~~~~~A bit of background~~~~~

Isaac Asimov was a Russian born American citizen. He was an accomplished professor of biochemistry as well as a prolific writer and editor. It is estimated that he has written or edited in excess of an astounding 500 books. Not all were fiction; the books' topics cover the entire range of the Dewey Library system's categories except philosophy. In addition, he wrote numerous articles and was a prolific letter writer. Along with Heinlein and Clarke, he is widely recognised as one of the three most important science fiction writers of his lifetime. His work in science fiction has been so iconic that it has inspired real life roboticists for the past several decades, especially in the field of artificial intelligence. This is mainly because of his famous Robot novels and short stories, of which "I, Robot. and "The Bicentennial Man" are part of. It was in these that he introduced the three laws of robotics and which today AI designers and programmers are working to adapt into reality. In addition, his portrayal of robots and machines that have become self aware and having the analogue of feelings, yet being treated as inferior and disposable mere machinery opened up discussions in the real life scientific and political world circles on the rights of artificially intelligent beings. His Foundation series is also seen as one his most important contributions to the genre and it is the first book, Foundation, that I will detail further now that we have the background of the author under wraps.

Foundation is the first book of a trilogy that was later further expanded. It began life as a series of four short stories for Astounding Magazine which were printed between 1942 and 1944. In 1951, Gnome Press printed them together in book form, after Asimov wrote a fifth story to add.

The book is set on the planet of Trantor, which is at the heart of a 12,000 year old Galactic Empire. Unlike many science fiction tales, the story does not centre on an emperor, or a hero set to overthrow the unjust ruler, or even a ship's captain out to smuggle goods from under Imperial noses. Instead, this book focusses on two mathematicians, Hari Seldon and his young protégé Gaal Domick. Hari has developed a new field of science and it causing quite a stir. A blend of mathematics and history, the science of psychohistory extrapolates future events by past historical trends. Having surveyed the current and past events of the Empire, he reveals that the empire is not as stable as it appears, but is crumbling. In 300 years time, it will have fallen and 30,000 years of anarchy will follow. Poor Hari and Gaal are arrested and charged with being dangerous and possibly treasonous. Upon a closer look, the government is satisfied that Hari and his protégé are not plotting to destroy the government, but that they are working towards a solution to help their society through the dark times ahead and allow their Galactic culture to survive.

The book then jumps ahead 50 years, when a point in society comes to be recognised as one of the "Seldon Crises". These are the predicted turning points of history, and the outcomes determine how soon a unifying government can come back into play and bring peace to the galaxy. One way and chaos reigns 30,000 years, the other and the Galaxy is whole again in less than 300. Blissfully unaware, the psychohistorians are hard at work, collecting their data and preserving it, under the watchful eye of the board of Trustees as provided for in their Imperial Charter. Four nearby galactic provinces have rebelled, and they covet Terminus for its strategic value. The Board of Trustees pooh pooh at the danger, and continue their scholarly endeavour, while Salvor Hardin, the mayor of Terminus city, gets extremely worried at the danger he sees unfolding before his eyes. He is mostly a figurehead, as the trustees hold the galactic Charter, so is powerless to act. This is especially frustrating, as he sees the way out of the situation, but can do nothing. that is, until the Foundation opens a time locked vault at the Seldon Museum, and a holographic Hari reveals the true purpose of the Foundation, mentions his Seldon Crises prediction, and how it must play out. The Trustees cave in, realising their power was but an illusion, and Hardin is free to act. he is successful, and so the galaxy is nudged one step towards future stability, when the research work of the psychohistorians will truly be needed.

It is a compelling read, and one that is very hard to put down, which, once finished, has you wanting the next in the series, just to see how they get on. And while it is about politics, and encyclopaedias, it is not a dry read. the characters are well defined, and the intrigue they indulge in as well as the barbarians they later face all add to the excitement of the story. Death sentences, treason, space flight; all the great things one hopes for in a great sci fi romp are all there. It s the unusual spin and depth of the story that make this great and only a Grand Master such as Asimov could have pulled this off. A definite must read, and one that will undoubtedly be read again.