Prelude to Foundation (original 1988; edition 1988)

by Isaac Asimov

Series: Foundation (1), Foundation Expanded Universe (9), Asimov's Universe (11)

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Classic Literature. Fiction. Science Fiction. HTML:The first of two prequel novels in Isaac Asimov�??s classic science-fiction masterpiece, the Foundation series THE EPIC SAGA THAT INSPIRED THE APPLE TV+ SERIES FOUNDATION 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 Fo… (more)

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Member:	morgensd
Title:	Prelude to Foundation
Authors:	Isaac Asimov
Info:	London: Grafton Books, 1988. 461 p. ; 24 cm.
Collections:	Your library
Rating:
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Work Information

Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov (1988)

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▾Conversations (About links)

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	75 Books Challenge for 2012: ***Group Read: Asimov's Foundation Series	63 unread / 63	DirtPriest, March 2014

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The 9th in what can be seen as the "extended" 15 book Foundation Series. Also, the 1st of 2 prequels written after the success of the Foundation Trilogy. In this book we are introduced to the key character of Hair Seldon - the father of of Psychohistory. The strong Empire of the Galactic Empire trilogy has its decline exposed as part of the novel's narrative. (

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Daniel_M_Oz | Mar 10, 2023 |

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endolith | Mar 1, 2023 |

Overall I felt this book dragged at some points and didn't need to be as long as it was. I found it harder to get fully into this than the Robot books. There were some pleasant surprises that came along, though, which made me enjoy the story more toward the end, and I'm compelled to continue the series.
I believe that I started this book with the hopes of getting through the series or at least well into it before the Foundation show came out, but I failed miserably at that and now regret skipping the Empire series by jumping to this one. So word of advice: Read Asimov's books in chronological order! (

)

jessoftheBooks | Aug 23, 2022 |

I read the original 3 books in the Foundation series years ago. However, I never got around to reading the later prequels. So much time has past since then, and I found it is like starting from scratch. I had also forgotten how good Asimov is at world building.

Even though this book was originally published in 1989, the ideas regarding governments, social and economic problems are still relevant today. Maybe even more relevant today given the lines of division currently in our society. Add this to the great characters and I found the book entertaining and enjoyable. (

)

purpledog | Jul 21, 2022 |

The beginning of Science Fiction as we know it today. Asimov was a master world builder, nay, Galaxy builder. A far seer of historical and political shifts. Much has been written about these books, much better than I could. I will always remember my first love. (

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Windyone1 | May 10, 2022 |

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▾Other authors

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Author name	Role	Type of author	Work?	Status
Isaac Asimov	—	primary author	all editions	calculated
Anselmi, Piero	Translator	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Cormier, Wil	Cover artist	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Segrelles, Vicente	Cover artist	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
White, Tim	Cover artist	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Youll, Stephen	Cover artist	secondary author	some editions	confirmed

▾Series and work relationships

Belongs to Series

Asimov's Universe (11)

Foundation (1)

Foundation Expanded Universe (9)

Belongs to Publisher Series

Altri mondi [Mondadori] (14)

Heyne Science Fiction & Fantasy (8107)

Los jet de Plaza & Janes (16)

Gli Oscar Mondadori - Bestsellers (557)

SciFi-sarja

SF-Fantasy (5380)

— 2 more

Urania [Mondadori] (1149)

ハヤカワ文庫 SF (1212)

Is contained in

Le Cycle de Fondation, Tome 1 : Le déclin de Trantor by Isaac Asimov

The Foundation Novels [seven-book bundle] by Isaac Asimov

Fondazione e terra - Preludio alla fondazione by Isaac Asimov

Vers Fondation : Le déclin de Trantor by Isaac Asimov

Has as a teacher's guide

Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov Lesson Plans by BookRags BookRags

▾Awards and Honors

Distinctions

New York Times bestseller (Fiction – 1988)

Notable Lists

Mir Fantastiki: 100 main fantasy and science-fiction books (Science Fiction)

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▾Common Knowledge

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For more help see the Common Knowledge help page.

Canonical title

Prelude to Foundation

Original title

Prelude to Foundation (Foundation Series V)

Alternative titles

Original publication date

People/Characters

Important places

Trantor: Imperial Sector

Trantor: Streeling Sector

Trantor: Mycogene Sector

Trantor: Dahl Sector

(show all 7 items)

Important events

Related movies

Epigraph

Dedication

To Jennifer "Green Pencil" Brehl,
the best and hardest-working editor in the world.

First words

CLEON I - The last Galactic Emperor of the Entun dynasty. (Chapter 1 Headnote)

Suppressing a small yawn, Cleon said, "Demerzel, have you by any chance ever heard of a man named Hari Seldon?"

Text:
Suppressing a small yawn, Cleon said, 'Demerzel, have you by any chance ever heard of a man named Hari Seldon?'

When I wrote "Foundation," which appeared in the May 1942 issue of Astounding Science Fiction, I had no idea that I had begun a series of stories that would eventually grow into six volumes and a total of 650,000 words (so far). (Author's Note)

Quotations

Information from the French Common Knowledge. Edit to localize it to your language.

Je suppose que les éléments de la population qui ont le moins de prise sur le monde naturel, matériel, sont les plus aptes à trouver le réconfort dans ce que vous appelez le surnaturalisme : les pauvres, les déshérités, les opprimés. Et dans la mesure où le surnaturel englobe la religion, ils peuvent être également plus religieux.

Pourquoi, se demanda-t-il, tant de gens passent-ils leur vie à éviter de trouver les réponses aux questions – et en premier lieu à éviter les questions ? N’y avait-il pourtant rien de plus excitant que de chercher des réponses ?

Last words

(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)

Disambiguation notice

Publisher's editors

Brehl, Jennifer

Blurbers

Original language

English

Canonical DDC/MDS

Canonical LCC

▾References

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English

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▾Book descriptions

Classic Literature. Fiction. Science Fiction. HTML:The first of two prequel novels in Isaac Asimov�??s classic science-fiction masterpiece, the Foundation series

THE EPIC SAGA THAT INSPIRED THE APPLE TV+ SERIES FOUNDATION
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 Fo

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