Foundation is the first part of a classic trilogy written by Isaac Asimov.
A great mathematician, Hari Seldon, an expert in psychohistory, predicts that the vast Julactic Empire, consisting of a million worlds will collapse into barbarism. He sets up a foundation to preserve as much knowledge as possible to shorten the coming Dark Age.
However, there is an ulterior motive for setting up the Foundation. Psychohistorical solutions can only be achieved if the participants are ignorant of the overall plan.
Some critics have said that the plot develops only in conversation and there is very little action or descriptive colour and the dialogue is at best functional. Also, the style of writing is unpoetical but as Asimov intended, it is clear and to the point.
The novel has no female characters and is therefore uncluttered by romantic relationships.
The characters are unpretentious with nothing martial about them. Results are achieved peacefully when a predicted crisis occurs, as Mayor Salvor Hardin says:
“Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent”.
There are many twists and turns to the plot that makes this timeless novel a compelling and exciting read. The foundation trilogy, with Foundation and Empire, and Second Foundation, is for me, prophetic science fiction at its very best.
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