(This is about the entire trilogy)
This is one of the masterpieces of science fiction, and for unexpected reasons.
The premise: what if knowledge got so advanced that a scientist, Seldon, could discover how history works? And then realizes how HE can work history, and does. The irony is that (ignoring the first chapter, which was actually written at the end) the most powerful character is dead throughout the entire story.
Seldon's theory is based on the notion that individuals don't matter, and Asimov is realistic enough to stick to that throughout the story. Throughout, we see the characters that seem interesting -- shrewd Hardin, swashbuckling Marlowe (I kept visualizing the young William Shatner), rebellious Mule, adventurous Arkady -- then the point of view pulls back and you realize that their quirks really didn't matter in the long run. It's especially effective in the last section (SPOILERS!) Arkady tries to outwit the Second Foundation, and it's like Harry Potter fighting Voldamort -- then you find out at the very end that her supposed best friend was manipulating her like a puppet to put Seldon's agenda back on track. Heroism counts for nothing.
The most irritating flaw, and it's especially obvious at the beginning: it's amazing how little you SEE about the First Foundation. Not a single street scene. No mention of art until the "Visi-Sonar" pops up halfway through the trilogy. How do they dress? What do their buildings look like? What is Terminus's geography like? What do the stars look like at the edge of the Galaxy? The FIRST FOUNDATION's tecnocratic, minimalist culture is important, but you rarely get a feel for it except when the story requires something to be described. Flesh that out, and Asimov could have had a greater masterpiece.
Get more detail about Second Foundation (Foundation Novels).
No comments:
Post a Comment