Winner of the Hugo Award for Best All-Time Series. The Foundation series is Isaac Asimov’s iconic masterpiece. Unfolding against the backdrop of a crumbling Galactic Empire, the story of Hari Seldon’s two Foundations is a lasting testament to an extraordinary imagination, one whose unprecedented scale shaped science fiction as we know it today.
The First Foundation survived two centuries of barbarism as the once-mighty Galactic Empire descended into chaos. Now it must prepare for war against the remnants of the Empire as the Imperial fleet advances on their planet, Terminus. Hari Seldon predicted this war; he even prepared his Foundation for it. But he couldn’t foresee the birth of the mutant Mule. In possession of a power which reduces fearsome opposition to devoted slaves, the Mule poses a terrible threat to Seldon’s Foundation.
Another superb listen.
In this continuation of the saga we have two more interlinked stories which continue the timeline. The first is the war between the Foundation and the Empire. The second concerns The Mule, an unpredicted mutant.
As usual, Asimov concerns himself with the more psychological and broader events of the developments of the galaxy as the Empire crumbles and the Foundation grows in strength. Wheels within wheels turn and pawns are moved around the great cosmic chessboard as the play reveals itself and leads us on, as the smell of cheese might a mouse. Excellent to the last page and sets us up nicely for book 3 – Second Foundation.
If you are more interested in space battles and lots of action, look elsewhere. If you prefer a thoughtful and well-constructed tale of cosmic proportions framed by Sheldon Crises (key incidents in the timeline on which we focus), then this is the trilogy you have been looking for.
