Prelude to Foundation (Foundation: Prequel, #1)

by Isaac Asimov

English language

Published Feb. 11, 1988

ISBN:: 978-0-385-23313-2

(55 reviews)

Prelude to Foundation is a novel by American writer Isaac Asimov, published in 1988. It is one of two prequels to the Foundation series. For the first time, Asimov chronicles the fictional life of Hari Seldon, the man who invented psychohistory and the intellectual hero of the series. The novel was nominated for the Locus Award.

11 editions

Korora reviewed Prelude to Foundation (Foundation: Prequel, #1) by Isaac Asimov

Return to form

4 stars

I enjoyed Foundation and Earth. Another reviewer pointed out that Asimov had written the series into a corner with nowhere to go. However, I would have enjoyed learning more about how the Galaxy evolved after "the decision".

That said, this book is an excellent prequel. Delving into Hari Seldon's first conception of Psychohistory and his initial time on Trantor. Going on the run from forces that want to control psychohistory he learns about the conditions on Trantor, history and different cultures that help him develop Psychohistory into a practical science.

The book also sheds light on events that happen in the previous books.

Asier Iturralde Sarasola reviewed Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov

Hari Seldonen psikohistoriaren lehen pausoak

5 stars

Isaac Asimovek jatorrizko Fundazioa trilogia idatzi zuenetik hiru hamarkada igaro ondoren seriea osatzeko beste lau liburu argitaratu zituen. Prelude to foundationen Hari Seldonen, psikohistoriaren sortzailearen, lehen pausoak azaltzen ditu.

Bere horretan entretenigarria izan badaiteke ere, Asimoven gainerako idazlanak ezagutzeak gozatzen laguntzen du.

Hari Seldonen eta Dors Venabiliren ibilbidea jarraituz, Inperioko buru den Trantor planetako kulturak, eta beraien arazoak agertzen dira liburuan: emakumeen bazterketa, klase sozialen arteko diferentziak eta arrazismoa...

Kevin B. O'Brien reviewed Prelude to Foundation (Foundation: Prequel, #1) by Isaac Asimov

Review of 'Prelude to Foundation (Foundation: Prequel, #1)' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

This is the 6th book in order of publication, but the first in terms of internal chronology, and I think a return to form after two weaker novels in the series. Asimov took the story forward in Foundation's Edge and Foundation and Earth, but kind of wrote himself into a corner where he could not see any way forward. So he decided to go back and look at how it all began. A young mathematician named Hari Seldon presents a paper at a conference, and then is called to see the Emporer himself. The Emperor believes that Seldon can predict the future, and wants to take advantage of that power. Seldon protests that he can do no such thing, that he only showed that there would be a theoretical possibility that some day people might be able to see something of the broad sweep of future history. Then Seldon is attacked, and put to flight. As he travels through various parts of Trantor he starts to get some hints of how to advance his work, and by the end he may have enough to get started. The look at the various aspects of Trantor's society is fascinating because it is a microcosm of the galaxy with all of the various societies it contains.

I now have this as part of a 7-book set of all of Asimov's Foundation novels in e-book form.

Joao Trindade reviewed Prelude to Foundation (Foundation: Prequel, #1) by Isaac Asimov

Review of 'Prelude to Foundation (Foundation: Prequel, #1)' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

The majority of the book is simply ok. The dialogue is monotonous and some events seem forced.

It won me over in the end with some surprises (which explained the monotonous dialogues and forced events) and because it is part of a larger story.