Forward the Foundation

Following the life of Hari Seldon, the fall of the empire and the beginning of the foundation develops. A story that takes place in one planet but defines the future of the empire crosses through decades of political challenges. Asimov skillfully takes us through all this being careful not to overwelm us in details, but carefully describing the line that guides the story

This book, published in 1993, seems as if it is talking about modern history. The deterioration of Trantor sounds like what is happening in San Francisco in present times. As I am reading about Hari's manipulation of the tax code, I'm reading in the news about congress's desire to simplify the tax code. Clearly this book is before 23 and me. I thought it was a book by Asimov that I read about the genetic code, but Hari's problems with determining Wanda's genetic profile is amusing in light of today's ability to get a genetic profile within a week after spitting into a tube. Despite this problem, the story is fascinating. It's also sad as time marches on in the story.

By a terrible coincidence, I read this book that talks about mobs acting irrationally when guided by messianic leaders (in the book, the leader is Jo-Jo Joranum) exactly when mobs in Washington, DC stormed Capitol Hill. This alone renders a completely new meaning to Foundation in general and 'Forward' in particular.Anyone who has minimal familiarity with Isaac Asimov's saga knows that Hari Seldon predicts through psychohistory that the Galactic Empire is in a state of decay and decline and that he works to remedy the consequences of a such decay. But it is only here, in 'Forward', that it becomes clearer that Hari Seldon decides to write the Galactic Encyclopedia because he wants to preserve culture and all human knowledge, as he believes those are destroyed when civilization falls apart (pretty much as symbols of democracy at Capitol Hill were damaged by the mob). Maybe Asimov was only echoing something dark that was happening in the early 1990s, but the message is still quite strong to our current reality. It is like Margareth Atwood's 'Handmaid's Tale', published in 1985 and amazingling relevant to this date.While 'Forward' is a much slower book than the best ones in the Foundation series, it is still a very nice and fulfilling closure. Structurally, it is closer to the first 'Foundation', which is not necessarily a good thing, with many jumps in time (from Hari Seldon at 40 with Eto Demerzel, then at 60, and finally at 70), short chapters and a sort of less laborious style, some chapters consisting almost of dialogs only.But 'Forward' sounds all the time more personal and intimate than anything else in the Foundation series, and the fact that the Epilogue is written in first person reinforces that feel. It is Isaac Asimov's farewell, as much as is Hari Seldon's farewell. The whole book deals with the idea of growing old and witnessing the decay of the body and the losses that come with them, and that covers the whole book with a bitter-sour and sad taste, something that I also felt in 'Star Trek Picard' (and I like the Amazon series very much). As Hari Seldon ages and misses his beloved ones, it is impossible not to stop to imagine how Isaac Asimov himself was facing his own elderliness, when "even if he could look forward to some additional decades, the years of his most fruitful breakthroughs were surely behind him." With that as underlying context, it is impossible not to feel attached to the book and forgiving of any flaws it might have.Many argue about the pros and cons of reading the Foundation series in publication order or chronological order (as the events in the two last published books 'Prelude' and 'Forward' occur before those of the first 'Foundation'). I am definitely for publication order.Not that reading the books in chronological order would cause any harm. Asimov did envision that the books might be read in chronological order and very competently managed to write all books so that none of the mysteries and secrets in 'Second', 'Edge' or 'Earth' is taken for granted in 'Prelude' and 'Forward' (in particular, the whole mystery about "Star's End" is carefully preserved in 'Forward'). Moreover, reading 'Forward' first could enrich the understanding of later books, in particular the origins of The Mule in 'Empire' and the references to the Robot Series in 'Edge' and 'Earth'. So the pleasure of reading in chronological order or publication order may work just the same. Indeed, the temptation to start (re)reading the first 'Foundation' after finishing 'Forward' is almost irrestible, which is exactly what I did, and I must confess that I liked the first part of 'Foundation' much more the second time, as the whole description of Trantor seemed so well connected with that in 'Prelude' and 'Forward'.However, there is one experience that only those who read the books in publication order will have: the pleasure of concluding a long journey of seven books by reading the very last words of 'Forward'. As I was advancing the last chapters, that was exactly the way I felt, that I was indeed concluding a journey with Asimov himself (and I would have been very happy already if the book ended in Chapter 33 of Part 4, which is one of the best chapters in the book).That is why I say that nothing compares with the feeling I had when I turned the very last page of the Epilogue of this book and read Asimov's book dedication.I could only feel the tears in my eyes with a silent gratitude.

This is titled Forward the Foundation. A prelude to the Foundation series and written after the five books of the Series. It was billed as Forward the Foundation II so I bought this Kindle edition wondering how I could have missed one. Now I think it may just be the Kindle version of the original, which of course it is not. Prelude to Foundation precedes this indeed. This is Forward the Foundation and follows Prelude in time but at the end in books written. That said, I may need to address the Prime Radiant to determine how this is. Doesn't matter. It's time to read the series all over again. Read themN in order written or in time line order. Its great either way. Wait, could it be? Am I having a Hari Seldon moment?The man did coin the term Robotics after all.

The Robot series, then the empire books and finally this the foundation series. Put in order one can only feel awe at the vision and arch created by Asimov . There is no equal, but many who borrow from the master. This is a great second in the foundattion series

I liked the fact that this book matches and completes my Asimov set of the six other Foundation books. That is the reason why I purchased this one, and I am replacing my "trade paperbacks" with the larger "paperback" versions because the print is bigger. No issues with the quality whatsoever, and the price is right.

Forward the Foundation is the second book in the Foundation series, but the last book to be written by Asimov. The setting for Forward the Foundation predates that of Foundation as Asimov reveals more about the life of Hari Seldon, his family and those who help him with his psychohistory work.I first became acquainted with the Foundation series when I read Foundation. Since that time, I have hungrily read the other books of the series with Forward the Foundation being the last of the books to be read. I like the Foundation series due to the problems that the characters face and the clever and seemingly easy ways in which the Foundation avoids destruction. However, I feel that Forward the Foundation just is not up to par with the other Foundation books. The writing is disjointed almost as if Asimov would pick up the manuscript after being absent from it for a while and start to write again. He starts chapters by introducing information that the reader already knows from other chapters as if it is new. Furthermore, some of what is written seems to contradict things that happen in some of the other books. The contradictions are small, but noticeable.In all, I think that Forward the Foundation is a descent book which helps to fill in the time period before the Foundation was established. I would not say that I have found it an essential read to enjoy the Foundation series. However, as a fan of the Foundation, I would have read it nonetheless. Just be prepared for a book which is not as good as the other books in the series.

Typical Asimov work: absolutely amazing. Like all classical books, the language quality is excellent. A great way of cultivating the mind while enjoying a good read.

from one of the masters of Sci-Fi. Don't miss the opportunity of reading it.

I puristi sostengono che il ciclo della Fondazione corrisponda alla trilogia iniziale e che i 4 libri aggiunti siano meno importanti. In generale le aggiunte ad un successo sono quasi sempre operazioni commerciali, ma in questo caso il Maestro Asimov è riuscito ad integrare la parte che a tutti i fan della Trilogia della Fondazione mancava, ovvero lo sviluppo della psicostoriografia e del personaggio di Hari Seldon. Imperdibile.

This book is honestly.. pretty bad compared to the rest of the series and especially it's predecessor Prelude to Foundation. It has 4 parts which are really all over the place. Some parts are overly long, where Asimov creates a lot of narrative tension but it's never really resolved. Other parts are very short and you can't help wondering what he is trying to achieve. There's a lack of flow. Persons are often introduced almost willy nilly, like a deus ex machine just popping up to provide the main character with some new problem to solve. The later parts especially are very sad and depressive, with Seldon withering away physically and mentally in a way that's honestly hard to take serious. The writing is unfortunately downright sloppy sometimes, with two huge continuity errors popping up later in the book. Of course we know that Asimov was not doing well when he wrote this and it was published posthumously. In all fairness, I think it would have been better to leave things at the Prelude and not wedge another novel in between.

As Hari Seldon struggles to perfect his revolutionary theory of psychohistory and ensure a place for humanity among the stars, the great Galactic Empire totters on the brink of apocalyptic collapse. Caught in the maelstrom are Seldon and all he holds dear, pawns in the struggle for dominance. Whoever can control Seldon will control psychohistory and with it the future of the Galaxy.Among those seeking to turn psychohistory into the greatest weapon known to man are a populist political demagogue, the weak-willed Emperor Cleon I, and a ruth less militaristic general. In his last act of service to humankind, Seldon must somehow save his life's work from their grasp as he searches for its true heirs a search that begins with his own granddaughter and the dream of a new Foundation.