New← Foundation
Prelude to Foundation
The Genesis of a Galactic Legend
by Isaac AsimovScience FictionSpace Opera
Foundation
Originally in English1988
Story #6105 chapters516 pages11h read
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About This Book
Before the legend, there was just a man: Hari Seldon, a provincial mathematician thrust into the heart of imperial intrigue. As Emperor Cleon seeks answers that could reshape the galaxy, secrets stir beneath the surface of a glittering, fragile Empire. Discover the origins of psychohistory and the spark that ignited the Foundation saga.
Characters
View all 44 charactersAbout the Author
Isaac Asimov
1920–1992
Isaac Asimov (1920–1992) was a prolific Russian-born American writer and professor of biochemistry at Boston University. Born in Petrovichi, Russia, Asimov immigrated with his family to the United States at the age of three and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He earned his degrees from Columbia University, receiving a Ph.D. in chemistry in 1948. While pursuing his academic career, Asimov began writing science fiction stories and quickly became one of the most recognized voices in the genre. Over the course of his life, he authored or edited more than 500 books, spanning topics from science fiction to history and popular science.
Places and Terms in this Book
Trantor— The planet where a convention of mathematicians is held every ten years, and where Hari Seldon presented his theory.
Helicon— Seldon's home planet, characterized by its varied and often harsh weather conditions, which Seldon contrasts with Trantor's artificial climate.
Mycogen— A term used in the chapter title, indicating a specific location or context within the 'Foundation' series.
Galaxy— The entire collection of stars, planets, and civilizations, ruled by the Galactic Empire.
Empire— The vast interstellar government ruled by Emperor Cleon, currently facing troubled times.
Dahl— A sector of the ancient planet Trantor, characterized by its lower classes and poverty.
Vocabulary
psychohistory— A theoretical mathematical science developed by Hari Seldon, designed to predict the broad future trends of large human populations.
Upperside— The area above Trantor's domes, exposed to the planet's natural, deteriorating atmosphere. Most native Trantorians avoid it.
skincap— A piece of headwear or covering, possibly a cultural or technological item, that Mycogenians wear.
kirtle— A type of garment, specifically mentioned as something Dors will wear to go shopping.
Outworlders— Individuals originating from planets other than Trantor. They form a substantial minority at the University.
book-films— A futuristic form of media, likely digital or holographic, used to store and view historical information.
