Foundation

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 Book Review:

 

Into sci-fi? If you want to talk about the genre and not sound like a complete idiot, you’ve got to know something about Isaac Asimov. He is considered one of the 20th centuries greatest science fiction authors, along with Authur C. Clarke (2001: a Space Odyssey) and Robert A. Heinlein (Dune). Of all Asimov’s works of fiction (he was also a renowned nonfiction science writer), the most famous is the Foundation Series which ranks third highest for all-time sales (20+ million copies) in the genre. Spots one and two go to Heinlein’s Dune and Orwell’s 1984 respectively.

Asimov released Foundation in 1942 as the first book in a three-volume series. Later the series was expanded to include seven titles in all. In the words of Jack McDevitt (The Engines of God),

“If anything can be said to have been the launchpad for space age science fiction, it has to be the Foundation trilogy. It’s a classic. And it’s unforgettable.”

In 2021 Foundation was released as a series on AppleTV+ starring Jared Harris, Lee Pace, Lou Llobell and Leah Harvey (check out the trailer below).

Storyline anyone? Well, it’s complicated. Asimov sets up the problem – the Galactic Empire is teetering on the brink of political collapse. The result will be the decent into a dismal reenactment of earth’s medieval period on a universal scale. The ‘Foundation’ is a group of scientists who set up outposts on the edges of the galaxy to act as keepers of knowledge with the hope of reintroducing civilization to the barbarous when the time is right. More than that, I won’t say. No spoilers!

Recommendation: If you love sci-fi, go read this for yourself. You’ll be glad you did!!

Mr. Wedel

 


Author – Isaac Asimov

Publishing – Del Ray Trade Paperback Edition, New York, 2018

Genre – Sci-Fi

Pages - 244

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