Second Foundation – Book Review

Posted by Samuel Walters

Second Foundation continues Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series and, in effect concludes his original “trilogy” (two more sequel books and a few prequel books would follow, but years later). As such, the book focuses on tying up loose ends and putting the Seldon Plan firmly back in its proper place. Just like its predecessor, Second Foundation is split into two shorter novellas. But, of course, with the Foundation beginning the book under the occupation of The Mule, and the Second Foundation as yet unrevealed, the process would, clearly, be a difficult one for the Foundation and its citizens. But while there is some satisfaction in the final resolution to the book, ultimately, though, it doesn’t quite live up to the standard set by the first two installments.

Search By The Mule

This particular story picks up five years after The Mule’s desperate quest to find the Second Foundation was single-handed thwarted by Bayta Darrell. In that time, The Mule has stopped expanding his empire, content to consolidate his power and continue his search his elusive and shadowy nemesis (it’s interesting to note that The Mule’s only title is that of ‘First Citizen’). One of the Mule’s most trusted agents is Han Pritcher, the Foundation patriot and freedom fighter from the previous book. Pritcher had been one of the more compelling characters in Foundation and Empire and his return here is a welcome one – even if his “converted” exterior isn’t quite as enjoyable.

Joining Pritcher in his search for the Second Foundation is a young man by the name of Bail Channis – an unconverted-yet-loyal citizen of the Mule’s dominion. The two conduct their search and eventually end up on a planet called Rossem, in the Tazenda sector where Channis believes the Second Foundation to be. The Mule arrives and a fateful confrontation between mentalics ensues.

Unfortunately, the search itself just isn’t as gripping as one might have expected. Instead, it’s a kind of by-the-numbers type plot which spends more time focused on the banter between the two characters than on exploration or confrontation. It wouldn’t be so bad – a great deal of the first two Foundation books rely heavily on dialogue – had their conversation carried a bit more significance beyond the story itself. Unfortunately, that just isn’t the case.

What the story does have going for it, however, is its consideration of mental abilities – both of the Mule and of the Second Foundation. And the final confrontation, in which The Mule, Pritcher and Channis (revealed to be a Second Foundation agent) are held it a tightly woven balance of power is quite suspenseful – including the final twist with the Second Foundation’s leader. But it’s not enough to salvage the entire story from being slightly below what we’ve come to expect from a Foundation tale.

Search By The Foundation

This installment is particularly problematic due to the prominence of Arkady Darrell, the protagonist of the story. Arkady is a fourteen year-old girl who Asimov portrays as thoroughly shallow, insufferable and grating. Put simply, Arkady is more cliché than character and, as a result, most of what follows suffers under the heavy dose of precociousness.

The main plot follows the clandestine attempts of Arkady’s father, the son of Bayta Darrell, to develop tools to detect and disrupt the activities of mentalics – of the Second Foundation. The main problem for the Second Foundation is that because it was forced to openly confront The Mule, it revealed itself as a major player in the galaxy. The First Foundation never forgot and, eventually, came to resent the presence of the caretakers of Seldon’s Plan. And who wouldn’t? The First Foundation goes through the physical trials of building an empire, and the Second Foundation merely tinkers with events, ready to assume true leadership when The Plan is at an end. So Arkady’s father hatches a plan to ferret out the Second foundation.

Arkady, after eavesdropping on her father’s plan, stows away on board a ship, makes it to Kalgan, and soon finds herself on the run from the Second Foundation (or so she perceives). Aside from Arkady’s overwhelming presence, the story makes decent use out of the “Where is it?” question when it comes to the location of the Second Foundation. Front and center is a quote from Hari Seldon himself who once that that the Second Foundation was located “At the other end of the galaxy … at star’s end.” But how exactly do you find the “other end” of a circle – which is what the galaxy could be assumed to look like in two dimensions? It’s this little psychological game that becomes the most enjoyable element to the book.

And the fact that the answer is Trantor – the correct answer from a social (not geographic) standpoint is all the more amusing.

Unfortunately, the journey is just too onerous to truly enjoy.

Overall Grade: C

Second Foundation is not a horrible book. But it does fall into mediocrity. It’s clear that Asimov wanted to confront the issue of “the other Foundation” but for whatever reason, he lacked the same successful tack he took with the first two books.

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Topics: Book Reviews, Sci-Fi
Filed under: Foundation