A great read - but should be entitled Foundation Established.......2003-08-17

This series has been an awesome read. How can you not like Hari Seldon??? This volume has a lot more intrigue in it, with a good continual rythum of action and adventure, to keep anyone turning its pages. I found it to be more in line with the first volume in this series, than the second (focused really on action and the like).

Foundation's Triumph though may be an overstatement for when you read through the appendix about the future of the universe as forseen by the various authors that have contributed to it, one almost wonders if Foundation Established would be the better title.

Hopefully, the Asimov estate will continue to let other authors, or even these three, take on another phase of the Foundation and see where it and R. Daneel Olivaw allow humanity to go? Worth the read.

A Salvage Operation.......2002-11-16

I did not like "Foundation's Fear". Greg Bear and David Brin continue where Gregory Benford left off, but their novels were more salvage operations than anything else since Benford gave the entire "Second Foundation Trilogy" such a poor start. Having finally read all three novels, I am left with the impression that this was not a story of the emergence of the Second Galactic Empire as so many of us had hoped and wished for. Instead, we got a history of the Second Foundation's beginnings, and even that history is woefully inadequate.

David Brin's novel is the best of the three. However, I agree that there is far too much "backstory" and very little is said about the psychohistorical momentum to build the Second Empire. Brin makes a noble attempt to cobble the disparate elements Benford introduced in the first novel and give his readers the satisfaction of knowing that a Second Empire has indeed emerged that was different from what both the Second Foundation and the people of Gaia envisioned.

However, the "Killer B's" have done their readers a grave disservice by not completing the history of the Interregnum between the two Empires. David Brin compounds this sin by making oblique references to Golan Trevize and the role he is to play during this period as well as what was done by Mors Planch and Biron Maserd. Why did he do this? And is there any intention of the part of the Asimov estate to finally tie all these loose ends together? David Brin hints in his Afterword and Timeline that somebody else should continue the story.

Amazon.com

This is book number two in the new Second Foundation Trilogy being written by hard science fiction authors Gregory Benford, Greg Bear, and David Brin, otherwise known as the "Killer B's." In this book, Bear continues where Benford's Foundation's Fear left off, as the trial of legendary psychohistorian Hari Seldon is about to begin. Bear writes with a style uncannily similar to Foundation creator Isaac Asimov's, and he even manages to incorporate some of Asimov's own writing in the novel. Aside from the trial, Bear also focuses on the nearly immortal robots that serve the Foundation, including R. Daneel Olivaw, who is set to guide one of the Foundation's first great undertakings. But Olivaw runs into trouble from an unexpected quarter, his best operative, Lodovik Trema, whose positronic brain has been irrevocably altered in a strange accident that has given him freedom from the supposedly immutable laws of robotics. --Craig Engler

Book Description

Isaac Asimov's Foundation Trilogy is one of the high-water marks of science fiction. It pioneered many of the familiar themes of modern SF, and the sheer sweep of his "future history" shaped many if not most of the writers who followed him.

With the permission and blessing of the Asimov estate, three of today's bestselling SF writers, Gregory Benford, Greg Bear and David Brin, have conspired (like the original Foundation!) to complete the epic saga the beloved Grand Master left unfinished.

The acclaimed Second Foundation Trilogy continues with Greg Bear's Foundation and Chaos, the gripping new novel about a galaxy-wide power struggle within the ranks of the robots that have served and protected humankind for 20 centuries.

Hari Seldon, frail and full of years, is on trial for daring to predict the Empire's fall, and the time has come for the long-anticipated migration to Star's End. But R. Daneel Olivaw, the brilliant robot entrusted with this great mission, has discovered a potential enemy, even deadlier than the figurehead Emperor's brutal minions.

One of his own.

Humaniform robot Lodovik Trema is the only survivor of a bizarre insterstellar accident. Exposed to a neutrino storm, his positronic brain has apparently erased the holographic template of the Three Laws of Robotics. If this is true, Lodovic's service to humankind is no longer a question of destiny, but of will, and therefore, no longer absolute.

Daneel needs Lodovic, so he sends him to Eos, the legendary secret planet where the robots perfect their service to humankind. And Lodovic says he is healed. Yet, can he be trusted, when stirrings of discontent are arising all over the galaxy? Other robots are questioning their mission and Daneel's strategy.

And humans, too. Hidden in the steel caves of Trantor, sought by loyalist and rebel alike, is an obscure heatsink worker's daughter, a girl whose amazing mental powers are also the result of disaster: the deadly human malady known as Brain Fever. Young Klia Asgar's awesome but unwanted psychic abilities promise to join man and robot in a common destiny... or a mutual destruction.

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The epic saga left unfinished by the Grand Master himself now continues with this second masterful volume (and the blessing of the Asimov estate). Brilliant robot leader R. Daneel Olivaw is about to begin the Galactic Empire's long-anticipated migration to Star's End, until he faces a deadly threat -- from one of his own kind. A rebellion is stirring, and there's only one hope: a young woman with awesome psychic abilities who can join man and robot in a quest for common freedom, or mutual destruction.

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. And 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. "

Customer Reviews:

The Zombie Asimov's Rule.......2007-09-27

Greg Bear's book is the second of 3 books published by the 3 B's (Benford, Bear, Brin). While the first book is a little slow to start, this book sucks you in from the start and really extends the world of Daneel, Hari, and Dors. By the time you finish it you cannot wait to see how it all ends.

What a relief!.......2007-07-16

After Benford's horrid attempt (first book of the trilogy), Bear's novel was a relief. His style is very asimovian, and the two most annoying characters in the history of SF (the "sims" Joan of Arc and Voltaire) do not play an important part, and even get killed near the end. Oh, boy, did I enjoy that!!. Unfortunately, it's not that easy to destroy them.

But the book has many weak points. For instance, the evolution of "mentalics" as a reaction to robotic manipulation of human history is almost unbelievable.

Also, there are too many robots in this trilogy. What I liked most of the original trilogy is that of a human-only galaxy, where a man, armed with just mathemathics, is able to organize and predict the future of humanity. A single man. That was great stuff.

I've only read the two first books of the trilogy, and they transpire a negative view of psychohistory. Of course, humans do not want to be controlled (and this was already present in Asimov's Second Foundation novel, where the First Foundation fights against the Second). But psychohistory itself never had a negative flavor. The fact that PH is interpreted in a negative fashion in this new trilogy, changes the "feel" of the original novels. I believe that could have been handled better.

Summarizing, this is an entertaining book, quite asimovian, but the issue of determinism vs. freedom, security-but-stagnation vs. creativity-but-risk-and-chaos, could have been handled much better. Those are the real issues behind Asimov's ideas, but psychohistory should've gotten a bit more respect, it was such a great and beautiful idea.

But I enjoyed reading it, so I'm giving it 4 stars.

I'm starting reading the third book and it looks bad ... here come Joan and Voltaire again. Puke! puke!

Greag Bear Does Asimov Well.......2004-09-30

The second book in the post-Asimov foundation series is by one of my favorite SF authors--Greg Bear. This book picks up after Gregory Benford's Foundation's Fear, but does not come chronologically right after the end of that book. Rather, what has been done in this new series is that spots not filled out by Asimov are now filled in, so Benford's work takes place just as the main character, Hari Seldon, takes the post of First Ministership, while Bear's book takes place after that time and what we were left to think was the decline and death of Seldon (that impression made in Asimov's Forward Foundation.

Bear is really great at picking up a genre that is not his own (as I liked in his Star Trek and Star Wars novels). Foundation and Chaos is more like Asimov's style than Benford's, but Bear still manages to fill out some details not covered before, especially about political strive among the robots. The idea that the robots have differing opinions and political groups working against each other is really amazing. Loved it all.

Asimov collections.......2004-03-08

Amazon should combine the books of a subject together so as to make ordering easier, in the same way you have combined lists. For eg. all of Robot books of Asimov in onr orderable quantity and the foundation series in another.

Very good, but not Asimov.......2003-12-16

This is a very good story written but a great author. I am so glad that he stayed so true to Asimov's original intentions for the series (unlike Brian Herbert with his Dune books). It does not read like Asimov though. This is forgivable because Bear never tried to emulate Asimov's style, he only tried to take Asimov's unfinished story and do the best job he could with his own writing style, which is really a better way to go if you think about it.

Foundation's Fear (Second Foundation Trilogy)

Average customer rating:

Almost good...almost...
This is not a foundation book
OK, but not great
Can you endure this book?
Ignore the Joan and Voltair chapters and it's a good read!

Foundation's Fear (Second Foundation Trilogy)
Gregory Benford , and Isaac Asimov
Manufacturer: Harper Prism
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0061052434

Amazon.com

This is the first installment of The Second Foundation Trilogy, based on Isaac Asimov's famous Foundation series. Acclaimed hard science fiction writers Gregory Benford, David Brin, and Greg Bear will each produce a work for the trilogy. Benford kicks off exploring the beginnings of the Foundation itself and its creator, Hari Seldon. Seldon is working on a project to ease the inevitable collapse of the universe-spanning Empire and the Dark Ages that will ensue. But the current emperor has other plans, like appointing Seldon first minister and thus thrusting him into a world of political intrigues and assassination attempts that ultimately will bring him up against future history's greatest threat.

Book Description

First in the stunning Second Foundation Trilogy

Hari Seldon has been nominated as First Minister by Emperor Clean. But as his appointment is being considered, Hari's simple life grows complex with bodyguards, assassination attempts, staff discord and the continuing public debate over artificial intelligence. As the friction over whether robots have souls heats up, two A.l.s, Joan of Arc and Voltaire, go rogue and flee. The chase is on.

A rousing adventure that combines intellectual debate with the ingenious possibilities of true science fiction, Foundation's Fear will bring Asimov's greatest creation back to a new and bestselling life.

Gregory Benford won the Neubla Award in 1980 for his novel Timescape.

"[Benford] brings out the complexities of a galactic empire that Asimov never filled out..the first book stands well on its own."

'Denver Post

"[Benford] took on the huge task of answering questions [raised in the original], and difficult as it may sound, he pulled it off with style..Rest assured, Asimov's work is in good hands."

'Craig E. Engler

Editor and Publisher

of Science Fiction Weekly

"A richly rewarding delight.Benford writes up to his usual high standard and excels in bringing Asimovian concepts.to vivid, visually compelling life."

'Publishers Weekly

(starred review)

"Intriguing and engrossing.[a] curious blend of reinventions and retrospective criticism."

'Kirkus Reviews

(starred review)

Download Description

Isaac Asimov's Foundation Trilogy is one of the high-water marks of science fiction. It is the monumental story of a Galactic Empire in decline, and the secret society of scientists who seek to shorten the inevitable Dark Age with the science of psychohistory. Now with the permission -- and blessing -- of the Asimov estate the epic saga continues. Thrust into the First Ministership of the Empire, Hari Seldon must administer twenty-five million inhabited worlds from the all-steel planet of Trantor. He's also developing the science that will transform history, and ultimately pit him against future history's most awesome threat.

Fate -- and a cruel Emperor's arbitrary power -- have thrust Hari Seldon into the First Ministership of the Empire against his will. As the story opens, Hari is about to leave his quiet professorship and take on the all but impossible task of administering 25 million inhabited worlds from the all-steel planet of Trantor. With the help of his beautiful bio-engineered ""wife"" Dors and his alien companion Yugo, Seldon is still developing the science that will transform history, never dreaming that it will ultimately pit him against future history's most awesome threat."

Customer Reviews:

Almost good...almost..........2007-10-09

Well, when you try to follow up an incredible, genre-impacting series like Asimov's Foundation Series you're just asking for trouble, if you ask me. This is actually the first of a trilogy of books which were actually encouraged by the estate of Asimov, if I understand things correctly. Since I've only read one book of the trilogy the jury is still out on whether or not this was worth the effort.

This particular book takes place right when Hari Seldon steps in to be the First Minister, which is what happens following the climax of the book. I think Benford has done an incredible job maintaining the characters of Hari, Yugo, Dors, and Daneel. The only thing I really missed was Hari's history of being a Twister, which I thought might have been relevant to a few of the situations Benford had Hari going through. On the other hand, though, Benford might have not really had a good idea what a Twister was (as I do not due to Asimov's lack of exposure of the subject) and therefore decided to not address it at all rather than using that aspect wrongly. I can respect that.

The first thing to note is that Benford doesn't write like Asimov - and it's probably be pretty rough if he did. But he does do an excellent job writing and he keeps this story moving along pretty good. I was a little annoyed with his exploration of Simulations (AI based upon an historical figure) and their fight for existence, so to speak. It was integral to the story he told, but I found myself time and again wishing I were reading about Hari and Dors rather than what the sims were up to.

The one thing I kind of regret is an inclusion of reference to and basis for alien life in the Foundation's universe. The lack of alien reference or life was something which I really appreciated and enjoyed in Asimov's entire timeline of books. Probably because so many other sci-fi books I've read have gotten bogged down in the details of either relating to or being hostile with alien life-forms.

But, in reading the author's afterward I understand more completely what he was attempting to do when he wrote this book and am actually interested in reading the other two books to see how they develop some of the themes hinted at in this one.

So do I recommend this book? Yeah, but make sure you read at least Asimov's Foundation Series, if not as many other of his books from that timeline that you can get your hands on. That way you'll really be able to recognize and enjoy this as more a postulation upon Asimov's universe, rather than an addition to.

This is not a foundation book.......2007-07-16

After reading the other reviews, not much else can be added, but I wanted to add another negative review to this rancid book. This is my summary:

this is a very bad SF book.

Basically, this is not a Foundation's book. You'll get disappointed if you think it is. Benford adds many issues, like aliens (!), and simulated personalities (!!), thus changing completely Asimov's universe.

The simulated personalities plot (Joan of Arc and Voltaire) is one of the most annoying pieces of writing I've ever read. I hate both of them, I just hate them. All this nonsense about faith and reason, so un-asimovian, the Voltarian "I want to be with the maid, I want to be with the maid, blah blah" putrid pseudo-medieval prose. I just hated it with all my heart. I had to jump over most of the plot lest I become mad and Benford dedicated whole chapters to that silliness. Oh god, it made me puke!!.

Also, this is mostly an action novel, where Seldon looks more like James Bond than a mathematician.

There was just one ironic point that I think it was good: postmodernist nonsense was one of the causes of the downfall of the Empire. That's a good one.

The ending could not be believed.

Amazingly bad, I'm so annoyed at Benford's attempt. Why did he accept writing a Foundation novel if he did want to write something completely different?.

OK, but not great.......2007-01-10

I expected the 2nd foundation series to pickup where the foundation series left off not backtrack & cover stuff not written about in the past. There is a large section is regarding the SIMs could have been shortened down considerably. I skimmed a lot of the information. A lot of the technology in the book is not mentioned in any of the org books and seems out of place for the timeframe. It seems more star trekish than foundation series.

Can you endure this book?.......2006-11-28

I only finished this book out of morbid curiosity. Was this book even edited???

At least one third of this book could have been scrapped on the first skim reading. The vast majority of the "sim" development and interaction is completely unnecessary to plot mechanics or understanding of the material presented. Their characters are WAY overdeveloped to the point of distraction. The material and philosophy he wants to cover requires either A) vast explanation or B) toss the idea out there and let the reader do their own contemplation. Asimov was a master at the latter. Beneford tries the former with disastrous results - pages and pages of superfluous, weird visualizations of mathematical concepts. Asimov hinted at visualizations without losing narrative focus, Beneford inundates and distracts you with them.

Then there's Panucopia. Ultimately this entire sequence is completely irrelevant, despite his weak effort to tie it in to the underlying concepts. You can skip this entire section and actually have a more satisfying experience just wondering what the Author refers to when the "Pans" are mentioned "Oh, so he gained some insight into human society when he observed some primates of rudimentary higher intelligence in their natural habitat. Gotcha!"

As many other reviewers have pointed out, he changes the characters substantially. Hari seems to be a master politician by the end. He's also a great orator and not very reluctant as first minister. Dors and Yugo only share the same names as the Asimov versions. I don't think he destroyed Olivaw, but the immortal robot was far less enigmatic and mysterious by the end of it.

The conflict with the aliens in the "mesh" who have this simple desire for revenge is completely unsatisfying. These beings, capable of higher intelligence, having been completely wiped out by robots under the command of Olivaw, have their simple desire for revenge sated by killing a few of his underlings. And the author clearly wants us to believe that the great intellectual Hari Seldon bought off on their whole story.

Concerning his philosophies - ultimately he doesn't even do the reader the courtesy of concluding the questions he took several hundred pages to ask and seemingly try to answer. There is no desire to go looking in a sequel either because he just tires you out.

I can respect the author's approach in not trying to imitate Asimov and to make this a Beneford book in the Foundation universe, but I can't respect his result.

Ignore the Joan and Voltair chapters and it's a good read!.......2006-07-17

Even though I was forewarned that Benford went down his own galactic wormhole with the storyline, I thought--as an Asimov fan--how far can he go with such a great foundation (no pun intended). Well he went pretty far a field but there is hope!

If you think skipping chapters is sacrilege go ahead and try to read the first two or three chapters that deal with the SIMs. If you have the same reaction many of the rest of us had--have no fear. Just skip ahead to the next chapter. Trust me--in this case it's allowed and you're not missing much. You can simply fill in the blanks in the story with "a random event occurred here that caused chaos" (kind of mental spackle job) and then go right back to the main storyline without missing a beat and spending too much time on the overblown SIM plotline which frankly Asimov would not ever have condoned writing. (Shame on the Estate)

The second book (thankfully) picks up the story well and in spite of the fact that Bear has to deal clean up the mess from book one he gets back to the roots quickly.

But if you're like me and feel morally compelled to read Book 1 before you crack the cover on 2 or 3, at least skip over the SIM chapters and get to nirvana faster.

Average customer rating:

my all time favorite read

The Foundation Trilogy

Manufacturer: Bantam Dell Publishing Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0739444050

Product Description

Science Fiction Book Club edition, 2004

Customer Reviews:

my all time favorite read.......2005-11-26

im a huge fan of isaac asimov for many many reasons. the fact that he wrote my all time favorite story is just coincidence. but he did. this incredible tale told in 3 volumes originally in the 1950,s and then continued years later in the 1980,s was based on THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE by GIBBONS that was written in the 1700,s. asimov decided to place the tale in the far future , in a galactic empire that includes thousands of worlds throughout the galaxy. the empire is falling in to barbarism and one man HARI SELDON has figured out a way to save it from falling. not totallly from falling mind you, that is way beyond help at this point but hes figured a way to cushion the fall so to speak and then make it rise again faster than it would through his discovery of " PSYCHOHISTORY". Physchohistory is the study of history and its past and what the future may bring based on what has happend combined with psychology and what very may well happen in the future. he creates TWO foundations on opposite ends of the galaxy to guide and help the whole of civilization along the next few million years to keep things from getting too bad, but something happens. some THING throws a monkey wrench into the works long after seldon is dead that threatens the whole of his work. or does it? the first 3 novels written in the fifties are markedly different in style from the ones written the eightys naturally and they can almost be considerd 2 seperate tales but they all work together well. so well in fact that even though asimov is dead the storys are continued by other science fiction writers like greg bear and gregory bedford. in fact they may continue forever with permission from the asimov estate but the original works are sheer genius. easy to read and simply written in the typical asimov style. great idea thats well thought out.

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The Foundation Trilogy

Manufacturer: AVON
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0380508567

Product Description

A THOUSAND-YEAR EPIC, A GALACTIC STRUGGLE, A MONUMENTAL WORK IN THE ANNALS OF SCIENCE FICTION FOUNDATION begins a new chapter in the story of man's future. As the Old Empire crumbles into barbarism throughout the million worlds of the galaxy, Hari Seldon and his band of psychologists must create a new entity, the Foundation-dedicated to art, science, and technology-as the beginning of a new empire. FOUNDATION AND EMPIRE describes the mighty struggle for power amid the chaos of the stars in which man stands at the threshold of a new enlightened life which could easily be destroyed by the old forces of barbarism. SECOND FOUNDATION follows the Seldon Plan after the First Empire's defeat and describes its greatest threat-a dangerous mutant strain gone wild, which produces a mind capable of bending men's wills, directing their thoughts, reshaping their desires, and destroying the universe.

The Foundation Trilogy: Foundation, Foundation and Empire; Second Foundation - The Stars, Like Dust, The Naked Sun, I Robot -

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Fabulous REAL-FICTION stories

The Foundation Trilogy: Foundation, Foundation and Empire; Second Foundation - The Stars, Like Dust, The Naked Sun, I Robot -
Isaac Asimov
Manufacturer: Heinemann Octopus
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Literature & Fiction | Bargain Books | Stores | Books

The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian (Conan of Cimmeria, Book 1)

ASIN: 0905712617

Customer Reviews:

Fabulous REAL-FICTION stories.......2004-06-17

Asimov did a hell of a job gathering all his stories in a series of books. In The Complete Stories Vol. 1 his handwrittings from the 1940's just up to 1967 are printed in a wonderful science-fiction masterpiece. Asimov is well reknowned as the father of SciFi, and this stories demonstrate how he can write about politics, medicine, science, anthropology, or even sexuality. This book gives you down-to-earth, really involving stories, that will surely catch your attention. You'll find stories about the gigantic Multivac predicting electorial votes from just one person; a robot flirtering his bosses' wife; a super-intelligent computer who wants to comit suicide; and lots of different stories in a wide variety of topics, but all related to SciFi.

Into The Darkness: Book Two of The Foundations of Hope Trilogy (The Foundations of Hope)

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Into The Darkness: Book Two of The Foundations of Hope Trilogy (The Foundations of Hope)
Leathel Grody
Manufacturer: Lethal Publishing Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

Science Fiction & Fantasy | Fiction | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1597870048

The foundation trilogy: Three classics of science fiction

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The Messianic Era
A classic of science fiction
One of the top ten science-fiction classics ever
Wonder without action

The foundation trilogy: Three classics of science fiction
Isaac Asimov
Manufacturer: Avon Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

ASIN: B0007EXGJ6

Customer Reviews:

The Messianic Era.......2006-09-25

I first read these books when I was in high school and although
I almost never read fiction, and don't particularly like science
fiction (even though I studied geophysics in university and
work as an engineer), these books made an immense impression
on me. As I began to study Judaism, I finally discovered that
Asimov, a non-observant, yet knowledgable Jew, was using the
format of science fiction to describe the Jewish concept of the
redemption of mankind. A careful reading of the Biblical
Prophets shows that the ideal world that history is leading
mankind towards has universal peace between nations and a
de-emphasis of technology in favor of the development of man's
inner, more
spiritual side. However, this development of man's spiritual
qualities and move towards universal harmony is accompanied
by upheavels and wars. Jewish tradition also says that the
world is sustained by 36 "hidden" righteous people whose
good deeds and spritual superiority are vital from preventing
the destructive forces in the world, both natural and
man-made from overcoming everything and leading the world
to chaos.
Asimov used the two Foundations as his vehicle for describing
this cosmic process, and an important part of the story is
the necessity of the Second Foundation to remain "hidden" to
allow the process to work itself out.
As far as the story itself is concerned, it is true that it is
dated...for example, Asimov places the capital of the Galactic
Empire on the planet Trantor which "is at the center of the
Galaxy". Today, it is believed that the center of the galaxy
is full of black holes and lethal amounts of radiation, so it
is unlikely there would be life as we know it there. Also,
Asimov posits atomic energy as being the ultimate form of power
but physics has advanced beyond that point to fusion and other
exotic forms of power.
On the other hand, Asimov wrote these stories in the wake of
the Second World War and so he is quite aware of how so many
institutions created by men...including governments and religious
establishments, even starting with the best
of intentions, seems to run into crises. Thus the Galactic
Empire, which brought centuries of peace and prosperity to
mankind, is brought inevitably to a point of degeneration, and
how the (First) Foundation itself, founded by idealistic,
intelligent people who are at least partly aware of their
important role in shaping a better future for mankind, rapidly
degenerates into a repressive dictatorship.
As others have pointed out, these stories have almost no "action",
which is fine with me (my favorite movies and TV shows also
have no action, e.g. Twelve Angry Men) and in spite of the
fact that these stories are 60 years old, I recommend them
to anyone who wants a deeper look at mankind's nature
and its destiny.

A classic of science fiction.......2003-10-03

I first read this book in 1989. I still remember every little part of it, even after so many years. I never read any better book than this.
A book that every one should read.

One of the top ten science-fiction classics ever.......2003-06-01

There's no real way to do justice to this monumental work, one of the most influential ones on later science fiction.

Rather than overpraise it, I will note that the style is a bit dated, but not sufficient to detract from its present day enjoyment. Notable is the lack of physical action and the fact that you don't even notice this lack.

Actually, this isn't as much a group of three novels as it is seven shorter works. They lead through a crucial part of Galactic history starting with the beginning of the First Foundation, the first predicted crises, and then the unpredicted emergence of The Mule which appears to throw Hari Seldon's psychohistory off course, up to the search for a Second Foundation, spurred by the political intrigue and power struggle Asimov handles so well.

If you've never read these stories, and if you appreciate expertly written science-fiction, you do owe it to yourself to read these.

Wonder without action.......2003-01-02

This fantastic trilogy takes you through the fate of the universe. Of course which universe isn't ever exactly clear. The greatest feat of these three books, is their ability to never use any amount of action though, aside from the basic walking in and out of rooms, boarding craft and whatnot. In one of the later books in the series, (These first three were the original, but society demanded more), Asimov even himself said that he was surprised at the lack of action. Wonderful books though.

Average customer rating:

Overcome Stalled Thinking about Predestination with Vision
Good Way to Start Your SF Education
The "War and Peace" of science fiction.
INTERESTING READING MATERIAL
Foundation Trilogy

Foundation Trilogy
Isaac Asimov
Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0553628747

Customer Reviews:

Overcome Stalled Thinking about Predestination with Vision.......2004-09-18

Twenty Stars ********************

Long before the notion of using a vision of the future to help shape the future, there was Foundation by Isaac Asimov. This popular book and series have undoubtedly played a role in developing the importance of vision in our society in the 50 years since these stories were first written.

The book is also prescient in another way. The current best thinking about problem solving is that scenario-based exercises are the best way to prepare to influence the future. Sure enough, that is what Asimov was talking about with Seldon's forecasting techniques.

If that was all that Asimov accomplished, this would be one of the greatest science fiction novels of all time. But he did even more. He conceptualized the significance of finding offsets to the kind of bureaucratic stalls that can delay progress. While Joseph Heller was inventing Catch 22 to identify the problem, Asimov was already onto the cure. Asimov's solution: a secret second foundation that works behind the scenes without bureaucracy to do the real work of making a difference. In my own research on how change happens in organizations, it is always the stealth activities that work best.

In a sense, any view of history would lead to the same conclusion -- that progress and regression will usually succeed one another in that order. That was the point of Toynbee's work on history. Asimov has made that point very elegantly here.

What I love about this book are the many brilliant philosophical perspectives woven into the story. I wish my philosophy classes had been this interesting!

The drawback of the book is that Asimov is not one to overly polish his writing. So it works, but lacks the beauty we normally associate with great books. Don't let that hold you back.

These ideas and concepts for dealing with them are among the most irresitible ever conceived of for thinking about our futures. As you read and enjoy this wonderful novel, be sure to consider what its lessons are for existing organizations, like the one your work for, the schools your children or grandchildren attend, the government, and volunteer organizations like the Red Cross. You'll be amazed how much more you will get from this book if you do. For this is really a management book, as well as a science fiction book.

This book has constantly inspired me. I hope it will do the same for you!

Good Way to Start Your SF Education.......2004-03-14

Foundation owes its genesis to young Asimov reading Edward Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. As the author explains, he started thinking, what would happen if he described the fall of a GALACTIC Empire? Armed with a "science" of history known as psychohistory, Asimov and his editor John W. Campbell set about trying to describe the fall and rebirth of that mythic Empire. While the trilogy (and even the subsequent sequels) did not finish the 1,000-year cycle, enough was described to bring about some rather intriguing fiction.

Asimov, of course, is fond of puzzles involving logic. While logic is rather hazy regarding human behavior (the "Laws of Psychohistory" are deliberately kept off-stage), the characters are nevertheless able to make guesses that fall within the expectations of said logic.

The prime element in the resurrection of the Empire is, of course, Hari Seldon, the greatest psychohistorian in history. Seeing through his equations that the galaxy is about to fall into ruin, Seldon strives to create a "Foundation" which will preserve the wisdom of the old empire when the collapse comes. This Foundation will ensure that, instead of thousands of years of barbarism following the collapse, only 1,000 years will ensue. The Foundation begins harmlessly enough, as a scientific organization, designed to write the "Encyclopedia Galactica," a repository for all the galaxy's knowledge. However, as the Empire falls and the scientists of the Foundation are isolated by the barbarism on the galactic periphery (in a series of "Seldon Crises"), it becomes much more. That is the basic context of the first book in the series.

Seldon also creates a "Second Foundation." The purpose of this organization, located at "Star's End," is to monitor the Seldon plan and make sure the First Foundation comes to no harm in its slow quest to restore the Empire.

If some of this sounds vaguely like Star Wars, you wouldn't be far wrong. Much of that trilogy owes its existence to Asimov's work. The most blatant example is the planet Coruscant, which echoes Asimov's Trantor, the capital world of the Empire, which is an entire world-city.

My favorite book in the Foundation series is Foundation and Empire, because they offer the most opportunity for action and challenge for the Foundation. As the series originally appeared as a series of short stories and novellas in Campbell's Astounding, the "novel" is really two stories. In the first story, the Foundation finds itself facing its first real threat--a strong Empire at the galactic core, with a strong general capable of defeating the Foundation. In the next contest, the Foundation comes up against a telepathic enemy known as "The Mule," who starts mucking about with the Foundation's path toward eventual Empire.

The third book, Second Foundation, describes a search for the "Second Foundation." This search comes in earnest, after the setbacks the First Foundation faced in the second book. Asimov manages to end the stories well, and Asimov manages to keep the reader guessing.

I really enjoyed the series when I read it in high school. The stories were great exercises in logic and managed to provide some sense of adventure. Looking back, I can see some "primitive" technological aspects of Asimov's "Future History," but that takes little away from the story. One innovation for this series was the invention of the pocket calculator (the stories appeared in the early '40s). Asimov took reluctant credit for the invention since, like Heinlein's water bed, he never thought of patenting it.

This is actually an excellent, kid-friendly introduction to science fiction, as it presents a lot of mental puzzles and very little violence. Given the time it was written and Asimov's own literary tastes, it is rather free from violence, sex, or other "adult situations." There have been grander epics, but this is one of the first to appear in science fiction form. Read from the master, and learn.

The "War and Peace" of science fiction........2002-08-02

I still remember being intimidated by this book when I was in grade school. You see, Asimov was what "smart people" read. I also remember the summer that I read the entire trilogy, it was the first time that I was completely immersed in a satisfying, intelligent, alternate reality.

Epic, is the only way to describe this opus. Starting in a Galactic Empire that is starting to slip into decline, then on to the monastic settlement of the Foundation and it's mission to preserve the best of the old civilization, then on to the recivilization of the ruins of the old Empire. If I recall correctly, it takes around 1000 years, but without the foundation it would have meant 10 times more chaos and darkness. It is the sense of mission and purpose that holds the whole thing together. And if you like mysteries and surprises, there is the matter of the Second Foundation....

Asimov wrote this when he was pretty young. He still had an unshakable faith that science could accomplish anything. Indeed, he saw a traditional clockwork universe that a sufficiently great mind, like Hari Seldon, could mathematically unlock. Later on in his writing Asimov matured- until he saw the galaxy itself as a living, evolving organism- a grand Gaia hypothesis.

One other thing, having grown up in New York, I think young Asimov saw himself as Hari Seldon in seeing a decadent and declining civilisation before anyone else. You know, he may just have been right....

INTERESTING READING MATERIAL.......2002-07-18

I believe this is Asimov's best fiction.

A story of the far future of our galaxy where a galactic empire is beginning to disintegrate. A man named Hari Seldon discovers the science of "psychohistory" (scientific 'prophecy' using mathematics and the law of large numbers as it relates to human behavior), and finds a way to minimize the decline. This plan requires the formation of a Foundation near the edge of the galaxy. The plot takes off from there.

Once you start this work, you will have a hard time putting it down. I really believe George Lucas got some of his ideas for STAR WARS from this trilogy.

--George Stancliffe

Foundation Trilogy.......2001-07-05

First of all up until I read the Foundation Trilogy back in 1986 I was not one for reading fiction, never mind Sci Fi. I bought the book, used, from a friend and one quiet weekend started to read it, I could not put it down, I was smitten by the Asimov bug. Read what ever reviews you wish but remember it is fiction,...Science Fiction and at the time of writing it was Isaac Asimov's, one persons, vision/opinion/thoughts of the future of mankind. As of a result of reading the Trilogy edition I now have most of his books and as to date have not been able to find another comparable author, although Arthur C Clarke has come close with his Rama series.

Book Description

Rebekah Ann Smith is placed at the forefront of a new battle on Earth with only the hope the new Gifts from God can save the humans from the impending human desolation.

Download Description

Four hundred years into the future, after the Great Pulse Storms began, the civilizations on Earth have managed to stay alive and cope with the changes that were dealt to them. Dragons have returned from a time of old, and an intelligent lizard species from within the Earth is waging war upon the humans in an effort to take their lands. Rebekah Ann Smith, a spirited, fifteen-year-old has been placed at the forefront of the battle for the existence of their lands and lives. All that humans have left is hope that the strange Gifts given to Rebekah by her God can cut through the falling boulders of human desolation.

Customer Reviews:

An enjoyable book........2006-08-14

This is an enjoyable story and worth reading but nothing truly profound. The story was clean and had some good themes and interesting ideas. However, I didn't appreciate that it ends with so much still hanging. Ending like that with a cliffhanger made me feel that the author didn't think his writing was good enough to keep his readers interested and wanting to buy a second book.

Faith is NOT boring.......2006-01-23

This book translates believable people into a world that is changing in unpredictable ways.
It is a real wake up call to folks who want to believe in something besides the techno-plastic world that most suburban folks dwell - including myself. Few books besides this one have I read in a single 24 hour period - The Hobbit being the other one I recall off hand. Good thing I found it on a weekend!

The main reason I read fantasy in the past is because my school days were otherwise unchallenging and boring. My most memorable teachers were Tolkien, Piers Anthony, Heinlein, Asimov, C.S. Lewis, etc read discretely beneath my desk. When I graduated to the world of work, I could read them on my cell phone during equally boring meetings. Now my kids want to play them on PS2 / XBox / Nintendo. So I preview all my kids' books - "it's for the children" I tell my wife. Like Raising Dragons and Dragonspell, Faith of the Unforgotten is a handful of books I can trust to by kids, and not have to be driven to insanity by the drivel that passes for quality fiction currently on the market.

The end result of reading should be to change the way you think about problems in the real world, not escape it.

As for the content, I am pleased that it expands the expectations of both literature and end user experience. I am a computer guy by trade, so reading (and occasionally writing) technical material requires stimulating the creative side frequently. The writing is pointedly simple while allowing for profound revelations. This is a great kid's book for adults who wish to stay young at heart.

As many works in the fantasy genre, there are several requisite activities: solving puzzles and fighting. They are expertly intertwined in Faith. Common wisdom for putting a puzzle together is 1) get the box top, and 2) find the edges, then 3) build big chunks. This book builds on that heritage by quickly putting the characters in context, push their limitations to work together, while leaving room for the unexpected.

The opening vignette has profound implications throughout the rest of the book, and prepared me for the many character interactions that were initially deemed inconsequential. The planned festival was interrupted by war, just like the real world, and people's reactions were telling. A favorite quote in the news today is "The best peace time leaders make the worst war time heroes", and this book pointedly demonstrates that. To clarify further, sometimes is the common folk realizing that the peace time leader is a real turkey, and it took a war to clearly demonstrate their ineptitude.

On the subject of war, there is more to fighting that either gory swordplay or dark destruction. How and why you fight is more revealing of your values than perhaps any morality survey. Economics is another mirror of values, and Faith shows the inexorable linkage when society is optimized on the wrong variables.

Addressing the "out of the box" experience, I have read both eBooks and paper versions of many books. This is the first time I did both at the same time. - (...). I was able to get a better understanding of what the author meant. Now the graphics are included in the book, but I liked to be able to see many pictures in whatever part of the book I'm in for context - like visual bookmarks.

In the inevitable metamorphosis of any good book to movie / videogame / toy miniatures, sometimes the author's vision is compromised in the multimedia version. The painful memory of the half cartoon / half live action version of Lord of the Rings of many years past was only exorcised by Peter Jackson's rendition.

Likewise, the excellent Narnia version by Disney was somewhat lacking the video game version - mostly because it was a hack and slash forced fit, instead of a explore and fight game, like the Xbox version of the Hobbit.

With the author overseeing both the story line and graphics, this is the first book that was designed for animation, but stands on it's own in print.

In summary, buy the book, put the game on your wish list, and spread the good word!

A Fun and Fast Paced Adventure.......2006-01-22

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down. It is a fun, action packed adventure with plenty of surprises and the characters are ones the reader comes to care about.
Also,I think young people and those who are into video games would really enjoy this book, as well.

As a parent, I appreciate that it is fun family entertainment and as a fellow writer, its literary quality.

I can't wait to dive into book two!

Strong first novel, cool concepts, and excellent battle descriptions! 4.75 stars!.......2006-01-17

This novel is one of the better fantasy novels that I have read recently. It is based on principles and morals and a belief in God by some of the characters. You will find no profanity or lewd sex scenes within, so you can feel comfortable letting teens and adults who object to those things read this novel. If this novel has any weaknesses, it is very infrequent, repetitive statements or concepts. That's about it.

Overall, the varied races, characters, creatures, Gifts, and other concepts make an enjoyable read. The details have been pointed out in other reviews, so I won't relist them all. I agree with what others have said about the battle descriptions being very exciting and detailed. The author focuses the main violence against the Saurian enemies and seems adverse to human against human killing in the story, though there are some human versus human sword battles -- good ones! The way many of the characters are linked together over the course of the story was a nice touch to the fairly intricate plot. You feel as though you not only know the main characters, but the secondary ones as well. I had a hard time with the electricty concept, but once I took the ionized, electrically-overcharged atmosphere as a given and didn't over-analyze its effects in relation to the armies' armor, swords, et cetera; the whole war against the Saurian race became enjoyable. The dragon and its relationship with one character was a neat twist. I felt early on that one character's sword-wielding ability may have come too abruptly, yet the author leaves the impression that a Gift is at work here. That character was one of my favorites. The ability of the believers in God to see the Saurians for what they truly are, was also a nice touch. The novel ends with a nice setup for book two.

If you are a fantasy fan, pick up your copy today!

Faith of the Unforgotten is one to remember!.......2005-12-27

As the story begins, Rebekah trains intensely with her father using swords. The mock battle finished, Rebekah leaves for school; while her father, a simple inn keeper prepares for the new day. Festival day arrives with the town anticipting the festivities. Suddenly a troop of lizard men attack, killing all in sight. Only Rebekah's father, Daniel the innkeeper, can stand against the brutal lizards. Rebekah flees to the woods where she is soon protecting a small boy from three of the lizard creatures. A large man carrying an axe crashes through the brush, dispatching more lizardmen follwing the group. Introducing himself as Markos the Axebearer, he informs Rebekah that only the followers of God can see the evil as it truely apprears.
The action and tension increase as the story developes. Rebekah finds the lizardmen aren't only out to destroy a few villages, but the entire surface world. From a simple school girl, Rebekah must grow into a badly needed leader while avoiding the the king's soldiers. Captured, she must escape and still gather forces to fight the lizard men army surrounding the capital city.
Set centuries in the future, Faith of the Unforgotten, tells of a world that has lost the use of technology after years of continious lightning storms. Swords have become the weapons of choice.
What can a single sword accomplish against the entire lizard army? Will a paladin, a weaponsmaster, and a thief be enough to save them all? They just might be, with the faith of the Unforgotten!

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