Science Fiction

Foundation

Foundation

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  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-07-19 08:53:23
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Isaac Asimov
  • ISBN：0008117497
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary

For twelve thousand years the Galactic Empire has ruled supreme。 Now it is dying。 But only Hari Seldon， creator of the revolutionary science of psychohistory， can see into the future -- to a dark age of ignorance， barbarism， and warfare that will last thirty thousand years。 To preserve knowledge and save mankind， Seldon gathers the best minds in the Empire -- both scientists and scholars -- and brings them to a bleak planet at the edge of the Galaxy to serve as a beacon of hope for a future generations。 He calls his sanctuary the Foundation。

But soon the fledgling Foundation finds itself at the mercy of corrupt warlords rising in the wake of the receding Empire。 Mankind's last best hope is faced with an agonizing choice: submit to the barbarians and be overrun -- or fight them and be destroyed。

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Reviews

Al Schweickhardt ，

A different style than I’m used to。 Read because of upcoming Apple + series。 Just read Dune for similar reason。 A lot different from Dune and my favorite SF author Larry Niven。 Foundation does not narrate a lot of action。 The action happens primarily behind the scenes and is described mostly after the fact by dialog between two characters。 Being written in 1950s the technology is dated and does not really seem realistic。 Everything is ‘atomic’ but if you replace ‘atomic’ with whatever technology A different style than I’m used to。 Read because of upcoming Apple + series。 Just read Dune for similar reason。 A lot different from Dune and my favorite SF author Larry Niven。 Foundation does not narrate a lot of action。 The action happens primarily behind the scenes and is described mostly after the fact by dialog between two characters。 Being written in 1950s the technology is dated and does not really seem realistic。 Everything is ‘atomic’ but if you replace ‘atomic’ with whatever technology your mind can imagine 20000 years in future it works。 The dialog is a little dated like 1950s style you would see in movies back then。 It wrapped up the final war between the Foundation and Anacreon a little too nicely。 I still can’t figure out how Anacreon lost when Foundation did nothing。 It seems like the books answer is because of probability？ So far Foundation and Empire， the second book， is better 。。。more

Luke Chun ，

The concept is interesting but the characters and surroundings lack depth。 Also， for a story set so far in the future， the technological context seems very outdated （e。g。 “atomics”）。

Yiorgos Adamopoulos ，

Interesting political thriller， setup in a Galactic background。

Ariana Rosel ，

I really like Asimov's writing style I really like Asimov's writing style 。。。more

Cessi ，

I have heard that the first book is a bit slow but that the plot picks up in the later books。 I will continue to read the series， but I do agree that this one is a bit annoying to get through in some parts。

Dylan Love ，

NoiceNoice noice noice noice noice noice noice noice noice noice noice noice noice noice noice noice noice noice noice noice That was pretty dang noice。

Urosh Novakovic ，

Reading for the first time ever in 2021。 Going in I was well informed that this is not a story about characters。 But of an idea and a civilization。Knowing that didn't really help me enjoy this story too much regardless。 There's hardly anything interesting to grip you and hold your attention。This entire book is split into four or five mini-stories that are almost not even connected in any way and can literally be read as a standalone thing on their own。 Even the small bits you need to know that y Reading for the first time ever in 2021。 Going in I was well informed that this is not a story about characters。 But of an idea and a civilization。Knowing that didn't really help me enjoy this story too much regardless。 There's hardly anything interesting to grip you and hold your attention。This entire book is split into four or five mini-stories that are almost not even connected in any way and can literally be read as a standalone thing on their own。 Even the small bits you need to know that you learned from the previous story is explained to you again in the new "arc"。I'm still excited to see how AppleTV will translate this into a TV Show and I have hopes it'll be more enjoyable in that format cause this book simply did not do it for me。 。。。more

Prabhsimrandeep Singh ，

Everyone knows its a treat。 Nothing more to add。 Going to the 2nd one now。

Matthew Metzdorf ，

3。5/5 Found this very dated but nonetheless intriguing。 Short story is a genius psychohistorian （basically a guy that mathematically understands the broad strokes of history） recognizes that the galactic empire will soon fall and makes steps to prevent an extended period of barbarism l。 Really appreciated that this books is only 240 pages when lesser sci fi authors might have easily crafted a 1000 page tome of it。 The character names suck and few of them are well fleshed out， but it's a nonethel 3。5/5 Found this very dated but nonetheless intriguing。 Short story is a genius psychohistorian （basically a guy that mathematically understands the broad strokes of history） recognizes that the galactic empire will soon fall and makes steps to prevent an extended period of barbarism l。 Really appreciated that this books is only 240 pages when lesser sci fi authors might have easily crafted a 1000 page tome of it。 The character names suck and few of them are well fleshed out， but it's a nonetheless quick and engaging read。 。。。more

Vinny ，

I’d like to start this off saying I did enjoy the story。 Those turnaround political games and maneuvers always kept me wanting more。 Understood this book came out in the 40s， but holy s*** man。 There are literally 3 scenes with women in them， yes three。 In two of those scenes they have dialogue。 Again， I liked the book， but I live in 2021。 I need at least some diversity in my literary adventures。 As of now I’m not quite sure I’ll keep on with the series。

Eleanor ，

In Isaac Asimov's 'Foundation'， there are twenty-five million inhabited planets， each with their own unique political， religious， and socio-economic systems。 Interestingly， on every single one， women only exist to get married off， make babies， and become capricious nagging wives who get easily distracted by pretty necklaces。 Isaac， psychohistory is a great idea and all， love that for SF as a genre， but you did not live in the Middle Ages。 Women existed in professional and political spaces in 195 In Isaac Asimov's 'Foundation'， there are twenty-five million inhabited planets， each with their own unique political， religious， and socio-economic systems。 Interestingly， on every single one， women only exist to get married off， make babies， and become capricious nagging wives who get easily distracted by pretty necklaces。 Isaac， psychohistory is a great idea and all， love that for SF as a genre， but you did not live in the Middle Ages。 Women existed in professional and political spaces in 1951: you just didn't like it very much。Another "but have you read―" SF classic down。 Twenty-five million more to go。 。。。more

Thomas Goddard ，

I wanted to read this in advance of the series coming out。 Although， I know that I'll have to wait years to actually see it because I refuse to pay Apple a penny。The great sway of nations is given over to a larger stage in this political space opera of eon-wide scale。With the power of a form of mass psychology a man called Hari Seldon predicts the fall of a galactic empire and sets about a mission to reduce the duration of the expected dark age。What starts as a mission to record knowledge soon s I wanted to read this in advance of the series coming out。 Although， I know that I'll have to wait years to actually see it because I refuse to pay Apple a penny。The great sway of nations is given over to a larger stage in this political space opera of eon-wide scale。With the power of a form of mass psychology a man called Hari Seldon predicts the fall of a galactic empire and sets about a mission to reduce the duration of the expected dark age。What starts as a mission to record knowledge soon spirals into a complex and thrilling adventure that peeks in on the major turning points Seldon long saw coming。Minor criticism。。。 Pacing。 It suffers from its age in this respect。 I wanted a bit more rush and hurry。 I wanted some explosions。 Maybe they will come in the next book， maybe they won't。 It won't put me off from dipping in。 It's like House of Cards or Game of Thrones for its dime edge shifts and sudden realisation moments。Anyway， if you like historical fiction。。。 I genuinely think you'll like this too。 It has all those same beats。 Think。。。 an intrigue in a royal court and the backstabbing and subtle twists of knife and plots coming to bear。I preemptively purchased the Everyman Library version of the trilogy， I knew I'd end up loving it。 。。。more

Mike Flynn ，

I recently re-read this book， probably 35 years after I read it the first time。 It wasn't what I remembered。 Still an important book to read， but I hadn't realized the first time I read it just how much of it was characters just talking to each other。 Honestly， it was somewhat boring this time。 A testament to how much my reading preferences have changed over time。 I recently re-read this book， probably 35 years after I read it the first time。 It wasn't what I remembered。 Still an important book to read， but I hadn't realized the first time I read it just how much of it was characters just talking to each other。 Honestly， it was somewhat boring this time。 A testament to how much my reading preferences have changed over time。 。。。more

Skylar Kurtz ，

Fantastic scifi book。 Somehow the author wrote a book with just politics and no fight scenes in space interesting。 Thumbs up

Joseph ，

The chapter where the Mayor routs the insurrection proved especially satisfying。

David Sterritt ，

I’ve just reread Isaac Asimov’s legendary “Foundation，” and while it has some points of interest， it still seems dry and unidimensional to me; for a novel based on the notion of psychohistory it has precious little in the way of psychology， and the history is basically a string of flatly recounted incidents， few very compelling in themselves。 Asimov is one of the first science-fiction writers I was enthusiastic about in my SF-loving youth， and he’s obviously a giant in the field， but for me the I’ve just reread Isaac Asimov’s legendary “Foundation，” and while it has some points of interest， it still seems dry and unidimensional to me; for a novel based on the notion of psychohistory it has precious little in the way of psychology， and the history is basically a string of flatly recounted incidents， few very compelling in themselves。 Asimov is one of the first science-fiction writers I was enthusiastic about in my SF-loving youth， and he’s obviously a giant in the field， but for me the romance has waned。 Alas。 。。。more

Alexander ，

The concept is pretty intriguing and I’m excited to see the new tv series this fall。 That being said the serialized sections jumping around different points of the timeline （all published separately through out Asimov’s career） made a through plot difficult to follow。 Therefore， I never really felt tied to any of the characters as the navigated the collapse of the empire。

Borislav ，

Foundation was a page turner。 It hits several great philosophical motives that concern the human race and its development。 A surprising amount of great twists that have aged really well， except maybe one near the very end， that seemed a tiny bit far fetched， but couldn't sour the overall experience。 A true joy of science-fiction。 Foundation was a page turner。 It hits several great philosophical motives that concern the human race and its development。 A surprising amount of great twists that have aged really well， except maybe one near the very end， that seemed a tiny bit far fetched， but couldn't sour the overall experience。 A true joy of science-fiction。 。。。more

Paw Risager ，

I read this book because I have seen it recommended from many sides。 I have seen Isaac Asimov described as the best Science Fiction writer ever。 Such a claim makes me curious to go see for myself。It is not that I am disappointed about the book。 But， I am surprised how little science it actually contains。 It is really reduced to a few elements。 Spacecraft， blaster gun and atomic instant cigar incinerator to mention some of the most prominent futuristic features。 The genre is after all Science Fic I read this book because I have seen it recommended from many sides。 I have seen Isaac Asimov described as the best Science Fiction writer ever。 Such a claim makes me curious to go see for myself。It is not that I am disappointed about the book。 But， I am surprised how little science it actually contains。 It is really reduced to a few elements。 Spacecraft， blaster gun and atomic instant cigar incinerator to mention some of the most prominent futuristic features。 The genre is after all Science Fiction， so I think it should contain a reasonable shot of science。Well， the characters in the story do fly around from planet to planet and across the galaxy in spacecrafts， and that is of course advanced technology that would require some science to back it up。 But not much is described about how it works， it's just there under the helm。The structure and plot of the book is more like a medieval battle between kingdoms， with characters riding spacecrafts instead of horses， occasionally wielding a blaster gun。 I would kind of expect that in a time 50。000 years into the future， there would be some reasonably significant development of culture， organization， politics and civilization。 At least a little， in one of them。 I don't think I see anything to that effect。 At all。 Here I miss some of fiction。We have men smoking cigars having drinks， engaging in their macho conversations and power games。 Long strings， not easy to follow who says what。Female characters are either a rare case of an omnipotent almost superhuman level of woman， or they are described as plain mean and stupid， and generally absent from any significant positions in the story。 Quite disappointing。I do realize that the book is written shortly after WWII， by a man， in the USA， so it will bear a watermark of that specific time and place。 It's easy to look at it with a hindsight that knows better。 I guess I should give it more credit then。I don't join the chorus of readers praising Isaac Asimov for being the greatest sci-fi author ever。 I think there is not much basis for such a claim。Anyway， hereby my first review of a book。 Ever。 Thanks for reading。PawWeb-psykolog。dk 。。。more

Joshua Duran ，

Audible Audiobook

Matthew Gabb ，

I really liked the structure of the book， taking us through various epochs in the well-thought worldbuilding of Asimov。 While most of the philosophical concepts feel too convenient and like baloney， I am intrigued to see where the Foundation goes next in the galaxy。

Martin Burrows ，

This book was a massive disappointment。 I gave it 3 stars， but really wanted to give it two， but decided to go up one just based on the fact that it was written by Isaac Asimov， and was touted as being one of the early classic Science Fiction novels， and an template for many classic Si-Fi movies and books to follow including Star Wars。 But I do have to consider that it was published in the early 50's， and actually written earlier than that， so for the time period it was probably better than I'm This book was a massive disappointment。 I gave it 3 stars， but really wanted to give it two， but decided to go up one just based on the fact that it was written by Isaac Asimov， and was touted as being one of the early classic Science Fiction novels， and an template for many classic Si-Fi movies and books to follow including Star Wars。 But I do have to consider that it was published in the early 50's， and actually written earlier than that， so for the time period it was probably better than I'm giving it credit for。 It's only the best Science Fiction writers that can envision technology that hasn't yet been conceived of and build a story around it。 Most writers build on what they already know and imagine what that technology may look like after many years。 For Asimov， at the time he wrote this book， the cutting edge technology was atomic energy， so he envisioned a future where everything is powered by atomic power including dishwashers and other house hold appliance， but a future some 50，000 years in the future， where many places were still using coal and other rudimentary power sources， but yet they seemed to have the ability to travel anywhere in the Milky Way without much problem。 A lot of stuff in this book just didn't make much sense， the plot was disjointed， and the characters， not too likable。 This was the first book of a several volume series， but I don't think I will be going any further in it。 。。。more

Sarah ，

The original Foundation novel by Isaac Asimov is the best of the series I’ve read so far， and tells of the First of the two Foundations set up by mathematician， Hari Seldon。 Told as separate stories， spanning different characters， over many years it discusses the trials and tribulations that beset the world of Terminus。 My main issue though is the lack of character development due to the vast array of main characters in the separate stories， while the stories and characters do somewhat interconn The original Foundation novel by Isaac Asimov is the best of the series I’ve read so far， and tells of the First of the two Foundations set up by mathematician， Hari Seldon。 Told as separate stories， spanning different characters， over many years it discusses the trials and tribulations that beset the world of Terminus。 My main issue though is the lack of character development due to the vast array of main characters in the separate stories， while the stories and characters do somewhat interconnect， they are also rather distinct。 The book also comes across as more political and religious in its themes， than in the hard science-fiction I would much prefer。 。。。more

Zach Lanshe ，

I picked this book up off a recommendation and I was NOT disappointed。 I listened to this book。Foundation is based in space already， in the future and the technology， and wonders of the world are fascinating。 It moves forward in time relatively quickly by part which can be confusing， but the plot is intriguing。Characters come in and out so often that it can be hard to really build a relationship with them， but the politics， and world/plot building were a win！

Joachim Landstrom ，

I began to read it with an earnest interest， but， after while， due to its rather simple， sequential， and actually rather boring plot， the earnest interest was replaced with a "must read because the book is a must read" mentality。 The book is now read， and I can， finally， turn page and look forward to another "classic"。 I began to read it with an earnest interest， but， after while， due to its rather simple， sequential， and actually rather boring plot， the earnest interest was replaced with a "must read because the book is a must read" mentality。 The book is now read， and I can， finally， turn page and look forward to another "classic"。 。。。more

Whit ，

Challenging to rate and review given it doesnt follow a single character but rather an idea and civilization。 Not very pleasurable to read。 I enjoyed its completion since now i understand several cultural references I had not。 （Ex。 The governing planet in star wars is named Corellia and the center of the new empire is Korell） I also find his exploration of ideas intriguing- thru several generations the conflicts are solved without war or even without much action only preplanning- i appreciate th Challenging to rate and review given it doesnt follow a single character but rather an idea and civilization。 Not very pleasurable to read。 I enjoyed its completion since now i understand several cultural references I had not。 （Ex。 The governing planet in star wars is named Corellia and the center of the new empire is Korell） I also find his exploration of ideas intriguing- thru several generations the conflicts are solved without war or even without much action only preplanning- i appreciate this concept。 I also thought his commentary on make a religion out of science was quite pointed and made his thoughts on religion clear……。But if u want a better example of an engrossing writer read children of time （explore whole generations yet still we care about characters— different concepts tho） or neal stephenson （commentary about relgion is similar but more pleasurable to read）The end didnt feel like an ending- he just simply got tired of trying to explain。 It was a let down after he worked so hard to wxplain one or two concepts with multiple examples。 Again less of a story and more of a mental exercise。 。。。more

Ezra Shively ，

I can't believe this was written in 1951。 I can't believe this was written in 1951。 。。。more

George Adamides ，

Excellence in science fiction！ I really enjoyed reading this book！

Sam Makowski ，

I could probably write an essay about this book: the statistics behind prophecy， the science behind religion， how changing views of the galaxy is expressed through curse words， the 1950s optimistic belief in atomic power being the cure-all to all sorts of ills。 However， I can't ignore the fact that Asimov gets around the thorny problem of the Bechdel test by just。。。。pretending women don't exist？ There's not even a mention of women existing in this futuristic society until ~page 185 （a nameless g I could probably write an essay about this book: the statistics behind prophecy， the science behind religion， how changing views of the galaxy is expressed through curse words， the 1950s optimistic belief in atomic power being the cure-all to all sorts of ills。 However， I can't ignore the fact that Asimov gets around the thorny problem of the Bechdel test by just。。。。pretending women don't exist？ There's not even a mention of women existing in this futuristic society until ~page 185 （a nameless girl who is awed by atomic jewelry） and the single speaking female role is the ornery wife the husband secretly hates。 So often classic sci-fi books are just books that are written for and by men。 。。。more

Adrienna ，

Sac Pub Lib book club read。 I have heard great things about this author; however， at the library I work， no one is reading it except for senior instructors at the Educ dept。 Therefore， I have weeded many of this author's work for later novels to place in the library。The opening is such a bore listening to the audiobook， monotone， and dry。 I will follow with the book and hope it gets better。 Sac Pub Lib book club read。 I have heard great things about this author; however， at the library I work， no one is reading it except for senior instructors at the Educ dept。 Therefore， I have weeded many of this author's work for later novels to place in the library。The opening is such a bore listening to the audiobook， monotone， and dry。 I will follow with the book and hope it gets better。 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Foundation

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Foundation&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Foundation&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0