JonDent - Exploring Electronic Music: Foundation

Friday 29 July 2016

Foundation - Isaac Asimov's

Foundation is arguably the original sci fiction series.

The first stories were published in the 1940's during the height of WWII.

They take place over a 1000 year time period.

One of the main characters, Harry Seldon has invented / developed the concept of mathematical sociology

and psychohistory, where he predicts the demise of the human race and it's plunge into a 30,000 year dark age.

At this time, the Galactic empire sprawls. It covers the entire Milky Way.

Humans have even forgotten where Earth is.

To lessen it's suffering, he plans for the human race to create a foundation of scientists & engineers to preserve civilization and become the cornerstones of a new Galactic Empire.

Foundation is a cycle of five interrelated short stories, first published as a single book by Gnome Press in 1951, although the original trilogy of novels were published in "Astounding Magazine" between May 1942 & January 1950.

These stories were inspired by Edward Gibbon's " History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire".

Foundation (1951) - first 4 short stories.
Foundation & Empire (1952)
Second Foundation (1953)

Isaac Asimov won the 1966 Hugo Award for "Best All-Time Series" for the "Foundation" Series.

This covered the original 3 books

This beat JRR Tolken for his "Lord of the Rings" and Robert A. Heinlein for "Future History" .

Asimov would write two further sequel novels and two prequels.
Asimov began adding new volumes in 1981.
The two sequels: Foundation's Edge (1982) and Foundation and Earth (1986)
The two prequels: Prelude to Foundation (1988) and Forward the Foundation (1993)

In chronological order, the books can be read like this

1. Prelude to Foundation

Publisher: Doubleday
Publication date: November 1988
Print (hardcover and paperback)
Pages 403
ISBN 0-385-23313-2

2. Forward the Foundation

Publisher : Doubleday
Publication date: April 1993
Print (hardback & paperback)
Pages    417
ISBN    0-385-24793-1
OCLC    29849055

3. Foundation

Publisher: Gnome Press
Publication date 1951
Print (hardback & paperback)
Pages 255
ISBN 0-553-29335-4

It includes 5 parts:
1. The Psychohistorians was written for the 1951 book.
2. The Encyclopedists was originally published in the May, 1942 issue of Astounding Science-Fiction under the title of "Foundation". (This issue)
3. The Mayors" was originally published in the June 1942 issue of Astounding Science-Fiction as "Bridle and Saddle".
4. "The Traders" was originally published in the October 1944 issue of Astounding Science-Fiction as "The Wedge".
5. "The Merchant Princes" was first published in the August 1944 issue of Astounding Science-Fiction as "The Big and the Little"

4. Foundation and Empire

Publisher: Gnome Press
Publication date: 1952
Media type Print (hardcover)
Pages 247

5. Second Foundation

Publisher:Gnome Press
Publication date: 1953
Print (Hardcover)
Pages 210

6. Foundation's Edge

Published: 1982 (Doubleday)
Print (Hardcover, Paperback)
Pages   367
Awards   Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel (1983)
ISBN   0-385-17725-9
OCLC   8473906

7. Foundation and Earth

Publisher: Doubleday
Publication date: 1986
Media type    Print (Hardcover, Paperback)
Pages    356
ISBN    0-385-23312-4
OCLC    13123192

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As was mentioned earlier, though it was first published as a single book by Gnome Press in 1951,
the original trilogy of novels were published in "Astounding Magazine" between May 1942 & January 1950.

The Foundation Magazine issues.
You can download them from the Internet Archive.

Foundation - first 4 short stories.

Foundation Part II: The Encyclopedists
May 1942, pages 38-53 (Foundation)

Foundation Part III: The Mayors
June 1942, pages 9-30 (Bridle and Saddle)

Foundation Part V: The Merchant Princes
August 1944, pages 7-54 (The Big and the Little)

Foundation Part IV: The Traders
October 1944, pages 64-79 (The Wedge)

** Note, Part I didn't appear in the magazine. It's first appearance was in the 1951 book. The opening section of Part II was not included in the book publication ***

Foundation & Empire (3 magazine issues)