Foundation’s Friends: Stories In Honor of Isaac Asimov by Martin H. Greenberg (EPUB)

Description

No work of science fiction in the twentieth century captured the imagination of so many readers as the epic future history put forth in the stories and novels of Isaac Asimov.In this volume, a select group of the Good Doctor’s fellow writers explore his astonishing creation from their own unique perspectives―and offer personal tributes to the late, great Asimov some years after his death.Foundation’s Friends features contributions by Ben Bova, L. Sprague de Camp, Frederik Pohl, Carl Sagan, Harry Turtledove, and others.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐Asimov was my first love of science fiction. My sister gave me a copy of the book Foundation when I was 11 or 12, and I was hooked. If you remember Han Solo’s speech about the difficulty of making a hyperspace jump in the first Star Wars movie, that was almost verbatim from Foundation. One of the coolest things about Asimov’s fiction is that he created a world that you could drop yourself into and forget that the real one was even out there. In fact, by the time he finished, he had tied up three of his worlds into a vast future history that is, frankly, one hell of a lot of fun to read. I was saddened when he died, because I thought I’d never get to see inside that world again. But, I was wrong.Had I been paying attention, I’d have noticed that this book was already available at the time of his death. It was a tribute to a living author, and one well deserved. I’ve read only the first four stories so far, but they are, well, fantastic, amazing, and astounding. (Long-term fans will get that sentence. The rest of you, meh!)The first story is about a girl who is a strip runner in future New York CITY. I mean CITY, as in the ones Asimov describes in Caves of Steel. A world where today’s New York is a sort of a bump on a log compared to the reality that is NEW YORK. In Caves of Steel, a detective names Elija Bailey is hired by “Spacers,” those who live on planets other than this one, to solve a crime. Elija comes from a world where paranoia about hygiene is rampant, and where robots are the common way to get everyday labor done. Spacers get colds, and don’t use robots. Our heroine must deal with those facts, and with her crime (strip running) as she learns some things about her world, her CITY, and the Outside. She even meets Bailey. Such fun! An excellent story, in a familiar world that is not the one we really live in!The second story actually involves Thiotimoline! A practical use for it, and the solution to a difficult problem; a solution with cosmic implications! Thiotimoline is a powder that dissolves before you add water. The story of the powder was originally published in the journal Chemistry in 1948 as a bit of a joke. It reads like an actual thesis, which is what Asimov was also writing at the time. He got his PhD, we got two good stories. It’s a mystery with tongue firmly in cheek, just the way Asimov liked them. Just remember to resublimate your Thiotimoline before use.The third story is another detective story, a tad grimmer, but still with a joking twist at the end. I think that if I’d been told that Asimov himself had written it, I’d have believed it. Somebody crossed a cabbage with, oh, no, I don’t want to spoil it, in case you haven’t read it. You should, you know.And, fans will recognize the time that Gilmer sacked Trantor. This story is about the Second Foundation and how they deal with Gilmer. Right at the end one of them says something rather hubristic, and fans know the price of hubris, right? “What are the odds?” he asks. “Damned high!” we answer. Again, completely back into Asimov’s world. On Trantor, where you may recall “The Stars End.”Well, I’m sorry I missed this book all these years, but at least I’m getting to read it now. Dammit, I like Asimov’s worlds, and I’m truly sorry that he had to leave this one.Read it, you’ll like it!

⭐This book is one of only three hardback books I’ve bought in the last five years. I am a 70 year old retiree and totally addicted to my Kindle Fire. Even though this book is out of print and only available used, it is a really great book! I started reading Asimov 50 years ago and never stopped. This book was published in 1989 to honor him and is just as entertaining and relevant today as it was then!!!!! Buy it, read it, enjoy it, you’ll be better for the experience.

⭐I purchased this book out of curiosity. There’s a compilation of all of Asimov’s stories on the Internet (see Johnny Pez’s Insanely Complete Fiction List) which is billed as ‘A chronology if events in Issac Asimov’s positronic robot and Foundation series, compiled by Johnny Pez’.In it Foundation’s Friends is repeatedly listed in the sequence of Asimov’s stories. ‘Friends’ also has stories that expand on Asimov’s originals such as ‘Nightfall’.All in all I found Foundation’s Friends an enjoyable ride with some great writers.

⭐An uneven batch of stories written in the universes created by a master of science fiction. In some cases, they’re self-indulgent and unreadable; in others, they improve on Asimov’s admittedly weak point of characterization.The two that stick out for me are:– Harry Harrison’s introduction of his character Slippery Jim DiGriz, the memorable Stainless Steel Rat, into the early years of Asimov’s Robot universe, in which the evolution of the Three Laws of Robotics takes a surprising turn; and– Orson Scott Card’s “Originist,” in which the controversial author of the “Ender” books attempts to explore what Seldon’s Encyclopedia Foundation was *really* trying to preserve as Galactic society showed its first obvious cracks.

⭐Once you have sampled every piece of fiction written by the Grandmaster, fan fiction is the “fix” of last resort ;-)Having said that, I recall being quite amused by this quirky collection of Asimovian stories. They stand on their own as being good science fiction.To make an analogy, I would compare this collection to the Star Wars: Tales series of comic books in the context of new fiction in relation to the canon.

⭐Not all of the stories are part of the Foundation / Robots universe. This is an interesting read. The second part consists of appreciations for Isaac and they can be a bit repetitive, but each writer gives a little different insight, so that’s worth reading as well.

⭐Only read a few stories so far but I have enjoyed them all, hopefully since the motorcycle riding sesson is over in Michigan I can immerse myself into Asimov’s universe

⭐Uneven medley of Foundation-related side-stories that makes one appreciate Asimov all the more.

⭐The title of this book is, in my mind, a little misleading. I expected stories developing themes associated with the Foundation Series, and there are a number of these which are very good, but there are too many robot related stories not directly associated with the Foundation Series. It may be just me, but I’ve always thought the Asimov robot stories a little corny and by far the best Asimov books were the original Foundation Trilogy. If you disagree with my view of robots, you may value this book more, but for me, it’s three stars.

⭐Great book

Keywords

Free Download Foundation’s Friends: Stories In Honor of Isaac Asimov in EPUB format
Foundation’s Friends: Stories In Honor of Isaac Asimov EPUB Free Download
Download Foundation’s Friends: Stories In Honor of Isaac Asimov EPUB Free
Foundation’s Friends: Stories In Honor of Isaac Asimov EPUB Free Download
Download Foundation’s Friends: Stories In Honor of Isaac Asimov EPUB
Free Download Ebook Foundation’s Friends: Stories In Honor of Isaac Asimov