Folio Archives 475: The Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov 2012
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1wcarter
The Foundation Trilogy : Foundation; Foundation and Empire; Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov 2012
The Foundation Trilogy is one of the greatest pieces of science fiction ever written, and the three books were written over 75 years ago between 1951 and 1953.
Set 12,000 years in the future, the entire galaxy is controlled by a single empire that starts to corrode and corrupt, with the periphery breaking away and chaos ensuing. Only The Foundation, a centre of knowledge located at the furthest limit of the galaxy, prevents chaos from overwhelming the entire galaxy for millennia.
Asimov manages to combine science, psychology, history and prescience into a single story thread that spans a thousand years. It is a book that every serious bibliophile should read, even if they are not fans of science fiction.
The three volumes are Foundation (xv + 253 pages), Foundation and Empire (254 pages) and Second Foundation (248 pages). There are seven full page colour illustrations by Alex Wells in each volume and the first volume has an introduction by Paul Krugman. The endpapers are silver, with each volume progressively having a lighter shade of silver. In the same way the binding is three-quarter silver buckram, matching the tone of the endpaper, while the cover is off-white paper printed with a colour picture.
The set is enclosed in a dark grey slipcase that is printed and blocked on the front with a three colour planetary image. It measures 23.5x15.9x9.1cm.
Promotional brochure
Page from prospectus
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
The Foundation Trilogy is one of the greatest pieces of science fiction ever written, and the three books were written over 75 years ago between 1951 and 1953.
Set 12,000 years in the future, the entire galaxy is controlled by a single empire that starts to corrode and corrupt, with the periphery breaking away and chaos ensuing. Only The Foundation, a centre of knowledge located at the furthest limit of the galaxy, prevents chaos from overwhelming the entire galaxy for millennia.
Asimov manages to combine science, psychology, history and prescience into a single story thread that spans a thousand years. It is a book that every serious bibliophile should read, even if they are not fans of science fiction.
The three volumes are Foundation (xv + 253 pages), Foundation and Empire (254 pages) and Second Foundation (248 pages). There are seven full page colour illustrations by Alex Wells in each volume and the first volume has an introduction by Paul Krugman. The endpapers are silver, with each volume progressively having a lighter shade of silver. In the same way the binding is three-quarter silver buckram, matching the tone of the endpaper, while the cover is off-white paper printed with a colour picture.
The set is enclosed in a dark grey slipcase that is printed and blocked on the front with a three colour planetary image. It measures 23.5x15.9x9.1cm.
Promotional brochure
Page from prospectus
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
5DukeOfOmnium
Agree - it's a great set. I'd rather like them to do a bit more Asimov.
6astropi
>1 wcarter: Wonderful review (as always)! What are your thoughts about this set versus the CTP set -- I know they've only released the first book, but to me the CTP edition is the pinnacle of what can be done with this classic work. For those unaware, here is a link to the CTP edition --
https://conversationtreepress.com/pages/foundation-asimov-manchess-sanderson
Although I actually think the cover art with the Romanesque busts is great, I really just can't get into the FS illustrations. To me, they look very digital to the point where they could have been taken from some sort of anime, and it's just not my thing.
https://conversationtreepress.com/pages/foundation-asimov-manchess-sanderson
Although I actually think the cover art with the Romanesque busts is great, I really just can't get into the FS illustrations. To me, they look very digital to the point where they could have been taken from some sort of anime, and it's just not my thing.
7Cat_of_Ulthar
Beautifully made, takes me back to my teens when I became obsessed with Asimov.
I am too young to have seen actual Moon missions but I do love the silvery Moon module-evocating wrapping. It's not crinkly enough, though!
I am too young to have seen actual Moon missions but I do love the silvery Moon module-evocating wrapping. It's not crinkly enough, though!
8HonorWulf
>6 astropi: The CTP version looks great, but it's a bit of apples and oranges when the CTP trilogy costs ~$900 (Collector), ~$2400 (Deluxe) and ~$8600 (Lettered) when the entire Folio trilogy is only $215 in total. Also hard to compare the art since Alexander Wells is drawing in a pseudo-comic book illustration style here, while Gregory Manchess is producing full color paintings. But Wells' fully rendered work on Star Wars (The Mandalorian, Skeleton Crew) and Marvel Studios (Fantastic Four: First Steps) is fantastic, and his cover for I, Robot is one of my all-time favorite Folio covers. You obviously can't go wrong with the CTP version, but it all comes down to how much you want to spend.
9astropi
>7 Cat_of_Ulthar: You saw one two days ago :)
https://www.nasa.gov/missions/artemis/artemis-2/track-nasas-artemis-ii-mission-i...
Exciting to be heading back to the Moon!
>8 HonorWulf: For sure, there's no doubt that the difference in cost between the CTP and FS edition is huge! I'm also not doubting Alexander Wells ability or talent, those illustrations simply do not jive with my personal preference. Also, the only other edition I know of that is of "high quality" is the Easton Press edition. While not nearly as high quality as the CTP (but what is), nor as high quality as the FS edition, it was signed by Asimov which does it make fairly sought-after. As a plus it has the iconic illustrations by Michael Whelan --
https://www.nasa.gov/missions/artemis/artemis-2/track-nasas-artemis-ii-mission-i...
Exciting to be heading back to the Moon!
>8 HonorWulf: For sure, there's no doubt that the difference in cost between the CTP and FS edition is huge! I'm also not doubting Alexander Wells ability or talent, those illustrations simply do not jive with my personal preference. Also, the only other edition I know of that is of "high quality" is the Easton Press edition. While not nearly as high quality as the CTP (but what is), nor as high quality as the FS edition, it was signed by Asimov which does it make fairly sought-after. As a plus it has the iconic illustrations by Michael Whelan --
10HonorWulf
>9 astropi: Michael Whelan's a legend -- probably the best art of the lot! Some of those EP's from the 80's and early 90's were fairly decent.
11wcarter
>6 astropi:
I echo the comments above. The CTP edition is superb.
I echo the comments above. The CTP edition is superb.
12dfmorgan
Still love the Chris Foss covers https://chrisfossart.com/portfolio/foundation-and-empire/
13LesMiserables
Looks like a great set overall. For a style I would normally not be keen on, the illustrations are pretty well done. One of those well known works I have not read, for no other reason other than it hasn't been fixed in my radar as a genre. However on reading the blurp/hook, I'm drawn to the plot as something I'd probably enjoy.
14astropi
>10 HonorWulf: They really were. Also, as crazy as this sounds, I believe the signed Easton Press foundation was $59 or something insanely cheap like that! Of course Asimov was alive back then and signing copies :)
15Cat_of_Ulthar
>9 astropi: Heh, true enough. I should have said 'landings' rather than missions :-)
16EasternWapiti
To properly appreciate the Foundation Trilogy, one needs to have first read the books in the American mass market paperback editions in the 1950s.
They were issued by two different publishers, Ace Books and Avon Books, at roughly four-year intervals. To further confuse the situation, the publishers renamed each of the books: "The 1,000-Year Plan," The Man Who Upset the Universe," and "2nd Foundation: Galactic Empire."
In 1958, I read the Avon Books edition of Second Foundation, and for the next decade, I knew the conclusion to the third volume without having a clue as to the contents of the first two volumes.
In 1966, Avon finally got the rights to bring out the trilogy in a uniform edition. I read the fourth printing in January 1969.
I could scarcely believe my eyes when the Folio Society edition was announced in 2012. I hope I can read my copy someday.
They were issued by two different publishers, Ace Books and Avon Books, at roughly four-year intervals. To further confuse the situation, the publishers renamed each of the books: "The 1,000-Year Plan," The Man Who Upset the Universe," and "2nd Foundation: Galactic Empire."
In 1958, I read the Avon Books edition of Second Foundation, and for the next decade, I knew the conclusion to the third volume without having a clue as to the contents of the first two volumes.
In 1966, Avon finally got the rights to bring out the trilogy in a uniform edition. I read the fourth printing in January 1969.
I could scarcely believe my eyes when the Folio Society edition was announced in 2012. I hope I can read my copy someday.
