Published Date: 1951
Publishing Co.: Del Ray
Pages: 285
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
When this began with the talk of mathematics and using it to predict the future, it almost lost me. Math has never been my subject, but luckily that part was short lived. There never came a point where I was absolutely hooked into the story but this is at the very minimum, one of the classics that I understand all the reasons why it is considered a classic. It still won’t be hopping on my favorite sci-fi list but it is one I would encourage other sci-fi fans to give a try. I like character driven stories and this is almost completely plot-driven and riddled with political intrigue.
The basis is that the Empire is going to fall in three hundred years and the scientists are attempting to save all possible knowledge on an unpopulated planet. The plan is to store the knowledge so that it is not forever lost and it can be redistributed to the galaxy. At least on the surface that’s the plan, in all actuality there is much more than just saving knowledge. There are mathematical projections and psychohistory theories about the challenges predicted to come and hidden messages to help the remaining humans of the empire along.
The story jumps from crisis to crisis in the first hundred years after the fall. Each crisis features a different character and details how they solve the problem presented to them.
I’m glad that I read it but I don’t think I’ll be continuing the series.
I did however end up with a copy of this from 1986 and had the gleeful pleasure of finding an old library card in the back from 1989.
cupcakesandmachetes 
yeah, characterization was never a strong point for Asimov. I suspect it had a lot to do with him growing up during the golden age of SF magazines.
Glad you didn’t hate your time with it anyway -)
Not hating it is always a plus!
It’s worth wrapping up the series – I recall 2 & 3 being an ok read… not stellar, but quick enough, and reasonably enjoyable 🙂
I might if the inclination bites me.
I’ve only ever read Prelude to Foundation and I liked that one. Maybe I should finish the series? One day I guess.
I can’t say either way whether you should finish the series. I would feel guilty if I told you to do it and then you hated it lol. Or vice versa.
That library card. Wow that takes me back o.O
Right?! I was so pumped when I found it lol.
Never read it but the ticket is cool!!!
I think I was more excited about the old library card than the book lol
Haha. I like that kind of thing too. It’s like having a peek into history on a more intimate level. I bought an old suit jacket from a thrift shop in the city once and found a horse betting ticket from the mid 70s.
That’s awesome. 🙂