In this prequel to the original series, Hari Seldon maneuvers through the dangerous bureaucracy of Trantor while seeking the post of First Minister under Emperor Cleon I. The narrative centers on Seldon’s development of psychohistory and his encounter with two ancient, bodiless artificial intelligences, Joan and Voltaire. These entities exist within the planetary computer network and engage in philosophical debates regarding the nature of consciousness. Concurrently, Seldon and his wife Dors Venabili face political sabotage and the threat of mechanical simulacra designed to replace human influence.
Science fiction readers interested in the technical bridge between Isaac Asimov’s robot stories and the Galactic Empire will find this expansion informative. It appeals to those who enjoy hard physics and detailed world-building centered on the challenges of governing a galaxy-sized population. A reader finishes the book with a deeper understanding of Seldon’s personal struggle against technological stagnation and the specific computational hurdles required to predict human behavior on a grand scale.
Outward-looking; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Curious Generalist. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1997
- Language
- EN
