Everything about Foundation Novel totally explained
Foundation is the first book in
Isaac Asimov's
Foundation Trilogy (later expanded into
The Foundation Series). Foundation is a collection of five short stories, which were first published together as a book by
Gnome Press in
1951. Together, they form a single plot.
Foundation tells the story of a group of scientists who seek to preserve knowledge as the civilizations around them begin to regress.
Plot summary
Foundation tells the story of a group of scientists who seek to preserve knowledge as the civilizations around them begin to regress.
The Psychohistorians
(0 F.E.)
The first story is set on
Trantor, the capital planet of the 12,000-year-old
Galactic Empire. Whilst the empire gives the appearance of stability, beneath this facade it's suffering a slow decay. The main character,
Hari Seldon, a mathematician, has developed
psychohistory which equates all possibilities in large societies to mathematics, allowing predictable long term outcomes.
Seldon discovers a horrifying truth to the Empire's decay, but his results are considered treasonable and attract attention from the Commission of Public Safety — the effective rulers of the Empire. This leads to his arrest. A young mathematician
Gaal Dornick, who has just arrived on Trantor, is also arrested. On trial, Hari shares the discoveries made through psychohistory, such as the collapse of the Empire within 300 years, followed by a 30,000-year period of barbarism.
Hari proposes an alternative to this future; one that wouldn't avert the collapse but shorten the
interregnum period to a mere 1000 years. But this plan would require a large group of people to develop a
compendium of all human knowledge, titled the
Encyclopedia Galactica.
The Commission aborts the trial and meets with Hari in secret. They offer him the choice of execution for treason or acceptance of
exile with his group of 'Encyclopedists' to a remote planet
Terminus. There, that'll carry out the Plan under an imperial decree, while Hari would remain, barred from leaving
Trantor.
The Encyclopedists
(50 F.E.) (published May
1942 as "Foundation")
The second story; "The Encyclopedist", takes place 50 years after the events of "The Psychohistorians".
Terminus faces the first of many "
Seldon Crises". With no mineral wealth of their own, they become cut off from outside supplies, as a result of their neighboring planet's rebellion against the "Empire" and declaration of independance.
Terminus is caught in a feud between four planetary systems which have degenerated to a barbaric state and find
Terminus's location a strategic advantage. The Board of Trustees of the 'Encyclopedia Galactica Foundation', composed of scientists with no political or military training, finds themselves incompetent to handle the situation as they're distracted by the completion of the Encyclopedia. But the Mayor of Terminus City
Salvor Hardin perceives the threat and quickly finds a solution; to play the four kingdoms off each other.
Hardin's plan is a success and then the image of Seldon appears in the "Time Vault", where he acknowledges that the "
Seldon Crisis" was averted. Seldon makes it clear that the choice made was the intended one and that the Encyclopedia was just a distraction to further the overall plan.
Hardin uses this revelation to engineer a bloodless coup, taking power from the Board of Trustees and placing it in his own hands.
The Mayors
(80 F.E.) (published June
1942 as "Bridle and Saddle")
The third story; "The Mayors", occurs three decades after "The Encyclopedists", The Foundation's scientific understanding has given them unusual leverage over nearby planetary systems, and an artificial religion referred to as
Scientism is developed. This concept allows scientific devices to be shared, while keeping its science secret. Maintenance technicians known as priests are trained on
Terminus and given basic operational understanding, while being kept ignorant of scientific knowledge. This process allows the Foundation to maintain control over scientific rebellions and delocalisation of knowledge.
Mayor Salvor Hardin continues to function as Mayor of Terminus and the effective ruler of the Foundation.
Prince Regent Wienis of
Anacreon plans to overthrow the Foundation's power, and his plans are encouraged when he obtains an abandoned Imperial cruiser that he demands the Foundation repair.
Hardin foresees Wienis's plans and arranges for the ship to be repaired his own way, incorporating some modifications. Hardin then broadcasts Wienis's attempt to the people of
Anacreon under the ruse of blasphemy, leading to a revolt which results in direct control over the Four Kingdoms.
Hari Seldon again confirms the actions by appearing in the "Time Vault", while also warning them that the use of
Scientism is no longer necessary.
The Traders
(About 155 F.E.) (published October
1944 as "The Wedge")
The fourth story; "The Traders" follows 75 years after "The Mayors". The story describes the events of Limmar Ponyets, a Trader, who is sent to retrieve Eskel Gorov from the planet
Askone.
Askone has refused commerce with the Foundation in fear of control through
Scientism. Eskel Gorov is awaiting execution for violation of a trade law by attempting to set up trade with Foundation technology.
The leaders of
Askone are adamant in not accepting any Foundation technology, but when offered
gold in exchange for the prisoner, they gladly accept. During Ponyets presentation of the offered
gold he convinces Pherl, an aspiring leader in
Askone's government, to accept technology that can
transmute iron into
gold. Unknown to Pherl, his transaction with Foundation technology was recorded and later used as
blackmail, allowing Ponyet to exchange his cargo of Foundation technology for
tin, a resource needed by the Foundation.
Pherl is now forced into accepting Foundation technology, and so will strive to make it acceptable among
Askone's people.
The Merchant Princes
(About 175 F.E.) (published August
1944 as "The Big and the Little")
The fifth story; "The Merchant Princes" occurs only 25 years after "The Traders".
The Foundation has expanded through the use of
Scientism and economics. Three Foundation vessels have vanished near the Republic of
Korell, a nation suspected of technological development. Trader
Hober Mallow is sent to uncover information on their technology and hopefully find the missing ships. While at
Korell,
Mallow convinces
Korell's leader Commdor Asper Argo to purchase Foundation technology.
Mallow also discovers that
Korell still maintains some relics of the Empire such as atomic hand guns. But he also notes the Republic's decrepit condition and lack of modern technology.
On return to
Terminus, he's considered a traitor for not spreading
Scientism to
Korell, although an unlikely development clears
Mallow allowing him to win an election for Mayor.
Years later
Korell goes to war against The Foundation,
Mallow as Mayor confidently severs supplies of goods that
Korell's people have grown accustomed to, thus starting a revolt against their own government in favour of the Foundation.
Characters
The Psychohistorians
The Encyclopedists
Anselm haut Rodric Soldier and Envoy from Anacreon to Terminus.
Bor Alurin Trantorian psychologist who trained Salvor Hardin.
Jord Fara Member of the Board of Trustees of the Encyclopedia Foundation.
Lewis Pirenne Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation.
Lundin Crast Member of the Board of Trustees of the Encyclopedia Committee.
Lord Dorwin Chancellor of the Empire
Salvor Hardin First Mayor of Terminus
Tomaz Sutt Member of the Board of Trustees of the Encyclopedia Committee.
Yate Fulham Member of the Board of Trustees of the Encyclopedia Committee
The Mayors
Dokor Walto Foundation Action Party activist.
Jaim Orsy Foundation Action Party activist.
King Lepold I King of Anacreon.
Lem Tarki Foundation Action Party activist.
Levi Norast Foundation Action Party activist.
Lewis Bort Foundation Action Party activist
Prince Lefkin Wienis's eldest son.
Prince Regent Wienis Prince Regent of Anacreon, uncle of King Lepold I.
Poly Verisof Foundation ambassador and High Priest on Anacreon.
Salvor Hardin First Mayor of Terminus.
Sef Sermak Terminus City Councillor.
Theo Aporat Head priest on Anacreon's flagship Wienis.
Yohan Lee Organiser of Salvor Hardin's coup and close confidante of Hardin.
Facts
Foundation saw multiple publications—it also appeared in 1955 as part of Ace Double D-110 under the title "The 1,000-Year Plan." Four of the stories were originally published in Astounding Magazine (with different titles) between 1942 and 1944, and the fifth was added when they first appeared in book form. A further two books of short stories were published shortly after, and decades later, Asimov wrote two further prequels. Later writers have added authorized tales to the series. The Foundation Series is often regarded as one of Isaac Asimov's best works, along with his robot series.
"The Psychohistorians" is the only part of the Foundation Trilogy that wasn't originally published in Astounding Magazine and was, in fact, the last part of the trilogy that Asimov wrote (though, chronologically, it describes the earliest events). Asimov wrote this story circa 1950 when the series was being prepared for publication in book form by Gnome Press, who felt that the series began too abruptly. However, most people don't know that there was another, very brief, opening(External Link
) that originally preceded "Foundation" (which was later published as "The Encyclopedists"), which was the first story written. The story is notable for featuring the pocket calculator more than two decades before it was made possible by integrated circuits. The events in this story were expanded in Greg Bear's book Foundation and Chaos.
Despite "The Traders" preceding "The Merchant Princes," it was actually written and published later. Asimov wrote it to make the transition between Scientism to economic control understandable.
The character Limmar Ponyets is named "Lathan Devers" in the original story. Lathan Devers is the name of the trader who is heavily featured in "The General" (first published as "The Dead Hand") in Foundation and Empire.Further Information
Get more info on 'Foundation Novel'.
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