Reading Order
Follow Isaac Asimov's recommended chronological journey through his interconnected universe. This reading order was suggested by Asimov himself in the author's note of Prelude to Foundation.
Note: While this is the chronological order, you can also read the Foundation trilogy first (Foundation, Foundation and Empire, Second Foundation) and then explore the prequels and related series. Both approaches offer unique experiences.
Robot Series
The foundation of Asimov's universe, exploring the Three Laws of Robotics
I, Robot
Published 1950
A collection of nine short stories introducing the Three Laws of Robotics
The Caves of Steel
Published 1954
Detective Elijah Baley and robot R. Daneel Olivaw investigate a murder
The Naked Sun
Published 1957
Baley and Daneel solve a murder on the Spacer world of Solaria
The Robots of Dawn
Published 1983
The duo faces a complex case on the planet Aurora
Robots and Empire
Published 1985
The bridge between the Robot and Empire series
Galactic Empire Series
The rise of humanity's galactic civilization
The Stars, Like Dust
Published 1951
A tale of rebellion against the tyrannical Trantorian Empire
The Currents of Space
Published 1952
A man with amnesia holds the key to a planet's survival
Pebble in the Sky
Published 1950
A man from the 20th century finds himself in the Galactic Empire
Foundation Series
The fall and rebirth of galactic civilization through psychohistory
Prelude to Foundation
Published 1988
Young Hari Seldon seeks to develop psychohistory
Forward the Foundation
Published 1993
Hari Seldon's final years and the establishment of the Foundation
Foundation
Published 1951
The First Foundation faces the collapse of the Galactic Empire
Foundation and Empire
Published 1952
The Foundation confronts the last remnants of the Empire and the Mule
Second Foundation
Published 1953
The search for the mysterious Second Foundation
Foundation's Edge
Published 1982
A quest to find Earth and uncover the true nature of the Foundations
Foundation and Earth
Published 1986
The search for humanity's legendary home planet continues
Why This Order?
This reading order provides a chronological journey through Asimov's universe, allowing readers to see how events unfold across thousands of years.
The Robot series introduces the fundamental concepts and laws that govern artificial intelligence in this universe.
The Empire series bridges the gap between the Robot stories and the Foundation saga, showing the rise of humanity's galactic civilization.
Finally, the Foundation series depicts the fall and rebirth of that civilization, guided by the revolutionary science of psychohistory.
Total reading journey: 15 books spanning approximately 20,000 years of future history.