The last in Asimov’s Foundation series, Foundation and Earth closes the epic series well, but leaving one or two questions unanswered and posing a few new ones.

Golan Trevize and Janov Pelorat continue their search for the beginnings of humanity and the mythical planet Earth. This time though, they have help in the form of Pelorat’s new partner and Gaian, Bliss. She believes that the galaxy should be transformed into the great Galxia, but will what the trio find on Earth back up her claims?

Not only does Foundation and Earth close the story of Seldon’s psychohistory and the slow and steady formation of the Second Galactic Empire, but also some more ancient ideas from earlier in the series in the form of the Three Rules of Robotics.

A must for all Asimov fans and a great close to a great series. It’s a shame there aren’t any more now where this came from!

After a hiatus of nearly 30 years, Asimov’s next instalment in the Foundation Series feels like he never stopped writing. Fast-paced, with the usual last-minute plot-twists, this book will not disappoint Asimov and Sci-Fi fans alike.

The book follows the story of Golan Trevize (an opinionated Federation Councilman) and Janov Pelorat (a hermit Historian). The two venture out as Mayor Branno’s Lightening Rod to attract the attention of the still-troublesome Second Foundation and stumble upon a world unlike no other, discovering an ancient secret, and setting Asimov up for his next blockbuster.

Better than both the first and second book’s in Asimov’s Foundation Series.

This third instalment begins from the aftermath of the Mule’s annexing of the Foundation and tells the story of his, and his successors drive to find the elusive Second Foundation.

The leaders of Terminus of the First Foundation believe that Hari Seldon devised the Second Foundation to ensure the longevity of the First’s rule of the Galaxy. They may have been mistaken.

The second in Asimov’s ‘Foundation Series’ differs slightly to the first book in the fact that it is only split into two sections, with complete narratives and continuous sets of characters. However, this does not alter the pace of the storytelling and allows the reader to form longer-lasting relationships with the characters; especially in the second section. There are also the characteristic plot twists which we have gotten used to with Asimov’s writing.

The second section entitled ‘The Mule’ follows a newlywed couple; one a native of a planet called Haven from the Independent Trading states and the other a citizen of the Foundation. They go in search of a mysterious figure called the Mule who is intent on conquering the Foundation and uniting the Galaxy under his leadership. The fact that he is a mutant somehow allows him to manipulate events in his favour with the possible consequence of bringing the ‘Seldon Plan’ to it’s knees, and therefore the future of the Foundation and humanity.

Isaac Asimov’s first novel in the ‘Foundation’ series is a must read for all who enjoy science-fiction literature, and even those who would not normally read such material. The text is of a simple style, and manouvered using fast-paced storytelling and plot-twists to leave the reader wanting more after it’s fairly short 240 pages. Luckily this is the first in the original Foundation trilogy, and only a small part of the expansive 40-year Foundation Series.

The focus of the story is a group of scientists called the ‘Encyclopedists’, who are trust in the rebuilding of the 12′000 year old Galactic Empire which is facing a long and drawn-out demise. Situated at one edge of the Milky Way, these pioneers proceed through an array of religious-scientific methods to bring about the Second Galactic Empire in 1′000 years, far short of the 30′000 predicted by their founder, Hari Seldon, if his knowledge of ‘Psycho-history’ is not embraced to engineer this transition.