Paperback, 224 pages
Italian language
Published June 1, 1995 by Mondadori.
L’immenso impero galattico è scosso da sussulti dell’agonia, dilaniato da sanguinose lotte intestine, e le autorità centrali non sono più in grado di tenere a freno le rivolte che scoppiano da ogni parte. Da questa caotica situazione emerge una nuova temibilissima forza: una sorta di milizia privata che... con astuzia si impadronisce via via di tutte le leve di comando. II suo capo è un avventuriero misterioso dotato, a quanto si dice, di poteri sovrumani: il Mutante. Chi è? Da dove viene? Dove si nasconde? Troppo tardi coloro che vogliono annientarlo si accorgeranno che il Mutante è più forte e più vicino di quanto sospettino.
It's a fun book but it's not as good as the first one. Worth a read if you really like the setting but that's kinda it.
I enjoyed this book more than the original Foundation. The majority of the book focuses on a small group of characters which made it easier to follow events. The story does a great job of balancing the activities of the core characters with the scale of the crisis spanning a large part of the galaxy. I initially found the abrupt end of the first crisis a bit grating but that was easy to forgive as the seconded crisis was more interesting for me.
This is a great book if you're already in the Foundation story and it really sets the stage for the series. The two parts feel a bit disjointed, but that is only superficial. The whole premise is whether psychohistory can be changed by individual action. The first part suggests no, the second suggests yes. In addition to the interesting premise, the story is strengthened by better characters that grow and act for much longer than in the prior novel. And now the stage is set for a race to see who will reach the Second Foundation.
For a full review, check out my blog: strakul.blogspot.com/2021/08/book-review-foundation-and-empire-by.html
Would have normally rated it 4* but that ending... Wow!
