This is book number two in the new Second Foundation Trilogy being written by hard science fiction authors Gregory Benford, Greg Bear, and David Brin, otherwise known as the "Killer B's." In this book, Bear continues where Benford's Foundation's Fear left off, as the trial of legendary psychohistorian Hari Seldon is about to begin. Bear writes with a style uncannily similar to Foundation creator Isaac Asimov's, and he even manages to incorporate some of Asimov's own writing in the novel. Aside from the trial, Bear also focuses on the nearly immortal robots that serve the Foundation, including R. Daneel Olivaw, who is set to guide one of the Foundation's first great undertakings. But Olivaw runs into trouble from an unexpected quarter, his best operative, Lodovik Trema, whose positronic brain has been irrevocably altered in a strange accident that has given him freedom from the supposedly immutable laws of robotics. --Craig Engler



"Brings out the complexities of a galactic empire that Asimovnever filled out."


Publishers Weekly
"Exciting and well written."


Denver Post
"Brings out the complexities of a galactic empire that Asimov never filled out."


Book Description
Isaac Asimov's renowned Foundation Trilogy pioneered many of the familiar themes of modern science fiction and shaped many of its best writers. With the permission and blessing of the Asimov estate, the epic saga left unfinished by the Grand Master himself now continues with this second masterful volume. With Hari Seldon on trial for treason, the Galactic Empire's long-anticipated migration to Star's End is about to begin. But the mission's brilliant robot leader, R. Daneel Olivaw, has discovered a potential enemy far deadlier--and closer--than he ever imagined. One of his own kind. A freak accident erases the basic commandments in humaniform robot Lodovik Trema's positronic brain. Now Lodovic's service to humankind is no longer bound by destiny, but by will. To ensure his loyalty, Daneel has Lodovic secretly reprogrammed. But can he be trusted? Now, other robots are beginning to question their mission--and Daneel's strategy. And stirrings of rebellion, too, are infecting their human counterparts. Among them is a young woman with awesome psychic abilities, a reluctant leader with the power to join man and robot in a quest for common freedom.or mutual destruction.The Foundation Saga Continues Read Gregory Benford's Foundation's Fear, the first novel in this bold new series and Secret Foundation, the concluding volume from David Brin.


Download Description
"The epic saga left unfinished by the Grand Master himself now continues with this second masterful volume (and the blessing of the Asimov estate). Brilliant robot leader R. Daneel Olivaw is about to begin the Galactic Empire's long-anticipated migration to Star's End, until he faces a deadly threat -- from one of his own kind. A rebellion is stirring, and there's only one hope: a young woman with awesome psychic abilities who can join man and robot in a quest for common freedom, or mutual destruction.Isaac Asimov's renowned Foundation Trilogy pioneered many of the familiar themes of modern science fiction and shaped many of its best writers. With the permission and blessing of the Asimov estate, the epic saga left unfinished by the Grand Master himself now continues with this second masterful volume. With Hari Seldon on trial for treason, the Galactic Empire's long-anticipated migration to Star's End is about to begin. But the mission's brilliant robot leader, R. Daneel Olivaw, has discovered a potential enemy far deadlier--and closer--than he ever imagined. One of his own kind. A freak accident erases the basic commandments in humaniform robot Lodovik Trema's positronic brain. Now Lodovic's service to humankind is no longer bound by destiny, but by will. To ensure his loyalty, Daneel has Lodovic secretly reprogrammed. But can he be trusted? Now, other robots are beginning to question their mission--and Daneel's strategy. And stirrings of rebellion, too, are infecting their human counterparts. Among them is a young woman with awesome psychic abilities, a reluctant leader with the power to join man and robot in a quest for common freedom.or mutual destruction.The Foundation Saga Continues Read Gregory Benford's Foundation's Fear, the first novel in this bold new series and Secret Foundation, the concluding volume from David Brin. "


About the Author
Greg Bear has won two Hugo Awards and three Nebula Awards and is a past president to the Science Fiction Writers of America. He lives in Seattle, Washington.

FROM OUR EDITORS

Two of the most interesting novels this month look to the past, but in different ways. Greg Bear's Foundation and Chaos is the second volume in the "new Foundation trilogy" based on Isaac Asimov's classic series (once voted the best science fiction series of all time). The first was Gregory Benford's Foundation's Fear, and the third will come from David Brin. Bear's novel doesn't break as much new ground in the Foundation universe as Benford's did, but Asimov fans will probably find this account of the political fortunes of psychohistorian Hari Seldon to be more closely in keeping with Asimov's own fiction. In one key courtroom scene, Bear even includes most of the dialogue from "The Psychohistorians," the first chapter in Asimov's original Foundation novel.

—Gary Wolfe

FROM THE PUBLISHER

With the permission - and blessing - of the Asimov estate, three of today's bestselling SF writers, Gregory Benford, Greg Bear, and David Brin, have conspired (like the original Foundation!) to complete the epic saga the Grand Master left unfinished. Hari Seldon, frail and full of years, is on trial for daring to predict the Empire's fall, and the time has come for the long-anticipated migration to Star's End. But R. Daneel Olivaw, the brilliant robot entrusted with this great mission, has discovered a potential enemy, even deadlier than the figurehead Emperor's brutal minions. One of his own. Humaniform robot Lodovik Trema is the only survivor of a bizarre interstellar accident. Exposed to a neutrino storm, his positronic brain has apparently erased the holographic template of the Three Laws of Robotics. If this is true, Lodovic's service to humankind is no longer a question of destiny, but of will, and therefore, no longer absolute.

SYNOPSIS

The Second Foundation Trilogy adds to the work of science fiction master Isaac Asimov. With the approval of the Asimov estate, the first book in the trilogy, Foundation's Fear by Gregory Benford, appeared last year. A rigorous adventure combined with lucid intellectual debate and ingenious invention, it perfectly set the stage for Greg Bear's new addition to the trilogy, Foundation Chaos. The trilogy will be completed by David Brin, thus bringing together the talents of three of today's most acclaimed science fiction writers to continue one of the most beloved -- and groundbreaking -- fiction series of all time. Bear has written the sequel to Benford's masterful beginning with inventive talents equal to those of Asimov.

Psychohistorian Hari Seldon, frail and full of years, is on trial for daring to predict the Empire's fall, and the time has come for the long-anticipated migration to Star's End. But R. Daneel Olivaw, our hero and the brilliant robot entrusted with this great mission, has discovered a potential enemy even deadlier than the figurehead emperor's brutal minions: A trusted member of his ranks has turned against him. A taut tale of treachery and white knights in an apocalyptic landscape, Foundation Chaos is science fiction on the grand scale, and an ideal sequel to Foundation Fear.

FROM THE CRITICS

Denver Post