At last, the costly and bitter war between the two… More. Shelve Foundation's Edge. Book 5. Foundation and Earth by Isaac Asimov. Shelve Foundation and Earth. Book 6. Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov. It is the year 12, G. Shelve Prelude to Foundation. Book 7. Forward the Foundation by Isaac Asimov. Shelve Forward the Foundation. Book The text is in fine condition, the paper fresh and clean and as pristine, the binding is also in fine condition.
Asimov is considered one of the giants of 20th Century science fiction. His work stands tall beside that of Robert Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke, and Ray Bradbury. Unlike many authors of the genre he was also an accomplished writer of true scientific works and was a professor of biochemistry at Boston University, ranking him only with Clarke in the field of "Hard Science Fiction"; where plausibility and scientific accuracy are a primary concern.
The rare typescript state of this uncorrected proof measuring 8" by 11" revealing many copied changes in the authors own hand on many of the pages as well.
Laid in is a photocopy of the front panel of the proposed dw which is most similar to the final version save for the text copy which was mercifully changed from "The fourth book of the Foundation Trilogy" as stated here to "The fourth book in the Foundation Series" as stated on the final published version. Octavo, jacket illustration by George Guisti, boards.
Edwards, SFE online. A complex adventure with an anti-racist theme. Mild offsetting to endpapers, touch of fade to edges of boards, a nearly fine copy in a just about fine dust jacket with mild edge rubbing. An attractive copy.
Used - Hardcover Condition: Very Good. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. A handsome copy of this rare first UK publication of the classic SciFi novel, the first in the Foundation series, by one of the 20th century SciFi masters.
Although not the true first, as the first US is the true first, this edition is much more scarce in the marketplace, particularly in collectible condition. Housed in a crisp and bright very good or better dust jacket that shows minor rubbing and chipping to the spine ends and edges, one small closed tear to the spine foot fold, and some light sunning to the spine.
Overall, a sharp and collectible copy; an important addition to any Asimov or 20th Century Science Fiction collection.
Not remaindered, not price clipped, not ex-library; in a protective Mylar cover and will ship carefully wrapped in a sturdy box. Condition: Very Good Indeed. None illustrator. A beautiful true first edition of Isaac Asmiov's first published novel. An imaginative sci-fi novel that's set some fifty-thousand or so years in our future. The true first edition of this work, with first edition stated to the copyright page. Asimov had been invited to contribute a story by Sam Merwin Junior, however the story was later rejected, as the magazine was supposed to have a heavier emphasis on adventure, rather than science-fiction.
In , Walter I. Bradbury from Doubleday accepted the story upon the suggestion of Frederick Pohl. In order for the work to be published, Asimov had to expand it from forty-thousand words to seventy-thousand. In 'Pebble in the Sky' Joseph Schwartz, an ordinary retired man, is suddenly transported tens of thousands of years into the future, after an accident as a nearby nuclear laboratory.
Stuck on this planet, Schwartz if taken in by a farm couple who take him to be mentally deficient. The couple offer Schwartz up for an experimental procedure that's intended to increase his mental abilities.
The experiment works, and Schwartz is able to quickly learn the new language, and also somehow now has strong telepathic abilities. This novel is part of Asimov's 'Foundation' series, and in fact was the basis for the later 'Foundation' novels, which are set in the same universe, though take place about ten-thousand years later. The novel is also in his 'Galactic Empire' trilogy, with this volume being set in the early Galactic Empire, when the galaxy is unified.
In the original publisher's cloth binding, in the original unclipped dustwrapper. Externally, generally smart. Light marks to the boards and spine, being residue from formerly adhered tape. Minor bumping to the head and tail of the spine and to the extremities. Light tape mark to the endpapers. Dustwrapper with light edgewear, and a few light marks. Pages are lightly age-toned and clean, with just a couple of odd light spots.
Very Good Indeed. Used - Hardcover Condition: Fair. Condition: Fair. First Edition, First Printing. If you are looking this listing over then you more than likely know how important this book is in the science fiction genre. This particular copy is an ex-United States Air Force library copy and stamped as such.
While most of the copies of this book that pop-up these days are ex-library, this one being from the Air Force is rather special in my opinion. Usual markings to endpapers and gutters etc. The dust jacket is NOT marked and shows no evidence of being a library copy.
There are light tape ghosts on the corners of the flaps that match those of the book. Listed in Currey page Full Leather, Various Colors. Collected Edition. Nostalgia is a shiny prism through which we all view our past. If I had not first read Foundation in my thirties but instead in my teens this review would like be entitled "Asimov is like chewing on expensive snuff!
But alas I am stuck with current me. This review also marks several times now that I give poor grades to scifi written prior to I'm a linear person: old before new, read things in order, cake before coffee, no spoilers please. I now vow brown cow to not feel guilty by skipping the basement of my favorite genre and instead enjoy the first floor, second floor, jacuzzi, balcony and pool. I'll get to that basement. One day. When it's raining. Ooo look a squirrel!
Being a solid fan of New Space Opera, I must give proper respect to works upon whose shoulders it stands. I do so. But as with many of you, I have more books on my to-read list than I can tackle in a lifetime. I must prune and trim aggressively and I'm afraid the rest of the Foundation series is likely to end up on the greenhouse floor. Hopefully before I'm dust a clever New Space Opera idea about extending human life expectancy will give me more time to explore books about advanced civilizations prone to cancer of the mouth due to snuff addictions.
Until then, I give thanks to the Old and say bring on the New. View all 11 comments. Feb 23, BlackOxford rated it it was amazing Shelves: american , sci-fi. Life in the Garden of Letters Foundation is a technological society which believes it can avoid its likely demise through the application of more technology. But everything they think they know about the past and their projected future and their role in both is false. The question they face is: can a new purpose into which they have been manipulated by their ancestors as Life in the Garden of Letters Foundation is a technological society which believes it can avoid its likely demise through the application of more technology.
The question they face is: can a new purpose into which they have been manipulated by their ancestors as well as by current events be accepted as their own? What does it mean to accept such a purpose which appears to be already determined? To fake participation in an inevitable fate? To promote technology as a sort of religious cult? Is anyone really in charge? Democracy, to which Foundation is ostensibly committed, is a fickle and unpredictable form.
What is approved today may be cast aside tomorrow. His ability to incorporate perennial questions of human import - including the moral and political - into this understanding makes him a great writer. Dealing with our inheritance of what is usually called culture, or tradition, or simply the past is a difficult subject to think about.
Does it matter? Can anything be done to overcome an historical trajectory? Or do we have some sort of cosmic duty to conform to its demands? Perhaps there is a Plan after all. And perhaps it involves keeping as many of us alive as possible to carry it out. The essence of this Plan is not taking action until the only action to take becomes clear. The only decision in such a strategy is the refusal to take a decision. Who knows. Could be. The result could hardly be worse than the rationalised missteps of arrogant political leaders or the volatile preferences of the democratic mob.
View all 40 comments. Book 9 : Chronologically the third book in the Foundation series, although this was the first Foundation novel published way back in Psycho-history has predicted the fall of a universe spanning Galactic Empire and led Hari Seldon into creating Foundation.
The first Foundation, the one featured in this book, is a collective of scientists settled on a planet on the very outskirts of the dying Empire. Five interconnected stories map the progress of the planet and how it manages the relations with its neighbours, often using the knowledge and guidance of Seldon's legacy.
Although this is a hugely well recognised series, the first book doesn't really stand up, when read outside the full first trilogy. View all 3 comments. One of my very favorite old Golden Age SF novels. The old empire is dying, says one Hari Selden, a genius historian and statistician, even though hardly anyone believes him. Can he and his followers use their knowledge of history and human behavior to build a better galactic society when the current empire collapses?
A quick and absorbing read that's great fun. I cut my science fiction-lovin' teeth on this trilogy. Asimov was brilliant. Read count: I dunno, 4 or 5 times? I've been an Asimov-fangirl for a long time now. But it started with the robots, not with this series. Nevertheless, once I did read this one, I was quite smitten. The difference, this time, is that I'm reading the full cycle.
I even read the second trilogy that was penned by other authors. And boy, were those a let-down. However, even Asimov's prequels couldn't hold a candle to this one. The writing styl Re-read. The writing style is crisp, the events tight and therefore sweep you along from start to finish. For a more detailed analysis, read the original review below.
Original review: Not my first work by Asimov but I was told that this trilogy, together with his robot stories that I've read , are his finest work and some of the most important works in science fiction. I now understand why. Asimov does not only have an extremely amiable writing style, he is a master in phrasing complex matter in a simple, unassuming way that immediately transports you tens of thousands of years into the future.
Any concept, no matter how alien to us, becomes "normal" within only a few lines. In this particular case we start out during the time of the Galactic Empire - humanity has spread across the universe but as with any great civilisation, stagnation sets in and with it, doom. A scientist has a mathematical way of predicting the future and not only predicts the fall of the Empire but also how long the ensuing "dark ages" will last.
Before that backdrop, there are 5 parts of this novel: - The Psychohistorians - The Encyclopedists - The Mayors - The Traders - The Merchant Princes The first part shows the aforementioned scientist and the outrage caused by his calculations as well as his measures to ensure that his plan can proceed. His plan, simply put, is to shorten the period of the "dark ages" from the predicted The second takes place 50 years later when the so-called Enyclopedia Galactica a collection of all the knowledge of the doomed Galactic Empire is already under way but politics interfere with progress.
However, to me, that is in no way the worst. The third story takes place yet another 30 years in the future and here is where I disagree with the author. You see, in only 30 years technology has become a religion with technicians and maintenance personal being "priests".
Now, I do believe that many people nowadays are ignorant as to how certain technological achievements work and therefore I do not doubt that could happen in the future too. However, 30 years to go from technology used by everyone even if not understood , to being worshipped as something divine?!
And what is more, it's not just ignorant people worshipping, the men being educated at the Foundation's main seat, Terminus, actually believe that their toolbox is a collection of holy artifacts. This is also where I started doubting the Foundation. Before, I thought it was a great idea to preserve technology and shorten the "dark ages" but I despise religion and this one is no different. The fourth story takes place 55 years after the third years after the start of the book and introduces the traders that bring technology to the far corners of the galaxy in order to expand the influence of the Foundation financial and political.
The religious part of the movement is retreating, in many circles especially amongst the traders even frowned upon. Naturally, this story is therefore full of political intrigue since some worlds refuse to enslave themselves by accepting to depend upon Foundation's technology. However, as we are told within this story: "Never let your sense of morals prevent you from doing what is right!
The fifth and final story takes place years after the start of the novel and is about a trader being sent out into a far corner of space where Foundation ships mysteriously keep disappearing. It is believed that another world has technological growth, which puts the powerful position of the Foundation in jeopardy.
Does the Empire still exist? Is there a new power? The main theme throughout the book seems to be that violence is not the answer. Knowledge, if used correctly, is a far better weapon. I'm not sure it is morally better though. I deliberately left the rest of the novel shrouded because giving away too much would ruin the story except that I will say there was another pocket of scientists much like the ones that started the Foundation on Terminus but installed on the other end of the galaxy and I'm already curious how that will play out.
It's in no way a book that is supposed to be as thrilling as an action movie or horror book. Instead, there is a lot of social exploration in a very clever and accessible way, yet never preachy or boring or too theoretical. One last comment about Scott Brick, the narrator of my audio edition - he is fantastic.
Somehow seemingly stoic but engaging at the same time. Talk about perfect combination. No surprise this trilogy I assume at this point that the other two novels will be of the same quality is so well-known and well-liked. They are ground-breaking books on several fronts, not least of which on the so-called psycho-history the mathematical process with which to predict the future. View all 44 comments.
Bradley Yep! I read the original trilogy about when the race to the moon was in full swing, and these stories even seemed vaguely possible!
I went off all of the great SciFi writers in that era eventually because I thought that they were struggling for new concepts to trump their previous efforts, and the character constructions suffered. Maybe I now need to revisit…?! Mar 07, Mario the lone bookwolf rated it it was amazing Shelves: asimov-isaac. Just think of everything that gives one the possibility of predicting the future.
Like statistics, AI, mathematics, that clash together with knowledge about all of the history of humankind and current data. A big data analyst, spin doctor, etc. And that is just what humans can do, a sophisticated AI may be the ultimate oracle, the all-knowing mixture of Cassandra and Nostradamus.
In this case, they are worthless without each other and no one can really get stronger. Although, super psi forces could probably be made both ways, by meditating or by brain implants, but both combined may be the best way.
Either too biological or too technical. View all 18 comments. Jun 24, mark monday rated it liked it Shelves: scifi-classic. Hari Seldon - that genius psychohistorian whose homely visage speaks to his followers hundreds of years after his death - says that the Empire must fall and that thousands of years of barbarism must follow. The Foundation - that secretive colony of scientists established by Seldon psychohistory - "that branch of mathematics which deals with the reactions of human conglomerates to fixed social and economic stimuli" - says that the patterns and cycles of human societies can be accurately predicted.
The Foundation - that secretive colony of scientists established by Seldon on the planet Terminus - says that they will be humanity's last hope for shortening those thousands of years of barbarism and building humanity back up to its former glory.
Isaac Asimov - that celebrated science fiction Grand Master and clear-eyed progressive - says that he can fix up five linked stories and make of them a single novel with a single-minded purpose, a novel with prose that is straightforward but often witty and resonant, and a narrative that moves forward swiftly towards the inevitable.
View all 14 comments. Absolutely Loved it! Hail Asimov! He is brilliant! His writing is enchanting and filled with awe inspiring genius. Work of sheer Ingenuity! Height of Inventiveness! Shelves: library , sci-fi , classic , , completist-book-club , series. I have read several Asimov titles over the years and while I have enjoyed some of them, his writing generally does not click for me. I feel kind of bad about this as he is a legend, but, it is what it is. Foundation is a very creative idea that started out with a few intertwined short stories and eventually expanded to sev I have read several Asimov titles over the years and while I have enjoyed some of them, his writing generally does not click for me.
Foundation is a very creative idea that started out with a few intertwined short stories and eventually expanded to several books. Also, when reading up on this series after I was finished, it sounds like other authors have added their own stories to the Foundation universe.
A quick synopsis is that the Galactic Empire is in decline but the Foundation is created to gather and preserve all available information which then allows them to predict the course of events into the future. Sounds really cool, right!? Well - I know there are many out there that are very into this series, but this was another Asimov I ended up lukewarm on. My only evidence is that despite the short chapters and precise plot progression, I had to struggle to stay interested.
So, there it is. You may love it like some do or have a so-so experience like I did - and I cannot give you criteria to help determine which side you will fall on. I just hope you enjoy if you try it! View all 12 comments. May 03, Apatt rated it it was amazing Shelves: favorites. Yes, I have read Foundation before, chances are you have too! So reread the series from the beginning it is then; no great hardship really, a fun time is already guaranteed, and the three volumes combined are shorter than a single book by Peter F.
The very first Foundation story was published in Yes, I have read Foundation before, chances are you have too! The very first Foundation story was published in , around the time poor Anne Frank was writing her diary.
I first read the trilogy in an omnibus volume in the early 80s, before Foundation's Edge came out. This first Foundation book is a fix-up novel of connected short stories, unlike some fix-up novels I have read these stories join up beautifully into one cohesive novel. Such prediction is necessarily based on aggregate behavioral trends of vast numbers of people billions. To this end the Foundation is established on a remote planet called Terminus ostensibly to compile a mega Encyclopedia Galactica but in truth to save mankind as a whole from an extended period of dark ages, and eventually to set up a Second Empire.
Seldon is not the only protagonist of Foundation, as the book spans hundreds of years and several generations three other heroes no anti-heroes here follow him: Salvor Hardin, Linmar Ponyets, and Hober Mallow.
The first is a politician and the other two are traders. What they have in common is a can-do attitude, a disdain of violence, and the instinctive wiliness to outwit just about anybody they come across. This was made easier because there is a reference in The Merchant Princes to what happened on Askone. It is briefly indicated that Askone first allowed trade with the Foundation and was soon inundated with missionaries and lost its power to the Foundation.
Interestingly, the character of Limmar Ponyets is named "Lathan Devers" in the original story. Lathan Devers is the name of the trader who is heavily featured in The General, which was first published as The Dead Hand and was the first of the two stories that were reedited into Foundation and Empire. Additional years pass, and the Foundation's economic influence and religious control of surrounding worlds continues to grow, though this is not yet matched by military and political domination.
Three of the Foundation's atomic-powered ships have disappeared near the Republic of Korell , a nation that is suspected of developing advanced technology of its own, which would threaten the Foundation. Hober Mallow , a master trader though not a Foundation agent , is sent to Korell on a trade mission and told to keep his eyes open and learn what he can about their technology and the missing ships.
It is learned that Askone did indeed fall under the control of Scientism after it became dependent on Foundation technology. However, Mallow finds the missionaries's mysticism and hocus-pocus annoying, and thus, he is not interested in proselytizing; he simply wants to make money--and convinces the Commdor of this. After demonstrating the many useful products that he can sell them, ranging from steel foundry technology and portable force-field generators to miniature laundries and floor-scrubbers, Mallow signs contracts to provide them with such things, making huge profits for himself.
He sees no sign of the missing ships while there, but he does discover that the Korellians retain some vestiges of atomic technology in the shape of atomic handguns. Shortly after this, Mallow travels to the fringes of the Galactic Empire , where he finds out the true extent of the empire's decline.
Political leadership of the Empire has been unstable, rebellion is frequent among the planets, and opportunistic generals often arbitrarily massacre the planets they are sent to pacify. Equally stunning is the decline of the Empire's technological prowess: "tech-man" is a hereditary office held by persons who restrict themselves to simple maintenance of previously produced machinery, which they are able neither to understand fully nor to replicate.
As Mallow explains, "The machines work from generation to generation automatically, and the caretakers are a hereditary caste who would be helpless if a single D-tube in all that vast structure burned out. After returning to Terminus , Mallow is denounced as a traitor for not spreading the Foundation's religion along with trade. Mallow argues that religion has played itself out as a means of furthering Foundation control. Trade, for now, will be the Foundation's tool for expanding into the Second Galactic Empire.
Mallow is arrested for having allegedly allowed a Foundation missionary "Jord Parma, of the Anacreonian worlds" to be killed while he was on Korell, but he shows the event to have been staged. A visual record which he plays as the primary evidence exhibit for his defense at his trial shows that Jord Parma was an impostor--an agent of the Commdor's secret police.
Mallow eventually wins the next mayoral election, becoming leader of Terminus. Years later, the Foundation is invaded by the Korellians, who have been armed with nuclear technology by a general of the Galactic Empire seeking power and riches beyond the empire's periphery. Although the Korellian ships are far too powerful for the Foundation to resist, Mallow is convinced that the First Foundation will win in the end, as Korell's attack has caused the Foundation to impose a trade embargo on it.
As he explains, the Korellians have become so totally dependent on Foundation technology to maintain their infrastructure and day-to-day lives that as the Foundation's equipment wears out in Korell's factories and homes, the resulting economic contractions would lead to a huge popular upheaval.
0コメント