Foundation

Foundation, by Isaaac Asimov, is the first in his series and arguably his best known work among both sci-fi fanatics and the general appreciator of literature alike. Published in ’51 and steadily holding its high acclaim until the present, it’s become, well, a classic. But I don’t want that to color your vision of this novel. Truly, it is a remarkable story, yet stamping the “classic” label on it is, in my opinion, one of the most forced and artificial things we can do as readers. This goes for any book you pick up- appreciate is as you would any other and criticize it by the same standards. However, there is something to be said for the fact that Foundation has stood the test of time and established itself as one of the most prominent sci-fi novels.

The first book of the Foundation Trilogy follows the rise of the new Galactic Empire, under the scientific capital, The Foundation (on the planet of Terminus). Its success in controlling the surrounding kingdoms is credited to the psychohistoric predictions (a new field of research) of the genius and mastermind mathematician, Hari Seldon. Planning and precalculating the probable paths The Foundation would be likely to take, Seldon- though long deceased- guides The Foundation through different stages of power brought on by the last in a sort of chain-reaction of events. The book is largely told through dialogue, from which arises all other aspects- the plot, settings, characters, and conflicts.

This said, I found the style in which Foundation was written comparable to none. In a sense, long dialogues, most of which concerned galactic politics, grew tedious after a certain point. One who is used to fast-paced thriller novels may not last long under these dense exchanges. But don’t get the wrong idea- skipping over even the smallest section will only leave you confused and lost. The book was written in such a way that while the dialogues may be lengthy, these are what communicate the plot, setting, and characters to the reader and every sentence replaces a paragraph of description. One must marvel at how masterfully this technique was executed, which is perhaps one of the most impressive aspects of the novel.

All criticism aside, I found this book engaging and a refreshing change from what I was used to. With two more books following it, Foundation and Empire and Second Foundation, much of it worked to lay the groundwork for the next. Personally, I look forward to continuing on in the series, but I do suggest you pick this book up and decide for yourself. It’s a staple for your bookshelf and a great work of literary genius that will give you a new take on science fiction.