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Type of bind: Mass Market Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN num: 9780553587579
ISBN number: 0553587579
Label: Spectra
Manufacturer: Spectra
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 528
Printing Date: August 31, 2004
Publishing house: Spectra
Release Date: August 31, 2004
Sale Popularity Level: 10442
Studio: Spectra
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Product Description:
The fifth novel in Asimov's popular Foundation series opens with second thoughts. Councilman Golan Trevize is wondering if he was right to choose a collective mind as the best possible future for humanity over the anarchy of contentious individuals, nations and planets. To test his conclusion, he decides he must know the past and goes in search of legendary Earth, all references to which have been erased from galactic libraries. The societies encountered along the way become arguing points in a book-long colloquy about man's fate, conducted by Trevize and traveling companion Bliss, who is part of the very first world/mind, Gaia.
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Rated by buyers 
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Product was even better than I expected. Service was so prompt that I was caught unaware when article arrived.
Rated by buyers 
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A forward to this book written by Asimov himself makes reference to his publisher's wish that he write additional foundation novels, and implies that their incessant demands eventually overcame his own reluctance to do so. Almost as if he's saying to the reader, "Hey, don't blame me for this steaming pile. They made me do it."
If I had Asimov's resume, I'd be reluctant to put my name on this book as well.
As the title implies, Foundation and Earth is about the protagonists' continued search for the world of origin. Unfortunately, unlike Foundation's Edge, the journey itself is not long enough to fill the requisite 500 pages, so we're subjected to endless interludes of casual conversation between protagonists which are completely irrelevant to character or story progression. A simple question will launch a character into a tedious three-page monologue that reads more like an essay than dialogue.
As other reviewers have said, the primary purpose of these later books was to tie each of Asimov's sci-fi series together into one universe. This works alright for the robots, but does more harm than good to the legacy of The Foundation.
If you've read the original Foundation novels, It's likely that no negative review will dissuade you from reading this one. Therefore, I commiserate with you in advance.
Rated by buyers -
This book, while a stand-alone adventure, also effectively links the Foundation story line with the Robot/Spacer novels. It reintroduces us to the intuitive Golan Trevize, bookish Janov Pelorat and the Gaian avatar Bliss. Trevize had been at a crossroad in the previous novel "Foundation's Edge" and chose one path for the human race to follow. Not fully convinced of the intuitive leap he had taken, he decides to take up an archaeological odyssey to find the birthplace of humanity - now shrouded in legend.
During his search aboard the "Far Star", followed by Pelorat and Bliss, Trevize finds the earliest attempts at human colonization which are either abandoned or isolated from the rest of the galaxy. Each location gives only the vaguest clues as to where Earth may be. Trevize's search is mixed with frustration and desperate hope.
When his search comes to an end, the reader is crestfallen when the ultimate fate of Earth is revealed. The search however takes a surprising turn which seals the link between the Foundation and the Spacers of antiquity.
Why Trevize becomes convinced that he must find Earth is not explained in a satisfactory manner. However, when he takes up the search the reader is swept into the drama of finding the world - the pale blue dot as Sagan once put it - that we all take for granted. The main characters are entertaining, even though they tend towards the two dimensional. There is constant, intense discusion between Trevize and Bliss concerning the merits on individuality and collective consciousness. The most frightening encounter occurs on the abandoned world of Aurora, where Trevize is ambushed by an unlikely monster. The most entertaining encounter is when the crew of the "Far Star" meet the reclusive society living on Solaria and take on a fourth crewmember.
Sexuality and gender are prominent points of discusion between the crew of the "Far Star" especially where the fourth crewmember is concerned. All in all the quest for Earth is an engrossing and entertaining read.
Rated by buyers -
Asimov's Foundations series is spectacular and one that should not be missed. It is stunning in its scope and highly original for its time. One of the best science fiction writers in not only my opinion, produced a stunning series. Foundation and Earth is the continuation of the series.
Rated by buyers -
A followup to the original Foundation series. Drags here and there but worth the time.
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