Product Description

In PRELUDE TO FOUNDATION, what happed in the many centuries before the events made famous in Asimov's other Foundation novels - hitherto only hinted at - is now revealed. The Key to the Future It is the year 12,020 G.E. and the last Galactic Emperor of the Autun dynasty, Cleon I, sits uneasily on the throne. These are troubled times and Cleon is desperate to find a way to calm them. When young Outworld mathematician Hari Seldon arrives on Trantor to present a paper on psychohistory, his astounding theory of prediction, the emperor believes that his future security may rest on Seldon's prophetic powers. But Hari Seldon becomes the most wanted man in the Empire as he struggles desperately to keep his remarkable theory from falling into the wrong hands. At the same time he must he must forge the key to the future - a power to be known as the Foundation.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20367 in Books
• Published on: 1994-08-22
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 464 pages

About the Author
Isaac Asimov was the Grand Master of the Science Fiction Writers of America, the founder of robot ethics, the world's most prolific author of fiction and non-fiction. The Good Doctor's fiction has been enjoyed by millions for more than half a century.

Customer Reviews

Prelude to Foundation
After hearing, for years, the hype about the epic 'Foundation Series' I read this book with high expectation. At first it struck me as being rather quaint, and not what I expected from a galaxy sprawling epic, yet non the less kept me enthralled in its own special way. The summation is fantastic and only upon reading futher into the series do you realise the full scale of what has been invoked in this volume.

It also expands upon the character of Hari Seldon, which is much appreciated after the fleeting glimpses we get of the man throught the other Foundation novels. We get to meet the man behind the plan, and see that even great prophets have human frailties and reservations like the rest of us.

A fine place to start with the series and worth your time...

A great description of Foundation's "founder", Hari Seldon
The first Asimov book I read, it inflamed my interest, and I have read nearly ALL of Asimov's other science fiction works in the year and a half since! The Foundation series is incredible, as are the Galactic Empire and Robot novels. "Prelude" details Seldon's Flight across Trantor, and shows Asimov's excellent eye for studying cultures, sociology and human nature. Indeed, I believe my way of looking at people's motives and thoughts has changed having read Prelude etc. Always a joy to read, with some amusing and erotic pieces, Prelude leaves you wanting more and more and more!!! Read this, and I promise you won't be disappointed, and you'll reach for the rest of the Foundation series guaranteed!!!!!!!

Entertaining, but ideologically wrong
Ok, so maybe at some time after writing the original trilogy Asimov decided everything was about robots. However, that missed what we all loved about the original trilogy - the triumph of mankind.

Having said this, I found this book entertaining and easy to read. I wanted to give it a lower rating as I'm ideologically opposed to what Asimov did with his own series. Its hard to stand by and let an author interfere with a story that you love.