SF Foundations

Till a few days ago, I had not read much science fiction. On my last visit to the local British Library, I picked up Isaac Asimov's 'Foundation'.

The 'Foundation' is one of two set up at either end of the Empire at the instance of the visionary Hari Seldon. Seldon uses the methods of 'psychohistory' to warn of the decay of the Empire and the onset of a long period of anarchy before the Second Empire is born. Seldon convinces his detractors that the only way to shorten the aeons of misery is by recording knowledge for posterity. And so a colony of scholars is settled on Terminus to compile the Encyclopaedia Galactica. Foundation tells the story of this colony and its leaders in a way typical of Asimov - unpretentious, uncomplicated, and crisp. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The only irritant was the use of 'Space!' as a substitute for 'Earth' or 'Heaven'. As in "In the name of Space...", or 'What in Space are you doing?'.

Another thing. As far as I can remember, there were only two women characters who figured in the story. Both were minor and insignificant. One of them, a maid, did not even say anything.

Foundation is the first of six books in the Foundation saga. The others are: Prelude to Foundation, Foundation and Empire, Second Foundation, Foundation's Edge and Foundation and Earth. I plan to read them all. Very soon.