Asimov, Isaac. Second Foundation. New York: Gnome Press, 1953.
Reason read: to continue the series started in January in honor of Asimov’s birth month. For the record, this is the last Foundation book I will read in order of printing. After Second Foundation, I will switch to the chronology.
Second Foundation, the third Foundation book to be published, but fifth in order of chronology, finds everyone looking for the Second Foundation. Hari Seldon, the last great scientist of the First Empire, has developed the science of human behavior to be distilled into a complicated mathematical equation. This science has the capability of predicting the future through human thought and emotion. Colonies of such scientists are camped out in Foundations, one at either end of the universe. In Part One The Mule, calling himself First Citizen of the Union, and his Regime are desperate to find the Second Foundation. Does it even exist? He enlists the help of Bail Channis, the one individual not afraid of him or influenced by his power.
The fascinating thing is Channis is not the plant but rather his knowledge is the true decoy.
Oddball quote, “At not quite thirty he was in marvelous good odor with the company” (p 6). How’s this for a description of a man “angularly animated toothpick” (p 10)?
Author fact: Asimov was a professor of biochemistry. Of course he was.
Book trivia: Second Foundation is also referred to as “Foundation 3” because it is the third true book of the series first published in 1953.
Nancy said: absolutely nothing.
BookLust Twist: from Book Lust in the chapter called “Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror” (p 214).
~*LunaSea*~ 