BY FAR THE BEST BOOK SO FAR!

Holy fucking shit! I'VE SO MUCH TO SAY, but I can't put them into words 😂

So let me start with the best decision Asimov made: this book is not split into parts, but is one continuous story. The previous books were split into parts and it was always at the point of transitioning into the next part that the book would crumble for a while before building up to good quality and engaging story. Those breaks in the flow have been debilitating. This book was incredible and will be in my list of favourites, it was engaging, thrilling and interesting from start to finish.

The way the book started was straight off the cuff engaging. I loved it.
The two main characters Goran Trevize and Janov Pelorat had so much depth to them and I loved their interactions together.
I loved how adventurous this book felt, I felt like I was growing with the characters and piecing together the mysteries that surrounded us.

I loved how Pel was used as a narrative device to introduce the reader to the way of life of those who explored space, and how Trev was used as a narrative device to introduce the reader to the different worlds and cultures and human behaviours. They were both used as narrative devices in their interactions with eachother to further the understanding and depth of the world Asimov has crafted. Brilliant! But on top of that, as characters themselves, they stand out and I could feel the type of person they each were, they felt real and full of breath.

I loved how both foundations were portrayed, in flawed states with mixes of arrogance, ambition, incompetence and complacency, underestimating eachother.

The overarching mystery of a possible third galactic faction at play who were more adept at mentalics, was amazing, finally a possible threat to all of Seldon's plan.

The world of Gaia was amazing. The mystery surrounding it, the constant "What ifs" and speculation inspired in the reader thanks to the thoughts and theories of the two main characters and the two foundational factions, was brilliantly executed.

As for Gaia itself, wow. Just, wow.
Around the 30% point if this book I had a stray thought: What if Asimov's Robots series was connected to the Foundation series and the Robots series is set in Foundations past on earth? Turns out, I WAS RIGHT! And it turns out I missed a book! His book "The End of Eternity is also set before Foundation and apparently the Robots of the Robots series evolved into cosmic (or at least cosmic aware) beings called Eternals, which is what The End of Eternity is set during. I'm now going to read the book now instead of the next Foundation book so I can fully understand the next books. EDIT: ....just found out there's another series from him, the Galactic Empire series, with three books, set before End of Eternity...so there's 4 books I gotta read in total before I read Foundation and Earth 👀
But yeah, that twist, where I found out the Robots series and Foundationwere connected, was brilliantly executed, the second Dom the Gaian started talking about the three laws of robots I literally stood from my seat shouting "I KNEW IT!" 🤣

This was by far the best Foundation book I've read so far. I'm blown away.
So why is it not a 5 star? BECAUSE THE NAMES ARE STILL STUPID AND RIDICULOUS! 🤣
There's a guy called Littoral Thoobing. Seriously. That's his name. Absolutely ridiculous. Every time Asimov comes out with a character with a ridiculously stupid and unmemorble name, it takes me out of my immersion and engagement. Ridiculous 😂
Edit: I've changed my mind, the book is 5 star 🌟🤣