Scan barcode
mjmarx59's review against another edition
4.0
They keep getting better! This book had more suspense and interesting moments than the others. The philosophy felt a little more explained and thoughtful. It’s nice to actually have intrigue in the plot to where things don’t feel inevitable (granted this was mostly true in F&E too)
The characters are still pretty whatever, though I think this was a slight improvement? Arkady and the Mule are both pretty great. I just don’t love how for both parts, the final part is basically like “I figured things out” “you’re wrong, this is the truth” then “I played both of you, THIS is actually the truth”.
The characters are still pretty whatever, though I think this was a slight improvement? Arkady and the Mule are both pretty great. I just don’t love how for both parts, the final part is basically like “I figured things out” “you’re wrong, this is the truth” then “I played both of you, THIS is actually the truth”.
alesforz's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
kayleigh214's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
rosekk's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
nerdkitten's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Medical content, Stalking, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Confinement, Torture, and War
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexism, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Classism
jaminup's review against another edition
2.0
The whole book is pretty much just "very clever men" standing around out-thinking one another. A lot of 4D chess style strategic shenanigans revealed as exposition does not make for a good tale. And the conclusion to the antagonist from the previous book was super anti-climatic. Definitely taking a break from this series for a while before I move on to Foundation's Edge, as it's one of the Hugo winners, so I do plan on reading it, despite my declining interest in the Foundation series.
cellardoor10's review against another edition
4.0
If you enjoyed the early episodes of Battlestar Galactica (who's a Cylon, how do we tell, maybe you're a Cylon, maybe she is! Etc.), then this will probably appeal to you. Seldon's plan is based on the probability of massive, planet-level or greater behaviors and actions, but that means that individuals do have the ability to warp it. In this case, we pick up with The Mule, just such an individual - his mutant abilities for emotional manipulation and his ambition make him an incredible force in the galaxy never guessed at by Seldon originally.
We begin the book with The Mule's single-minded search for the Second Foundation, this semi-mythical group of individuals living in secret for the past approx 400-500 years. They are rumored to have extreme mental control powers, contrary to the physical science acumen of the First Foundation.
With mental powers, we always get that kind of social intrigue, backstabbing, accusations-flying, etc. Asimov does the reader a huge favor by bringing in a 14 year old girl to play a role. She is brilliant and precocious and witty and surprisingly street smart at times. She is a breath of fresh air among the arrogant and stubborn and morally ambiguous adult men that have featured so heavily in the series thus far (the previous book had a similar female character - different age, but equally cool).
Spoilers on book structure/plotting no big reveals:
There comes to be a bit of a macguffin feel to the Second Foundation - you can only hear so many planets (and people) be convincingly accused without eventually getting a little sick of it. You *do* find out the truth at the end, and I have to say, I did see that coming, given all the various hints throughout. But I think it was well done - a suspicion was planted, but I didn't feel like I'd been hit over the head with it.
We begin the book with The Mule's single-minded search for the Second Foundation, this semi-mythical group of individuals living in secret for the past approx 400-500 years. They are rumored to have extreme mental control powers, contrary to the physical science acumen of the First Foundation.
With mental powers, we always get that kind of social intrigue, backstabbing, accusations-flying, etc. Asimov does the reader a huge favor by bringing in a 14 year old girl to play a role. She is brilliant and precocious and witty and surprisingly street smart at times. She is a breath of fresh air among the arrogant and stubborn and morally ambiguous adult men that have featured so heavily in the series thus far (the previous book had a similar female character - different age, but equally cool).
Spoilers on book structure/plotting no big reveals:
There comes to be a bit of a macguffin feel to the Second Foundation - you can only hear so many planets (and people) be convincingly accused without eventually getting a little sick of it. You *do* find out the truth at the end, and I have to say, I did see that coming, given all the various hints throughout. But I think it was well done - a suspicion was planted, but I didn't feel like I'd been hit over the head with it.
radicaledwardiv's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
torch_light_'s review against another edition
4.25
4.25? The ending tied the story up really well but i feel like the suspense never built up as much as it did in book 2. still a satisfying end and i'm happy i read this series (never thought i would)
sunsorbit's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
despite finally having more than just one (1) female character, i found the misogyny in this part of the series to be so detrimental to the story itself. also found the plot more convoluted and at times even confusing in comparison to the previous two books. the only character i really liked and found interesting was Arcadia, but even her whole character was finally attributed to smarter men of higher powers having created it so. she couldn’t be left a smart and well spoken young woman/girl, nope, that was all because the men of the 2nd foundation manipulated her empty baby brain. + half retconning that (don’t know how it’s spelled, curse of audiobook) Beita from book 2 never had figured out that Magnifico was The Mule by herself, no, that was also the much smarter men from the 2nd Foundation doing their work.
All in all, liked book 1&2 much better.
All in all, liked book 1&2 much better.