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 Cover of the first edition | |
| Author | Isaac Asimov |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Boris Vallejo[1] |
| Language | English |
| Series | Foundation Series |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Publisher | Doubleday |
Publication date | November 1988 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (hardcover and paperback) |
| Pages | 403 |
| ISBN | 0-385-23313-2 |
| Preceded by | Blind Alley |
| Followed by | Forward the Foundation |
Prelude to Foundation is a novel by American writerIsaac Asimov, published in 1988. It is one of two prequels to theFoundation series. For the first time, Asimov chronicles the fictional life ofHari Seldon, the man who inventedpsychohistory and the intellectual hero of the series. The novel was nominated for theLocus Award.[2]
Prelude to Foundation is set in the year 12,020 G.E. (Galactic Era), during the rocky reign of the Emperor Cleon I. It starts with Seldon's presentation of a paper at a mathematics convention detailing how psychohistory might theoretically make it possible to predict the future. The Emperor of theGalactic Empire learns of this and wants to use Seldon for political gain. In a face-to-face interview, Seldon emphasizes that psychohistory is something that he has not even begun developing or even has a clear idea how to do so, but Cleon is not wholly convinced that Hari is of no use to the Empire.
Seldon then meets reporterChetter Hummin, who convinces him that Cleon's first minister,Eto Demerzel, is attempting to capture him, and that it is therefore imperative for Seldon to escape and try to make psychohistory practical. He is taken by Hummin to Streeling University, one of the top ranked of the Empire and introduced toDors Venabili by Hummin. Seldon theorizes that the first development of psychohistory requires a smaller, yet still significant sample than the entire Empire, possibly just the original world where humans originated...which is now lost, along with much of the older historical records.
Hari and Dors narrowly evade capture at Streeling University, and Hummin arranges for them to be sheltered in the reclusiveMycogen sector, which supposedly values its ancient history. Seldon and Venabili are welcomed by Sunmaster Fourteen, the leader of Mycogen. Seldon obtains the Mycogenians' treasured religious/historical book, but finds it disappointing except for the revelation of what the Mycogenians call their home planet,Aurora, and references to "robots" (which do not exist in the Empire). Seldon and Venabili face execution when Seldon insists on entering the Mycogenian "temple", the Sacratorium, in disguise in hopes of interviewing a robot supposedly housed there. They are easily detected, but Hummin arrives in the nick of time to save them.
The action then shifts to the Dahl sector, where Seldon and Venabili rent rooms from a middle-class family. While in Dahl, they meet a guttersnipe named Raych, whom Seldon later adopts. Also in Dahl, they are told by an old wise woman that the Aurora of the Mycogenians is not the original world, but actually the "enemy" of the original human planet, calledEarth. (This links with theRobot series.)
Towards the end of the novel, Seldon, Venabili, and Raych are kidnapped and forcibly taken to see Rashelle, who is the mayor of Wye, a powerful and vital sector situated at Trantor's south pole. Rashelle and her father have long been plotting to overthrow the Emperor and take his place. Seldon has the revelation that he could try to develop psychohistory using Trantor itself as a test case because of the great cultural diversity of its sectors. Rashelle launches hercoup attempt, but it quickly collapses due to Demerzel's skillful subversion of Wye's forces. The finale reveals that "Hummin" is actually Eto Demerzel. Seldon then gets Demerzel to admit he is a robot; Demerzel is in factR. Daneel Olivaw, who can influence humans mentally. He wants the development of psychohistory to help him better protect humanity, as per "The Zeroth Law Of Robotics". Seldon also suspects Venabili of being a robot, as well. This theme would subsequently be continued inForward the Foundation.[citation needed]
Below is a list of all the major and minor characters in the book, in order of appearance, with brief descriptions.
The novel is one of French politicianJean-Luc Mélenchon's mainmetapolitical sources of inspirations.[3]