Foundation

Okay, finally read this book, which is the beginning of what is considered the greatest scifi series ever written. As one who usually doesn't seek out science fiction in his reading, I've got to say, this was fantastic, and represents what everyone says about the best sci-fi: the actual science and premise itself isn't so much the point as it is seeing the human condition play out against its backdrop.

And in that sense, this is a great book. I really thought it would be nerdy and spend all this time with the conceits of the book–but it doesn't. I had to keep reminding myself that this book was written in the 50s, as it reads like a very, very contemporary book. Asimov is a beautiful, literary writer and he seamlessly blends the science elements into casual conversation and asides, rather than didactic speeches.... about the science, that is.

There are plenty of didactic speeches here. It's perhaps the primary way the plot moves along. As has been pointed out in every think piece about how this series is “un-filmable”, the most “exciting” parts of this story happen off-page. Entire multi-year wars are described in a single sentence; huge swaths of time pass between stories; we are dropped into different periods of time between two people and don't get to see what caused their relationships to change in the interim. This is all fine, though, and Asimov moves the stories along and great pace with ingenuity and cleverness.

But about that cleverness. I'd say that is perhaps the only weakness here. As you begin reading this, you will come to realize that, structurally, every vignette and story here is exactly the same: a clever, over-confident (but endearing) man is able to outwit people more powerful and more annoying than him and save the day.

Really. Every story. The primary character has lots of external obstacles thrown in his way, but always keeps his cool, knows he's going to outsmart everyone, and without any effort or difficulty at all (just a lot of forethought and planning) calmly reveals at the end that he's been in control the whole time, knew everything that was going to happen, and worked it all to his favor.

To be sure, it's pretty fun to see how the particular main character pulls it off when everything seems stacked against him, but it can seem a little contrived and too clever by half sometimes.

Nevertheless, this book is so fun, and the continuity of human nature between now and this imagined future tens of thousands years away is fascinating. They are still dealing with politics, trade, economics, and basic human desires. And the winners are able to leverage these to their advantage. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the books to see if he breaks the formula while still exploring the nooks and crannies of this world he's created–a world that spanned nearly every other major work of science fiction since. It certainly deserves such reverence.