Foundation (Asimov novel)

Foundation is a science fiction novel by Isaac Asimov, first published in 1951. It is the first novel in the Foundation Series, which is considered a landmark in science fiction literature and a cornerstone of the subgenre of space opera.

The novel focuses on Hari Seldon, a mathematician and psychologist who develops "psychohistory," a statistical science that allows him to predict the future behavior of large populations. Using psychohistory, Seldon foresees the imminent collapse of the Galactic Empire and a thirty-thousand-year period of barbarism. To mitigate this disaster, he establishes two Foundations on opposite ends of the galaxy: a Foundation of scientists and engineers dedicated to preserving and advancing scientific knowledge, and a second, secret Foundation focused on mentalics and less tangible aspects of society.

The Foundation novel details the early struggles of the First Foundation on the planet Terminus, as it faces a series of crises and navigates political and military challenges. These crises, predicted by Seldon's psychohistory, test the Foundation's resilience and its ability to follow the predetermined path to a new, enlightened Galactic Empire. The novel explores themes of determinism versus free will, the importance of knowledge and reason, and the cyclical nature of history. The narrative structure is episodic, with each section focusing on a different crisis and a different generation within the Foundation.

The novel's impact on science fiction is significant, influencing countless other works and contributing to the popularization of concepts such as galactic empires, advanced technology, and the application of scientific principles to the study of society. Foundation won a special Hugo Award for "Best All-Time Series" in 1966.