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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
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Finished Reading
March 3, 2022
– Shelved
Comments Showing 1-21 of 21 (21 new)
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message 1:
by
Yun
(new)
Mar 03, 2022 11:17AM
Great review, Michelle! This classic as been on my tbr for a long time, but I've been afraid to read it due to the flaws you mentioned. Still, happy to see that you enjoyed nonetheless! :)
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I second Yun's review! I've had it on my shelf for years, but maybe it's time to finally read it and cross it off my TBR.
Yun wrote: "Great review, Michelle! This classic as been on my tbr for a long time, but I've been afraid to read it due to the flaws you mentioned. Still, happy to see that you enjoyed nonetheless! :)"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!
Maureen ( NOT GETTING NOTIFICATIONS) wrote: "Excellent review Michelle 🌺"😊 thanks so much, Maureen!
Cherisa wrote: "I second Yun's review! I've had it on my shelf for years, but maybe it's time to finally read it and cross it off my TBR."I think it’s worth a try, Cherisa! I hope you like it :D
I’ve been eyeing this book for a long time but something always distracts me.
Nataliya wrote: "I’ve been eyeing this book for a long time but something always distracts me."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!
Spot on review Michelle F, and I hear what you're saying, it almost reads as a future documentary! ..Great read still :)
Baba wrote: "Spot on review Michelle F, and I hear what you're saying, it almost reads as a future documentary! ..Great read still :)"Thanks Baba :) It definitely was!
This is on my shelf too and will precede "Foundation". I like following timeline order when I am late enough to rearrange an author's new ideas.
C. (Never msg. Just comment! Email if private.) wrote: "This is on my shelf too and will precede "Foundation". I like following timeline order when I am late enough to rearrange an author's new ideas."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)
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rated it 2 stars
Wow! My reading experience was one of utter confusion...but to be fair, I last read it when I was about 12 y.o. I probably didn't pick up all the nuanced details. Might be time for a reread - but I have sort of, gone off vintage scifi.
Paul wrote: "Wow! My reading experience was one of utter confusion...but to be fair, I last read it when I was about 12 y.o. I probably didn't pick up all the nuanced details. Might be time for a reread - but I..."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.
Whitney Erwin wrote: "Nice review, Michelle!"Thanks so much, Whitney! 😊
So many classics to explore, including in our own country. So many fun newer novels and books to exlore of all kinds. Thank goodness for second-hand charity sales, we are well stocked.
Excellent review Michelle! I’m glad you enjoyed this for what it is and I can totally understand how the broad and generational nature of the plot can make it impossible to anchor the reader into one zone in the story and have them enjoy one set of characters. Sorry to hear that the usual flaw of old SF, badly written women, also exists here. Looking forward to reading this book as well!
Serge (Catching up after my absence) wrote: "Excellent review Michelle! I’m glad you enjoyed this for what it is and I can totally understand how the broad and generational nature of the plot can make it impossible to anchor the reader into o..."Thanks, Serge! I hope you like it. I certainly think it’s a neat book to experience!
C. (Never msg. Just comment! Email if private.) wrote: "So many classics to explore, including in our own country. So many fun newer novels and books to exlore of all kinds. Thank goodness for second-hand charity sales, we are well stocked."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)
Haven't read this in...God, nearly half a century. Remember liking it then, and enjoyed the recent Apple+ adaptation. So while this stands up as science fiction - how did it survive as literature? I've been reading a lot of comments that despite his ideas, Asimov was just a bad writer, but it's really been so long since I've actually read him...
