Foundation and Empire

Rating:
Summary: Foundation Onward!
Review: As in Foundation, this is actually not a single story. Here are presented two separate episodes in the development of the Foundation toward the establishment of the Second Galactic Empire.

The first details the encounter between the growing Foundation and the still-very-powerful Empire. At the forefront is an Imperial General of outstanding ability and charisma. Unfortunately, Hari Seldon, the architect of the Foundation, predicted all this with his psychohistorical calculations. While the general is very successful in his opposition to the Foundation, his very nature ensures his downfall.

The second story is quite ingenious, in that the single large failing of Seldon's psychohistory is brought to light. An individual beyond the predictive nature of psychohistory has appeared and done the impossible. While there is a type of mystery presented, Asimov either wanted the reader to know the answer before the characters, or he didn't try very hard to obscure the nature of things. But this is a crucial moment in the Foundation's development, as they seem to be vulnerable after all. This story depends heavily on a plot element present in all the Robot-Empire- and now Foundation Series: psionic abilities. Clearly this was a favorite concept for Asimov, and he never seems to abuse it; that is, it never seems there for its own sake but always represents a fundamental encounter when it appears, and you can bet there are severe ramifications.

While I have noted a few complaints about the second of these two stories, this book is still very well written, with action and suspense as good as any I've read. Asimov did such a wonderful job crafting this future history that I can only applaud having had the pleasure to read it. If you like S-F, you will love this whole series, chosen as the Best Series Ever Hugo winner. Need I say more?

Rating:
Summary: Good, but not as good as Foundation
Review: Foundation and Empire is basically a continuation of Foundation. There really isn't a new plot, just new problems for the Foundation to deal with. Foundation and Empire is pretty good, but without the novelty of the new ideas presented in Foundation, it is a bit flat. About the only reason I could think of to recommend this book is so you can see what else happens to Seldon's colony.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: The second book of the original trilogy, this book is an amazing follow on to "Foundation". The seven books of the Foundation series together form what I consider to be the most complete and astonishing blend of deep reality with science fiction. The septet, for the uninitiated, include (in the order I believe they should be read in): Prelude to the Foundation, Forward the Foundation, Foundation, Foundation and Empire, Second Foundation, Foundation's Edge and Foundation and Earth. Do yourself a favor, buy them all. If you don't drool over the books by the time you're done with them, read them again.

Rating:
Summary: A truly Excellent Second
Review: Two stories in one, this book is an excellent follow up to Foundation, and a dramatization of the strength of mind over muscle.

First the Foundation is threateded by the Galactic Empire. While I disagree with the unimportance of the individual (after all, wasn't Hari Seldon himself one person who changed history), it does show the travails as a small group of Foundationers try to stop the General, when he is stopped by the very corrupt bureaucracy he serves.

In the second, he brings in a new factor. The Foundation, secure and dominant but not agressive, is threatened by the Mule, a person who can control the emotions of others, reshape them into whatever he wants. Part of a slightly more fantastic area of Science Fiction, he still pulls it off well. This time it does come down to individual effort again to stop the Mule, by opponents who could not defeat him one on one but do so by their determination and individual organization.

This time, he did not labor under the false assumption that he had to write a limited number of pages, so he was able to flesh out the characters more and make the plot twists more intricate, and did a truly excellent work.

Rating:
Summary: Classic. A good as "Foundation"
Review: Foundation and Empire is the second book in this series. If you have not read the first one yet, you should. Still, because of the rare and very clear writing found here, you can read this book and never be confused. Since both books are so good, why skip the first one?

In this book, we return to the future. A small empire, the Foundation, is on the edges of a greater one. The "Empire" currently encompasses thousands of worlds. Still, compared to its past, it has been shrinking. One of its most able generals, aware that the Empire is less then it once was, decides to expand the Empire. Unfortunately for the Foundation, he has choosen the systems occured by it, as the best direction for his expansion.

Like the first installation, this book continually talks about the "inevitable" victory of the Foundation. Since they are being systematically destroyed by the Empire, such predictions ring hollow. How the book solves this problem seems to make sense. But this war is only the prelude for a greater conflict - a Civil War in the Foundation itself.

Here is a really interesting dilemena. Since the Foundation is "fated" to survive, what will happen if it wars with itself? And, to make things more interesting, a third party joins the conflict. This mysterious entity, the "Mule", leads forces that beats both foundations back. What is happening here?

Again, like the first book in this series, Foundation and Empire is as much a mystery story, as science fiction. How the author solves these problems are great fun. The ending, actually the middle of the book, is a great surprise on your first read. What happens afterwards, and the new developments, make for a great twist to this story and a powerful new development in this series. A great story. It is great fun and easily as enjoyable as the first book which, on its own, was a classic. Read and enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: Doesn't disappoint, sets up more excitement to come.
Review: On first reading of this trilogy, starting with Foundation, I was a bit bored by the politics. But all three books were in one volume, so I kept reading. I'm glad I did! Every time I've read them since, I discover something new to love. The ending of this book blew my mind! If there is such a thing as a literary high, I was on one for a week after reading this eight years ago. No book or movie you can name comes close to this kind of thrill or scope. And just when I thought Asimov couldn't take it any further, he does, with a character's last statement. By now the Foundation has gained dominance over its surrounding enemies. All part of Hari Seldon's (the Foundation's founder) Plan. And they are strong enough to face the Empire. The first half of the book is a power struggle of the leaders of the Empire, more politics, and a small band of traders, rebels, and scholars, who wait for the coming of the "magicians" to someday be their saviors. The second half of the book follows a small group of people belonging to the Democratic Underground who expect major political changes for the next Seldon Crisis. They hear of a man who calls himself the Mule. Generals surrender to him without a fight. His worst enemies become his most faithful subordinates. They seek him out, thinking he can help their cause. No one can explain the success of the Mule. Where did he come from? Was he planned by Hari Seldon? Hari Seldon appears, as before, as a hologram, explaining the crisis and the course of action. But he makes no mention of the Mule. Everything has gone awry, and Seldon's plan is out of whack, and the galaxy might revert to the 30,000 years of barbarism Seldon was trying to avoid. Hari Seldon counted on several things, that there would be no major changes in the galaxy's technology, such as something that could withstand any bombardment, or strange neurobiological weapons; and, that human reaction to stimuli would remain constant. If it's not the first, it must be the second-- the Mule has mental powers. How do they fight him? By seeking out this Second Foundation. Hari Seldon mentioned it vaguely, but there is no record of its purpose, and no proof of its existence. This same small band from the D.U., including a psychologist (as the Foundation considers one), set off to the center of what's left of the Empire, The planet/city Trantor, to search Seldon's records. The whole time managing to stay out of the way of the Mule's path of destruction, and ends with the awesome climax I mentioned. Does the Second Foundation even exist? What is their purpose? The psychologist, working on overdrive, seems to have found its location. "It was so simple," he said. But he doesn't live to reveal his discovery. Did he really find it, or was his mind too distorted to make any sense? There are more surprises and excitement to come in the trilogy's third installment, Second Foundation. Some people have the gall to call these books wordy or boring. Keep in mind that Lord of the Rings had its slow parts, too, but the few exciting parts are what you remember and hold it all together. It's better to take these books as a whole. For that, one is not necessarily better than the other two, they are all essential to the whole story line. Perhaps someday we can look forward to a mutilated Hollywood version, then go back and re-read the books, and hold them dear to our hearts.

Rating:
Summary: The follow-up to the best book ever.
Review: After the Seldon Plan was followed, without its followers actually understanding what was going on, the Empire, although falling, is still the mightiest force in the Galaxy and the only challenge to the Foundation. For them to overcome, the Seldon Plan must be taken into account...

Rating:
Summary: Book 2 of 14 in the Foundation series
Review: I give all 14 books 5 stars!

For those of you who would like to read the Foundation story in it's entirety, from beginning to end, chronologically, then I suggest following this course. There are 14 books in the series! In the end, it was R. Daneel Olivaw who designed and created the Trantorian empire in the first place, and so the robot novels--which introduce the cradle world of Earth before the dawn of the empire--come before the Foundation Trilogy:

The Caves of Steel, The Naked Sun, The Robots of Dawn, Robots and Empire, Prelude to Foundation, Forward the Foundation, Foundation's Fear, Foundation and Chaos, Foundation's Triumph, Foundation, Foundation and Empire, Second Foundation, Foundation's Edge, Foundation and Earth

Now some of you might not recommend that one read the Second Trilogy before the first. True, but they come chronologically BEFORE the first Foundation Trilogy! I do recommend that you at least read Foundation's Edge and Foundation and Earth AFTER you have read the second trilogy (Foundation's Fear, Foundation and Chaos, Foundation's Triumph) because the subjects in the last two (chronological) books are more interesting that way.

Rating:
Summary: A filler
Review: A trilogy consists of three books so, even although "Foundation" (one of the true classics) is good enough to be a trilogy by itself, formally "Foundation" needed two more volumes to make up a trilogy. In these two volumes the level does not fall off too badly, although "the Mule" is rather weak.

Unfortunately Asimov, one of the truly greats of SF, later succumbed to undue pressure and combined his Robot-series (already in itself continued too long) with the Foundation, with outright embarrassing results. The original three books were quite enough, thank you!

Rating:
Summary: Subtle Story Development Can Lull You into Stalled Thinking
Review: Ultimately, the hardest decision about the Foundation books is to decide how to read them. Maybe I'm being ridiculous, but I think you will enjoy them more if you read them in the order they were written. If so, this is the second book. If you have not yet read Foundation, then you need to go back and do so before tackling this one.

Your other choice is to read the prequels first, then go onto Foundation. In that case, this is the fourth book you should read.

Whichever choice you make, don't read this book first.

On the surface, Foundation and Empire will seem like an uninspired playing out of Hari Seldon's vision for the future. Ah! But there's much more happening, so pay attention. When you get to the end of the book, you may find you have missed the mainstream and will have to go back. Don't worry, almost everyone has that reaction.

Asimov is a brilliant conceptual writer, but not someone who slaved over every word (in fact, he was famous for writing most of his many books in only 1 or 2 drafts, with little editing after that). This book begins to develop the full Foundation concept in all of its stunning beauty.

In many ways, you will be reading this book from the eyes of the first Foundation. But that's the unimportant one. The real action is with the second Foundation. Be sure to keep that in mind.

When you meet the Mule, don't think of him as an aberration but rather as an extension of today's potential. That will make the book more interesting for you.

Many people find this book to be the least interesting one of the Foundation series. Let me warn you that reading this one will greatly increase your pleasure in the following books beginning with the Second Foundation (which is your next pleasant reading assignment).

Enjoy this irresistible series!