What do you think?
Rate this book
Razorland #0.5
Foundation
Disease wipes out world's humans. Family hides in underground. Boy narrator grows up, falls in love with another boy.
17 pages, ebook
First published October 23, 2012
About the author
Ann Aguirre
74 books6,927 followersNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Ann Aguirre has been a clown, a clerk, a savior of stray kittens, and a voice actress, not necessarily in that order. She grew up in a yellow house across from a cornfield, but now she lives in Mexico with her family. She writes all kinds of genre fiction, but she has an eternal soft spot for a happily ever after.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 269 reviews
September 23, 2020
Sometimes I wondered what the point of survival was, if this was what we had to do; it seemed there was nothing in the world worth saving.
unlike restoration, which was an unnecessary (sez me) story retold from a different POV, this is an all-new piece that actually contributes to the series instead of just reheating old material.
this story takes place before the events of Enclave and details the chaos that drove humans underground in the first place, from the POV of an individual who will help shape the subterranean society in which deuce will live.
quick note- the character's name is "robin schiller" with no indication of gender. i read it as a male character, but if you are one of those "adam and eve, not adam and steve" people, you may prefer to read it as a girl.
oh, and also
for such a short little story, aguirre really packs in a lot of detail. in a good way. she gives as much factual information as these characters could reasonably be expected to know about the virus and the riots, while leaving some things a mystery. she does a good job detailing the progression of events, the deterioration of conditions, and all the incipient fear, lack of information, and determination to survive that would be a part of this type of event, while still managing to create characters the reader cares about.
there's a little violin-playing
Before, he had some idea I might be a doctor like him, but with the way things had changed, I didn’t think much about the future.
but it's certainly a reasonable reaction from the perspective of a member of one of the few fortunate families sequestered underground while everything they know burns above them who are then faced with their own problems. i think they've earned the right to mope a little.
the story is pretty much in keeping with the larger body of the razorland series - gritty survival and love in the ashes and all that. it fills in some gaps you didn't even realize were gapping, and it marks the designation of the very first wordkeeper.
if you like the series, it's a good add-on, but you can probably enjoy it even if you haven't read any of the books - the hope and grief and despair are applicable to any end-of-world scenario.
but if you don't read this one, you should at least read a different tor short and then tell us all about it.
read it for yourself here:
http://www.tor.com/2012/10/24/foundat...
come to my blog!
unlike restoration, which was an unnecessary (sez me) story retold from a different POV, this is an all-new piece that actually contributes to the series instead of just reheating old material.
this story takes place before the events of Enclave and details the chaos that drove humans underground in the first place, from the POV of an individual who will help shape the subterranean society in which deuce will live.
quick note- the character's name is "robin schiller" with no indication of gender. i read it as a male character, but if you are one of those "adam and eve, not adam and steve" people, you may prefer to read it as a girl.
oh, and also
for such a short little story, aguirre really packs in a lot of detail. in a good way. she gives as much factual information as these characters could reasonably be expected to know about the virus and the riots, while leaving some things a mystery. she does a good job detailing the progression of events, the deterioration of conditions, and all the incipient fear, lack of information, and determination to survive that would be a part of this type of event, while still managing to create characters the reader cares about.
there's a little violin-playing
Before, he had some idea I might be a doctor like him, but with the way things had changed, I didn’t think much about the future.
but it's certainly a reasonable reaction from the perspective of a member of one of the few fortunate families sequestered underground while everything they know burns above them who are then faced with their own problems. i think they've earned the right to mope a little.
the story is pretty much in keeping with the larger body of the razorland series - gritty survival and love in the ashes and all that. it fills in some gaps you didn't even realize were gapping, and it marks the designation of the very first wordkeeper.
if you like the series, it's a good add-on, but you can probably enjoy it even if you haven't read any of the books - the hope and grief and despair are applicable to any end-of-world scenario.
but if you don't read this one, you should at least read a different tor short and then tell us all about it.
read it for yourself here:
http://www.tor.com/2012/10/24/foundat...
come to my blog!
February 28, 2023
Esta es una historia corta del inicio de la infeccion, donde conocemos al personaje principal y como llegaron a la colonia donde vivirian los proximos anos.
Asi que no es mas que una pequena introduccion a la saga, pero te inicia en el universo y te hace querer saber que paso en ese tiempo, y como se desarrollo toda la trama.
Asi que no es mas que una pequena introduccion a la saga, pero te inicia en el universo y te hace querer saber que paso en ese tiempo, y como se desarrollo toda la trama.
October 27, 2014
A teen with parents has an opportunity to hide from the outbreaks in the city. They have the means to get one of the bunkers that would protect them.
So they go there.
They are not alone, but they are not encouraged to socialize with other families. Until they are forced to do just that. This is an interesting start of the series. While I am not that much of a YA fan (just too many annoying things to list) and I haven't read the other books in this series, I didn't find the characters annoying. If I decide to read the series, I hope that won't change.
So they go there.
They are not alone, but they are not encouraged to socialize with other families. Until they are forced to do just that. This is an interesting start of the series. While I am not that much of a YA fan (just too many annoying things to list) and I haven't read the other books in this series, I didn't find the characters annoying. If I decide to read the series, I hope that won't change.
July 8, 2017
Foundation is a prequel short story to Ann Aguirre's Razorland series that can be read for free on the Tor website or can be purchased as an ebook from Amazon (and assumably other ebook retailers).
I really enjoyed Enclave but I had a lot of questions about how the world was destroyed and how people ended up living underground in small communities so it was really nice to go back and see where things all started to go wrong. This story doesn't feature any of the characters from the main series (it's set many years before Enclave starts) but it does fill in some background about the world and there is even a little romance included. It's only short so there's not much time for character development but this was still a nice little addition to the series.
I really enjoyed Enclave but I had a lot of questions about how the world was destroyed and how people ended up living underground in small communities so it was really nice to go back and see where things all started to go wrong. This story doesn't feature any of the characters from the main series (it's set many years before Enclave starts) but it does fill in some background about the world and there is even a little romance included. It's only short so there's not much time for character development but this was still a nice little addition to the series.
August 25, 2017
It cleared up a few things about the apocalypse and the Freaks/Muties, so it kind of served its purpose
April 9, 2019
This was super short, but I loved the insight into the virus and what made the freaks. We also got to see how the College Enclave started. The story is written as a sort of journal by Robin, who's family goes into a bunker when the virus starts killing people. I liked the relationship he had with Austin, a bit of sweetness in the awfulness. I would like this to be longer with more information, but it helped answer some questions I had.
November 11, 2012
I'm all for the extra tid-bits authors make in accompaniment to their series.
But if you're an Enclave fan, you don't really need to read this...
It is kind of interesting because it does confirm how the Freaks were created and how the evacuation went down, but it doesn't really explain anything new like I hoped. This is partly due to the first-person POV of a kid who doesn't have all the facts about what is going on around her. I suspect it was also done to leave some omniscience about the ending of the world.
So no big revelations here. Everything was pretty much alluded to or inferred in the official series books.
.
This just seemed like filler to me, but I do like hearing more (or anything, really) 'bout the Razorland universe.
So still worth-while for a big fan that needs more material, but definitely not necessary for the main story-line.
And there is a cute little romance that develops. :)
But if you're an Enclave fan, you don't really need to read this...
It is kind of interesting because it does confirm how the Freaks were created and how the evacuation went down, but it doesn't really explain anything new like I hoped. This is partly due to the first-person POV of a kid who doesn't have all the facts about what is going on around her. I suspect it was also done to leave some omniscience about the ending of the world.
So no big revelations here. Everything was pretty much alluded to or inferred in the official series books.
.
This just seemed like filler to me, but I do like hearing more (or anything, really) 'bout the Razorland universe.
So still worth-while for a big fan that needs more material, but definitely not necessary for the main story-line.
And there is a cute little romance that develops. :)
December 19, 2012
I forgot I had this one and originally the intent was to read this one first and then Endurance. I failed.
As a fan of Razorland, I never really felt the need to know exactly what happened before Enclave. Mostly because I was already heavily involved in the story Enclave was trying to weave. However, for world building purposes I can see why this one would be necessary or at the very least help out some.
Overall, this was an interesting read. We get to find out what happened in the days leading up to the chemical warfare that was unleashed upon the world and ultimately what drove people underground. We also find out how freaks were created and it’s not what I think most expected. I didn't. You also get to learn how the College Enclave was founded along with how the system of builders, breeders, hunters and word keeper were created.
So yes, the title is very fitting.
It was a quick read, about 20 pages. It's not the action packed reads we are used to but a nice addition nonetheless. I would recommend it because I think it would give the fan some nice theories as to why the Freaks are behaving the way they are as of late.
As a fan of Razorland, I never really felt the need to know exactly what happened before Enclave. Mostly because I was already heavily involved in the story Enclave was trying to weave. However, for world building purposes I can see why this one would be necessary or at the very least help out some.
Overall, this was an interesting read. We get to find out what happened in the days leading up to the chemical warfare that was unleashed upon the world and ultimately what drove people underground. We also find out how freaks were created and it’s not what I think most expected. I didn't. You also get to learn how the College Enclave was founded along with how the system of builders, breeders, hunters and word keeper were created.
So yes, the title is very fitting.
It was a quick read, about 20 pages. It's not the action packed reads we are used to but a nice addition nonetheless. I would recommend it because I think it would give the fan some nice theories as to why the Freaks are behaving the way they are as of late.
June 21, 2016
3.5/5
I don't have idea about the Enclave yet but Ann Aguirre made a nice introduction of the Foundation of it, how the bunkers survived, and the start of the College Enclave. I got confused about the sexual identity of the narrator though, Robin Schiller, as the boy was so soft and gentle. 90% of the time I thought he's another way around. Secondly, it did showcase good writing and moderate pacing, but it quite lacked emotions when going through death after death of people around them. I guess it's too short for that (?). Nevertheless, still deserves a pat on the back. :)
I don't have idea about the Enclave yet but Ann Aguirre made a nice introduction of the Foundation of it, how the bunkers survived, and the start of the College Enclave. I got confused about the sexual identity of the narrator though, Robin Schiller, as the boy was so soft and gentle. 90% of the time I thought he's another way around. Secondly, it did showcase good writing and moderate pacing, but it quite lacked emotions when going through death after death of people around them. I guess it's too short for that (?). Nevertheless, still deserves a pat on the back. :)
Read
December 12, 2023Une courte nouvelle intéressante ... mais trop courte. Ca commençait bien, mais l'auteur malheureusement ne vas pas au bout des choses et termine sa nouvelle de manière trop pressante et on reste donc sur notre faim. Une lecture néanmoins rapide qui nous dévoile des éléments intéressants sur comment les Enclaves se sont créées.
April 5, 2014
Great short story, the only problem with prequels is that it's never the same people as it is in the main books in the series.
I like that a bit of M/M was added, as usually these types of books never do.
I like that a bit of M/M was added, as usually these types of books never do.
January 25, 2018
I have not read anything in this series before this piece. Now, I definitely will. The story was engaging and well paced. Can't wait to read more.
June 25, 2019
Wow me dio piel de gallina el final.
October 22, 2013
I'm not a big of Enclave, but this. This one tugged at my heartstrings! The voice of Robin Schiller sounds so melancholic it's tragic and yet beautiful. His short tale is moving. I think I liked him more than Deuce.
This is a short read but all necessary information about how it started are related to us by Robin. Even though they're not much, I think they're enough for us to have an idea of how those Freaks came into being.
Here's the link to this short story: http://www.tor.com/stories/2012/10/fo...
This is a short read but all necessary information about how it started are related to us by Robin. Even though they're not much, I think they're enough for us to have an idea of how those Freaks came into being.
Here's the link to this short story: http://www.tor.com/stories/2012/10/fo...
June 26, 2016
This is actually a short story that is a prequel to "Enclave." The cause of the apocalypse is revealed and it is credible given our current world situation. Would have liked to have the story focus more on that and not as much on the relationship between the two boys whose families took them underground to escape.
November 17, 2015
Interesting to read how it all began, but would have liked to read some more about when they came down to the tunnels.
December 7, 2017
Going into this, I knew it would be a prequel. All the same, I don't think this works well as a standalone short story.
It starts well: "I don't remember how the sun feels." Then we get launched into a narration of how human history led up to the narrator's current position.
That's the thing. I don't really understand the world being described. It's described very briefly, but I don't understand when people go down into the bunkers? Why couldn't electronic teaching/conversation be done? In 2003, there was the SARS quarantine - and it feels that the real life efforts were more technologically advanced than what is being described in the narrative (which was published in 2012!). When they go down to the bunkers, the narrator suggests that the family is isolated (again). Why can't they digitally communicate with other people? Why does Robin think his parents will object to him talking to Austin? There doesn't seem to be a point in the social isolation.
Because I wasn't able to suspend my disbelief, I felt that the rest of the story was meh. It's not a bad origin story, and the romance was ok, but I just didn't enjoy it.
1.5/5.
It starts well: "I don't remember how the sun feels." Then we get launched into a narration of how human history led up to the narrator's current position.
That's the thing. I don't really understand the world being described. It's described very briefly, but I don't understand when people go down into the bunkers? Why couldn't electronic teaching/conversation be done? In 2003, there was the SARS quarantine - and it feels that the real life efforts were more technologically advanced than what is being described in the narrative (which was published in 2012!). When they go down to the bunkers, the narrator suggests that the family is isolated (again). Why can't they digitally communicate with other people? Why does Robin think his parents will object to him talking to Austin? There doesn't seem to be a point in the social isolation.
Because I wasn't able to suspend my disbelief, I felt that the rest of the story was meh. It's not a bad origin story, and the romance was ok, but I just didn't enjoy it.
1.5/5.
September 6, 2017
This was a fantastic intro story that gives Enclave just the perfect amount of background! And also helps if you read Endurance as well. How all this ties together really blows my mind! What an amazing story!!
July 21, 2020
I haven't read this series yet, but if this is just a glimpses into this world, I'm very interested to continue. I like the writing style, and it's almost a relief to be reading this during a pandemic. Things might not be as bad in real life as it is in this book. Scary though.
November 17, 2018
Me encantó
April 8, 2019
Rating: 4
A really nice addition to the Razorland series.
A really nice addition to the Razorland series.
August 19, 2019
Demasiado corto y aunque si da algo de información. Pero mantiene los secretos para los libros principales.
March 4, 2017
Read this book as a prequel to Enclave, the first one in the series.
If I was the mother
I don't understand how
Excited to see how it opens up the world of Enclave.
If I was the mother
I don't understand how
Excited to see how it opens up the world of Enclave.
May 7, 2023
Actual Rating: 1.5 stars
Kind of pointless and unnecessary. It provides no added value to the series.
Kind of pointless and unnecessary. It provides no added value to the series.
September 2, 2014
*Book source ~ Purchased on Amazon
Robin Schiller is thirteen when he and his parents go underground in a hermetically sealed tiny bunker to avoid the chemical bomb set off in Times Square. Told it would be a temporary thing until order topside is restored, he is fourteen when all contact with the outside world stops. Finding another boy his age in one of the compartments of his unit of the underground Robin whispers conversations with him daily until everyone in the unit decides they should all meet. Robin’s world is turned upside down yet again, but it’s not the last time that will happen.
My thirteen-yr-old son is a big fan of the Razorland books, so I bought this prequel more for him than for me, but then decided to read it myself. This is a very interesting story even if it is bleak beyond measure. While every change sucks, there is still hope and when Robin meets Austin he decides he can survive anything as long as he has Austin at his side. I had a mild curiosity to read the series before, but now I really must see how the future that appeared so bleak in Foundation really turns out.
Robin Schiller is thirteen when he and his parents go underground in a hermetically sealed tiny bunker to avoid the chemical bomb set off in Times Square. Told it would be a temporary thing until order topside is restored, he is fourteen when all contact with the outside world stops. Finding another boy his age in one of the compartments of his unit of the underground Robin whispers conversations with him daily until everyone in the unit decides they should all meet. Robin’s world is turned upside down yet again, but it’s not the last time that will happen.
My thirteen-yr-old son is a big fan of the Razorland books, so I bought this prequel more for him than for me, but then decided to read it myself. This is a very interesting story even if it is bleak beyond measure. While every change sucks, there is still hope and when Robin meets Austin he decides he can survive anything as long as he has Austin at his side. I had a mild curiosity to read the series before, but now I really must see how the future that appeared so bleak in Foundation really turns out.
December 26, 2015
I really loved Enclave, but everything else in this series has disappointed me.
The blurb on the Tor site threw me off, and unfortunately kind of killed this snippet for me. I probably would have enjoyed this more if I'd known who was "speaking."
Also, this wasn't nearly long enough to really MEAN anything to me. I often find myself frustrated by short shorts, it's not really my preferred format. This is the merest snippet of a snippet and adds very little.
And, really, FOUNDATION?? No. The comparison does not flatter Ms Aguirre.
http://www.tor.com/2012/10/24/foundat...
The blurb on the Tor site threw me off, and unfortunately kind of killed this snippet for me. I probably would have enjoyed this more if I'd known who was "speaking."
told through the eyes of a teen who would later have vast influence over the fate of many, and who gave his heart to the one person who needed him most.made it seem like Fade was speaking, and none of that made sense, so u spent the entire story feeling confused and irritated. So, let me be clear! This is not Fade!
Also, this wasn't nearly long enough to really MEAN anything to me. I often find myself frustrated by short shorts, it's not really my preferred format. This is the merest snippet of a snippet and adds very little.
And, really, FOUNDATION?? No. The comparison does not flatter Ms Aguirre.
http://www.tor.com/2012/10/24/foundat...
October 24, 2012
This is just the sort of insanity-making awesomeness that I've come to expect from Ann Aguirre. Getting to see the beginning of the end was shiver inducing and reminded me of just how much I loved Enclave.
We got some hints of who Robin might be in Endurance when Stone and Thimble stumbled onto the underground bunker while on the run. Now we get to see how the life of the topsiders progressed as the sickness spread, what drove Robin's family below ground, and ultimately what happened to those "lucky" enough to be able to afford these hermetically sealed habitats.
A very, very intriguing step back into the Razorland world that takes what we already know and expands it in a most satisfactory manner.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
We got some hints of who Robin might be in Endurance when Stone and Thimble stumbled onto the underground bunker while on the run. Now we get to see how the life of the topsiders progressed as the sickness spread, what drove Robin's family below ground, and ultimately what happened to those "lucky" enough to be able to afford these hermetically sealed habitats.
A very, very intriguing step back into the Razorland world that takes what we already know and expands it in a most satisfactory manner.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
Read
October 22, 2013Great prequel. An understanding of the virus and mutations were quite interesting. The formation of College, the incorporation of their caste and mind frames that became passed all the way to Deuce’s generation. Plus if you've read through to Outpost and the bonus short story, the reader is "enlightened" by the bottom dwellers and those outcast to the caves, and how they suffer in many ways to the topside kind of lifestyle. There is an over cast theme of fitting in - the Freaks, those from College, those that needed to survive and lead a life in the Wolf pack that offered no happiness, and Deuce for being a former marked Huntress, a grown brat that clearly stands out in Salvation....and perhaps their only hope.
Can't wait for Horde, by Ann Aguirre, to be auto delivered to my Kindle in a few days ***giggle giggle***!!!!!!!!!
Can't wait for Horde, by Ann Aguirre, to be auto delivered to my Kindle in a few days ***giggle giggle***!!!!!!!!!
January 12, 2013
I was expecting a more detailed account of what happened to the world and more of an explanation of how the freaks came to be. So I was disappointed in this. I don't care who Robin and Austin are and I found their love to be far fetched and a poor way to bring in a homosexual aspect to the series. Besides telling us that a nuclear threat caused the world to be decimated (which I think we knew from Enclave or Outpost anyway), the only other new piece of information is that the freaks are mutants and not zombies (which again you would already know from the author's note in Outpost if you read it). This read was really just a waste of time and $.99. At least it was really short.
November 17, 2015
I read the first book in the series before I remembered that there was this prequel. I usually prefer to read the prequel first. I don't think the order hurt me in any way. It was nice to get some background to how people became infected, how the uninfected ended up underground and how the enclaves began. I wish we could have known who, from the main story, if anyone these people were related to. That's my only criticism. I'm loving the story and already reading the 1.5 novella.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 269 reviews