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Second Foundation
The Hunt for the Elusive Second Foundation
by Isaac AsimovScience FictionSpace Opera
Foundation
Originally in English1953
Story #328 chapters360 pages8h read
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About This Book
A mysterious conqueror known as the Mule has shattered the old order of the galaxy, forging a new empire from the ruins of the Foundation. Now, as rumors swirl of a hidden force capable of shaping the future, a desperate search begins. Will the secret of the Second Foundation be uncovered before the galaxy’s fate is sealed forever?
Characters
View all 45 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
Second Foundation— A secretive organization established by Hari Seldon at the "other end of the Galaxy," composed of psychologists with mental powers, intended to subtly guide the Seldon Plan.
Galaxy— The entire collection of stars, planets, and civilizations that forms the setting of the Foundation series, often represented as a double-spiral on a display or map.
Kalgan— A luxurious planet with a tradition as an aristocracy's playground, chosen by the Mule as the central capital of his Union of Worlds.
First Galactic Empire— The vast, decaying interstellar government that Hari Seldon's plan aims to replace, characterized by a focus on physical sciences and inanimate technology.
First Foundation— One of two organizations established by Hari Seldon, initially a commercial empire focused on physical science, which was later conquered by the Mule.
Trantor— A planet mentioned as a location the Mule visited after his conquest of the First Foundation, indicating its significance in the galactic political landscape.
Vocabulary
electroencephalography— The science and technology of recording and analyzing the microcurrents generated by nerve cells in living beings, involving devices like the encephalograph and practitioners known as encephalographers, for the scientific study and interpretation of brainwave patterns.
psychohistory— A predictive science developed by Hari Seldon, using advanced mathematics to forecast the large-scale societal trends and future course of human civilization.
wrist-sets— Portable communication devices worn on the wrist, used for short-range contact with a ship or other personnel, capable of receiving and transmitting signals.
air car— A personal aerial vehicle used for transportation, often for public travel within a city or planet.
book-film— A form of multimedia that combines elements of books and films, often used for historical records.
brainwave patterns— The characteristic electrical rhythms and activity generated by an individual's brain, used for identification, analysis, and mental restoration.
