Previous to this book I had never encountered Isaac Asimov before, I had heard that he was a giant in the SF genre and as such my expectations were very high. High expectations lead to highly critical evaluations and so it is clear that something is very special if it can meet those high expectations, even exceed them. This book is one of those very special things.
A special mention should go to the artwork on the front of my edition, it is simply amazing, it was what caught my eye in the first place and gave me incentive to buy it.
I have to say that the first few chapters didn't seem to live up to the hype. To begin with the periods discussed in the story are separated over vast periods of time. Just as you feel that you are becoming familiar with a character or group, really getting a feel for them, the story jumps another hundred years into the future. It leaves the reader feeling no real connection with the story, however as the overall plot progresses you become attached not to the fate of a single character, there is no central hero as such, but rather to the success of an idea, a hope for a better future for the whole of the human race spread over millions of worlds throughout the whole galaxy. As a result the book immerses the reader in a universe of endless possibility and wonder, Asimov's writing style enhances the effect and by the end you are left craving more.
The overall story is epic and only gains depth upon repeat readings, it really is a classic by anyone's standard and a sound base for the five or so books that follow it, a must read for any SF fan, old or young.
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Advantages: Complex and clever yet not too long, ambitious ideas and very well-written Disadvantages: Pretty much devoid of action, some very long dialogues
Advantages: Complex and clever yet not too long, ambitious ideas and very well-written Disadvantages: Pretty much devoid of action, some very long dialogues
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