A Review: Foundation (Foundation, #1)

Title of Work: Foundation (Foundation, #1)
Author: Isaac Asimov
Format:
Published: 1951
Started:
Finished: 2022-09-07\

Posted: Goodreads
Rating: 3/5

---

Let’s say 3.5/5

Excellent world building and large scale sci fi ideas that stretch across incomprehensible expanses of space and time.

Read this if you like the ten-steps-ahead-of-you, triple agent, you bluff me I’ll bluff you type of political/military subterfuge. And in this case, Asimov’s introduction of “psychohistory” — the scarily accurate computation and prediction of historical events thousands of years into the future — takes predestination and absolutely nerdifies it.

One notable caveat: Asimov is known for his archetypal sci fi plot development, NOT masterful craft of characters. Further, I think there are maybe two female characters in the entire novel and they are not at all significant to the plot. I’m told that female characters take a more central role further in the series but definitely not here. Unfortunately that’s kind of par for the course in this era of the genre, author, and literature in general. If anyone can recommend me some good sci fi with compelling and complex female characters I’d be interested to check out the state of things.