Not the most satisfying Asimov novel. While it picks up the story from “Foundation’s Edge”, this was the first book in the series that I felt was dragging on unnecessarily. It tried to clear up one of the biggest mysteries in the entire Foundation Series – namely the location and fate of humanity’s home planet. And though the title of the book is “Foundation and Earth”, Earth itself makes a disappointingly short appearance. More like a footnote in fact.
They go to almost every other planet in the Galaxy and each time, Asimov treats us to long discourses on technical details of the planetary situation, almost making it seem like a course in planetography. Of course, this is science fiction, but it was overdone. Another thing that really got on my nerves were the endless fights between the two main characters Bliss and Trevize. How two adults can remain on board a ship for months and still maintain that sort of tension is beyond me.
On the bright side, we’re thrown a juicy carrot by the appearance of our favorite Daneel Olivaw at the end of the book. But it’s barely a chapter and isn’t very fulfilling. Additionally, the fates of Solaria and Aurora are revealed. Let me admit that Solaria always gave me the creeps. Not just in Naked Sun, but also in Robots and Empire. And it’s shown to be even more scary now.
My final gripe with the book is that I just can’t believe Asimov creates such a tragic end for Earth. The fate prescribed for it in Robots and Empire comes true, and Earth is a barren radioactive wasteland with not even bacteria or viruses living on it. It’s just appallingly distressing, especially given the fact that Earth was once the only planet on which life was so multitudinous because of its large moon. Makes you want to just sit down and weep.
So while this book is crucial for understanding the fate of Earth, it just doesn’t satisfy. Trevize and Bliss (even though she is Gaia) are both petulant characters and quite unlovable. Perhaps I’ve been spoiled by the Robot novels. The robots seem to be so much more interesting than the humans!
Aha! So that's where I can read more about the fate of the Solarians! Thank you. The description of this planet captured my imagination in Naked Sun, and with a good followup from Robots and Empire. It is disappointing to hear that this is not one of Asimov's better books, but I will be reading it (rereading it actually) just to find out what happened to the Solarians.
In reply to Forrest
Thanks for visiting Forrest :) Hope you like all the books!
Pretty much agree with this assessment. I plowed through almost 500 pages to find Earth, then it hardly gets a passing mention, heck the characters don’t even go onto the surface and poke about for a short time in the ruined Caves Of Steel, that would have been pretty cool. The main characters are a bitch unlikabale lot apart from Janov and the whole premis to throwing out the Sledon plan in favor of Gia makes the entire Foundation story a pointless one. Very sad ending to what used to be a great series of books.
it s been a long time since i ve read the robot/empire/foundation series, but as far as i remember, the constellations had kept their original names throughout history. given that the constellations are only that only from a certain point of view, wouldnt that make it easy to pinpoint the original solar system?