An Isaac Azimov Classic...

The_Heretic · 02-17-2008, 01:01 PM

The Foundation Trilligy

After tens of thousands of years history come, gone, forgotten, with Earth itself narry a myth and the whole of the Milky Way under one rule.

That rule crumbles with a slowness of centuries invisible to single lifetimes, but glaringly obvious to those who know the math of psychohistory.

Hari Seldon is the first- and last great psychohistorian who calculates the end of empire as well as the thirty thousand years of barbarism to follow. He devises what he calls The Foundation; a society at the far edge of the galaxy to lifeboat away the most advanced sciences as can be preserved as part of a Plan to short cut the rise of a new galactic empire within one thousand years.

But the best laid plans of men, mice... and even mutants, apparently are for naught if the Dead Hand of Seldon isn't assisted just enough.

An exellent book, if dated by the pup-culture concepts of nuclear energy of the time. However, his read one individuals, people and social trends is as valid today as ever before... possibly more so.

MarkMiller · 02-17-2008, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Heretic

The Foundation Trilligy

After tens of thousands of years history come, gone, forgotten, with Earth itself narry a myth and the whole of the Milky Way under one rule.

That rule crumbles with a slowness of centuries invisible to single lifetimes, but glaringly obvious to those who know the math of psychohistory.

Hari Seldon is the first- and last great psychohistorian who calculates the end of empire as well as the thirty thousand years of barbarism to follow. He devises what he calls The Foundation; a society at the far edge of the galaxy to lifeboat away the most advanced sciences as can be preserved as part of a Plan to short cut the rise of a new galactic empire within one thousand years.

But the best laid plans of men, mice... and even mutants, apparently are for naught if the Dead Hand of Seldon isn't assisted just enough.

An exellent book, if dated by the pup-culture concepts of nuclear energy of the time. However, his read one individuals, people and social trends is as valid today as ever before... possibly more so.

The overview sounded very interesting.

The_Heretic · 02-17-2008, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Zaius

The overview sounded very interesting.

Had to give it a wee bit of zing while still capturing the feel of all three books.

jowey · 02-17-2008, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Heretic

The Foundation Trilligy

After tens of thousands of years history come, gone, forgotten, with Earth itself narry a myth and the whole of the Milky Way under one rule.

That rule crumbles with a slowness of centuries invisible to single lifetimes, but glaringly obvious to those who know the math of psychohistory.

Hari Seldon is the first- and last great psychohistorian who calculates the end of empire as well as the thirty thousand years of barbarism to follow. He devises what he calls The Foundation; a society at the far edge of the galaxy to lifeboat away the most advanced sciences as can be preserved as part of a Plan to short cut the rise of a new galactic empire within one thousand years.

But the best laid plans of men, mice... and even mutants, apparently are for naught if the Dead Hand of Seldon isn't assisted just enough.

An exellent book, if dated by the pup-culture concepts of nuclear energy of the time. However, his read one individuals, people and social trends is as valid today as ever before... possibly more so.

Have you read "Prelude to Foundation" ? It has been sitting on my shelf for years, just have not gotten around to reading it - hard enough to remember the original three.

If I remember correctly the mutant "Mule" really threw a curve in the "plan" to save society from hundreds of years of decay. Interesting twist in the end of the first three "Foundation".

Those science fiction authors, from Verne and Wells to Asimov, Heinlein, Anthony and Niven diagrammed many social scenarios in their stories. It irritates me that lessons, scenarios and warnings were not acted upon and avoided.

Malkavian · 02-17-2008, 04:13 PM

Mule was cool... I've read it so long ago... I must have been like 10 years old. Great books. Heinlein and Bradbury are classics too.

The_Heretic · 02-17-2008, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jowey

Have you read "Prelude to Foundation" ? It has been sitting on my shelf for years, just have not gotten around to reading it - hard enough to remember the original three.

If I remember correctly the mutant "Mule" really threw a curve in the "plan" to save society from hundreds of years of decay. Interesting twist in the end of the first three "Foundation".

Those science fiction authors, from Verne and Wells to Asimov, Heinlein, Anthony and Niven diagrammed many social scenarios in their stories. It irritates me that lessons, scenarios and warnings were not acted upon and avoided.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malkavian

Mule was cool... I've read it so long ago... I must have been like 10 years old. Great books. Heinlein and Bradbury are classics too.

The lesson I took away from "The Mule" wasn't what Azimov would've intended; that evolution has its own course and it'll be a distant future- even beyond Azimov's scenario, before we'll successfully calculate that.

jowey · 02-18-2008, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Heretic

The lesson I took away from "The Mule" wasn't what Azimov would've intended; that evolution has its own course and it'll be a distant future- even beyond Azimov's scenario, before we'll successfully calculate that.

I am going back 25 plus years, so my memory might be an accumulation of stories.

I was intrigued with the concept of social engineering and how it could be used to avoid collapse of a civilization. Of course the Mule came along and messed up Hari Seldon's "prophesy" which identified that controls/processes/implementations must be dynamic in order to address events, such as The Mule, Katrina, 911.

Calculations can identify trends and also identify implementations that could avert certain outcomes but cannot be relied upon for the 100% solution.

The idea of a threat by a hidden group of people who knew how to manipulate society and counter to the technology society was also interesting......

Memory of 25 years ago, need an Asimov refresher....

leftparadise · 02-19-2008, 08:02 AM

had a hard time getting into Assimov, but love Heinlein. Especially "the moon is a harsh mistress" and "fifth column" ( i know that has another title, but forgot it for not).

if you like reading any star trek I strongly recommend and of the books by Peter David, espcially the New Frontier series. I can read those over and over (except maybe the last couple in the series).

jowey · 02-20-2008, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leftparadise

had a hard time getting into Assimov, but love Heinlein. Especially "the moon is a harsh mistress" and "fifth column" ( i know that has another title, but forgot it for not).

if you like reading any star trek I strongly recommend and of the books by Peter David, espcially the New Frontier series. I can read those over and over (except maybe the last couple in the series).

"The moon is a harsh mistress" wasn't that the one where the computer went sentient and used its mass launchers to drop rocks on Earth. The moon was a penal colony at first.

"Have space suit will travel" think that was Heinlein also.

Another story that stood out was one where the kids were sent to a planet to survive. The protagonist was given a sling shot and a knife by his father, the others of the group were given all the toys. They died depending on their technology. The protagonist knew that he could not depend on his technology.

Was not too impressed with the family of immortals, kind of got weird.

leftparadise · 02-21-2008, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jowey

"The moon is a harsh mistress" wasn't that the one where the computer went sentient and used its mass launchers to drop rocks on Earth. The moon was a penal colony at first.

that's the one. loved the take on how a society develops to suit it conditions.

"Have space suit will travel" think that was Heinlein also.

yes. he had a whole bunch of books aimed at teens (?) maybe, as well as the more "adult-themed" ones
Another story that stood out was one where the kids were sent to a planet to survive. The protagonist was given a sling shot and a knife by his father, the others of the group were given all the toys. They died depending on their technology. The protagonist knew that he could not depend on his technology.

No sling shot. had two knives. it was a "survival" course required for jobs involving colonizing strange planets. that was another good one. no one was "given" tools, they picked which ones they wanted and the kid's sister told him not to bring a gun, it makes you too cocky.
Was not too impressed with the family of immortals, kind of got weird.

those were the adult themed ones. have to agree - i like the kiddie ones better. especially the vision of what the future would be , from way back before space flight.

have you read the ones about the theocratic take over of the US ??? prescient

02-17-2008, 01:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
The_Heretic Master of Quill-Fu Space Invaders Champion! Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Taylorsville, UT [stuck in the 20th century]. Posts: 7,092 My Mood: Blog Entries: 4 Thanks: 33 Thanked 131 Times in 98 Posts	An Isaac Azimov Classic... The Foundation Trilligy After tens of thousands of years history come, gone, forgotten, with Earth itself narry a myth and the whole of the Milky Way under one rule. That rule crumbles with a slowness of centuries invisible to single lifetimes, but glaringly obvious to those who know the math of psychohistory. Hari Seldon is the first- and last great psychohistorian who calculates the end of empire as well as the thirty thousand years of barbarism to follow. He devises what he calls The Foundation; a society at the far edge of the galaxy to lifeboat away the most advanced sciences as can be preserved as part of a Plan to short cut the rise of a new galactic empire within one thousand years. But the best laid plans of men, mice... and even mutants, apparently are for naught if the Dead Hand of Seldon isn't assisted just enough. An exellent book, if dated by the pup-culture concepts of nuclear energy of the time. However, his read one individuals, people and social trends is as valid today as ever before... possibly more so. __________________ "Enough!!" -so rang Barack Obama's voice off the walls of Mile High Stadium
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02-17-2008, 04:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
Malkavian Illegal Trash Container Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Resting in Peace Posts: 4,189 My Mood: Thanks: 184 Thanked 52 Times in 45 Posts	Mule was cool... I've read it so long ago... I must have been like 10 years old. Great books. Heinlein and Bradbury are classics too. __________________ Woof!
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02-19-2008, 08:02 AM	#8 (permalink)
leftparadise Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: West Coast......of Michigan Posts: 163 My Mood: Thanks: 21 Thanked 10 Times in 8 Posts	had a hard time getting into Assimov, but love Heinlein. Especially "the moon is a harsh mistress" and "fifth column" ( i know that has another title, but forgot it for not). if you like reading any star trek I strongly recommend and of the books by Peter David, espcially the New Frontier series. I can read those over and over (except maybe the last couple in the series).
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