Foundation's Edge

Several years ago, the only presents I asked for for my birthday were the "Foundation" series, by Isaac Asimov.  I'd just discovered some of his incredible "Robots" short stories, which are widely regarded as being some of the most concise, imaginative, and visionary science fiction of its time.  I think it's fair to say that, without Asimov's pioneering work in exploring the possibilities of robotics, and the mirror that it holds up to humanity, both science fiction and science fact would have been majorly hampered.  I'd put good money on a large proportion of engineering or physics students having been inspired, at least partly, by an Asimovian story - and, as John Jenkins said in a review, "It has been pointed out that most science fiction writers since the 1950s have been affected by Asimov, either modeling their style on his or deliberately avoiding anything like his style."

I had great fun poking around in the many dusty old bookstores of Uppingham, happening across all manner of quaint and curious volumes of forgotten lore which, if I had a thousand lifetimes and funds to match, I would happily devour.  Eventually I tracked down battered old paperback versions, which were promptly bought on my behalf and ceremonially presented to me.

The Foundation saga is one of Asimov's two best known series, along with the Robots series.  The main premise of this futuristic storyline is the concept that, with a great deal of sophistication and study, and the application of statistical modelling, it would be possible to refine large-scale sociology to the state of being a predictive science, capable (in the hands of a skilled analyst) of making accurate forecasts of the behaviour of large bodies of people.  Using this newly-founded discipline of "psychohistory", a man named Hari Seldon realises that the current apparently-glorious Galactic Empire is soon headed for a collapse, after which there will be a period of thirty thousand years of "dark ages", where planets will become cut off from one another, and science and civilization will regress.  He foresaw a solution to the equations, however, wherein this interregnum was limited to only one thousand years, after which a new uniting Empire would arise, preserving the knowledge and culture of humanity.  To this end, he commissions the foundation of a colony of scientists and researchers at the precise point in unsettled space where, according to his calculations, the evolution of their society will be such that they will be perfectly situated to react to any emerging threats, and to spread their influence until they can establish a new Empire.

The first book in the series, Foundation, was originally written and published as a string of short stories, which together told of the Foundation's rise to prominence - and it is simply wonderful.  While the writing isn't of Shakespearean, Wildean, or Wodehousean standards, it's still very enjoyable - but the beauty of the series lies not in its language, but in its content.  Each episode succinctly encapsulates another stage in the society's development, with most providing some sort of interesting twist or witty observation.  The next two books, Foundation and Empire and Second Foundation, told more of a cohesive story - of the burgeoning Foundation's clashes with the expiring Empire, and subsequently with a mutated human named the Mule, who has the ability to affect emotions and inspire fanatical loyalty - something which Seldon's plan, relying as it did abstractions over large groups of people and the assumption that no single person could have a measurable effect on galactic civilization, was not designed to accommodate.

Three fantastic books, with which Asimov was well-pleased, and which wrapped up with a satisfying conclusion.  Unfortunately, while the series continued to be popular more than thirty years after their publication, Asimov's publishers exerted increasing pressure on him to return to the series, despite his protests.  "Foundation's Edge" is the result - and his lack of inspiration really shows.  The writing falls prey to the worst pitfalls of bad science-fiction writing - over-emphasis on technological development itself (rather than its effect on persons and society), and "tell, not show" dialogue - "as I'm sure you're aware, my friend, this ship is equipped with the latest gravitic drive technology...".  In fact, there is a character - a previously planet-bound historian who accompanies the main character on his journeys - who, except for one short passage in which he takes a leading role, serves solely as an exposition-post: "oh, I know nothing of the ways of space travel - please, tell me [and the reader] what is going on!".  I paraphrase, but the awkwardness of the writing is of almost that level.

What's more, the book isn't redeemed by its predecessors' intriguing insights or unexpected twists either. Every "surprise" is easily foreseeable, every hidden allegiance is plainly obvious - it got to the stage that I was almost expecting a double-bluff, so obvious were the deceptions!

I really wouldn't recommend reading this, unless you are a fanatic Foundation fan and are absolutely desperate for more material (though, even more so than with the latter Matrix movies, it is a "sequel" in almost name-only - the content and style is so far removed to be almost unrecognisable).  I'm not even sure that I'll be reading the fifth book, Foundation and Earth.  Far better to enjoy the sublime three original books in isolation, and then to move on to another master of science fiction without sullying them.  On that note, I discovered that I still have Iain M. Banks' Consider Phlebas sitting on my bookshelf - since the last two of his books that I read were outstanding (and worthy of posts in their own right - certainly The Culture should really have been mentioned in any discussion of transhumanism, so I'll have to remember that for my follow-up post!), and I've been reliably informed that this is even better, I have high hopes!

You may notice that I've been linking out to Amazon more than usual in this post - that's no coincidence.  I've just signed up for a service known as "Amazon Associates", whereby, if someone clicks on a link from my site to Amazon and then buys an item, 5% of the price goes to me instead of Amazon (the user pays the same price).  I don't foresee being able to retire on the proceeds anytime soon, but I figure every little helps!  Clicking a link, browsing around, and then buying another item works in just the same way, so if you do feel the need buy anything from Amazon and decide to navigate to it through one of my links, I would be massively appreciative!