Foundation (series)

Foundation is a science fiction series by Isaac Asimov, originally published as short stories and novellas before being collected into novels.

Foundation is a science fiction series by Isaac Asimov, originally published as short stories and novellas before being collected into novels. It centres on Hari Seldon’s psychohistory plan to preserve knowledge and shorten the dark age that follows the predicted collapse of a galactic empire. The series won the Hugo Award for Best All-Time Series in 1966.

Publication history

The Foundation material first appeared as serial fiction in the 1940s and was later published as three novels in the early 1950s. The first three books were long known as the Foundation Trilogy. Asimov later added two sequels and two prequels, bringing the total to seven volumes.

Plot premise

The series follows a future civilization after the collapse of a Galactic Empire. Hari Seldon uses psychohistory, a mathematics-based theory of mass human behaviour, to help create a Foundation meant to reduce the length of the coming dark age.

Major characters and concepts

Hari Seldon is the central historical figure, while the Foundation itself is the key institution in the story. Psychohistory, the Encyclopedia Galactica project, and the competing First and Second Foundations are recurring elements.

Literary significance

The series is widely regarded as a landmark in science fiction and has been influential in later speculative fiction. Its themes include historical cycles, governance, knowledge preservation, and the limits of prediction. The series won the Hugo Award for Best All-Time Series in 1966.