Have you ever been in a situation where you were party to two people talking about something they had part in, and rather than telling of the event as a story, they simply rehash difficult or interesting aspects of the event leaving you, the observer, to piece together what actually happened? Reading Foundation (Foundation, #1) is exactly like that! It is interesting that the synopsis of the book, then, references "nonstop action", when in fact there is absolutely no action, save discussion, but merely discussion references to things that happened in the not too distant past.
This book opens with a galactic empire in place that is on the decline. A psychohistorian named Dr. Seldon exposits to a conveniently placed underling about the fact that he scientifically - using psychohistory - has predicted the decline of the galactic empire, an interregnum of dark ages, and then a second galactic empire. He further explains that he has a plan in place to shorten the dark ages by preserving all of the knowledge of human kind. And using psychohistory - who we shall now refer to as deus ex machina - he can predict the behavior of individuals and groups so has manipulated things to go exactly according to his plan, whether they like it or not. Muahaha.
The rest of the novel continues like this with a more learned or more accomplished character - exclusively male - expositing through dialogue to an underling or protege - also exclusively male...
[Read the remainder of my review @ http://theinfamousj.livejournal.com/451937.html]
This book opens with a galactic empire in place that is on the decline. A psychohistorian named Dr. Seldon exposits to a conveniently placed underling about the fact that he scientifically - using psychohistory - has predicted the decline of the galactic empire, an interregnum of dark ages, and then a second galactic empire. He further explains that he has a plan in place to shorten the dark ages by preserving all of the knowledge of human kind. And using psychohistory - who we shall now refer to as deus ex machina - he can predict the behavior of individuals and groups so has manipulated things to go exactly according to his plan, whether they like it or not. Muahaha.
The rest of the novel continues like this with a more learned or more accomplished character - exclusively male - expositing through dialogue to an underling or protege - also exclusively male...
[Read the remainder of my review @ http://theinfamousj.livejournal.com/451937.html]
Book One of the classic series by the remarkable Issac Asimov.
