Reading Order
Follow Isaac Asimov's recommended chronological journey through the interconnected Robot, Empire, and Foundation series
Note: While this is the chronological order recommended by Asimov himself, you can also read each series independently. Many fans prefer starting with the original Foundation trilogy first.
Robot Series
The foundation of Asimov's universe, introducing the Three Laws of Robotics
I, Robot
Published 1950
A collection of short stories that introduces the Three Laws of Robotics and explores their implications
The Caves of Steel
Published 1954
Detective Elijah Baley and robot R. Daneel Olivaw investigate a murder in Earth's underground cities
The Naked Sun
Published 1957
Baley and Daneel travel to the sparsely populated planet Solaria to solve another mystery
The Robots of Dawn
Published 1983
The team investigates a 'roboticide' on Aurora, the oldest and most powerful Spacer world
Robots and Empire
Published 1985
The conclusion of the Robot series, bridging the gap to the Galactic Empire
Galactic Empire Series
The rise and fall of humanity's first Galactic Empire
The Stars, Like Dust
Published 1951
A young nobleman seeks revenge and discovers a rebellion against the Tyranni
The Currents of Space
Published 1952
A man with amnesia holds knowledge that could destroy an entire planet
Pebble in the Sky
Published 1950
A man from the 20th century is accidentally transported to Earth's radioactive future
Foundation Series
The fall of the Galactic Empire and the rise of the Foundation
Prelude to Foundation
Published 1988
Hari Seldon's early years and the development of psychohistory
Forward the Foundation
Published 1993
Seldon's later years and the establishment of the Foundation
Foundation
Published 1951
The beginning of the Foundation on Terminus and the first Seldon Crisis
Foundation and Empire
Published 1952
The Foundation faces the remnants of the Empire and a new threat: the Mule
Second Foundation
Published 1953
The search for the mysterious Second Foundation and the defeat of the Mule
Foundation's Edge
Published 1982
Centuries later, the Foundation seeks the Second Foundation and discovers Gaia
Foundation and Earth
Published 1986
The search for humanity's legendary home world and the truth about the galaxy's future
Why This Order?
This chronological order follows the internal timeline of Asimov's universe, creating a cohesive narrative spanning thousands of years.
The Robot series introduces fundamental concepts and characters that influence the entire saga, including the Three Laws of Robotics and key technological developments.
The Empire series shows humanity's expansion and the formation of the Galactic Empire, setting the stage for its eventual decline.
The Foundation series chronicles the fall of the Empire and the rise of a new civilization, guided by the mathematical predictions of psychohistory.
Together, these 15 books create an epic journey spanning 20,000 years of future history.