Michelle F's Reviews > Foundation
Foundation (Foundation, #1)
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I was absolutely intrigued and delighted by what this is, while being mildly disappointed by what it isn't.
Huge in scope and ideas in a way that feels eerily presentient, at least at the outset, I can understand why this is seminal science fiction. It's just really fricking cool and novel in its presentation.
I think Foundation's strengths are also part of what I found a little disappointing, which is an interesting conundrum. We follow this gigantic idea over decades-long time jumps, as an empire collapses and a new foundation for humanity begins to emerge. It is quite smart, these stops at crisis-points in a civilization that spans solar systems. How it all ties into Seldon's 'psychohistory', or mathematically predictive sociology, is fascinating and clever.
But man, every time I'd get pulled into a segment and really start focusing down, we'd jump away again. There's no true sense of character or setting or atmosphere. And I understand that for this story there really doesn't need to be, because that's not the point. It still felt sometimes lacking. Too broad. (I also have the "early sci-fi authors suck at writing women" complaint, but. Broken record, and all that.)
No doubt, though. This is a remarkable work. Part of a foundation in its own right, (har har see what I did there? ok.) I'm happy to have added this to my reading experience.
Huge in scope and ideas in a way that feels eerily presentient, at least at the outset, I can understand why this is seminal science fiction. It's just really fricking cool and novel in its presentation.
I think Foundation's strengths are also part of what I found a little disappointing, which is an interesting conundrum. We follow this gigantic idea over decades-long time jumps, as an empire collapses and a new foundation for humanity begins to emerge. It is quite smart, these stops at crisis-points in a civilization that spans solar systems. How it all ties into Seldon's 'psychohistory', or mathematically predictive sociology, is fascinating and clever.
But man, every time I'd get pulled into a segment and really start focusing down, we'd jump away again. There's no true sense of character or setting or atmosphere. And I understand that for this story there really doesn't need to be, because that's not the point. It still felt sometimes lacking. Too broad. (I also have the "early sci-fi authors suck at writing women" complaint, but. Broken record, and all that.)
No doubt, though. This is a remarkable work. Part of a foundation in its own right, (har har see what I did there? ok.) I'm happy to have added this to my reading experience.
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Reading Progress
October, 2021
–
Started Reading
October, 2021
–
Finished Reading
March 3, 2022
– Shelved
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message 1:
by
Yun
(new)
Mar 03, 2022 11:17AM
![Yun](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1679228223p1/30181442.jpg)
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![Cherisa B](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1680704300p1/87574378.jpg)
![Michelle F](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1532285907p1/44158677.jpg)
Thanks Yun! It’s definitely a concept book: more ideas than actual story. But it’s smartly done, and the ideas are fascinating. I will say that for a sense of full resolution you probably have to read the whole original trilogy. Still, I think it’s worth a read for its contribution to the genre!
![Michelle F](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1532285907p1/44158677.jpg)
I think it’s worth a try, Cherisa! I hope you like it :D
![Michelle F](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1532285907p1/44158677.jpg)
I kept putting it off too! I was considering watching the series, which finally motivated me to read it…and then never got around to watching the show lol. Sometimes it’s easy to avoid the classics - especially when I keep seeing all the new books on GR that people are so excited about!
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![Michelle F](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1532285907p1/44158677.jpg)
Thanks Baba :) It definitely was!
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![Michelle F](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1532285907p1/44158677.jpg)
I hope you like it, Carolyn! I wouldn’t have minded approaching the series by timeline too, but I ended up buddy-reading this one with a friend who was considering watching the Amazon series -as was I. I imagine I will get around to the whole series eventually…I’m very curious to see where these big concepts go!
message 13:
by
Paul (Life In The Slow Lane)
(last edited Mar 05, 2022 11:09PM)
(new)
-
rated it 2 stars
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I don’t think I would have liked this at all in my early reading years, though it’s hard to say for sure.
I like the vintage sci-fi and fantasy, but I can’t glut myself on it; I have to take breaks or it becomes silly on multiple levels for me.
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Thanks, Serge! I hope you like it. I certainly think it’s a neat book to experience!
![Michelle F](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1532285907p1/44158677.jpg)
It’s so true, Carolyn! I could read only classics and never run out! (I do keep getting distracted by shiny new books, I admit)
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