434 pages
English language
Published Dec. 19, 1989 by Bantam Books.
It is the year 12,020 G.E. and Emperor Cleon I sits uneasily on the Imperial throne of Trantor. Here in the great multidomed capital of the Galactic Empire, forty billion people have created a civilization of unimaginable technological and cultural complexity. Yet Cleon knows there are those who would see him fall—those whom he would destroy if only he could read the future.
Hari Seldon has come to Trantor to deliver his paper on psychohistory, his remarkable theory of prediction. Little does the young Outworld mathematician know that he has already sealed his fate and the fate of humanity. For Hari possesses the prophetic power that makes him the most wanted man in the Empire. . .the man who holds the key to the future—an apocalyptic power to be known forever after as the Foundation.
This book took a different tack and essentially explains why and what led up to Hari Seldon's grand plan. It has an interesting double twist at the end (actually a triple twist if you read between the lines on the final two or three pages.
Well.
I doubt I can add to the plethora of reviews.
My question now is, ought I start reading the Robot stories and books in parallel with this rereading /reading of the Foundation books (there are more of them than there were when I first read them)?
Hari Seldon begins devoping his "psychohistory" theory in this prelude to the famous "Foundation" trilogy (which as grown to many more than 3 books).
Seldon ends up being pursued by a number of forces who would like to exploit his theory for their own benefit, taking our main character through a variety of societies. Asimov again works his magic with creating intriguing environments for his characters to play in.
Asimov had a number of logical twists at the end of the book; some that I saw coming, and some that I didn't. The main characters were a bit "invincible" for my tastes, but tension was maintained well.
I definitely look forward to continuing the series.
