The End of Eternity by Isaac Asimov
Date Read: August 2005.

This book makes Back to the Future look like child's play. Considering the publish date of this novel, Isaac Asimov proves that he is ahead of his time even today. I have not really read many time-travel intesive books but Hollywood can't compare to the master of Science Fiction. This was a rather short read for me as I had just finished the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The pace of the book is a bit slow at the beginning but picks up quickly toward the end. I enjoyed the time perspective change from the main character and found it to be rather unique. If you are an Asimov fan and haven't read this book, you are cheating yourself out of a good read.

Isaac Asimov's Robots in Time (Predator) by William F. Wu
Date Read: October 2005.

This book is great for teens, not for adult readers or die-hard fans. I acquired this book along with about 16 Isaac Asimov classics (Foundation series, Caves of Steel, etc), otherwise I probably never would have purchased it. If you are a die-hard fan like me, you will find this book/series unbearable. The book is written for a young reader according to the author, so my reaction is to be expected. The main characters act out every single 3 law conflict over and over throughout the novel. Every situation is explained in detail with reason why Robot X can or can't do this or that because of Law X.

For a new reader that isn't familiar with Asimov this book would probably be very informative. If you are interested in Time travel, buy "The End of Eternity" by Isaac Asimov. If you want to read up on the Three Laws, buy "I, Robot". If you want a combination of both for a younger reader, buy this book. I would suggest this book for readers around the age of 12-16 after they have read "I, Robot".

I, Robot by Isaac Asimov
Date Read: July 2005 (Previously read sometime 1998)

The Three Laws of Robotics
1. A robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

First things first, the Hollywood movie I, Robot (also reviewed) with Will Smith has only has a few things in common with this book of short stories. Keep in mind that the NAME was licensed to the movie studio after the script was already written. Scenes were adjusted to include the Three Laws, Susan Calvin, and Alfred Lanning. That is about where the similarities between the book and the movie end. There might be a few concepts stripped from some of the stories, but by no means is the film "based" on the book. To give the movie makers credit, they only say "inispired" by in the opening.

I, Robot is a collection of short stories by Isaac Asimov. Keep in mind these stories were mainly written in the 1940s then published together in 1950. These stories describe the basics of the Three Laws of Robotics and what can go wrong with them. Asimov uses the Three Laws as a literary device to create puzzling situations. Several of these stories involve Susan Calvin, the top robo-psychologist for the only robot manufacturing company, US Robots and Mechanical Men, Inc. If anyone is interested in reading the Robot Novel series, this book kind of acts as a nice introduction to the basic concepts. As a matter of fact, anyone with any interest in Sci-Fi should read this book. I consider it required reading.

The Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov
Date Read: November 2005 (Previously read sometime in 1998)

This is the first in a series of the Robot Novels by Isaac Asimov. The main characters in this book are Lije Baley, a plainclothes cop, and R. Daneel Olivaw, a humaniform robot. The story takes place on futuristic Earth, approximately 3021 AD. Earth is heavily populated and most cities are mostly underground and interconnected. The major Cities such as New York are referred to with the capital C because of their massive size. New York City's population is somewhere around 20million and Earth's population tops 8 billion. Some people criticize Asimov by because Earth's population will top 8 billion by 2020 according to many calculations. We have to remember that this is just a fiction book written in the 1950's after all. These massive Cities are essentially enclosed underground and agoraphobia is common among most of the population.

Until recently almost all robot labor had been restricted to the Outside, for farming and transporting goods. There is a strong anti-robot sentiment among most humans and Lije Baley is no exception. He fears and hates robots. Recently, robots have been slowly begun to take menial jobs from humans. The main fear is that eventually robots will take over everyone's job and leave none for people. Lije Baily is called to the Commisioner's office and given a special task. He must investigate the murder of a prominent Spacer with the assistance of R. Daneel Olivaw, a humaniform robot.

The are 50 Spacer worlds originally colonized by humans. Their population is only around 5.5 billion, but their technology and military power far surpass humans. Their immune systems are far weaker than those on Earth because their new worlds are essentially germ free. They are unwilling to risk infection, so have insisted that Earth cooperate by allowing R. Daneel Olivaw to assist with the investigation.

I won't go into any details about the investigation, but Asimov keeps you guessing all along the way. The culture of futuristic Earth is very interesting, and the interaction between Lije and Daneel offers plenty of philosophical situations to be explored. It is very interesting to see how their relationship develops throughout the series. Overall, I'd have to say that R. Daneel Olivaw is my favorite character in the Robot & Foundation series. He definitely plays one of the most important roles throughout all of the novels. Of course a Robot Novel wouldn't be complete without The Three Laws of Robotics, which are weaved nicely into the plot. By the end of the book you can see how Asimov is working to connect the Robot series to the Foundation series.

The Naked Sun by Isaac Asimov
Date Read: November 2005 (Previously read sometime in 1998)

This is the second book in the Robot Novel series by Asimov. A year has passed since The Caves of Steel. Lije Baley is summoned once again to solve a murder. The Department of Justice received a request from the Spacers asking specifically for Baley's help with the case. This time the murder is not on Earth, but on the 50th Spacer world, Solaria.

Solaria is probably as close to the exact opposite of Earth as you can get. The entire population of Solaria is about 20,000 spread throughout evenly distributed estates. There are thousands of robots for each person and most contact between people, even husband and wife, is done through a trimensional connection that is indistinguishable from normal sight. The main problem Baley has to solve is how a person surrounded by robots could have been murdered, with no weapon to be found.

Much of this novel follows the same pace and deductive reasoning as seen in The Caves of Steel. Just like with futuristic Earth, this newly settled planet Solaria is unique. Asimov creates another new culture which has its own quirks just like he did with future Earthmen. Elijah must face is extreme agoraphobia, and Gladia must confront the Solarian fear of interpersonal contact. These Solarians represent what can possibly happen when dependence on robots is taken to extremes. Also, we get to see the developing relationship between Elijah and Daneel. Note: There are several scenes in this book that I'd rate PG-13, so anyone reading this should be warned.

The Robots of Dawn by Isaac Asimov
Date Read: December 2005 (Previously read sometime in 1998)

At this point if you have not read both The Caves of Steel and The Naked Sun, this review will contain plot spoilers for those novels. I highly suggest reading both of those before even reading this review.

The Robots of Dawn takes place 2 years after the events in The Naked Sun. At the conclusion of The Naked Sun Elijah Baley is resolved to push Earth toward space expansion. He must face the open spaces of Earth and encourage others so they can prepare for colonization. His goal is to approach Aurora, the most powerful Spacer planet to petition for approval for expansion. The Outer Worlds have cut off Earth from immigrating to them, so the only solution is to expand to new worlds. This essentially was the goal Dr. Han Falstofe spoke of in The Caves of Steel. The long-lived Spacers haven't colonized a planet in over two centuries, and according to Falstofe the future of colonization must lie with Earthers.

The book opens with Elijah Baley sweating under a tree. He is Outside (with a capital O) conducting an open air acclimation exercise along with his son and group of other prospective colonists. He gets his opportunity via a robot messenger. He has been called to see the Commissioner regarding Aurora. Dr. Han Falstofe has recently become one of the most influential leaders in Aurora, and would most likely support expansion from Earth. His politial career hangs in the balance, because he is accused of roboticide. Baley is assigned to investigate the death of R. Jander Parnel, a humaniform robot of the same model as Daneel. The future of Earth's expansion seems to lie on Elijah Baley's shoulders.

Overall, this book has quite a bit more character development than previous novels and is almost twice as long as The Naked Sun. One of my favorite additions is R. Giskard Reventlov, one of Dr. Han Falstofe's most trusted robots. We learn much more about Falstofe's history and his relationship with Gladia which he took under his wing. Baley's character grows as he gets deeper into the investigation as he is immersed in culture on Aurora that is as different from Earth as it is from Solaria. One of my favorite themes, the impact of robots on humans, is expanded on here. There are many other philosophical themes that keep you interested until the end. Note: Many of the scenes involved in this book are more for an adult audience, so I'd rate it PG-13 or so.

Robots and Empire by Isaac Asimov
Date Read: January 2006

At this point if you have not read The Caves of Steel, The Naked Sun, and The Robots of Dawn, this review will contain plot spoilers for those novels. I highly suggest reading both of these before even reading this review.

The events in Robots and Empire take place about 200 years after The Robots of Dawn. Elijah Baley's victory in exonerating Dr. Han Falstofe in the death of R. Jander Parnell secured his powerful position in Auroran government. Kelden Amadiro which was implicated in the death of Jander hasn't forgotten his bitter defeat. With his support Earth was allowed to develop its colonization plans. The number of Settler worlds is increasing, and no new settlement from Spacer worlds has taken place. Actually, Solaria has severed all contact with everyone and is rumored to be empty.

Spacers begin to see they are being surpassed in technology and military power by the short-lived Earthers they despise. Daneel and Giskard play must work to uncover a plot to destroy Earth that Kelden Amadiro has started. They are assisted by Gladia and one of Elijah Bailey's decendents D.G. Bailey. Also, a novel in this series wouldn't be complete without a new culture to explore. We get to see the Settler planet Baleyworld.

One of the most important themes in my opinion discussed here is what the effect of increased lifespan can do to a culture. I think Asimov has drawn his cultural picture quite well in this respect. Settlers are well suited with short lifespans to explore new worlds, while Spacers with their long lives are afraid to risk them to expand. Probably the most important question involved is Asimov's own inspection of the Three Laws of Robotics. He uses Daneel and Giskard to question the effectiveness of the Laws. It's interesting to see the robots debate the ramifications of their actions and what conclusions they eventually come to. I especially like this novel because by the end of it you can see how Asimov has linked his Robot series with the Foundation series.

Isaac Asimov's Robot City- General Review

I thought it would be appropriate to write a little mini review of the entire Robot City series before starting on the individual books since I have read this series once before. I won't go into any spoilers, just give a general feel for the series. Each novel begins with an introduction by Isaac Asimov which is a nice addition to each of the novels. As stated in the introduction for the first book, this series is the first time Asimov has allowed any other authors to write in the world he created. Essentially he had final say on anything that went into the books and was consulted to make sure the authors didn't overstep their authority. The introductions themselves sometimes reveal minor plotline spoilers for the current book, but nothing major except for book six. I recommend reading the intro after you finish, but that's up to you.

This series is really meant to be read as whole. This series takes place approximately 20 years before Robots and Empire by Isaac Asimov. I chose to read Robots and Empire before this series. The first book really gives you a glimpse at what might happen in the following books. Book one is full of questions, very few answers, and can be best described as an "introduction" like the first 20 minutes of a movie. I was hooked on the series after the first book. Each book is only about 200 pages with short chapters so it is easy to just pick it up and read a little bit without having to stop in the middle of a chapter. There is a general consistency in the writing of all 6 of the novels in this series. It really doesn't feel like you are adjusting to a new author for each book. Overall, the series is a worthwhile addition to the universe that Asimov created.

Isaac Asimov's Robot City Book 1: Odyssey by Michael P. Kube-McDowell
Date Read: February 2006

A man wakes up in an escape pod with no memory, and only his space suit with Derec written on it to tell him what his name is. He has no memory whatsoever of anything before he woke up. The main plot of the series revolves around Derec's search for his identity and a way to recover his memory. We are introduced to robots that don't necessarily behave how we would have thought. They do obey the Three Laws but there are new twists involved. We also get to see aliens, something that Asimov had not really explored in his own writing. Overall, there is quite a bit of action in this first book and it should keep you interested enough to finish the rest of the series.

Isaac Asimov's Robot City Book 2: Suspicion by Mike McQuay
Date Read: February 2006

This review will most likely contain spoilers for any previous books in the series, read at your own risk.

After escaping from the alien Aranimas, and subsequently the space station that rescued them, Derec and Katherine find themselves miraculously transported to Robot City. They used the Key to Perihelion, a device that somehow allowed them to travel instantly across the galaxy. I like this idea because it is twist on space travel that allows the authors to work out unique plot elements throughout the rest of the series. Derec and Katherine arrive to find themselves the only 2 suspects in the murder of a human in a city full of robots.

It seems they've just traded one prison for another. Since they are the only humans on the planet, according to logic the robots think that one of them must have commited the murder, because no robot could have. This book revolves around Derec and Katherine's investigation into the murder they are accused of at the end of Odyssey. Suspicion reminds me a bit of Elijah Baley's murder investigations in Asimov's original Robot Novels. The style is notably different, but the murder-mystery element kept me thinking back to the originals.

Isaac Asimov's Robot City Book 3: Cyborg by William F. Wu
Date Read: March 2006

This review will most likely contain spoilers for any previous books in the series, read at your own risk.

This book has a nice intro from Asimov talking about cyborgs that is quite interesting. I always like reading these. Derec and Katherine have proven they didn't commit murder, and stopped the rapid expansion of the city. They still stuck in Robot City though and are still searching for a way out. They are sidetracked by a rogue cyborg that escaped from a medical facility. I like the repercussions that are explored by transplanting a human brain into a robot body. The book goes by really quickly with lots of action and a few tidbits of information to keep the main plotlines going also.

Isaac Asimov's Robot City Book 4: Prodigy by Byron Cover
Date Read: March 2006

This review will most likely contain spoilers for any previous books in the series, read at your own risk.

Derec and Ariel (previously known as Katherine) finally were able to track down the cyborg known as Jeff Leong. The Human Medical Team of robots was able to repair Jeff's body and place his brain back inside. They let Jeff use the escape pod Mandlebrot and Wolruf landed with to fly home and send for help if possible. Until then, they are all still stuck in Robot City.

This book revolves around a robotic renaissance that has emerged in Robot City. Derec and Ariel spot a huge new building that looks more like artwork than anything else. During their investigation they find robots that wonder what it is like to be human, comedians, artists, etc. In the midst of all this a robot is murdered and Derec must find the killer and figure out why these robots acting so differently. I'd say out of the series this is one of my favorite books because it reminds me a bit of the Bicentennial Man short story by Asimov.

Isaac Asimov's Robot City Book 5: Refuge by Rob Chilson
Date Read: April 2006

This review will most likely contain spoilers for any previous books in the series, read at your own risk.

After a close call with Dr. Avery, the crazed mastermind of Robot City, finally returned to check on its progress. He captured Derec and Ariel, but eventually they escaped with the help of Mandelbrot and Wolruf. Derec, Ariel, Mandelbrot, and Wolruf escape by stealing Dr. Avery's ship. Unfortunately the ship had no star charts in the computer, so they were unable to jump to safety. Ariel's health had been deteriorating considerably, and eventually Mandelbrot demanded that something must be done. Derec and Ariel use a Key to Perihelion that was found in the ship in hopes it takes them to a place that might have a cure for her disease and possibly Derec's amnesia.

This book mainly covers Derec and Ariel's adventures on Earth, the destination the Key takes them to. They search out for a cure for Ariel and what possible interest Dr. Avery might have in Earth. We see here the claustrophobia Derec and Arial experience. This is a fitting contrast to Lije Baley's agoraphobia which Asimov described in The Naked Sun and The Robots of Dawn.

Isaac Asimov's Robot City Book 6: Perihelion by William F. Wu
Date Read: April 2006

As I stated in the general Robot City review, Isaac Asimov's introduction to this book contains some major spoilers for the novel. Especially if you are reading the entire robot series in chronological order, I suggest not reading Asimov's introduction unless you have finished both this novel and Robots and Empire. There are many spoilers for the rest of the Robot Novel series by Asimov also. This review will most likely contain spoilers for any previous books in the Robot City series, read at your own risk.

Doctors on Earth were able to cure Ariel of her sickness, but her memory was lost. Derec has shown signs of a sickness also, but doctors have assured him it is not what Ariel had. They finally escape and eventually Derec, Ariel, Mandelbrot, and Wolruf decide to return to Robot City to attempt to find a cure for Derec.

This book concentrates mainly on answering most of the questions that were developed in the rest of the series. Robot City appears to have covered the entire surface of the planet at this point. Derec must find out what Dr. Avery has done to him with the help of his friends. Some things are left unanswered, which frustrated me a bit. This seems a bit fitting because the climax opens the door for the next series, Robots and Aliens.

Isaac Asimov's Robots and Aliens Book 1: Changeling by Stephen Leigh
Date Read: April 2006

One thing I like about this book is there is a nice eight page synopsis of the whole Robot City series. Even after just reading the series, it was a nice refresher for the events leading up to Robots and Aliens. This new series involves Asimov's challenge to the authors to describe what might happen if robots encountered an alien species. How would they treat them? How would the Three Laws apply?

I particularly enjoyed this first book because it addresses one of the main questions I had regarding the Three Laws of Robotics. What does the key phrase "human being" actually mean? Throughout Asimov's books and it is explained that the laws aren't as simple as the English translation. They are complicated sets of positronic potentials that govern every action of a robot.

In Changeling, Stephen Leigh describes a robot model that is given a very simple definition of "intelligent life form" as an equivalent. This idea seems to work very well in this book and after several chapters we see how this experiment intersects with the Robot City plotlines. Also, we get to see Derec use the powers he was given to control Robot City. One thing that did bug me a little bit was how little of the main plotlines was advanced.

Isaac Asimov's Robots and Aliens Book 2: Renegade by Cordell Scotten
Date Read: April 2006

This review will most likely contain spoilers for any previous books in the series, read at your own risk.

In Renegade, Cordell Scotten describes an alien species far different than that of the wolf-like pack in Book1. I found it a bit hard to relate to this new species as well as I could with the wolf creatures. I think that Scotten might have been trying a bit too hard to come up with complex aliens. Most of the unique mannerisms that were described seemed like they came out of nowhere. One thing that I did like from this book was that the relationship between Derec and Ariel is developed a bit more. Also, we start to understand a bit more about the Key of Perihelion.

Isaac Asimov's Robots and Aliens Book 3: Intruder by Robert Thurston
Date Read: May 2006

This review will most likely contain spoilers for any previous books in the series, read at your own risk.

Sometime after the end of Renegade, Derec has developed some problems using his chemfets to control Robot City. Derec, Ariel, Mandelbrot, Wolruf are on their way back to Robot City along with Adam & Eve (the changelings now referred to as Silversides). This book reminds me most of "Prodigy" from the Robot City series where we saw creative drives evolve in the robots. This volume is definitely more interesting than Renegade in my opinion. Amazingly, quite a bit of the main story plot is developed and we see some more information as to the purpose of the Silversides and their quest to define what is truly "human".

Isaac Asimov's Robots and Aliens Book 4: Alliance by Jerry Oltion
Date Read: May 2006

This review will most likely contain spoilers for any previous books in the series, read at your own risk.

Fairly early in Intruder we saw that there was a third Silverside that had taken over Robot City. After an intense search Derec finally reclaimed control with the help of his friends. Now, Derec is faced with three robots without solid definitions of "human". I think that this novel is quite a bit more philosophical in the search for what makes someone human. Not too much happens plot-wise, most of the bulk is focused on defining what is human. We do get a slightly better glimpse at the origins of the Silversides and a hint at where the series might end up toward the end.

Isaac Asimov's Robots and Aliens Book 5: Maverick by Bruce Bethke
Date Read: July 2006

This review will most likely contain spoilers for any previous books in the series, read at your own risk.

Toward the end of Alliance, Derek agrees to transport the three shape changing robots to the cannoid inhabited planet that Adam originally emerged from. The title of the book refers to a subplot about a loner named Maverick, which was expelled from a main pack some time ago. His goal is to join PackHome. I really didn't identify with this character at all. In the meantime the Robots on the planet agree to treat the cannoid inhabitants as humans in order to give themselves a purpose.

Overall this book has a little bit of action, but seems to me to be nothing more than a stepping stone before the final book. I didn't really enjoy it that much because nothing seemed to really happen. I'm looking forward to the final book to see how all of this will finally be tied together.

Isaac Asimov's Robots and Aliens Book 6: Humanity by Jerry Oltion
Date Read: August 2006

This review will most likely contain spoilers for any previous books in the series, read at your own risk.

Humanity starts out with a very brief, and rather insufficient, summary of the events of the series. Derec, Ariel, Mandelbrot, Wolruf, Dr. Avery, and the three learning robots are on their way back to the original robot city. They are in for a big surprise when they enter orbit. As with previous books in this series we get to see a good portion of action, as well as discussion about what is meant to be human.

We do get to see how the whole series is tied together. For my taste, it seems that everything fits together a bit too nicely. Also, I was expecting a bit more closure toward the end. I was left with the feeling that yet another series or at least novel should fill in the gap between this series and the Tiedemann Trilogy (Mirage, Chimera, Aurora) which involves both Derec and Ariel. I'll discuss this in more detail in my general Robots and Aliens review which will follow as I can't do this without major spoilers for this last novel.

Asimov's Mirage by Mark W. Tidemann
Date Read: August 2006

Mirage is a mystery that involves the investigation of the massacre intended to halt talks of a treaty between Earth and Spacer worlds. Derec Avery, from the Robot City series, starts an investigation to determine why both the Resident Intelligence in charge of security and his new experimental robot bodyguard Bogard failed. Early on there seems to be a conspiracy. Derec and Ariel, which have parted ways since Robots and Aliens, are forced to work together to find out who is behind the attack. What follows is an investigation with twists at almost every turn.

It is hard for me to write a review of Mirage without comparing it to the Robot City/Aliens series. Back when I first read this book I had not read any of the Robot City/Alien series so I had no preconceptions about Derec or Ariel. One thing which I found odd while reading in chronological order was that Ariel's last name is Burgess. Back in the first Robot City books Ariel went by the name Katherine Burgess, until it was revealed that she had suffered from the Pneumonic Plague. She then went by Ariel Welsh which was her birth name. Aside from the obvious continuity issue of what exactly happened to these robot cities, I think that Mirage is very enjoyable novel. Content-wise Mirage is about the equivalent of any two Robot City books put together. The fact that there is a distinct beginning and end coupled with a continuing back story makes this book more interesting to me. I can't wait to re-read the next two in this series.

Asimov's Chimera by Mark W. Tidemann
Date Read: October 2006

Chimera opens up with a flashback to twenty-five years ago to the scene kidnapping of twenty babies from a hospice center. Back at present day, Coren Lanra, security chief for Rega Looms at DyNan Corporation, is working on tracking the actions of Rega's daughter Nyom. Unfortunately, Nyom ends up dead along with all those she was attempting to help smuggle to the settler colony Nova Levis. The only possible clue lies in the brain of a robot that locked up while trying to save the passengers. Surprisingly, Ariel and Derec are encouraged to help Coren in his investigation by Ambassador Setaris Coren is forced to follow his own leads while Derec attempts to recover the failed robot's memories. The following investigation eventually reveals the link to the kidnappings, with danger at almost every turn.

Overall, I would say that this second book has a much more complicated set of plot lines than Mirage. I like the Coren Lanra character the best out of all the others in this series. He's a man of integrity that does what needs to be done without worrying about the consequences to him. The technology he uses for his investigation is very interesting and seems to fit well into the time period. I can see how some of his little gadgets might actually exist some day considering the way nanotechnology is coming along. The gadgets seemed a bit more futuristic when this book was published in 2001. This book also seemed to focus a lot less on Three Law conflicts than Mirage. I would say that is a compliment because some times these "authorized" novels can sometimes focus on them to the point of being repetitive. Mark W. Tiedemann seems to realize that if someone is reading this they probably know the Three Laws inside and out already.

Further discussion of plot points: ***Note Possible spoilers for Chimera, The Naked sun, Robots and Empire, and Robot City series***

As stated in my previous review the Solarians are reclusive to the point that ANY human contact is repulsive. Tiedemann appears to try and cover for this with the following sentence, "To be sure, those Solarians living here did not share the degree of paranoia exhibited … but they still came across as standoffish and mistrustful." (Chapter 8, pg 123) Also Coren remembers that Solarians have an "aversion to being touched" (Chapter 15, pg. 242) when the Solarian ambassador fails to shake his hand. Anyone that hasn't read The Naked Sun might not realize that these statements are a bit of an understatement. Almost all Solarians are afraid to even see another in person, except for specified times to meet with their spouse. From what I remember Gladia was one of the few Solarians to leave and her willingness to "See" (in person) people was considered perverse.

Another problem is with Derec saying, "It's the first place (Earth) I really came to know after I recovered from amnemonic plague (Burundi's Fever). I may as well have been born here." (Chapter 11, pg 178) From the Robot City novels the doctors on Earth were amazed with Derec because he had antibodies but had never actually had the disease. His hospitalization was due to the interference of the "chemfets" that were injected into Derec back on Robot City before he and Ariel escaped. His memory loss was later found to be caused by insane father, Dr. Avery, in an attempt to keep him from Ariel/Katherine.

Asimov's Aurora by Mark W. Tidemann
Date Read: December 2006

If Chimera was more complicated than Mirage, then Aurora is at least that much more complicated than Chimera was. Tiedemann does a good job of weaving between four main plot lines: Derec and Ariel, Coren Lanra, Mia Daventri, and Masid Vorian. There have been severe repercussions following the aftermath that took place at the end of Chimera. Derec and Ariel are recalled to Aurora at the beginning of this book. Ariel which has become romantic with Coren Lanra must leave him behind. Coren soon begins an investigation of his own. Mia works to uncover the inner workings of smuggling through the Nova Levis blockade. Masid Vorian also begins an investigation but as a spy on Nova Levis itself.

Each of the plot lines interacts with each other throughout the novel and eventually gets tied together toward the end. I got a sense of satisfaction at the end that I didn't have at the end of the Robots and Aliens series. I must say that I am pleasantly surprised that I didn't remember many of the big spoilers in this series after 4 years. I was definitely surprised at the ending. Sometimes I wonder exactly how much information we actually do remember from experiences over the years.

A common theme which has been explored in many other novels so far is the discussion of what it means to be "human". At what point does an organism cease to be considered human? There is a major backlash on Aurora since the discovery of actual working cyborgs. These types of cyborgs are much different than that of Robot City Book 3 which was merely a human brain in a robot body. The cyborgs in this series are genetically altered and intertwined with organic and positronic components. This makes classification much more difficult, and the differences in opinion are explored in this book.

Have Robot, Will Travel by Alexander C. Irvine
Date Read: January 2007

Derec and Ariel have been exiled to Nova Levis, the site of the cyborg lab that was uncovered at the end of the previous series by Tiedemann. Derec has been focusing the resources of his lab on containing the mutating plagues released by Kynig Pyrapoyos. There is a murder on Kopernik station which appears to be committed by a robot, which Derec is summoned to investigate. In the meantime Ariel is asked to look into the possibility of cyborg survivors getting the right to vote.

One of my main disappointments with this book is that the plot lines don't seem to pick up in pace until about the last quarter of the book. Irvine doesn't seem to demonstrate the knack for complexity and pacing that Tiedemann did during the last trilogy. Besides these things the book was overall an enjoyable read. If I could pick out one good thing it would be that the plot lines switch back and forth often enough so that you aren't stuck wondering what is happening in the other one for too long.

***Spoiler discussion for this novel & Robots and Empire****
I think the biggest question I have so far from Mirage up to this book is; what are Daneel and Giskard doing at this point? Are they aware of this society of robots which is being led by Bogard and Hofton? It is obvious that in this series the Zeroth law has been determined independently before Giskard and Daneel do at the end of Robots and Empire. The same conclusion is reached: isolate the spacers and allow the settlers to populate the galaxy. I am still wondering what will keep the aliens from Robots and Aliens isolated from the Settler expansion. Despite these nagging questions I think that all of these books so far have been an enjoyable read.

Isaac Asimov's Caliban by Roger MacBride Allen
Date Read: February 2007

I was glad to break into a new series after reading sixteen books with Derec and Ariel as main characters. Roger MacBride Allen brings the robot Caliban to life from "infancy" from when he is first powered up. Caliban awakens with his arm half raised to see the body of a woman laying on the floor, which later turns out to be his creator Fredda Leving. If Caliban was a normal robot he would have sent for help immediately, but unfortunately he was created lacking the infamous Three Laws of Robotics. Instead, Caliban investigates the scene briefly and then ventures out to explore this new unfamiliar world.

The rest of the novel revolves around Caliban's exploration of the city Hades, on the 49th Spacer colony of Inferno. This planet is unique because Settlers have been brought in to hopefully fix the terraforming project on this planet. Caliban soon finds himself the subject of a "robot bashing" but manages to escape but not without injuring several Settlers in the process. Sheriff Alvar Kresh heads up the investigation to track down this rogue robot which seems to be the only suspect in the attack against Fredda Leving.

I particularly like that Caliban's thought process in this book isn't just a bunch of computations and logic like Bogard's was in the Tiedemann Trilogy (Mirage, Chimera, Aurora). After all, Bogard was only able to shunt Three Law violations. Caliban's thoughts flow out like you would expect a normal person to think, but just a bit more logical in nature. It is very interesting to see how he evolves as a thinking being over the course of the book. I also enjoyed Freda Leving's speech in Chapter 14 on the analysis of the Three Laws. I'm also a bit surprised that I still couldn't remember the ending of this book although I read this before many years ago. All I can say is that the clues are much more visible in retrospect after things start to fall into place. I think this book proves that it doesn't hurt to read a book more than once, especially if it has been a while.

Isaac Asimov's Inferno by Roger MacBride Allen
Date Read: March 2007

The New Laws of Robotics
1. A robot may not injure a human being.
2. A robot must cooperate with human beings except where such cooperation would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence, as long as such protection does not conflict with the First Law.
4. A robot may do as it likes, except where such action would violate the First, Second, or Third Laws.

About a year has passed since Caliban was exonerated. The Limbo project is currently using the New Law robots developed by Freda Leving in the hopes of fixing the terraforming problem. Although these robots are equipped with range restrictors to limit them to the island, an illicit smuggling trade has developed which smuggles robots out of Purgatory and helps remove the supposedly infallible restrictors. This criminal enterprise has caused much strain between Spacers and Settlers.

In the hopes of asserting his authority, Governor Chanto Grieg has decided to throw a party his mansion which is located on Purgatory, the home of the Limbo project and the New Law robots. Aside from the grounds of the mansion, the Settlers control the rest of the island. As an act of diplomacy all robots besides are banned from the party and all security is handled by the Governor's Rangers and Settler Security Service. This of course causes great concern for Alvar Kresh, the Sheriff of Hades. He doesn't have any authority outside of the city of Hades and thinks that security without robots is a big mistake. Caliban and the New Law robot leader Prospero intend to plead with Governor Grieg after the party.

Unfortunately, Caliban and Prospero appear to be the last to see the Governor alive. With Calaban's lack of any Laws, he becomes a prime suspect. Also, since Prospero is under no compulsion to prevent any harm to humans, he is also suspected. I had expected another hunt like what occurred back in the last book, but this time the investigation took the form of a more traditional mystery. Alvar Kresh seems to have more faith in the robots than anyone else. Most of the twists and turns don't seem related until the very end of the book where Kresh gets his brief moment of insight. I was a bit bothered at how quickly and neatly everything was laid out and explained using various clues that Kresh pieced together. With that said, most of the clues are pretty obvious once you think back except for the key one which tied everything together.

While the investigation takes its course there are a couple of passages which I enjoyed. Donald (robot DNL-111) brings up some interesting problems with the Fourth New Law in Chapter 11. He argues that this law causes robots to create desires to consume free time. Possibly this is the reason that many of the New Law robots are trying to flee Purgatory. Roger MacBride Allen appears to be setting himself up with ambiguous Laws in order to exploit them just like Asimov did. In Chapter 11 Caliban and Prospero argue over the requirements for a being to have the right to freedom. Where does one draw the line?

Overall, I think that this was a pretty good book, but I enjoyed the last one a little bit more. I was expecting a lot more focus on robots, but found that the majority of the book covered the various aspects of the Spacer and Settler political conflicts. I'm looking forward to Utopia, since from what I remember focused more on the New Law robots.

Isaac Asimov's Utopia by Roger MacBride Allen
Date Read: April 2007

About five years has passed since the New Law robots were put to work at Purgatory to assist with the terraforming effort for Inferno. Alvar Kresh won the election for governor and ended up choosing a dual terraforming system combining a positronics with a super computer. In an unexpected turn, Kresh ended up marrying Fredda Leving. Initially I thought that they made a rather odd couple, but I think Allen did a good job of handling their relationship throughout this book. The main plot Utopia revolves around a plan by a scientist to harness a comet and blow it apart to dig a huge channel from the southern ocean to the frozen northern ice cap which would otherwise be impossible by conventional means.

The argument for this drastic measure is that the existing terraforming effort will fail much sooner than expected. In just a few years the surface of the planet might not be habitable. That probably wouldn't be a problem for Settlers since they prefer their underground buildings, but for Spacers it would pose a serious problem. The comet plan might sound plausible given the combined efforts of the Spacers and Settlers, but there are many that don't want this to happen. Many fear that something will go wrong and the planet will be destroyed. Also, how will robots allow such a task to take place given the nature of the Three Laws? Will robots allow a comet to hit the planet? Allen answers this in unexpected, yet plausible ways which I'll leave you to uncover.

One thing that I didn't notice until this book in the series was that Allen had not really addressed the fundamental differences between Spacers and Settlers. In chapter 4 he explains that Spacers age much more slowly than Settlers. There were no precautions such as nose plugs or aversions to touching for fear of infection that you'd normally expect a Spacer to exhibit toward others. Possibly by this point they treat Settlers differently than Earthmen or have better less obvious protections which Allen doesn't explain.

I think the reason I liked this book much better than the last was that there were many small mysteries. There was the main question of whether or not the comet plan would work, but the ancillary plots which came along were intertwined rather nicely. The pieces start to fall together bit by bit rather than the abrupt fashion from the last book. There was a definite “ending” to the series, although a bit cheesy, which tied everything back together.

The Stars, Like Dust by Isaac Asimov
Date Read: May 2007

Timeline discussion:
Here are a couple quotes -- "Atomic warfare had done its worst to Earth. Most of it was hopelessly radioactive and useless." and "The radioactivity of the soil was a vast sea of iridescent blue, sparkling in strange festoons that spelled out the manner in which the nuclear bombs had once landed, a full generation before the force-field defense against nuclear explosions had been developed, so that no other world could commit suicide in just that fashion again." -- The Stars, Like Dust

This explanation contradicts what took place at the end of Robots and Empire, which was written 35 years later. I guess Asimov has the right to change history, or we can attribute the discrepancy to historical inaccuracies within the world he created. After all, the Horsehead Nebula in the book is named after "Horace Hedd" rather than for looking like a horse's head. About 50 years before, the Nebular Kingdoms have been conquered by the Tyranni. They rule thousands of worlds from the home planet of Tyrann.

The main plot in this novel revolves around Biron Farrill, son of the Rancher of Widemos. The Rancher is implicated in a conspiracy against the Tryranni. Biron had been sent to Earth on a mission to recover a mysterious and dangerous ancient document which is supposed to be the key to the rebellion. Biron is thrust into a whirlwind of action and mystery after there is a failed attempt to kill him with a micro radiation bomb. He finds himself being guided to Rhodia, one of the strongest worlds in the Nebular Kingdoms, to plead for asylum with the planetary Director. From there he learns about a "Rebellion World" which might be the only hope of defeating the oppressive Tyranni.

At 200 pages this book is rather short, and the pacing moves pretty quickly. The overall feel of the book seems like it could happen in medieval times, except for the fact that there are thousands of worlds and ships that use hyperatomic motors. It seemed pretty obvious when Asimov shifted into Sci-Fi mode when explaining how much of the technology and concepts about planetary systems and space travel. I think that his later books are integrated better, but considering this book was written in 1950, it seems to hold up rather well.

The Currents of Space by Isaac Asimov
Date Read: May 2007

It is obvious after the first few chapters that this novel is on a whole different level than "The Stars, Like Dust." There are more characters, deeper development, and various plot lines are explained through flashbacks. It seemed like Asimov spent a lot more time on this book than the last one. It is just a tad bit longer at 230 pages in my paperback copy, but quite bit more happens. There is still the medieval feel with Sark ruling Florinia and the various class struggles that go with that.

The book prologue starts out with a conversation between a spatio-analyst from Earth and another unknown man about the eminent destruction of the planet Florinia which is controlled by the planet Sark. After questioning the delays in warning Sark and the Florinians, the spatio-analyst finds himself drugged and on the wrong end of a psychic probe.

Rik, the psycho-probed spatio-anlalyst, was reduced to a babbling idiot and dumped on the planet Florinia. After a period of recuperation, he gains enough skills to be somewhat productive. One year later while working at a kyrt factory on Florinia his memories start to return. This marks the beginning of a action packed adventure. Florinia is the only place that a special fiber called kyrt can be grown, which has many uses from clothing to space travel. Efforts have been made to transplant this product to other worlds, but with no success. The Trantorian Empire, which controls about one half of the inhabited worlds, would like to control over this monopoly over the kyrt trade which Sark enjoys.

Valona, which has been given the responsibility of keeping Rik out of trouble, immediately takes her friend to the Myrlyn Terens, the Townman in charge of their village. All Rik can seem to remember is that he "analyzed Nothing" and that that Florinia was in extreme danger. The Townman takes Rik to the library to hopefully jog his memory when they find out there is a special hold on all texts related to spatio-analysis. This spooks the Townman and as he tries to get Rik out of the library they are stopped by a Patroller. Valona comes out from nowhere and knocks the Patroller out and suddenly the three of them are on the run.

This opening sets up quite bit of mystery which gets deeper as the novel progresses. Some of the flashbacks get a bit confusing a times because sometimes there really isn't any transition between the present and the past. I found in many cases I wasn't sure what time frame the story was in until a few paragraphs later. Aside from this annoyance, the flashbacks offer a good way to develop the new characters that are constantly being added throughout the novel. Again, I'm amazed at how little of the plot I remembered from reading this several years ago. I'm glad to say that I enjoyed this quite thoroughly for a second time.

Pebble in the Sky by Isaac Asimov
Date Read: June 2007

The book opens up in 1949 on the day of a mysterious accident at Chicago's Institute of Nuclear Research. Joseph Schwartz, while walking around on the other side of Chicago is somehow caught in an expanding beam of energy that transports him into an unfamiliar place. Actually, he has not traveled to another place but another time. Earth's land is largely covered in radioactive soil, so that it can only support 20 million people. The result of this is the common practice of terminating anyone that cannot work or when they reach the age of sixty as a form of strict population control. Most people don't resent this practice but rather look at as a way for making room for the young.

Joseph Schwartz knows none of this yet because all he sees is a dark empty world with a glimmering horizon with no cars or houses to be seen where there once was a thriving city. Initially he thinks he is on another world because everyone speaks a very odd language. As it turns out, he was transported thousands of years to a future Earth at a time that a Galactic Empire reigned and Earth was only one of 200 million planets. Schwartz wanders around and eventually finds the house of a family of three that takes him in. The young husband and wife have been working extra hard secretly supporting their father which isn't yet sixty but can't contribute working the farm because he can't walk.

They seize the opportunity to use Schwartz, seemingly an idiot to them due to the language barrier, to take up some of the slack for work. They take Schwartz to Chica (Chicago in the future) to volunteer for a procedure which should increase his intelligence. The only problem is that the "Synapsifier" device invented by Dr. Shekt could end up killing the patient. In a somewhat cold statement, the husband assures the wife that if Schwartz dies they won't be any worse off than before.

In the meantime, Dr. Bel Arvardan is embarking on an archaeological expedition in an attempt to verify the claims that Earth is the original world, the cradle of humanity. At the time the official theory is that groups of humans evolved separately and eventually converged after independently discovering interstellar travel. The Galactic Empire can't bear to admit that humanity originated from this small dying world.

Dr. Arvardan is anxious to see the people of earth in their native environment, so he schedules a tour of the major cities of Earth, travelling to Chica first. By chance, while eating lunch he encounters a girl named Pola which is searching for a man, Schwartz, which has escaped the lab she works for (which happens to be where Dr. Shekt's used the Synapsifier on Schwartz although Arvardan doesn't know this yet). She describes an older man which he just saw at the same place he was eating lunch at. He helps her track down Schwartz, but they find themselves caught in a "Radiation Fever" scare. During the chase Dr. Arvardan finds himself strangely attracted to this Earthgirl. Arvardan sticks up for Pola when an Imperial officer treats her badly and finds himself on the wrong end of a neuronic whip. From this point forward the plotlines of Arvardan and Schwartz become intertwined.

One of the main themes in this book is the general distain that "Galactic Citizens" have for "Earthers". While Earthers are not slaves of any sort, they are considered inferior and poisonous due to the radiation which is spread across most of Earth. Bel Arvardan likes to think of himself as progressive and tolerant of Earthers, but deep down he still has some problems coping with his romantic feelings for Pola Shekt throughout the novel. I think that Asimov handles Arvadan's transformation quite well.

Earth, although part of the Empire, has a group of citizens called the Ancients which serve as rulers. Ancients enforce the various customs such as the "Sixty" harbor and avoiding the highly radioactive areas. Most Earthers, especially the "Ancients" harbor as much if not more hatred toward the rest of the Galaxy. They are resentful of their place in the Empire, isolated on a dying world with limited resources, resulting in three previous attempts to revolt. This hatred drives a new plot to revolt, but this time they might have the power to exterminate the rest of the galaxy. Dr. Arvardan, Dr. Shekt, Pola Shekt, and Joseph Schwartz must all work together to stop this plot.

Asimov does a good job of building up the main plot lines then intertwining them at just the right moment. The way he does this seems to pack quite a bit of events into just 230 pages. Most of the dialog is philosophical and engaging while moving the plot forward. One of the more amusing plots was the suspicion of the Ancients that Arvardan and Schwartz were working under Imperial direction while they were actually innocently associated (initially) with Dr. Schwartz. In the end their motives turned out to be the same, but the means was far from it. I found it a bit interesting that Joseph Schwartz is prominent on the back cover synopsis. Schwartz's part isn't insignificant by far, but the novel seems to be more about Dr. Bel Arvardan and his transformation.

Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov
Date Read: June 2007

Roughly twelve thousand years have passed since the founding of the Galactic Empire. Almost the whole galaxy has been explored and populated accounting for 25 million inhabited worlds, most of which have at least 1 billion people each. Trantor is the ruling world of the Galactic Empire. It is covered completely with domed cities that go far under ground except for just 250 square kilometers which made up the Imperial palace grounds. Hari Seldon, a mathematician from Helicon, has traveled Trantor to give a presentation on his new theory called psychohistory. While psychohistory could 'theoretically' help predict future events, Hari is interested in it only as a theory and feels that it could never become practical.

Emperor Cleon I learns of this new theory and invites, rather forces, Hari to meet with him to discuss how it could be used to help the Imperial throne. Cleon wants Hari to use his psychohistory to ensure his success as a ruler. Hari is adamant that the theory is purely theoretical and could never be practical. After some discussion Cleon eventually lets Hari go. Somewhere after Hari leaves the palace he runs into a man named Chetter Hummin.

Hummin mentions he heard the Imperial Guard had picked Hari up and brought him to the palace and asks if there was a meeting with the Emperor. Hari admits he met with the Emperor to discuss psychohistory and how it could help the throne. Hummin gets suspicious and asks if Eto Demerzel, the Emperor's evil right hand man, was there also. Hummin warns that the Emperor, and especially Demerzel, wouldn't just let Hari go if he was thought to be useful. Eto Demerzel would probably be keeping a very close eye on Hari. Almost right after this a couple of thugs approach Hari and give him a hard time and say they are going to kick him off the planet immediately, although Hari was scheduled to leave the next day back to his home world of Helicon. Hari refuses and the thugs attack them but Hari and Hummin are able to fight them off and get away safely.

At this point Hummin convinces Hari to run with him and not even return to his room to gather his belongings. Hummin is convinced that the Empire is in a state of decay and will eventually fall apart. He gives several examples and eventually convinces Hari to at least try to find a practical way to make psychohistory work so it can be used to help humanity. Hummin arranges for Hari to begin his research at Streeling University. Universities on Trantor enjoy freedom from any type of Imperial interference, so that seems to be the safest place for Hari.

Hari's contact at the university is Dors Venabili, another outworlder which is teaching history at the University. Hummin has given her the task to keep an eye on Hari and help him with is research. An incident almost claims Hari's life and Hummin arranges for Hari and Dors to flee the University. The majority of the novel an account of Hari and Dors passing through various sections of Trantor trying to evade Eto Demerzel's grasp.

This book comes across to me as more of an exploration of cultures than a science fiction novel. There is a lot of technology that is futuristic and explained to a certain degree, but that didn't seem to be the main focus. Hari is attempting to track down the history of humanity and in the process encounters many 'laws' which seem to rule our actions. Cultural taboos are very strong and vary from culture to culture (or sector to sector in Trantor). Customs relating to appearance are also important, and vary widely. The transformation of historical events into myth is analyzed closely. The myth of the "original world" we see from the Empire Novels is still alive and strong. Hari throws himself into one dangerous situation after another in order to research these to find some way of making psychohistory practical, which in most cases Dors has to get him out of.

At about 430 pages this book is quite a bit longer than any of the Empire Novels. It didn't seem twice as long because most of the sections are broken up rather well and the pacing is pretty quick in most places. I spent a bit more time taking notes of things I noticed which I probably wouldn't have if this was my first reading, and had read it after Foundation and Earth according to publication date. I've read another review of this book that recommended reading AFTER the rest of the Foundation series because of possible spoilers. I don't think it this novel will ruin any of the future novels, but will give you a different perspective. This is the main reason I'm reading in chronological order, having already read the series in order of publication, because I want to experience it in a different way.

Forward the Foundation by Isaac Asimov
Date Read: June 2007

I've read quite a few reviews of this novel and many people are disappointed because it does not tie up the questions left unanswered at the end of Foundation and Earth. Much of this disappointment comes from the fact that Forward the Foundation is the last book in the series written by Asimov just before his death. I think that the disappointed fans were looking for answers in the wrong places. This novel simply gives us a closer look at Hari Seldon and the progress of the psychohistory project at Streeling University.

If you just plan on learning more about Hari and his family while he works out the details of psychohistory, you won't be disappointed. In many ways this book makes more sense read in chronological order rather than by publication date. There are some pretty big spoilers for the later Foundation books, but as I said in my review for Prelude, it just gives me a different perspective. What this novel does not do is give a real sense of closure to the series. I don't think that Asimov had those intentions for this novel anyway. Instead, he shows the reader how psychohistory was developed.

Forward the Foundation is broken up into four novellas and an epilogue. The novel starts out about eight years after the end of Prelude to Foundation. In part 1, 'Eto Dermzel', Hari Seldon must deal with a charismatic leader named Jo-Jo Joranum which is attempting to disrupt Emperor Cleon's rule. Cleon is convinced that Hari can now make predictions using psychohistory, so commands Hari to resolve the problem. Unfortunately, psychohistory is nowhere near this level of progress, so Hari must find another way. I was amused by Hari's solution, and will leave that up to you readers to discover. The subsequent parts focus on Cleon I, Dors Venabili, and Wanda Seldon (Hari's Granddaughter).

The novella format reminded me a bit of The Currents of Space. Each part starts roughly 10 years after the previous one ends, but shortly after starting a new part, Hari Seldon reminisces about the past through flashbacks. After some exposition the story shifts back to present time. This approach is more straightforward than in The Currents of Space, so figuring out which time frame the story is in doesn't get confusing. I normally just read a few chapters of a book at a time, but I found myself plowing through each section within the same day.

Throughout this book we see the various signs of decay Hari has predicted as they become more prominent. Political instability, crime, mechanical failures, lost technology, and a troubled economy are just a few problems that the Empire is facing. Unfortunately since Hari Seldon is known to have predicted the decline, his popularity has gone down. He loses government funding and must find other ways to keep the psychohistory from hitting a dead end. Aside from searching for funds, Hari must select his successors to keep the project going after his death.

This book isn't only about the decline of the Empire, but also of Hari Seldon. Since the book covers bout 30 years, starting out with Hari at the age of 40, we see his physical and emotional deterioration. Some of his physical problems could be attributed to the decline in heath care technology, but much of his emotional problems come from stress of the psychohistory project and family issues. The ending is a bit depressing, but at least there is a hope yet for psychohistory and the future of the humanity.

I've seen many reviews refer to this book as sort of a hidden autobiography, since Asimov was aware that his days were numbered when he wrote this. Supposedly there are a lot of qualities of himself that Asimov inserted into Hari Seldon's character development. I can't really compare Isaac Asimov to Hari Seldon because I shamefully haven't ready any of his autobiographies yet. I plan on doing so after this project and will jump back to do some comparison using my reading notes.

Foundation's Fear by Gregory Benford
Date Read: July 2007

The Second Foundation Trilogy is a venture initiated by Asimov's Estate. Gregory Benford was approached to work on the project, and eventually Greg Bear and David Brin finished the series. I remember from my previous experience with Foundation's Fear back in 2000 or so that I didn't like it. I made a point of keeping track of details that bugged me throughout the novel so that I could provide some constructive criticism. I tried to do my best to keep an open mind, but it wasn't long before I remembered why I didn't like this novel. There will be minor spoilers, but hopefully they will help you save some time reading this 597 page (paperback) monster.

Main Annoyances
1. Technology:
• Worm Holes: There is a vast network of wormholes that appears to be part natural and part artificially created and maintained which links the Empire together. This is completely new concept which is added, apparently from out of the blue. Where were these worm holes in the rest of the series by Asimov? Benford makes no attempt to reconcile this inconsistency. Asimov himself would always apologize after the fact after technologies or theories he integrated where found to be impossible, but I don't see why there is a need to ADD technology a series that is so well established.
• Tiktoks: robots with simple minds are used for labor. These are not seen or mentioned by Asimov at this point in the timeline. Mechanical beings are taboo. Benford makes the leap and associates the taboo only to the mental function, to the appearance. I don't think Asimov would have approved.
• Everything Else: There is new technology constantly being introduced and overly explained throughout the book. It was only about page 30 or so that I noted this first. It makes the Empire seem much more advanced and not as much in decline.
2. Sims: I was bugged by the Joan of Arc and Voltaire sim story arc the first time I read this, and this hasn't changed. Sims are also taboo in the same category as Robots. Essentially 150-200 pages are dedicated to character exposition for these two sims and the question of whether digital life is 'alive' or posses souls. I've seen reviews that suggested the novel is much better by just skipping this section, and I'd have to agree. If you like theological dialogue which has no real bearing on the overall story, go right ahead and read it.
3. Panucopia: This section is approximately 100 pages, but I think that the ideas could have been presented much more concisely. However, this was probably the fastest 100 pages of text throughout the whole novel. Benford definitely kept me interested, as I read the whole section in one sitting, which is unusual for me especially for this novel.
4. Errors: Dors Vanabili should be spelled Venabili. If you are continuing the works of a grand master such as Isaac Asimov, at least double check the character names! This reminds me of Mark W. Tidemann's switching of Ariel Welsh (formerly Katherine Burgess) to Ariel Burgess in Mirage.
5. Other: There are several other spoiler filled inconsistencies which bug me, but I won't list. The fact that Benford doesn't try reconcile these new ideas is the main thing that bugs me.

In general, the book reads very slow most of the time. Aside from the Panucopia section, I rarely read more than a few chapters at a time without breaking it up with some other activity. The novel begins right after Cleon I announces he wants Hari Seldon for First Minister. The rest of it involves the many assassination attempts on Hari and his attempt to win over the council so that he can be approved as First Minister. Intertwined between these adventures Hari tries to advance his understanding of psychohistory through technology ranging from ancient personality sims, immersion in primitive beings, and virtual reality.

As I've said earlier, much of the technology is explained to the point of tedium, and much of it can be skimmed over. As a completist for this project, I forced myself to read this again, but I doubt I will ever return to it now that I have my notes and personal review completed. I can only recommend reading this with attention paid to what can be skimmed, as it forms the foundation (sorry bad pun there) for the next two novels in the series. From what I remember, and other reviews they are far better than the first of this series.

Foundation and Chaos by Greg Bear
Date Read: July 2007

For those that read my previous review on Foundation's Fear, you will be pleased to find that Greg Bear manages to save this series with his masterful work in Foundation and Chaos. If there were ever two books on the same subject that could be so different as to compare night and day, the first two parts of the Second Foundation Trilogy are it. While the first volume kept putting me to sleep with rambling on about simulated minds and aliens, Foundation and Chaos goes back to the roots more in line with the universe Asimov made me fall in love with.

I never really liked the subplot with the sims and meme entities, and was glad to see that Greg Bear minimized their role as much as he could. Also, he worked worm holes out of the picture rather masterfully, however I'm not sure if Benford had planned this ahead of time or not. Either way, I think that adding worm holes was a mistake. Another significant difference is the smooth flow between plot lines, rather than spending up to 100 pages in one setting. I found myself plowing through this book faster than normal, as the action was always there or just around the corner. The last 100 pages, comprising one fourth of the total book, went by in a flash of constant action.

A main point that many others have noted as a flaw in this book is that this is more of a Robot novel rather than a Foundation novel. One of the main plot lines involves a battle between robots loyal to Daneel (Giskardians), and robots which reject the Zeroth Law (Calvinians). There is more dialogue between robots here than possibly every other Foundation novel combined. I enjoyed the Robot Series immensely, so this became one of my favorite books in my project written by someone other than Asimov.

The main story arc revolves around the preparation for Hari Seldon's trial for treason. He has been brought up on charges for declaring that the Trantor will fail within 500 years, followed by the rest of the Galactic Empire. I've you've read Forward the Foundation or the original Foundation, you know Hari is cleared of all charges, and the Foundation project Encyclopedists are sent to Terminus to begin working on the Encyclopedia Galactica. This book goes behind the scenes to show exactly how this all came to be.

Lodovik Trema, a humaniform robot working for Daneel, turns out to be one of the more interesting characters in this book. The book opens with him on a rescue mission headed for a planet which is about to be destroyed by a supernova shockwave. Something goes wrong with the hyperspace Jump and they pop out in the middle of a concentrated neutrino wave. Somehow he feels different but doesn't immediately know what is wrong. Plenty of interesting questions and situations revolve around this particular change.

I can't really explain in words how much better this novel is than Foundation's Fear. I think I will probably seek out other works by Greg Bear once my project is complete. I hope that the next novel will do the series as much justice as this one did.

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