A S I M O V's topics - tribe.net

Appreciation of Foundation, by Isaac Asimov.

2007-12-04T00:19:59Z

I just finished reading Isaac Asimov's Foundation. The first book of the Foundation Series is truly a masterpiece. It has become even more powerful a read.

I first read it as a bored teen, with no idea what it was about. But the fact of the matter is that Foundation is a book which demands to be read quickly, and thus the impression, amidst the brilliant storyline, is often shallow. I read it this time in a couple of hours; I would've read it quicker without trains and cafes and other impediments, but basically I devoured it. And because it read so fast, the impressions of the individual stories flickered past too.

The sense of history as pattern is stronger in this book than any single narrative. Having read the brilliant new Foundation trilogy, written by the three Bs (Brin, Benson, and Bear - all writer whom I test strong using the kinesiology test, a rarity among Sci-fi writers in and of itself; see Integrous Science Fiction tribe for details) which tells the personal life story of Hari Seldon, the very brief treatment of Seldon in the first trilogy is more notable for what is unsaid. Hari is just another name in history for Asimov; the hero is the idea, even the fast-flow of the narrative of itself might be called the Hero, because the whole notion of story here is webbed against historical patterns so closely.

Briefly, then, Foundation has the setup and three payoffs. The setup is Hari Seldon arranging exile to Terminus.

Salvor Hardin's politicization of Terminus is the first payoff, and is especially brilliantly written.

Smyrnian Trader Limmar Ponyet's chicanery on planet Askone's closed market demonstrates the limits of religion and is the second payoff.

Then Hober Mallow's power grab and abandonment of religion for trade as a means for influence in the third.

The story starts and ends with a court case, first against Hari Seldon and last against Hober Mallow. The ideology of the book is anti-violence and pro social and economic measures. In fact it may be the first really positive exploration of what has come to be called "soft power", of which the European Union is the present example.

The great touches of image serve to cast a deeper shadow on the role of public morality in sustaining a civilisation. For instance, the ambassador from Anacreon presents the hilt of his gun as a symbol of peaceful intentions when he visits Salvor Hardin on Terminus.

In the context of history the book is extraordinarily complex and sophisticated. Social and economic complexity is reduced and strained free of dense matter and difficulty, like consomme soup, made to be thin yet delicious and easily consumed. The very first thought I had at the end of reading Foundation was "how I wish there were a history of Rome so readable and fast and easy to consume!" and then "how I wish I wrote a history of such things myself, that was so readable and consumable!" and so on.

Normally I read Foundation in a great hurry (as I have this time) in combination with the other two books, Foundation and Empire, and Second Foundation. But I only have a copy of the first book of the trilogy and must make do with it.

The first payoff is quite brilliant, because it is delayed and played out indirectly, thus deflecting the thrill of emotional rush into intellectual wonder. Specifically, Salvon Hardin delays the confrontation between Terminus and Anacreon for thirty years, years which Asimov summarizes in a bitter and brilliant battle of words between the old Hardin and young Sek Sermak. Thus the reader feels that the payoff is deferred. The reader senses an even bigger payoff at the far end of the section, "Mayors". And Asimov does not fail us. For Salvor Hardin travels to Anacreon to personally entrap the evil regent there and defeat him - again, inevitably, with soft power. Hardin defeats his enemy on the enemy's territory, at the precise moment when it seems all is lost for the Foundation.

One is left with the distinct impression that brains defeat brawn, skilled inaction and insight defeat busyness and boldness, and that the power of wisdom and foresight overcomes even a social collapse on the scale of the fall of the Roman Empire - as indeed they did. For the Fall of Rome resulted in the rise of Christendom, and with it a grand tradition - so Asimov's message, by locating a historical European lesson in the distant future - becomes a timeless affirmation of human excellence.

The book, incidentally, calibrates at 450 on the Hawkins map of consciousness, which makes it the highest calibrating science fiction book I have yet read. Foundation thus stands alone in the field of science fiction novels in excellence.

posted in A S I M O V - 3 replies

The Ether

2007-10-26T17:30:32Z

http://tribes.tribe.net/2crossroadsofreligion2/thread/7500e88a-3c12-4536-82bc-656a71ef95a3

posted in A S I M O V - 0 replies

Videos thread.

2007-08-05T11:12:43Z

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmSYCEMs-Kg

BOINK!!!

posted in A S I M O V - 0 replies

Wikipedia does Isaac Asimov

2007-02-11T21:54:41Z

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_asimov

posted in A S I M O V - 1 reply

Isaac Asimov Home Page

2007-02-11T14:57:33Z

http://www.asimovonline.com/

Wu!

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I, Robot Movie

2007-02-11T02:38:02Z

anyone got the skinny on this? i've seen the teaser a couple days ago and it ends with "3 law safe" i had no idea it's actually based on I, Robot before that but now i just can't wait for it to come out...

posted in A S I M O V - 16 replies

Science fact

2006-06-22T17:38:52Z

Anyone else here a fan of Asimov's science fact writing? He's written some very good articles on a wide variety of subjects, and I've found him to be so good at explaining complex concepts that I often check my Asimov collection first to see if he's written an article on it, and chances are, he has...

~Sam

posted in A S I M O V - 9 replies

His Best

2005-12-23T07:17:05Z

I realy think that Asimov shines in his 'robot' novels. My favorit was Robots of Dawn, but here lately I've read his short stories. I can't belive it but I think the Asimov is best in his short storie complations. I've read i, Robot and Asimov Mystorys and I'm looking for more. I just can't get enouhg of his short stories!
UnicornLightining

posted in A S I M O V - 11 replies

The 3 laws

2005-12-23T07:11:45Z

So, the 3 laws of robotics as put forth by Mr Asimov have some pretty resounding flaws. Which he also showed us. I'm just curious, how do you think the laws could be modified to be improved, or is there a different 3 laws that you would put forth?

posted in A S I M O V - 13 replies

SF/SF eZine Looking for Writers and/or Photographers

2005-09-22T20:27:46Z

A new online fanzine, SF/SF: Science Fiction/San Francisco, is trying to get coverage of all areas of fandom (science fiction, fantasy, Cosplay, LARP, SCA, science, paranormal, horror, anime, comics, etc.) in the SF Bay Area and would like to find a writer (and/or photographer) or more who would be willing to cover events and do feature articles.

Anyone here interested? If so, drop a line to sfinsf@gmail.com, or you can send me a note and I’ll set you up.

Thanks,
Jean

posted in A S I M O V - 0 replies

Classic Sci-Fi invitation

2004-11-16T15:08:36Z

All,

This is an invitation to join the Yahoo Group Classic Sci-Fi. Each month we read and discuss (online) a different Classic Sci-Fi title.

Here are the particulars:

ClassicSci-Fi

This is a science fiction reading and discussion group that will concentrate on the classic novels of this genre. Generally speaking this includes novels written prior to about 1970. Examples of authors are Clifford Simak, Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, Ursula LaGuin, H. G. Wells, Walter Miller, John Wyndham, and many others. If you love the old sci-fi, come on in and join us for reading and discussion of these classics. We'll read both hard and soft sci-fi and discuss them as a group. We'll talk about how the literary devices the author used worked for that particular novel and whether the premises the author set up are believable. We have nominations and polls to determine which books we'll be reading and discussing for any given month. Please join us as we travel to other regions of space and time.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ClassicSci-Fi/?yguid=42735186

Post message: ClassicSci-Fi@yahoogroups.com
Subscribe: ClassicSci-Fi-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Unsubscribe: ClassicSci-Fi-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
List owner: ClassicSci-Fi-owner@yahoogroups.com

2004/2005 READING/DISCUSSION SCHEDULE
Nov: "THE INVISIBLE MAN," by H.G. Wells
Dec: "THIS PERFECT DAY," by Ira Levin
Jan: "WAR OF THE WORLDS," by H.G. Wells
Feb: "A CANTICLE FOR LEIBOWITZ", by Walter M. Miller Jr.
Mar: "DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS," by John Wyndham
Apr: "THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES," by Ray Bradbury
May: "METHUSELAH'S CHILDREN," by Robert Heinlein
Jun: "TIME IS THE SIMPLEST THING," by Clifford D. Simak

posted in A S I M O V - 0 replies

nightfall

2004-08-28T16:55:20Z

did anyone read NIGHTFALL?
<br>
<br>what did you think?
<br>
<br>i'm almost done but i think that the book is way to long and drawn out when it could have and probably should have ended a long time ago.

posted in A S I M O V - 9 replies

simple hello

2004-04-28T11:08:22Z

hello folks! i'm new here so i'd be glad if someone sends me some info how things go on in the tribe network. thanks for any help.

posted in A S I M O V - 0 replies

Black Widowers Stories

2004-04-22T00:33:58Z

Anyone ever read any of Asimov’s “Black Widowers” mystery short stories? Trying to solve the mysteries along with the characters always made my think. Plus these stories were an excellent way to showcase the wide variety of things Asimov knew.

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iRobotNow

2004-02-25T20:36:07Z

http://www.irobotnow.com/index.php

someone buy me one?

posted in A S I M O V - 0 replies