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Classic Literature. Fiction. Science Fiction. HTML:The first of two prequel novels in Isaac Asimovâ??s classic science-fiction masterpiece, the Foundation series THE EPIC SAGA THAT INSPIRED THE APPLE TV+ SERIES FOUNDATION It is the year 12,020 G.E. and Emperor Cleon I sits uneasily on the Imperial throne of Trantor. Here in the great multidomed capital of the Galactic Empire, forty billion people have created a civilization of unimaginable technological and cultural complexity. Yet Cleon knows there are those who would see him fallâ??those whom he would destroy if only he could read the future. Hari Seldon has come to Trantor to deliver his paper on psychohistory, his remarkable theory of prediction. Little does the young Outworld mathematician know that he has already sealed his fate and the fate of humanity. For Hari possesses the prophetic power that makes him the most wanted man in the Empire . . . the man who holds the key to the futureâ??an apocalyptic power to be known forever after as the Fo… (more)
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Prelude is a decent book. It didn’t draw me in over much, and the story is not especially exciting. Not a ton of action takes place, and yet not a ton of philosophizing either. There is a lot of world building though. You do get a good feel for the planet of Trantor, and how complex all of the empire is. There is also some common themes such as classism, or blind faith. It’s interesting to see how these are portrayed in this future world. I also found the idea of losing knowledge of Earth interesting since the empire is so old. The idea of psychohistory is also intriguing. I have had this idea when I was younger, and having it put into print and explained a little bit more in detail helped define it a bit more. I would recommend this book to anyone planning on reading the series, but as a stand alone book there are probably better ones out there.
'It was merely a mathematical demonstration. It made a point of interest to mathematicians, but there was no thought in my mind of its being useful in any way.'
'I find that
Seldon shrugged slightly. More than ever, he knew that he should never have given the paper. What would become of him, if the Emperor took it into his head that he had been made to look a fool?
After five books telling the history of the Foundation, Asimov returns to the beginning, as Hari Seldon comes to Trantor to present a paper on psychohistory at a mathematical convention. He soon finds himself in trouble, as the emperor and others are concerned about the possibility that psychohistory could have practical applications.
Actually, I'm surprised that Hari Seldon survived long enough to develop a practical application of his idea. Although he is supposed to be keeping a low profile, he has the usual bull-headed approach of science fiction heroes (as in the some of the other Foundation books and "Shockwave Rider"). His lack of emotional intelligence means that he continually upsets his hosts and rubs them up the wrong way, and he keeps doing stupid things that get him noticed and into enough trouble that he has to be moved to another hiding place.
Although Hari Seldon irritated me a lot, the good thing about Asimov writing a prequel after the rest of the series, is that he could put in all sorts of subtle hints about the things that happen in the other books. And even though I guessed the twist, the ending still came as a surprise, as there was a second part to the twist that hadn't occurred to me at all.
The basic plot line follows Hari Seldon, the man who developed psychohistory. It begins just as Seldon gives a speech about the potential science of psychohistory, which he has only worked out the preliminary foundations of. The Emperor Cleon I is interested, and interviews Seldon, but becomes convinced that psychohistory is nothing more than a theoretical toy. Seldon is then contacted by a journalist named Chetter Huminn who convinces him the Cleon's first minister (and true power in the government) is after Seldon, and Seldon has to hide. Most of the book details Seldon's travels about Trantor with his bodyguard (and later wife), a woman named Dors, as he both tries to work out the fundamentals of psychohistory and evade the first minister. along the way he finds and adopts a boy named Raych, and collaborates with another scientist named Yugo.
In the end, it turns out that Huminn is actually the first minister, and is also actually the robot R. Daneel Olivaw who has been benevolently guiding humanity for thousands of years. The whole of Seldon's time on the run orchestrated by Olivaw so he could work out psychohistory to the point where it would be a useful science. There are some explanations as to why Olivaw thought it necessary to engage in the charade, but they only make him seem more omniscient than before, and sink the series to further depths of silliness. Asimov's writing saves the book from the ridiculously convoluted plot, but that doesn't make the book any better than average. and for a book tied to botht he excellent Foundation trillogy, and the origianl Robot books, average is a disappointment.
As a prelude written sometime after the initial works, this book very much relies uponthe reader having some idea of both the preceeding steps and the end of the series. The Foundation trilogy is perhaps one of Isaac Asimov's most famous stories. The basis is that a Galaxy wide empire has crumbled but before it completely dissolved into anarchy and chaos a mathmatician named Hari Seldon developed psycohistory - a means of predicting the agregate behavior of people. He foresaw the anarchy and laid plans to minimise the distruption and bring back the glory days as soon as possible. Of course in the time of the Foundation doing so, his actual life was far in the past and subject to myth.
Prelude to Foundation are excerts from his life, as he began the process of developing pyscohistory. Each chapter is preceded by a short exert of "Encylopedia Galactica" noting what details survived.
Hari presents his inability to make pyscohistory work to the emporer and his refusal to fudge the results to make Cleon look good. A chance encounter then sends Hari exploring the rest of the sectors in Trantor the imperial capitol. Each is beset with its own problems and its own characteristic defects. Hari runs into trouble each time and is moved on to another sector until the unsurprising conclusion is reached.
Asimov is an ideas science fiction writer. His characters are thin, his world building skills almost more so. The people in each sector are extreme contrasting stereotypes, with no redeeming features. there is no angst no confusion no dubious moarl quandries that make the real world exist. However the ideas are very good, and the conclusions based from them can't be faulted.
A light and entertaining edition to the series, worth reading as a fan, but not the ideal entry point - start with Foundation and come back to this later. An obvious note to the differences in writiing ages, the original books are about 1/3 the size of this. I'm note sure the extra words make it better.
As far as sci-fi adventuring
Hell, I love how the characters THINK. All the time. And they express their thoughts, often, and will discuss and debate with each other. Sometimes they'll change their minds when presented with a logical conclusion, othertimes they'll remain steadfast. It's that unpredictability, combined with a rational perspective, which endeared me to savor every page.
I may have a new favorite author. I'm not saying this book, or the Robots/Empire/Foundation series, is for everybody; it's got quite a few flaws, and I'm sure somebody will be happy to explain why it's not "good literature", but I couldn't care less. Love this series, loved this book.
Well here is the beginning book for the Foundation part of the series, last year I had decided to take a break from the series. Now I’ve finished the main books and I need to read/reread the robot novels. I really think that Asimov’s favorite part about continuing this series
There is always a "sly" quality about Asimov's novels. In Prelude, one of his targets seems to be the specialist /expert (in the person of Seldon) who knows almost nothing about the world beyond his narrow field of specialization. At many points in the story, Seldon's companion-protector offers common sense principles about human society without benefit of the elaborate experimental model Seldon seeks to create.
All in all, you could do worse than spend a few hours with seldon and company on the planet Trantor.
I really liked the ending, it took me completely by surprise. The funny thing is, I had considered that Demerzel might be a robot, and I had considered that Hummin might be
And it's Daneel!!! I love Daneel!
Really really really looking forward to the next part :)