foundation

Foundation is a science fiction franchise created by Isaac Asimov. It originated with a series of short stories published in Astounding Magazine from 1942 to 1950 and later collected into three novels: Foundation (1951), Foundation and Empire (1952), and Second Foundation (1953). The series centers on Hari Seldon, a mathematician who develops psychohistory, a method for predicting large-scale social trends. With the Galactic Empire slipping toward collapse, Seldon implements a plan to preserve knowledge and shorten the ensuing dark age by establishing two Foundations at opposite ends of the galaxy.

Over the following decades, Asimov expanded the universe with prequels and sequels that connect Foundation to his Robot and Empire series. Prelude to Foundation (1988) and Forward to Foundation (1993) are set prior to the original Foundation stories, while later novels weave in characters and events from his broader science fiction universe.

Core concepts include psychohistory, the tension between scientific planning and political power, and cycles of decline and renewal. The two Foundations confront external threats and internal power struggles, with the so-called Second Foundation acting as a hidden guardian of the Seldon Plan.

Foundation is widely regarded as a foundational work in modern science fiction and has influenced many later authors and media. It received major awards and is frequently cited in discussions of speculative sociology and long-range planning. In 2021 Apple TV+ released a television adaptation, with additional seasons produced under the Foundation title.