
After reading several novels from Asimov right after another, I now have no doubt that writing characters with depth was never something he mastered, or wanted to master. When there are good enough female characters, they are either not pretty enough, or a robot...
Some parts of this plot felt quite disturbing like that hand-on-thigh that made no sense and was only a sexual fan-service to himself, I believe. It's like he has little improved from The Stars Like Dust (1951) to this (1988)...
I was felt similar to Hari while following the hints and cues and failing to guess what is what over and over. But well, he is the main character and if he is not clever enough to guess the plot twist at the end, who will?
But I can't be like those who keep guessing from the first page. I want to go along with the story, I want to enjoy the journey rather than occupying my mind with questions all the time. I merely comment on something and move on.
I understand many dislike this book because they have already read the main trilogy of the Foundation. But I am reading the whole series chronologically, so, I did enjoy this book and its big reveal. I was kinda spoiled that Asimov tied the whole series through a character and making a greater series with about 18 books and stories but the "how" was not spoiled. And I very much enjoyed the "how" in this and the book Robots and Empire.
After reading several novels from Asimov right after another, I now have no doubt that writing characters with depth was never something he mastered, or wanted to master. When there are good enough female characters, they are either not pretty enough, or a robot...
Some parts of this plot felt quite disturbing like that hand-on-thigh that made no sense and was only a sexual fan-service to himself, I believe. It's like he has little improved from The Stars Like Dust (1951) to this (1988)...
I was felt similar to Hari while following the hints and cues and failing to guess what is what over and over. But well, he is the main character and if he is not clever enough to guess the plot twist at the end, who will?
But I can't be like those who keep guessing from the first page. I want to go along with the story, I want to enjoy the journey rather than occupying my mind with questions all the time. I merely comment on something and move on.
I understand many dislike this book because they have already read the main trilogy of the Foundation. But I am reading the whole series chronologically, so, I did enjoy this book and its big reveal. I was kinda spoiled that Asimov tied the whole series through a character and making a greater series with about 18 books and stories but the "how" was not spoiled. And I very much enjoyed the "how" in this and the book Robots and Empire.

Answered a promptWhat are your favorite vampire stories?

This is the second time I read this book, after about five years, and for the first time in English.
I had forgotten all about the plot twist.
It kinda bothers me that Asimov didn't consider any "digital paperwork" or "security camera"s, like brooooo, haven't you read 1984?! It's okay to use that idea when you're writing about the Earth 12000 years in the future!!!
But since it's his first novel and it's very much ahead of its time, and written before the whole Foundation series and 30 years before him actually binding his books into a series, I turn a blind eye on this one.
And also because civilizations rise and fall like the Burnt City of Persia and Mesopotamia. That's how many things have to be rediscovered and reinvented every time, unfortunately.
Asimov's sexual fantasies of young beautiful women is not that strong here thank god.
The plot is everything. The characters are not cool though.
AND OMG I FINALLY FINISHED THIS BOOK NOW I CAN GO TO FOUNDATION SERIES I CAN'T WAIT
This is the second time I read this book, after about five years, and for the first time in English.
I had forgotten all about the plot twist.
It kinda bothers me that Asimov didn't consider any "digital paperwork" or "security camera"s, like brooooo, haven't you read 1984?! It's okay to use that idea when you're writing about the Earth 12000 years in the future!!!
But since it's his first novel and it's very much ahead of its time, and written before the whole Foundation series and 30 years before him actually binding his books into a series, I turn a blind eye on this one.
And also because civilizations rise and fall like the Burnt City of Persia and Mesopotamia. That's how many things have to be rediscovered and reinvented every time, unfortunately.
Asimov's sexual fantasies of young beautiful women is not that strong here thank god.
The plot is everything. The characters are not cool though.
AND OMG I FINALLY FINISHED THIS BOOK NOW I CAN GO TO FOUNDATION SERIES I CAN'T WAIT

This is the second time I read this book, after about five years, and for the first time in English.
I had forgotten all about the plot twist.
It kinda bothers me that Asimov didn't consider any "digital paperwork" or "security camera"s, like brooooo, haven't you read 1984?! It's okay to use that idea when you're writing about the Earth 12000 years in the future!!!
But since it's his first novel and it's very much ahead of its time, and written before the whole Foundation series and 30 years before him actually binding his books into a series, I turn a blind eye on this one.
And also because civilizations rise and fall like the Burnt City of Persia and Mesopotamia. That's how many things have to be rediscovered and reinvented every time, unfortunately.
Asimov's sexual fantasies of young beautiful women is not that strong here thank god.
The plot is everything. The characters are not cool though.
AND OMG I FINALLY FINISHED THIS BOOK NOW I CAN GO TO FOUNDATION SERIES I CAN'T WAIT
This is the second time I read this book, after about five years, and for the first time in English.
I had forgotten all about the plot twist.
It kinda bothers me that Asimov didn't consider any "digital paperwork" or "security camera"s, like brooooo, haven't you read 1984?! It's okay to use that idea when you're writing about the Earth 12000 years in the future!!!
But since it's his first novel and it's very much ahead of its time, and written before the whole Foundation series and 30 years before him actually binding his books into a series, I turn a blind eye on this one.
And also because civilizations rise and fall like the Burnt City of Persia and Mesopotamia. That's how many things have to be rediscovered and reinvented every time, unfortunately.
Asimov's sexual fantasies of young beautiful women is not that strong here thank god.
The plot is everything. The characters are not cool though.
AND OMG I FINALLY FINISHED THIS BOOK NOW I CAN GO TO FOUNDATION SERIES I CAN'T WAIT