Book 4: "Prelude to Foundation" by Isaac Asimov
Tuesday, January 26th, 2010 12:11![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kittiwakeCleon looked frustrated. His lips tightened. 'And your paper, then? Is that what you call it, a paper? - Of what use is it?'
'It was merely a mathematical demonstration. It made a point of interest to mathematicians, but there was no thought in my mind of its being useful in any way.'
'I find that disgusting,' said Cleon, angrily.
Seldon shrugged slightly. More than ever, he knew that he should never have given the paper. What would become of him, if the Emperor took it into his head that he had been made to look a fool?
After five books telling the history of the Foundation, Asimov returns to the beginning, as Hari Seldon comes to Trantor to present a paper on psychohistory at a mathematical convention. He soon finds himself in trouble, as the emperor and others are concerned about the possibility that psychohistory could have practical applications.
Actually, I'm surprised that Hari Seldon survived long enough to develop a practical application of his idea. Although he is supposed to be keeping a low profile, he has the usual bull-headed approach of science fiction heroes (as in the some of the other Foundation books and "Shockwave Rider"). His lack of emotional intelligence means that he continually upsets his hosts and rubs them up the wrong way, and he keeps doing stupid things that get him noticed and into enough trouble that he has to be moved to another hiding place.
Although Hari Seldon irritated me a lot, the good thing about Asimov writing a prequel after the rest of the series, is that he could put in all sorts of subtle hints about the things that happen in the other books. And even though I guessed the twist, the ending still came as a surprise, as there was a second part to the twist that hadn't occurred to me at all.
'It was merely a mathematical demonstration. It made a point of interest to mathematicians, but there was no thought in my mind of its being useful in any way.'
'I find that disgusting,' said Cleon, angrily.
Seldon shrugged slightly. More than ever, he knew that he should never have given the paper. What would become of him, if the Emperor took it into his head that he had been made to look a fool?
After five books telling the history of the Foundation, Asimov returns to the beginning, as Hari Seldon comes to Trantor to present a paper on psychohistory at a mathematical convention. He soon finds himself in trouble, as the emperor and others are concerned about the possibility that psychohistory could have practical applications.
Actually, I'm surprised that Hari Seldon survived long enough to develop a practical application of his idea. Although he is supposed to be keeping a low profile, he has the usual bull-headed approach of science fiction heroes (as in the some of the other Foundation books and "Shockwave Rider"). His lack of emotional intelligence means that he continually upsets his hosts and rubs them up the wrong way, and he keeps doing stupid things that get him noticed and into enough trouble that he has to be moved to another hiding place.
Although Hari Seldon irritated me a lot, the good thing about Asimov writing a prequel after the rest of the series, is that he could put in all sorts of subtle hints about the things that happen in the other books. And even though I guessed the twist, the ending still came as a surprise, as there was a second part to the twist that hadn't occurred to me at all.
