Prelude to Foundation
by Isaac Asimov
Prelude to Foundation (1988) follows young Hari Seldon's arrival on Trantor and his flight across the planet-city's diverse sectors as he develops psychohistory, guided by the mysterious Chetter Hummin — later revealed to be the robot R. Daneel Olivaw.
Published
1988
Pages
403
Pub. Order
#6
Chron. Order
#8
Synopsis
Young Hari Seldon arrives on Trantor to present a paper on psychohistory at a mathematics conference. After his presentation catches the attention of Emperor Cleon I — who wants to use psychohistory as a political tool — Seldon is forced to flee with the help of journalist Chetter Hummin.
Seldon travels through radically different sectors of Trantor — from the university grounds of Streeling to the imperial gardens of Mycogen, the exotic domes of Dahl, and the agricultural sector of Wye — each representing a different facet of the Empire's diversity. Along the way, he begins to see how psychohistory might actually work in practice.
He meets Dors Venabili, a historian who becomes his protector and eventual wife. The novel ends with the revelation that Chetter Hummin is actually R. Daneel Olivaw, who has been guiding Seldon toward developing psychohistory as part of a millennia-long plan to preserve humanity.
Key Themes
Key Characters
Historical Context & Writing Background
Written in 1988, this was Asimov's first Foundation prequel. It allowed him to explore Trantor in detail — the ecumenopolis (planet-city) first mentioned in the original 'Foundation.' The novel also serves as a detective/chase thriller, a departure from the political format of the trilogy.
Critical Reception
Generally well-received, particularly for its vivid portrayal of Trantor's diverse sectors. Some critics felt the detective-story format was less intellectually stimulating than the original trilogy's political puzzles. The revelation of Hummin's identity was praised by those familiar with the Robot series.
Connection to Asimov's Universe
Prelude directly connects the Foundation and Robot series through R. Daneel Olivaw/Chetter Hummin. It establishes Dors Venabili as a key character and sets up 'Forward the Foundation.' The various sectors of Trantor explored here appeared in later TV adaptation episodes.
Read more on WikipediaNotable Quotes
“I don't want to be Emperor. I just want to be left alone to develop psychohistory.”
Frequently Asked Questions About Prelude to Foundation
Should I read Prelude to Foundation first?
Most fans recommend reading the original trilogy first (Foundation, Foundation and Empire, Second Foundation) before the prequels. Prelude to Foundation works best when you already know about psychohistory and the Seldon Plan. The prequel contains spoilers for discoveries made in later-written sequels.
Who is Chetter Hummin in Prelude to Foundation?
Chetter Hummin is revealed at the end of the novel to be R. Daneel Olivaw, the 20,000-year-old robot from Asimov's Robot series. He has been guiding Seldon's development of psychohistory as part of his millennia-long plan to protect humanity.