Foundation
by Isaac Asimov
Foundation (1951) is the first novel in Isaac Asimov's Foundation series. It chronicles the establishment of the Foundation on Terminus and its survival through the first three Seldon Crises as the Galactic Empire collapses around it.
Published
1951
Pages
244
Pub. Order
#1
Chron. Order
#10
Synopsis
Mathematician Hari Seldon has developed psychohistory, a new field of science that allows him to predict the future of large populations. He foresees the inevitable collapse of the 12,000-year-old Galactic Empire and a subsequent dark age lasting 30,000 years. To shorten this period to just 1,000 years, Seldon establishes two Foundations at 'opposite ends of the galaxy.'
The novel follows the First Foundation on the remote planet Terminus through its first 150 years. The Foundation survives a series of predictable crises — later called 'Seldon Crises' — each of which has only one possible solution. Under leaders like Salvor Hardin and Hober Mallow, the Foundation uses religion, trade, and economic leverage rather than military force to dominate the surrounding kingdoms that emerge from the Empire's ruins.
The book is structured as five interconnected short stories, originally published in Astounding Magazine between 1942 and 1944. Each story jumps forward in time, introducing new characters who must navigate the next crisis in the Seldon Plan.
Key Themes
Historical Context & Writing Background
Asimov was inspired by Edward Gibbon's 'The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire' (1776). He conceived the idea during a subway ride to meet his editor John W. Campbell in August 1941. The original short stories were published in Astounding Science Fiction magazine from May 1942 to January 1944, then collected into a novel by Gnome Press in 1951.
Critical Reception
The Foundation trilogy won the Hugo Award for 'Best All-Time Series' in 1966, defeating J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Lord of the Rings.' Foundation is consistently ranked among the greatest science fiction novels ever written and has influenced generations of writers, scientists, and entrepreneurs — including Elon Musk, Paul Krugman, and Newt Gingrich.
Connection to Asimov's Universe
Foundation is the chronological and thematic starting point of the Foundation saga. Events here are set approximately 12,000 years after the Robot series and thousands of years after the Empire series. The Seldon Plan established here drives the plot of all subsequent Foundation novels.
Read more on WikipediaNotable Quotes
“Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.”
“Never let your sense of morals prevent you from doing what is right.”
Frequently Asked Questions About Foundation
What is Foundation by Isaac Asimov about?
Foundation is about mathematician Hari Seldon's plan to preserve human knowledge and shorten a predicted 30,000-year dark age to just 1,000 years. He establishes the Foundation on the remote planet Terminus, which then navigates a series of political crises as the Galactic Empire collapses. The novel explores how small groups can use science, religion, and economics to shape the course of history.
Is Foundation hard to read?
Foundation is relatively accessible compared to other classic science fiction. At 244 pages, it reads quickly. The main challenge is its episodic structure — each section jumps forward decades with new characters. However, the overarching narrative provides a compelling thread. Most readers find the ideas more engaging than any individual character.
What order should I read the Foundation series?
Most fans recommend publication order for first-time readers: Foundation (1951), Foundation and Empire (1952), Second Foundation (1953), then the sequels Foundation's Edge (1982) and Foundation and Earth (1986), and finally the prequels Prelude to Foundation (1988) and Forward the Foundation (1993).
Did Foundation win the Hugo Award?
Yes. In 1966, the original Foundation trilogy won a special Hugo Award for 'Best All-Time Series,' beating J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Lord of the Rings.' This remains one of the most significant awards in science fiction history.
What inspired Asimov to write Foundation?
Asimov was inspired by Edward Gibbon's 'The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.' He conceived the idea of applying Gibbon's historical analysis to a future galactic civilization during a subway ride to meet his editor John W. Campbell on August 1, 1941.