Reviews

The Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov

dnandrews797's review

2.0

The Foundation Trilogy get two stars only because the modicum of interest the first book gave me, which was the only section that was actually interesting. While I didn’t like the vast times between stories in the first book, at least it was better than the king bland passages of drivel present in the next two books. If this book was the birth of science fiction I’m surprised that the genre got off the ground at all.
Perhaps it’s just personal opinion, but I’d rather spend two days reading a dry book about ACTUAL history, than a book full of fake history that reads like a phone book. If anyone wants to begin reading sci-fi and is starting with this book, DONT. Pick something else. Anything else.

seagul's review

5.0

Maybe the best sci-fi book I have ever read. Well worthy of the comparison to the Lord of the Rings. Asimov expertly crafts a galaxy of life and intrigue. Highly, highly recommend

lorna178's review against another edition

funny slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Not for me

jackjpaton's review against another edition

3.0

Quite a long and arduous read for first half, picks up at the end.

dhause1217's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

4.0

kebreads's review

5.0

I really enjoyed reading these books. I've wanted to read books by Isaac Asimov for a long time, and I was not disappointed. These books are brilliant and well planned out. Things fit together nicely. There were a lot of surprises, and these books kept me guessing throughout. Familiar names popped up throughout the books giving them a sense of continuity and familiarity. There were some wonderful characters. I especially like Arkady in the last book of the trilogy. As I put together this review, I discovered that more books had been added to this series later on. I hope to one day read those books as well.

Content: overall I’d consider these books fairly clean, Foundation – a dozen mild swear words, smoking of cigars; Foundation and Empire – a couple mild swear words, smoking and drinking and a little womanizing; Second Foundation – a couple swear words, a mistress

Source: my husband’s copy

See my review at http://www.iamareader.com/2014/08/book-review-foundation-trilogy-isaac-asimov.html

countkarnstein's review against another edition

3.0

The ten or so books that formed Asimov’s reading order were better than ‘Foundation’. Foundation was one of my biggest disappointments in reading for me recently. I’d spent so much time and effort reading through the Asimov reading order and this dud came up! I’d grown to love the Robots and Foundation prequels, not to mention the Galactic Empires weren’t terrible either.

Luckily book two gets a little better and book three is ok.

I’ll continue after a slight break to finish the Asimov’s reading order with the books that follow. I anticipate they’ll be a return to form as they’ll be later works like the prequels that I enjoyed were.

Just geez. After that first book in this trilogy…. Was really deflating to me. Guess that teaches me not to over hype.

luckylikesreading's review

adventurous medium-paced

4.5

janeeyre8's review

adventurous mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

he_who_grills's review

adventurous informative inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25