Foundation series
Overview
The Foundation series is a science fiction book series written by American author Isaac Asimov. For nearly thirty years, the series was a trilogy: Foundation, Foundation and Empire, and Second Foundation. It won the one-time Hugo Award for "Best All-Time Series" in 1966. Asimov began adding to the series in 1981, with two sequels: Foundation's Edge, Foundation and Earth, and two prequels: Prelude to Foundation, Forward the Foundation. The additions made reference to events in Asimov's Robot and Empire series, indicating that they were also set in the same fictional universe.
Setting
The Foundation series is set in a future where the Milky Way galaxy is populated by humans. The capital of the First Galactic Empire is the ecumenopolis (a city that covers an entire planet) Trantor, whose population exceeds 40 billion. The Empire's size is such that its political, economic, and administrative structures are unable to prevent a gradual decline. The series's protagonist, Hari Seldon, develops psychohistory – a new and effective mathematical sociology. Using statistical laws of mass action, it can predict the future of large populations. Seldon foresees the imminent fall of the Empire, which encompasses the entire Milky Way, and a dark age lasting 30,000 years before a second great empire arises. Seldon's calculations also show there is a way to limit this interregnum to just one thousand years.
Plot
The series begins with the psychohistorian Hari Seldon predicting the fall of the Galactic Empire and a dark age lasting 30,000 years before the rise of a second empire. To prevent this, Seldon creates two Foundations – groups of talented artisans and engineers – at opposite ends of the galaxy. The Foundations' purpose is to preserve humanity's collective knowledge and thus decrease the length of the interregnum.
The first Foundation, located on the planet Terminus, focuses on physical sciences. The second Foundation, on the other hand, is located on the former Imperial homeworld of Trantor and emphasizes the psychological sciences. The second Foundation ultimately proves more influential, despite its hidden nature, which contrasts with the first Foundation's public image.
Themes
The Foundation series deals with themes such as the cyclical nature of civilization, the limitations of knowledge, and the power of social sciences. Asimov explores how civilizations can avoid decline, focusing on the role of physical and social sciences in preserving society. The series also explores the concept of psychohistory, a fictional science that combines history, sociology, and mathematical statistics to make predictions about the future behavior of very large groups of people.
Reception and Legacy
The Foundation series is considered a landmark of science fiction literature. It has been widely influential in the genre, inspiring numerous authors and works. The series has also been praised for its ambitious scope and its handling of themes such as history, sociology, and the future of humanity.