Lorayger
So, this is the book Asimov first wrote after about 30 years, huh.
I was so excited Earth was mentioned again and I hoped to see a ceratin character (which I won't spoil if you haven't read the whole greater series, so, no worries). I did get disappointed and checked for the nth time when exactly Asimov published what book. And I think I have to face the truth that the character I'd love to see isn't coming back T~T
We did get a mention of Pebble in the Sky which I found very rewarding T~T
Very much enjoyed seeing three different types of genius young men.
Novi's part of the story is quite disturbing. It is not explained since when she was sent as an agent and if she had consented to that!
The big reveal of the third party was a bit frustrating since I was hoping it was either that certain character or the people of Earth. But since the next and the very last book of the series has Earth in its name, I guess I still have to wait and see.
I don't know if I had liked Gaia if I hadn't watched Pluribus. Now I have read the book with this bias and my hate for the collective consciousness. No privacy is horrible. I don't know what Trevize thought to choose this. It was great to have a character feeling and reasoning the same way we the audience do but in the end, he didn't have to choose out of the three options! He could still have the minds of the first and second Foundationers altered and say he needs to look for the answer as of option 4! And because I made the mistake of reading The Last Question before this, I know what will happen and I am not feeling pleased with the outcome. I just wanna know what Trevize will find on Earth, especially because they didn't explain why the records of Earth were wiped out from Trantor!
About the robots: I'm so glad they mentioned them! So that certain character wasn't the only one! It taught other robots and they taught humans and then left when humans learned their techniques??? Or worse, what if they dismantled themselves?????? TTTTTTTT0TTTTTTTT
The very last argument between Trevize and Bliss is quite appealing. Reminds of the two prequels of Foundation. But since this is written first, The prequels are the ones where Asimov repeats himself, so, frustrating a bit. I'm glad AGAIN that. it is not how Trevize said.
It felt awesome to be able to sympathize with a character (Trevize) and anticipate what he'd do. I thought what I would do if I were him and it kinda came out the same. So, high five Trevize!
It seems after all these years Asimov either had not learned how to write real relationships between men and women and how to write women at all, OR he still chose to write this way because of his own teenage fantasies and to satisfy male teenagers.
So, this is the book Asimov first wrote after about 30 years, huh.
I was so excited Earth was mentioned again and I hoped to see a ceratin character (which I won't spoil if you haven't read the whole greater series, so, no worries). I did get disappointed and checked for the nth time when exactly Asimov published what book. And I think I have to face the truth that the character I'd love to see isn't coming back T~T
We did get a mention of Pebble in the Sky which I found very rewarding T~T
Very much enjoyed seeing three different types of genius young men.
Novi's part of the story is quite disturbing. It is not explained since when she was sent as an agent and if she had consented to that!
The big reveal of the third party was a bit frustrating since I was hoping it was either that certain character or the people of Earth. But since the next and the very last book of the series has Earth in its name, I guess I still have to wait and see.
I don't know if I had liked Gaia if I hadn't watched Pluribus. Now I have read the book with this bias and my hate for the collective consciousness. No privacy is horrible. I don't know what Trevize thought to choose this. It was great to have a character feeling and reasoning the same way we the audience do but in the end, he didn't have to choose out of the three options! He could still have the minds of the first and second Foundationers altered and say he needs to look for the answer as of option 4! And because I made the mistake of reading The Last Question before this, I know what will happen and I am not feeling pleased with the outcome. I just wanna know what Trevize will find on Earth, especially because they didn't explain why the records of Earth were wiped out from Trantor!
About the robots: I'm so glad they mentioned them! So that certain character wasn't the only one! It taught other robots and they taught humans and then left when humans learned their techniques??? Or worse, what if they dismantled themselves?????? TTTTTTTT0TTTTTTTT
The very last argument between Trevize and Bliss is quite appealing. Reminds of the two prequels of Foundation. But since this is written first, The prequels are the ones where Asimov repeats himself, so, frustrating a bit. I'm glad AGAIN that. it is not how Trevize said.
It felt awesome to be able to sympathize with a character (Trevize) and anticipate what he'd do. I thought what I would do if I were him and it kinda came out the same. So, high five Trevize!
It seems after all these years Asimov either had not learned how to write real relationships between men and women and how to write women at all, OR he still chose to write this way because of his own teenage fantasies and to satisfy male teenagers.
Added to listRobot & Foundation World - Detailed chronological Orderwith 19 books.
An important point before reading: This is an independent novel. But if you are interested in reading Robots series and Foundation series, definitely start with this one because its ending is the prologue (Check out the list on my profile for more info.)
Asimov wrote his stories mostly in dialogues. The process of his stories often feel like sitting on the edge of your seat in case of brilliant ideas and getting disturbed while reading about characteristics of men, descriptions of women and the whole relationships among characters. But also, when you tolerate and bite through to the end, the big relveals come flooding your way and sweep you off your feet. Maybe he thought that this kind of writing would make the modern reader give him a discount and ignore the fact that he had very weak characters, especially female ones.
In this novel, the story is not like a third person point of view, instead, we see everything through the eyes of Harlan, the main protagonist, who is separated from his time when he was 15, when was supposed to have puberty and learn about relationships and maybe even have sex. In Eternity, he only meets men because women are not allowed to work there. He is a virgin and as a Technician, he must conceal his emotions. Therefore, we get a typical male protagonist: sexist, arrogant, reactive, not handsome or charming at all. Just like how most of the audiences/readers were at the time. Those times were not the times where change for men was demanded. So, Asimov just did not try to complain about Harlan's behaviors and characteristics in the narrative or interrogate it. I think his way was very subtle and not for the average male reader who would worship him. Harlan gets told he has misunderstood many things, and he refuses to accept. Well, we don't expect him to change in the moment because he is a tool in this great plot, but I expected him to show some humane change at the end. What makes it worse is that a competent and beautiful woman like Noys, one of the very active roles of women in Asimov's stories, STILL falls in love with this Harlan. I know I am looking at this from a person's pov living in 2026 and has complains on this matter and women's roles. I am aware that most of male authors of that time wrote in this way and thus attracted the majority of people having similar point of views. I know many read his novels because of the science fiction parts but I don't believe that his sucking-at-writing-proper-human-relationships has not affected those readers' pov and/or worse, resonated with them. The ending is giving those virgin incels the hope and the fantasy, that no matter how not-handsome, unlikeable, unchangeable, aggressive and shitty they are, there will be a woman who is so perfect and is ready to leave everything from her time and home and be with them.
That aside, I love every bit about the sci-fi plot: Eternity, Reality, Reality possibilies, future possibilities and its knot to the greater Robot/Foundation series.
An important point before reading: This is an independent novel. But if you are interested in reading Robots series and Foundation series, definitely start with this one because its ending is the prologue (Check out the list on my profile for more info.)
Asimov wrote his stories mostly in dialogues. The process of his stories often feel like sitting on the edge of your seat in case of brilliant ideas and getting disturbed while reading about characteristics of men, descriptions of women and the whole relationships among characters. But also, when you tolerate and bite through to the end, the big relveals come flooding your way and sweep you off your feet. Maybe he thought that this kind of writing would make the modern reader give him a discount and ignore the fact that he had very weak characters, especially female ones.
In this novel, the story is not like a third person point of view, instead, we see everything through the eyes of Harlan, the main protagonist, who is separated from his time when he was 15, when was supposed to have puberty and learn about relationships and maybe even have sex. In Eternity, he only meets men because women are not allowed to work there. He is a virgin and as a Technician, he must conceal his emotions. Therefore, we get a typical male protagonist: sexist, arrogant, reactive, not handsome or charming at all. Just like how most of the audiences/readers were at the time. Those times were not the times where change for men was demanded. So, Asimov just did not try to complain about Harlan's behaviors and characteristics in the narrative or interrogate it. I think his way was very subtle and not for the average male reader who would worship him. Harlan gets told he has misunderstood many things, and he refuses to accept. Well, we don't expect him to change in the moment because he is a tool in this great plot, but I expected him to show some humane change at the end. What makes it worse is that a competent and beautiful woman like Noys, one of the very active roles of women in Asimov's stories, STILL falls in love with this Harlan. I know I am looking at this from a person's pov living in 2026 and has complains on this matter and women's roles. I am aware that most of male authors of that time wrote in this way and thus attracted the majority of people having similar point of views. I know many read his novels because of the science fiction parts but I don't believe that his sucking-at-writing-proper-human-relationships has not affected those readers' pov and/or worse, resonated with them. The ending is giving those virgin incels the hope and the fantasy, that no matter how not-handsome, unlikeable, unchangeable, aggressive and shitty they are, there will be a woman who is so perfect and is ready to leave everything from her time and home and be with them.
That aside, I love every bit about the sci-fi plot: Eternity, Reality, Reality possibilies, future possibilities and its knot to the greater Robot/Foundation series.
Minus 0.5 star because of how impossible it feels that only humans were the one specie that spread through out space till the end of time.
This wasn't the time to read it through The Greater Robot and Foundation series. And unfortunately, I couldn't know that without it getting spoiled for me. So, here I am. I probably had to read it as the last story in the whole series. We'll see after reading Nemesis, which I should probably had read after The Complete Robot.
Other than that, it was a very intriguing read! Loved it!
Minus 0.5 star because of how impossible it feels that only humans were the one specie that spread through out space till the end of time.
This wasn't the time to read it through The Greater Robot and Foundation series. And unfortunately, I couldn't know that without it getting spoiled for me. So, here I am. I probably had to read it as the last story in the whole series. We'll see after reading Nemesis, which I should probably had read after The Complete Robot.
Other than that, it was a very intriguing read! Loved it!