[Fader]

First off, is Prelude to Foundation worth reading, or should I start with Foundation?

Second, which of the following two books would you recommend over the other?

Dread Empires Fall - The Praxis by Walter Jon Williams
OR
Souls in the Great Machine by Sean Sean McMullen?

Thanks for your input!

[Kamakhya]

I would not recommend reading Prelude before the original Foundation series. Even though the timeline route makes sense, in this case, I would follow the publication dates. Asimov's later foundation novels were not as good as the original series.

As for question #2, I don't know either, so I recommend reading both after tossing a coin to see which comes first! :)

[Rocket Sheep]

I know Sean McMullen and he generally writes hard science fiction with the emphasis on the science. If you like that style, you'll like his stuff. I don't know Williams sorry.

[fortytwo]

I've only read read The Praxis of the two, and I did enjoy it. If my memory hasn't failed me though it was meant to be the first of a series and I don't know if any more were written.

Time passes...

I've just looked it up and apparently The Sundering (book 2 of the series) is now out in the UK at least.

[Archren]

As to question #2, I have only read the Walter Jon Williams one, but I have read both of the "Praxis" books. They are good, solid space opera with good space combat and interesting politics. Nothing spectacular, but enjoyable.

As for question #1, I completely second Kamakhya.

[Fader]

Thanks for the opinions.

I decided to go with Souls in the Great Machine. I don't much care for space combat or heavy political space sagas, so I think I'll skip the series by Williams.

I'll let you know what I think of Souls when I finish it.

[Mugwump]

I recently re-read the entire Foundation series and I've got to say that it really hasn't dated well.

The opening book is interesting for a few chapters, but the succession of cloned mini-stories gets a bit tedious after a while.

Intelligent-and-cunning-hero-outwits-stupid-and-corruptible-bad-guy-without-breaking-sweat-every-time over and over again just isn’t my cup of tea.

[Fader]

Well, I've nearly finished Souls in the Great Machine, and I have nothing but negative things to say.

If you don't have something nice to say...

I got so frustrated I started re-reading the Hyperion Cantos and Song of Ice and Fire. Two sure fire series in my opinion.