The Foundation Trilogy
by Isaac Asimov · first published 1950
35% recommend60% neutral4% critical
Why HN recommends it
Idea-driven sci-fi about the fall and rebuilding of a galactic civilization, praised for its unusual, creative take on the future and unpredictable plot. Quick, engaging read for sci-fi newcomers and fans.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
- Foundation - Foundation and Empire - Second Foundation Isaac Asimov's Foundation novels are some of the great masterworks of science fiction. Unsurpassed for their unique blend of nonstop action, daring ideas, and extensive world-building, they chronicle the struggle of a courageous group of men and women working to preserve humanity’s light against an inexorable tide of darkness and violence. Led by its founding father, the great psychohistorian Hari Seldon, and taking advantage of its superior science and technology, the Foundation has survived the greed and barbarism of its neig
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…be fair - Cinderella reaches that point only because its amongst the first few stories you ever hear.) Titanic reached that stage for many teenage girls by killing the hero. The best book I've read - Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov reaches that "surprisingly unpredictable" point too.
on “Kurt Vonnegut: I want to share with you something I’ve learned. ” ↗Guns, Germs and Steel by Diamond. Also Foundation Trilogy by Asimov because of the incredible creativity needed to tell that story
on “Ask HN: What books changed the way you think about almost everything?” ↗Asimov's The Foundation Trilogy was the best sci-fi I've read. Then there are a lot of other types, e.g Porter mgmt theories.
on “Ask HN: What books have made the biggest impact on your mental models?” ↗Love the reference to Hari Seldon, the famed psychohistorian from Isaac Asimov's Foundation trilogy. If you haven't read the Foundation trilogy, get a copy to enjoy during lockdown, it is fantastic.
on “The Next Decade Could Be Even Worse” ↗Just to be clear, the top shares right now are Asimov's Foundation trilogy (always a good read), a bunch of films, and My Little Pony pornography. "Free knowledge to everyone" -- we're not quite there yet, and I would stick with the various OpenCourseWare-type free-university-education…
on “Internet Archive Starts Seeding 1,398,875 Torrents” ↗I have just finished the Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov, I can't believe it took me so long to get round to reading such classic sci-fi. Definitely recommended.
on “Ask HN: What books have you read in the first half of 2016?” ↗…mention of The Four Steps to the Epiphany by Steve Blank. I consider it one of the most influential books I've read, period. Also, in terms of fiction, I'd add Permutation City by Greg Egan, and the Foundation Trilogy by Asimov (that one's cheating a little as that was a re-read, but they are still very good).
on “Ask HN: Best books you read in the past decade?” ↗…can warp a young man's character forever; the other book is about orcs. But for me, of course, it was neither. My Book – the one that has stayed with me for four-and-a-half decades – is Isaac Asimov's Foundation Trilogy, written when Asimov was barely out of his teens himself. I didn't grow up wanting to be a square-jawed individualist or join a heroic quest; I grew up wanting to be Hari Seldon, using my understanding…
on “Nobody Really Knows How the Economy Works. A Fed Paper Is the Latest Sign” ↗…read by him as well). "Earthsea" by Ursula LeGuin - and "Powers". "Diamond Age" by Neal Stephenson. "Holy Fire" by Bruce Sterling (I also enjoyed Islands in the Net, Zenith Angle and Schismatrix). "Foundation" trilogy + prequel by Isaac Asimov. "Brave New World", Aldous Huxley. "Deepness in the Sky" / "Fire Upon the Deep" by Vernor Vinge. "Something wicked this way comes" by Ray Bradbury. And a couple of comics/visual…
on “Ask HN: What are some must read books?” ↗…pleasure. I'd recommend for example (in no particular order - just some great books imnho): Earthsea quartet by LeGuin Dune by Herbert South of the Border by Murakami Islands in the Net by Sterling Foundation trilogy by Asimov Speed of Dark, by Moon Accelerando, by Stross Murderbot diaries, by Wells A Fire Upon the Deep, by Vinge (and Rainbow's End by same) 2312, by Robinson And many more, I'm sure :)
on “Why read Dostoevsky? A programmer's perspective” ↗Yep. Better to read Asimov's foundation trilogy
on “Ask HN: Mind bending books to read and never be the same as before?” ↗Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell Brave New World - Aldous Huxley Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury The Fountainhead - Ayn Rand Foundation Trilogy -Isaac Asimov The Game: Penetrating The Secret Society of Pickup Artists - Neil Strauss The Law - Frédéric Bastiat Thus Spoke Zarathustra - Friedrich Nietzsche The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress - Robert…
on “Ask HN: what non technical books changed your life ?” ↗Out of the Silent Planet - C.S. Lewis The Moon is a Harsh Mistress - R.A. Heinlein The Foundation Trilogy - Isaac Asimov
on “Ask HN: What were your "life-changing" books?” ↗…C. Clarke: Rendezvous with Rama Pierce Anthony and Robert E. Margroff: The Ring Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle and Steven Barnes: The Legacy of Heorot Stanislaw Lem: The Invincible Isaac Asimov: The Foundation Trilogy
on “What are your favourite sci-fi books?” ↗Both Heinlein and Asimov got into the whole grand unifying theory of what they wrote. Asimov's short stories may have been his best work. But the original Foundation trilogy was pretty good too.
on “Isaac Asimov on How to Be Prolific” ↗