September 9, 2023
I don’t think that the writing of Foundation and Empire is any better than that of it’s predecessor. The quality is, ultimately, about the same, and Asimov doesn’t try anything drastically new. This all leads me to believe that his writing is simply more enjoyable the more of it you read. His style and the conceit of his work take a moment to fully understand and appreciate, and therefore this second dive into his Foundation series was much quicker on the uptake, easier to readily consume. Asimov writes in the style of many early sci-fi authors, in that his books lay out most of it’s own plot at nearly the very beginning. The interest comes not from dramatic suspense, but from the manner of the storytelling, and the commentary it provides. His characters continue to be rather small, borne on the winds of fate (or psychohistory) towards an inevitable conclusion, and without the kind of awareness of this outcome that might make them more impressive.
The major change in this book from the last is that rather than a handful of shorter stories, instead the book is split into two longer, more fully fleshed out narratives. In keeping with Asimov’s exploration of great man theory, the first half of the book delves into the question of “what if the Foundation didn’t have a capable leader? What then?” and firmly answers it with a resounding “individuals do not affect the grander course of history”. The second half of the book approaches the issue from a more nuanced standpoint. What happens when an individual can reliably change the nature of the masses? It is an interesting commentary on charismatic and influential leaders, but it’s heavy reliance on science fiction to make it’s point suggests that maybe Asimov himself believes human nature to be immutable without divine or supernatural intervention. In any case, the two perspectives presented in this book allow the reader to think deeply about what impact a human can have, and more importantly, what it means to be a member of humanity.
8/10
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