Second Foundation
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In THE SECOND FOUNDATION, Isaac Asimov addresses the phenomenon of genetic mutation and its potential danger to a civilization. This novel tells of an overwhelmingly powerful mutant human being, born with the ability to mold men’s emotions and minds. He has brought down the First Foundation, and now only the Second Foundation remains.
THE SECOND FOUNDATION is the third book in Asimov’s FOUNDATION series.
13 reviews for Second Foundation
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C Justice –
classic Asimov
Read this classic before, during or after you watch the TV series. Of course, as good as the TV series is, and it is good, the remake is never as good as the original!
franco –
It gets better
Like many reviewers, I reread the original 3 volume Foundation novels in anticipation of the new TV series. I read all three volumes more than 50 years ago and had forgotten almost everything. I agree with many reviewers that the first volume was tedious due to the clumsy aggregation of a collection of short stories. The criticism of its misogyny is also warranted. The writing quality improved from the first to the second and more to the third volume. Three women play critical roles in the second and third volumes. Perhaps Asimov took notice of the criticism of the lack of women in the first work and made a needed adjustment. Overall, there is too much tedious dialog in all 3 volumes, but it is handled much better in the third one, “Second Foundation”. So, I enjoyed revisiting this work after so many years. However I found the TV version (first season so far) to be a very disappointing and disorganized mishmash that put me to sleep and a poor representation of the Asimov work.
Jes_074 –
The story continues even more
I’ve read the other books in the ‘Foundation’ series and have enjoyed them thoroughly. I’m not surprised that I enjoyed this one. The whole series flows as if they were one book that had been cut up into three parts. Here we see more of the ‘Second Foundation’ and how they’re still working at fixing the ‘Seldon’ plan that was damaged in ‘Foundation and Empire’. We see how one person in the right moment of time can impact everyone’s life in the Galaxy. We also see where people think they’re in control, they’re really not. We also learn that the ‘Second Foundation’ is WAY smarter than the ‘First Foundation’. Again however this story doesn’t end with the recreation of the ‘Empire’. This book also ends the ‘Foundation Series’. I will not go on at this time to read the extended series because I don’t want it to turn out like the ‘Dune Series’ which just goes on and on and on. This is a great read and once again proves what Isaac Asimov has made clear throughout all his books: those that try to control everything will fail along with those that will do the same with time. People have to be given freedom to choose their own paths in life. The unexpected can throw off all plans and controls. It can also move everything in a new direction that is better than the control. I recommend this book to anyone who says otherwise.
Lisa R –
Better than I remembered
When I was 18, I had the privilege of living in Taipei, Taiwan for two years. At the time, it was a forward base for our military in their stand against Red China. While there, I discovered a couple of classic science fiction books in a closet of an apartment we were renting. One of those books was the first three volumes of the Foundation Series. Almost 50 years later, I decided to read it again. I’m so glad I did.
Sifo Dyas –
Second is Third
Just like the time I bought the original. Second Foundation is, in fact, the THIRD book. So, if you think you have the second book in the series, surprise! No worries, I honestly wanted to see if I liked the design of this paperback and I do. My only complaint is the AppleTV icon that isn’t a sticker, it’s actually printed on the cover so you can’t remove it (YUCK). I bought the book for the book, not the AppleTV show (which I haven’t watched because I don’t have AppleTV). BUT if you’re reading Foundation, then you know what a good series this is. Allons-y!
Chris Neville –
Science Fiction Linguist
It is really amazing the vocabulary of Asimov that has flowed to many science fiction stories. The Foundation novels started the creativity of The Star Wars and Star Trek series. The Second Foundation starts with defeat and then victory and then leaves you wondering what the conclusion really is. You become confused on which Foundation to believe and root for, and that makes it all the more enjoyable. It plays with your emotions. I have enjoyed the entire series.
aannbrr –
Still an exciting book after 80 years
I first read the Foundation series in the late 60s, a teenager steeped in the society of the day. As a girl, I’ve always felt the lack of female characters in most of the science fiction available, and Asimov, a male writer, was no different. Through the 3 books of the initial series, there are two female protagonists and I have always cherished their presence. 14 year old Arcady Darrel of Second Foundation has always been my favorite, since I was 16 or 17 when I first read her. Another cultural difference between the 1940s and 2021 is the overwhelming presence of smoking! All these male characters smoked cigarettes or cigars or pipes as they had their exclusively masculine meetings and the occasional male expressed disapproval of a woman’s putting herself forward. See, this stuff didn’t bother me when I read these books originally, or for the next 30 years. Society changed enough, and my not rereading them for a number of years, conspired together to cause some internal cringing as I read certain passages.However! I still found the story just as compelling as I did the first and fifth and tenth time I read it! Some people have complained that it’s all talking, and so a vast amount of it is, but compelling, none the less! A TV series is in development or production at this time. I honestly can’t imagine how they can take these books, each one a series of events 50 or 80 or 150 or 325 years apart and create an intriguing show. I look forward with interest to see if they accomplish it.
J. S. HYDER –
Recommended
First reading 55 yrs ago, great then, classic now.
Sammi J –
as with the entire series there is nothing more to say than BRILLIANT. even if they were written a very long time ago and the language may seem old to some younger people now, this is so worth reading. Issac Asimov left us a treasure in this series.
Kindle Customer –
In general, the story is interesting and emotional. However, it is not as coherent as the first and second books.The prominent roles of the main characters and their reasoning about the location of the second foundation didn’t explain why they are so relevant.However, it still sticks one to the whole narrative. In sum, I enjoyed it and want to read more.
Yukari –
i like it. i didn’t know this. my friend recommended.
M. King –
Written 70+ years ago and originally published in segments, the story does same dated. Some technology predictions are laughably off and it’s a bit like reading the literary version of the old Flash Gordon cinema serials.But Asimov was a clever man and the underlying plot about psychohistory being used to enable the resurrection of civilisation is a clever idea. It’s an entertaining and enthralling read and , in the second book in the series, Asimov breaks with tradition somewhat by having a woman be the heroine.Revisiting this series after 40+ years and found it much more accessible than some of his contemporaries.
Jdm –
the first english book I read and now I have repeated the experience. I recommend the entire trilogy and the Robot collection from this same author.