just_tommye's review against another edition
5.0
SPOILER FREE
The second entry to Isaac Asimov‘s Foundation Trilogy had a slow start but soon picked up. I found that after the introduction of Foundation, the plot of Foundation and Empire was far more concise.
I love a good puzzle, and Isaac Asimov delivers more than one. Who is the Mule and what does he want? What is the Second Foundation, where is it, and why is there one there?
I won’t go into spoilers in this bit, but I will say that the answers to those questions are not only satisfying but exciting, and they had me tearing through the second half of this science fiction book. Obviously, not all questions are answered, but who doesn’t like to speculate?
This was a great sequel – I hope the final entry of the trilogy lives up to the promises given in this book.
SPOILER SECTION BELOW
“The General”
Despite the attack on the Foundation from the Galactic Empire, I found this part of Foundation and Empire to be quite slow. It promises action and we are left with political manoeuvres. Not that I don’t like politically driven plotlines, but that’s not what I was promised!
With the Empire calling off its attack, the members of the Foundation work to figure out what they were supposed to do. This does hint at something going wrong with Hari Seldon’s psychohistory, as he makes no mention of this event.
“The Mule”
This part was incredible and is the main reason anyone who finds the first part difficult to get though should read on.
The Mule himself is an interesting villain due to the powers he seems to have, however all he seems to want is power for power’s sake, and that sort of ruins him for me. Perhaps we will see more of him in the third entry that will explain his motivations.
The ending with the reveal of the Second Foundation was so good that I couldn’t stop reading. I think it was because I’d forgotten completely about this second Foundation (from the first book), but also it might have been Hari Seldon’s plan all along.
Distract the villain with the Foundation to allow the second Foundation to flourish and prepare in time for his attack. I have so many questions and that’s what SF is all about!
View the full review at The Fantasy Review
The second entry to Isaac Asimov‘s Foundation Trilogy had a slow start but soon picked up. I found that after the introduction of Foundation, the plot of Foundation and Empire was far more concise.
I love a good puzzle, and Isaac Asimov delivers more than one. Who is the Mule and what does he want? What is the Second Foundation, where is it, and why is there one there?
I won’t go into spoilers in this bit, but I will say that the answers to those questions are not only satisfying but exciting, and they had me tearing through the second half of this science fiction book. Obviously, not all questions are answered, but who doesn’t like to speculate?
This was a great sequel – I hope the final entry of the trilogy lives up to the promises given in this book.
SPOILER SECTION BELOW
“The General”
Despite the attack on the Foundation from the Galactic Empire, I found this part of Foundation and Empire to be quite slow. It promises action and we are left with political manoeuvres. Not that I don’t like politically driven plotlines, but that’s not what I was promised!
With the Empire calling off its attack, the members of the Foundation work to figure out what they were supposed to do. This does hint at something going wrong with Hari Seldon’s psychohistory, as he makes no mention of this event.
“The Mule”
This part was incredible and is the main reason anyone who finds the first part difficult to get though should read on.
The Mule himself is an interesting villain due to the powers he seems to have, however all he seems to want is power for power’s sake, and that sort of ruins him for me. Perhaps we will see more of him in the third entry that will explain his motivations.
The ending with the reveal of the Second Foundation was so good that I couldn’t stop reading. I think it was because I’d forgotten completely about this second Foundation (from the first book), but also it might have been Hari Seldon’s plan all along.
Distract the villain with the Foundation to allow the second Foundation to flourish and prepare in time for his attack. I have so many questions and that’s what SF is all about!
View the full review at The Fantasy Review
travel_tea_and_tomes's review against another edition
4.0
Better storyline than the first. The setting and world building are incredibly interesting, but the first one definitely lacked the character depth found here. I also love the reveal of the Mule and was kicking myself for not realizing it was the clown the whole time. He literally killed someone with emotional powers while playing a song and yet I never connected the dots. It was a fun mystery to throw in the otherwise clearly science fiction world that its established.
themidnightlibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
I struggled a little to get through this one. While the characters/timeline kept changing, the basic plot design was the same. It was an interesting take but it gets repetitive and boring after a while.
corypress's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.5
skuwubi's review against another edition
4.0
Not as good as THE Foundation, but still worth reading. Great plot twist at the end :)
turtlesallthewaydown's review against another edition
This book is a strange mixture of futuristic setting but 1950’s cultural ideology. The misogyny! I couldn’t take it anymore and dnfed at about 75%.
rhganci's review against another edition
5.0
Genuine shock, much in the same thread as I felt when finishing Ender’s Game. For Magnifico to be the Mule! It came out of nowhere, and the emotions bubbled, the excitement built, and good gravy did that skyrocket the quality of this book from the average into the great. Why, then is it is apparent that this book stands out as so memorable? Characters. This book had characters that developed, especially Part II. I got attached the Batya and Torin, and their relationship, and who they were, and their devotion to the Foundation, and her acceptance of Magnifico/The Mule. I was cheering for somebody, and I guess I was ready to consign myself to chalk this book up as an average read and get into the next one with an average amount of enthusiasm. Now, after having the mystery of the book answered in a more-than-satisfying manner, I guess I’ll just have to look forward to the next one with higher expectations. I was, and still am totally surprised, in such a way that I haven’t been in quite some time. The third book also seems to be tied closely to the second, perhaps even in a serial manner, and that excites me. A great read, and though tough to get through at times, very rewarding to finish.
jasonfurman's review against another edition
5.0
Last read this trilogy as a teenager, it has aged well both in terms of the passage of time and, hopefully, slightly more mature tastes on my part. Although I don't find it a particularly profound meditation on free well, the law of large numbers, and the great man theory of history. Not sure if is intended to be, but it is a great story.
The trilogy really picks up with the introduction of the Mule in the second half of this book. It runs at a fast pace through the end of Second Foundation. At some point it has a slightly Scooby-Doo feel as successive masks are pulled off characters/plots. And ultimately it is a bit dehumanizing. Except for social psychologists (who seem a lot like economists) who end up in charge of the galaxy. Only fair.
The trilogy really picks up with the introduction of the Mule in the second half of this book. It runs at a fast pace through the end of Second Foundation. At some point it has a slightly Scooby-Doo feel as successive masks are pulled off characters/plots. And ultimately it is a bit dehumanizing. Except for social psychologists (who seem a lot like economists) who end up in charge of the galaxy. Only fair.