Foundation

A series of books by Isaac Asimov, spanning several millenia, describing the future history of the human race. Originally divided in two different 'universes', Asimov's last works were written to create a connection between his two great book series.

The first of these 'subuniverses', the Robot Series, follows the development of robotic intelligences bound by the Three Laws in Earth and the creation of colonies in neighbouring star systems after the development of hyperdrive.

The transition towards the second 'subuniverse' begins when these colonies grow independent. Using robots as labour, the colonials become long-lived dilettantes that regard the people of overpopulated Earth with scorn or even hatred. Eventually, Earth manages to create new colonies with the help of sympathetic colonials, while the long-lived citizens of the first colonies have lost the will to adventure beyond their comfortable existences, dooming themselves to stagnation.

Thus, we reach the second series, the Galactic Empire-Foundation, where we witness the rise of the Trantorian Empire in a galaxy with millions of worlds settled by short-lived humans, where all knowledge of Earth's existence has been forgotten. The Foundation arc, the best known part of this entire 'future history' tells the end of the cycle, as the Galactic Empire is near collapse and a group of scientists work to save as much knowledge as possible from the impending collapse of civilization.

Record 373 - universe - Last update 18 Apr 2007, 20:28:47

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