Second Foundation
by Isaac Asimov
Second Foundation (1953) concludes the original trilogy. The Mule searches for the hidden Second Foundation of mentalics, while teenager Arkady Darell later uncovers the truth about its location — a double twist ending that reveals it was hidden on Trantor all along.
Published
1953
Pages
210
Pub. Order
#3
Chron. Order
#12
Synopsis
In 'Search by the Mule,' the defeated Mule sends his converted generals to find the Second Foundation, which he believes is the only remaining threat to his empire. The Second Foundation's First Speaker orchestrates a subtle defense, using the Mule's own converted agents to feed him false information. The Second Foundation ultimately adjusts the Mule's emotional makeup, removing his ambition while leaving him otherwise intact. He dies five years later.
In 'Search by the Foundation,' set decades later, the First Foundation has become aware of the Second Foundation's existence and views it as a threat to its independence. Teenager Arkady Darell — granddaughter of Bayta — becomes entangled in the search. The First Foundation believes it has located and destroyed the Second Foundation on Terminus itself, but the real twist is that Arkady was subtly guided by Second Foundation agents. The true Second Foundation remains hidden on Trantor — 'at Star's End,' which refers not to the edge of the galaxy but to the old capital, the star around which all others once orbited.
Key Themes
Historical Context & Writing Background
Originally serialized as two stories in Astounding Science Fiction: 'Now You See It' (January 1948) and '...And Now You Don't' (November 1949–January 1950). The double-twist ending regarding the Second Foundation's location is considered one of the most elegant mystery solutions in science fiction.
Critical Reception
Second Foundation completed the trilogy that would win the 1966 Hugo for 'Best All-Time Series.' The mystery of the Second Foundation's location and the double-twist ending remain highly praised. Some critics consider the resolution overly clever, but most view it as a fitting conclusion to the trilogy's themes of hidden manipulation.
Connection to Asimov's Universe
The revelation that the Second Foundation operates from Trantor is crucial to all later Foundation novels. In 'Foundation's Edge,' the conflict between the two Foundations drives the plot, while the mentalic abilities introduced here connect to the broader themes of Gaia in 'Foundation and Earth.'
Read more on WikipediaNotable Quotes
“In psychohistory, it is not the individual who counts, but the mass.”
Frequently Asked Questions About Second Foundation
Where is the Second Foundation located?
The Second Foundation is located on Trantor, the former capital of the Galactic Empire. The phrase 'at Star's End' — the opposite end of the galaxy from Terminus — refers to Trantor, which was once the 'star' around which all galactic civilization orbited. This double meaning is the central twist of the novel.
What is the Second Foundation?
The Second Foundation is a secret organization of mentalics — people trained in the science of controlling and reading minds. Established by Hari Seldon simultaneously with the First Foundation, it was designed to guide the Seldon Plan from the shadows, making adjustments when unexpected events (like the Mule) threaten the timeline.