A review by ronanmcd
Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov

adventurous mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

3.75

Basing the story arc of any writing on the prolonged ebb, flow and fall of the Roman Empire, and those that replaced it was a huge undertaking. Unfortunately the time span required to make it conceivable means we never get to know characters - their time passes often within 10 pages. This makes the book a challenging read.
However, we do get to know their empires, worlds and kingdoms. How the fortunes of these come and go, intertwined, is brilliant. And they change, depending on their current standing they can be aggressive and acquisitive, violent and murderous, or enlightened and self-sufficient. These entities are often changed by their ruling powers, an apt idea by an author who fought in WW2 against the Axis.
Now, onto the main consideration

Spoiler

This is a universe which features a pistol-blaster slinging maverick hero called Han, a brotherhood of monks who control a force beyond the ken of others. We have barren outposts where farmers are visited by revolutionaries. We have a battle between 2 characters where one uses mind control to tell the other to give in to his anger. We have a ruler called Dagobert (Dagobah system?). We have an evil empire, then we have a rebel alliance. And then alliance go on to be questionably evil. We have hyperspace, and planet destroying ships. We have ships with tracking devices. All in a universe which abounds with young apprentices.

So, it was ahead of its time...