Forward the Foundation (1993) is a novel written by
Isaac AsimovIsaac Asimov , was an American author and professor of biochemistry, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books...
. It is the second of two prequels to the Foundation Series. It is written in much the same style as the original novel
FoundationFoundation is the first book in Isaac Asimov's Foundation Trilogy . Foundation is a collection of five short stories, which were first published together as a book by Gnome Press in 1951...
, a novel composed of chapters with long intervals in between. (Both books were first published as independent short stories in science fiction magazines.)
The parallels between Hari Seldon and Isaac Asimov found in this book -- the last one written by Asimov -- and the focus on Hari Seldon as he grows old and dies, strengthen the idea that Asimov considered Seldon his literary alter ego.
Forward the Foundation (1993) is a novel written by
Isaac AsimovIsaac Asimov , was an American author and professor of biochemistry, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books...
. It is the second of two prequels to the Foundation Series. It is written in much the same style as the original novel
FoundationFoundation is the first book in Isaac Asimov's Foundation Trilogy . Foundation is a collection of five short stories, which were first published together as a book by Gnome Press in 1951...
, a novel composed of chapters with long intervals in between. (Both books were first published as independent short stories in science fiction magazines.)
The parallels between Hari Seldon and Isaac Asimov found in this book -- the last one written by Asimov -- and the focus on Hari Seldon as he grows old and dies, strengthen the idea that Asimov considered Seldon his literary alter ego. Many regard some of the thoughts and opinions expressed by Seldon in this book as autobiographical; and, while the book itself may have limited merits as compared to the three central books of the Foundation Trilogy, a double reading of
Forward the Foundation may shed light on Asimov's inner thoughts at the end of his life.
Plot summary
In
Forward the Foundation,
Isaac AsimovIsaac Asimov , was an American author and professor of biochemistry, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books...
continues the chronicles of the life of
Hari SeldonHari Seldon, a fictional character, is the intellectual hero of Isaac Asimov's Foundation Series. In his capacity as mathematics professor at Streeling University on Trantor, he developed psychohistory, allowing him to predict the future in probabilistic terms...
, first begun in
Prelude to FoundationPrelude to Foundation is a Locus Award nominated 1988 novel written by Isaac Asimov. 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.-Plot...
.
The story takes place on
TrantorTrantor is a fictional planet in Isaac Asimov's Foundation series and Empire series of science fiction novels.Trantor was first described in the 1940s when the Foundation Series first appeared in print . Asimov described Trantor as being in the center of the galaxy...
, and begins eight years after the events of
Prelude to Foundation. It depicts how Seldon developed his theory of
psychohistoryPsychohistory, a fictional science in Isaac Asimov's Foundation universe, combines history, sociology, and mathematical statistics to make exact predictions of the collective actions of very large groups of people, such as the Galactic Empire....
from hypothetical concept to practical application in galactic events.
Beginning during the latter years of the reign of Emperor
Cleon IIn the fictional universe of The Foundation Series, Cleon I was the last Emperor of the Entun dynasty. He was Emperor of the Galactic Empire when Hari Seldon first arrived on Trantor...
, Seldon's work brings him into the world of galactic politics, and takes him to the height of Imperial power as Cleon's First Minister, after the mysterious disappearance of his previous First Minister, Eto Demerzel (whom Seldon knows as
R. Daneel OlivawR. Daneel Olivaw is a fictional robot created by Isaac Asimov. The "R" initial in his name stands for "robot," a naming convention in Asimov's future society...
). Seldon becomes First Minister to the Emperor, but loses the position ten years later after the Emperor is killed.
Gradually, Seldon loses all those who are close to him. Seldon's wife
DorsIn Isaac Asimov's Foundation Series, Dors Venabili is a good friend, protector and later wife of Hari Seldon, the primary character of Prelude to Foundation and Forward the Foundation. At face value, Dors is an attractive woman, two years younger than Seldon...
is killed saving his life from an assassin (we find out that she is, in fact, a robot). His son
RaychRaych Seldon is a fictional character in Isaac Asimov's Foundation Series. Raych is the adopted son of Hari Seldon and Dors Venabili, the primary characters in the first two books of the series...
is killed in the Rebellion in Santanni; his daughter-in-law and second granddaughter are missing and never found. Yugo Amaryl dies early, brought on by the strain of his work. Except for his granddaughter
WandaWanda Seldon is a fictional character in Isaac Asimov's science fiction Foundation series. The daughter of Raych Seldon and Manella Dubanqua, Wanda played a key role in creating the two Foundations.Wanda Seldon was born when Hari Seldon was 52...
, Seldon is alone. He eventually sends her off to start the
Second FoundationSecond Foundation is the third novel published of the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov, and the fifth in the in-universe chronology. It was first published in 1953 by Gnome Press....
.
The
Galactic EmpireIn Isaac Asimov's Robot/Empire/Foundation series of novels, the Galactic Empire is an empire consisting of millions of planets settled by humans across the whole Milky Way Galaxy.-Author's creation of the empire:...
's decline accelerates during the later chapters, as does Seldon's physical health. At the same time, Seldon finally begins to unravel the secrets of
psychohistoryPsychohistory, a fictional science in Isaac Asimov's Foundation universe, combines history, sociology, and mathematical statistics to make exact predictions of the collective actions of very large groups of people, such as the Galactic Empire....
; he initiates a grand plan that will come to be known as the
Seldon PlanThe Seldon Plan is the central theme of Isaac Asimov's Foundation Series of stories and novels.-Psychohistory:Hari Seldon devised the Seldon Plan using an analytical technique he had mastered called psychohistory. His analysis worked only for large numbers of persons, working as a mob, unaware of...
, the road map for mankind's post-Imperial survival.