I'm looking for the Russian translation of the Foundation Trilogy,
entitled Akademiya, Akademiya i Imperiya, Vtoraia Akademiya, published
by Poliaris in Riga in 1994, now out of print. If anyone knows of a
copy or an online resource for used Russian books, please let me know.
I only read elementary Russian, but would like to improve my skills by
reading the Master in what could easily have been his native language.
I have translations of the Trilogy into French (read countless times),
Italian, Modern Greek, Spanish, Portuguese and German. I think I've
found a translation into Chinese, but I don't have it yet. Oddly
enough, the trilogy is apparently out of print in Japanese, while much
more minor works are available..
The French translation is the one I know best. It is actually far more
stylish than the original, except on one or two occasions where the
translator had trouble with the early Asimov's somewhat pulpish
English, e.g. "I'll tear out your stinking windpipe". Once, during Gaal
Dornick's near sunstroke during one of his meetings with Seldon, he
omits a whole paragraph, I'm not sure why. The French is one of the
first translations, dating to the mid 60's, and Asimov has always been
closely followed by the French SF community.
Like many fans I wrote Dr Asimov with some literary trifle back in the
eighties. He was very courteous, especially considering his failing
health. I have most of his works in French translation, and have
recently been reading I, Asimov with great pleasure.
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