Centurie Ten: Quatrain Fourty-Nine: Garden of the world near the new city, in the path of the hollow mountains: it will be seized and plunged into the tank, forced to drink waters poisoned by sulfur. --NostradamusTo most, the above is nothing more then a cryptic word puzzle, written centuries ago by some guy who claimed to foresee the future. However, to the operatives of the Foundation those words drive their mission: To make sure it never comes to pass.
The story revolves around Agent Steve Valentine, who is tired of having to choose only one life over many. He feels his soul is fading away, and he wants out of the Foundation. When he is given one last mission everything that could go wrong does go wrong. He has to figure out the true meaning of the quatrain, and figure it out fast before the prophecy comes true and people die.
You just can't shake the feeling that the Foundation is just a little bit evil. They're trying to save mankind, but it comes at a high cost. The first chapter is all about saving one nameless man (who is apparently destined for greatness) from getting on a plane that is fated to crash. That one man lives, but others are sacrificed, and the Foundation is unwilling to save them because they aren't part of the plan.
As a whole, the story is compelling. Nostradamus, the writer of prophecies crazier then the one I got in a fortune cookie last night, creates a group to keep his predictions from coming true. Killer.
It's like Minority Report meets Men in Black with less Will Smith and more awesome. The writing wasn't bad, nothing stellar that makes you want to quote it on your Myspace page, but not completely wooden either. The first chapter is the best of the five. It's well written, and it showcases the potential of The Foundation as an ongoing series.
The plot twist was a little weak for a story premise as heavy as this one. You expect something mind blowing, but you don't get it--no "Luke, I'm your father", no Bruce Willis is really a ghost, just a trite, "I totally saw that coming" twist that leads into an even bigger, disappointed sigh-inducing, anti-climactic ending.
I do believe my exact thought was "Okaaaay . . . It's over." This is often a terrible problem with miniseries: They start out great, total home run, but the end just comes off as rushed.
It's as if the writers were under pressure to just end the damn thing, so BAM! there's the ending. Did they just get tired of writing it and throw their pens across the room? Is there supposed to be a sequel?
Even if there's going to be some kind of follow up, that's no excuse for the ending. Biggest loss of points, right there. To sum it up: a great idea that could have had a lot more done with it. Bad ending.
My recommendation would be to read it if you're a fan of the "mystic happenings that pertain to our future" type genre, or if you want to read it before Hollywood turns it into a summer blockbuster.
What did you think of this book?
Have your say at the Line of Fire Forum!