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{{Short description|1997 novel by Gregory Benford}}
{{Short description|1997 novel by Gregory Benford}}
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'''''Foundation's Fear''''' (1997) is a [[science fiction]] novel by American writer [[Gregory Benford]], set in [[Isaac Asimov]]'s [[The Foundation Series|Foundation]] universe. It is the first book of the Second Foundation trilogy, which was written after [[Isaac Asimov|Asimov's]] death by three authors, authorized by the Asimov estate.
'''''Foundation's Fear''''' (1997) is a [[science fiction]] novel by American writer [[Gregory Benford]], set in [[Isaac Asimov]]'s [[The Foundation Series|Foundation]] universe. It is the first book of the [[Second Foundation Trilogy]], which was written after [[Isaac Asimov|Asimov's]] death by three authors, authorized by the Asimov estate.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Sobczak |first=A. J. |title=Magill Book Reviews |date=1998 |chapter=Foundation’s Fear |chapter-url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f6h&AN=751895&lang=en-gb&site=eds-live&scope=site |via=[[EBSCOHost]]}}</ref>

== Critical reception ==
''Magill Book Reviews'' noted that Benford avoided mimicking Asimov, adding "large elements of action and political intrigue" while remaining consistent with the intellectual foundation of the Asimov universe.<ref name=":0" /> ''[[Library Journal]]'' praised the author as a "gifted storyteller" who "makes the characters come alive".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hamburger |first=Susan |date=1997 |title=Book Reviews: Fiction |url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lkh&AN=9703263839&lang=en-gb&site=eds-live&scope=site |access-date=2024-08-10 |work=[[Library Journal]] |via=[[EBSCOHost]]}}</ref>


== Plot summary ==
== Plot summary ==
Emperor Cleon I wants to appoint [[Hari Seldon]] as the First Minister of the Galactic Empire. Powerful [[Trantor]] High Council member Betan Lamurk opposes the independent Seldon's appointment. Seldon himself is reluctant to accept the position because of its time constraints pulling him away from the [[Psychohistory (fictional)|psychohistory]] project. The project is led by Seldon, Yugo Amaryl, and Seldon's advanced humaniform robot-spouse Dors Venabili. Seldon needs to carry favor with the emperor, however, and advises Cleon I informally. For example, Seldon suggests a decree that [[Damnatio memoriae|erases terrorists' names from records]], denying them immortality, discouraging chaotic actions.
Emperor [[Cleon I]] wants to appoint [[Hari Seldon]] as the First Minister of the Galactic Empire. Powerful [[Trantor]] High Council member Betan Lamurk opposes the independent Seldon's appointment. Seldon himself is reluctant to accept the position because of its time constraints pulling him away from the [[Psychohistory (fictional)|psychohistory]] project. The project is led by Seldon, [[Yugo Amaryl]], and Seldon's advanced humaniform robot-spouse [[Dors Venabili]]. Seldon needs to curry favor with the emperor, however, and advises Cleon I informally. For example, Seldon suggests a decree that [[Damnatio memoriae|erases terrorists' names from records]], denying them immortality, discouraging chaotic actions.


Besides the [[Psychohistory (fictional)|psychohistorians]], much of the novel's action revolves around advanced sentient simulations (sims) of [[Joan of Arc]] and [[Voltaire]]. The sims have been recreated by Artifice Associates, a research company located in [[Trantor]]’s Dahl Sector. Artifice Associates programmers Marq and Sybil plan to use the Joan/ Voltaire sims for two money-making projects. First, Hari Seldon’s psychohistory project. Second, Trantor’s Junin-Sector “Preservers vs Skeptics Society” debate whether mechanical beings endowed with artificial intelligence should be built. And if so, whether they should receive full citizenship. The Preservers’ champion will be Joan, the Skeptics’ champion Voltaire.
Besides the [[Psychohistory (fictional)|psychohistorians]], much of the novel's action revolves around advanced sentient simulations (sims) of [[Joan of Arc]] and [[Voltaire]]. The sims have been recreated by Artifice Associates, a research company located in [[Trantor]]’s [[Galactic_Empire_(Asimov)#Administrative_sectors|Dahl Sector]]. Artifice Associates programmers Marq and Sybil plan to use the Joan/ Voltaire sims for two money-making projects. First, Hari Seldon’s psychohistory project. Second, Trantor’s Junin-Sector “Preservers vs Skeptics Society” debate whether mechanical beings endowed with artificial intelligence should be built. And if so, whether they should receive full citizenship. The Preservers’ champion will be Joan, the Skeptics’ champion Voltaire.


Hari Seldon and Dors Venabili flee [[Trantor]], escaping High Council member Betan Lamurk's forces. During their galactic odyssey, Hari and Dors experience virtual reality as [[Common chimpanzee|chimpanzees]] on planet Panucopia. They also visit helter-skelter New Renaissance world Sark.
Hari Seldon and Dors Venabili flee [[Trantor]], escaping High Council member Betan Lamurk's forces. During their galactic odyssey, Hari and Dors experience virtual reality as [[Common chimpanzee|chimpanzees]] on planet Panucopia. They also visit helter-skelter New Renaissance world Sark.


Meanwhile, back on Trantor, sims Joan and Voltaire escape into Trantor's Mesh (Internet). Joan and Voltaire interact with ancient aliens on the Mesh. These aliens fled Trantor's physical space when terraforming robots arrived on Trantor more than 20,000 years ago. Via Joan and Voltaire, Hari allies with the mesh aliens. The aliens aid Seldon's return to Trantor, and his defeat of High Council member Lamurk through [[Tik-Tok (Oz)|tik-toks]]. The novel ends with Seldon accepting his position as Emperor Cleon's First Minister.
Meanwhile, back on Trantor, sims Joan and Voltaire escape into Trantor's Mesh (Internet). Joan and Voltaire interact with ancient aliens on the Mesh. These aliens fled Trantor's physical space when [[terraforming]] robots arrived on Trantor more than 20,000 years ago. Via Joan and Voltaire, Hari allies with the mesh aliens. The aliens aid Seldon's return to Trantor, and his defeat of High Council member Lamurk through [[Tik-Tok (Oz)|tik-toks]]. The novel ends with Seldon accepting his position as Emperor Cleon's First Minister.

==Reviews==
*Review by Curt Wohleber (1997) in Science Fiction Weekly, 10 March 1997
*Review by Gary K. Wolfe (1997) in Locus, #435 April 1997
*Review by Paul Di Filippo (1997) in Science Fiction Age, May 1997
*Review by Nigel Brown (1997) in Interzone, #123 September 1997
*Review by Don D'Ammassa (1997) in Science Fiction Chronicle, #193 October 1997
*Review by William Paul Rutherford [as by William P. Rutherford] (1997) in The Zone and Premonitions, #6, Winter 1997-98
*Review by K. V. Bailey (1997) in Foundation, #70 Summer 1997
*Review by Mark L. Olson (1998) in Aboriginal Science Fiction, Spring 1998
*Review by Matthew Appleton (1998) in The New York Review of Science Fiction, April 1998
*Review [French] by Jean-Claude Dunyach (1998) in Galaxies, #9
*Review by Steven H Silver (1998) in SF Site, Mid-March 1998, (1998)
*Review by Colin Steele (2001) in SF Commentary, #77

*Review [Portuguese] by Ricardo França (2014) in Somnium, Novembro 2014<ref>{{Cite web |title=Title: Foundation's Fear |url=https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?6890 |access-date=2022-11-27 |website=www.isfdb.org}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


{{Gregory Benford}}
{{Foundation series}}
{{Foundation series}}


Latest revision as of 07:05, 2 December 2024

Foundation's Fear
Cover of the Harper Prism edition
AuthorGregory Benford
Cover artistJ.P. Targete
LanguageEnglish
SeriesThe Second Foundation Trilogy
GenreScience fiction
PublisherHarper Prism
Publication date
February 1997
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (hardback & paperback)
Pages624
ISBN978-0-06-105638-3
OCLC38587275
Preceded byForward the Foundation 
Followed byFoundation and Chaos 

Foundation's Fear (1997) is a science fiction novel by American writer Gregory Benford, set in Isaac Asimov's Foundation universe. It is the first book of the Second Foundation Trilogy, which was written after Asimov's death by three authors, authorized by the Asimov estate.[1]

Critical reception

[edit]

Magill Book Reviews noted that Benford avoided mimicking Asimov, adding "large elements of action and political intrigue" while remaining consistent with the intellectual foundation of the Asimov universe.[1] Library Journal praised the author as a "gifted storyteller" who "makes the characters come alive".[2]

Plot summary

[edit]

Emperor Cleon I wants to appoint Hari Seldon as the First Minister of the Galactic Empire. Powerful Trantor High Council member Betan Lamurk opposes the independent Seldon's appointment. Seldon himself is reluctant to accept the position because of its time constraints pulling him away from the psychohistory project. The project is led by Seldon, Yugo Amaryl, and Seldon's advanced humaniform robot-spouse Dors Venabili. Seldon needs to curry favor with the emperor, however, and advises Cleon I informally. For example, Seldon suggests a decree that erases terrorists' names from records, denying them immortality, discouraging chaotic actions.

Besides the psychohistorians, much of the novel's action revolves around advanced sentient simulations (sims) of Joan of Arc and Voltaire. The sims have been recreated by Artifice Associates, a research company located in Trantor’s Dahl Sector. Artifice Associates programmers Marq and Sybil plan to use the Joan/ Voltaire sims for two money-making projects. First, Hari Seldon’s psychohistory project. Second, Trantor’s Junin-Sector “Preservers vs Skeptics Society” debate whether mechanical beings endowed with artificial intelligence should be built. And if so, whether they should receive full citizenship. The Preservers’ champion will be Joan, the Skeptics’ champion Voltaire.

Hari Seldon and Dors Venabili flee Trantor, escaping High Council member Betan Lamurk's forces. During their galactic odyssey, Hari and Dors experience virtual reality as chimpanzees on planet Panucopia. They also visit helter-skelter New Renaissance world Sark.

Meanwhile, back on Trantor, sims Joan and Voltaire escape into Trantor's Mesh (Internet). Joan and Voltaire interact with ancient aliens on the Mesh. These aliens fled Trantor's physical space when terraforming robots arrived on Trantor more than 20,000 years ago. Via Joan and Voltaire, Hari allies with the mesh aliens. The aliens aid Seldon's return to Trantor, and his defeat of High Council member Lamurk through tik-toks. The novel ends with Seldon accepting his position as Emperor Cleon's First Minister.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Sobczak, A. J. (1998). "Foundation's Fear". Magill Book Reviews – via EBSCOHost.
  2. ^ Hamburger, Susan (1997). "Book Reviews: Fiction". Library Journal. Retrieved August 10, 2024 – via EBSCOHost.


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