Second Foundation  (English, Paperback, Asimov Isaac)

Isaac Asimov returns science fiction fans of his Foundation series to the universe they all love to explore in Second Foundation, the sequel to Foundation and Empire.

Summary of the Book

The Mule is coming closer to finding the Second Foundation. However, each time, it slips out of reach. Now, the Second Foundation has come out of hiding to directly face the threat. Its members are some of the brightest and most intelligent humans in the galaxy: the descendants of Seldon’s psychohistorians. The Second Foundation has been researching into the mental sciences. It uses its strongest members to manipulate the Mule into becoming a benevolent leader, erasing his destructive attitude forever. The Second Foundation has won this battle, but the First is on its tail, primed to attack. But before they can annihilate it, they need to find it. That’s easier said than done, for Hari Seldon tells them that they will find it “at Star’s End”. Even if they find it, the Second Foundation is ready for attack.

About Isaac Asimov

Isaac Asimov was an American novelist, short story writer and professor of biochemistry at Boston University. He is best remembered for his science fiction novels, including I, Robot, Foundation, Foundation and Empire, Foundation and Earth and The Robots of Dawn.

Considered one of the pioneers of the Science Fiction genre, Asimov also wrote under the name of Paul French. A long-time member and vice president of Mensa International, he was awarded the Hugo Award and the asteroid 5020 Asimov, a crater on the planet Mars, and a literary award are named in his honor.

Series Reading Order

This book follows the events of Foundation and Empire. It is the last part of the original trilogy which began with Foundation. The story continues in the long awaited sequels: Foundation’s Edge and Foundation and Earth. If you’re thirsty for more, read the prequel: Prelude to Foundation.

Philosophical Significance of the Series

The Foundation series sits heavily on the themes of a seemingly infallible empire’s rise and fall. It was originally inspired by Edward Gibbon’s The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Asimov devoted his story to analysing how an empire grows and ultimately meets its decay at the hands of its own progress. The series also examines the themes of individualism and a sense of rationalism so strong that it eats away at moralization, which Asimov called psychohistory.