Review: Forward the Foundation

Forward the Foundation by Isaac Asimov

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


After reading the awful "Foundation and Earth," I was highly skeptical about Asimov's prequel novels, "Prelude to Foundation" and "Forward the Foundation," which he wrote toward the tail end of his career and life.I was skeptical because, chronologically, he ended the series so terribly with "Foundation and Earth," which was overly long and left the reader furiously hanging. It's entirely inconclusive about the future of mankind and the Foundation, and it just doesn't work. It's a overlly wordy, misguided novel.

But "Prelude to Foundation," was excellent, and "Forward the Foundation," is even better, somehow creating a satisfying conclusion even though chronologically, it takes place before the original "Foundation." It's a testament to how good Asimov was as a writer to successfully accomplish that. This title is a fitting end.

Forward is so great because it parallels Asimov's own feelings about getting old and dying. It's a highly personal book that in every way is as much an ending to Foundation as it is to his own life. If you love Asimov, then you'll love this book. It makes up for "Foundation and Earth," completely, and if you're reading the series for the first time, I advise that you actually read the books in the order that they were written, as they truly feel like they were meant to be read that way. Plus, it was save you the aggravation of the inconclusive "Foundation and Earth." Overall, it's a wonderful series with only a few hiccups along the way. If you love smart sci-fi, check it out.



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