Foundation
by Isaac Asimov · first published 1951
29% recommend61% neutral10% critical
Why HN recommends it
Sweeping, idea-driven sci-fi built around psychohistory and a whole invented universe, with the scope and the diplomacy and politics plotting that readers reread. Suits newcomers to classic science fiction.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
One of the great masterworks of science fiction, the Foundation novels of Isaac Asimov are unsurpassed for their unique blend of nonstop action, daring ideas, and extensive world-building. The story of our future begins with the history of Foundation and its greatest psychohistorian: Hari Seldon. For twelve thousand years the Galactic Empire has ruled supreme. Now it is dying. Only Hari Seldon, creator of the revolutionary science of psychohistory, can see into the future--a dark age of ignorance, barbarism, and warfare that will last thirty thousand years. To preserve knowledge and save
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…stories is a good introduction to one of the best and most underrated sci-fi series out there. Baxter's Manifold trilogy (Manifold: Space, Manifold: Time and Manifold: Origin) are also fantastic. 2. Foundation by Isaac Asimov. The whole Foundation series is wonderful, but this book is a landmark of sci-fi that should be on any fan's bookcase. 3. The Martian by Andy Weir. This book is what I've been giving…
on “Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?” ↗…read Herbert Jr.'s sequels... spoiler: don't) I'd pick something "shinier." Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land, or 2001: An Space Odissey... or go with the weird and pick Rendezvous with Rama. Or just Foundation. Sci-Fi-wise you can't go wrong with Foundation. Ninja-edit: How could I forget The Starmaker by Olaf Stapledon? Written in the late 40s, I didn't give much for it as Sci-fi goes. I read it in one sitting.…
on “Books to Read in a Lifetime” ↗…who just wanted to write better. It's a small, beautiful, book about writing better. This is the book I've gifted the most. Several scifi books have also been gifted to friends, mostly Asimov (both the Foundation and Robots series), Herbert's Dune, and Clarke's Rendezvous With Rama. Also, gifted a copy of Our Band Could Be Your Life by Michael Azerrad, which is my favorite book about my favorite bands (and the…
on “Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?” ↗…Magic Kingdom (How reputation based social currency might pan out) - Blood Sweat and Pixels (How games are really made) - Masters of Doom (Awesome story of how the game was made and what it led to) - Foundation [Foundation 1] (Prescient with where the world is, what might happen in reality) - Quiet: the Power of Introverts in a World that can't... (Ok, not great, read it on blinkist) - Ender's Game (Under…
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2018?” ↗Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy - Adams Discworld series - Pratchett Foundation - Asimov American Gods - Gaiman Snow Crash - Stephenson Next - Crichton 1984 - Orwell
on “Ask HN: Great fiction books that have had a positive impact on your life?” ↗…read more book series, so went with science fiction ones: Started with: Dune, by Frank Herbert (+ 5 books in the series) Continued to: Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (+ 3 sequels) Now reading: Foundation by Isaac Asimov (+ 5 books) All those are pretty great in sense of that they take set in span of thousands of years, and touch bit different ideas around society, myths, religion, morals, physical and…
on “Ask HN: What literature do you read?” ↗Foundation (Isaac Asimov), Hyperion (Dan Simmons) and Three Body Problem (Liu Cixin) stand out from all the SF I've read, and I've read a ton.
on “Ask HN: What are the best Sci-Fi books you've ever read?” ↗They're scraping the barrel now for literature to adapt. The studios desperately want another Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings. I feel like Foundation and even Dune are just not fit for being adapted. Foundation is so easy to read that people should really just read it. It's such a shame that His Dark Materials failed as that would make an excellent…
on “When “Foundation” Gets the Blockbuster Treatment, Asimov’s Vision Gets Lost” ↗…Island by Jules Verne - False Memory by Dean Koontz I think a good case could be made for a handful of others also. Specifically: - Nineteen Eighty Four by Orwell - The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand - Foundation by Asimov - The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien are all strong contenders as well.
on “Ask HN: What is your favorite fiction book?” ↗Some of my favorites, in no particular order: Foundation by Isaac Asimov Dune by Frank Herbert Permutation City by Greg Egan Blindsight by Peter Watts Anathem by Neal Stephenson Story of your Life and Others and Exhalation by Ted Chiang Chiang in particular…
on “Ask HN: What is your favorite fiction book?” ↗Foundation. (Issac Asimov)
on “Ask HN: What books do you highly recommend?” ↗In no particular order: What Would Machiavelli Do? The Ends Justify the Meanness 1984 Farenheit 541 Foundation (all saga) The Hobbit The Lord of the Rings (all saga) The Prince De Bello Gallico and Other Commentaries The Design of Everyday Things The Riverworld (an entire saga of 5 books) On the Good Life…
on “Ask HN: Which books changed your life?” ↗By the standards of the pulpy SF magazines Foundation was published in, Asimov was a pretty brilliant prose stylist. He's a little clunky by literary standards, but that's a pretty high bar. The man could tell a story, though. And he had more ideas than…
on “Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift?” ↗The Foundation, by Isaac Asimov. Great sci-fi, but also cast science and technology in a way that made me realize it could enable or destroy civilization. Introduced me to the concept that we can approach modeling…
on “Ask HN: Which non-technology book has influenced you the most and why?” ↗The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, MacroEconomics and a computer becomes sentient and sacrifices itself for the humans Foundation The Stainless Steel Rat 20000 leagues Under the sea Dune Series
on “Ask HN: What's your favorite sci-fi book?” ↗