Foundation

Foundation

• Genre: Fiction; science fiction
• Originally Published: 1951
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 830L; college/adult
• Structure/Length: 5 parts; approximately 296 pages; approximately 8 hours, 37 minutes on audio
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: Foundation is the first novel in Isaac Asimov's groundbreaking science fiction series of the same name. The central conflict revolves around the impending collapse of the Galactic Empire and mathematician Hari Seldon's development of a scientific discipline called "psychohistory." Seldon foresees the fall of the empire and the dark ages that will follow, and he establishes the Foundation to preserve knowledge and shorten the period of chaos. The novel follows the rise and fall of various leaders and the Foundation's efforts to navigate political intrigue and external threats. It explores themes of history, politics, and the future of humanity in the vastness of space.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Political intrigue; societal collapse; the future of humanity

Isaac Asimov, Author

• Bio: Born 1920, deceased 1992; Russian-born American author, professor, and biochemist known for his prolific science fiction and popular science writing; celebrated for his contributions to the genre and his ability to combine scientific ideas with engaging storytelling
• Other Works: Robot series, including I, Robot (1950); The Caves of Steel (1954); The End of Eternity (1955)
• Awards: Hugo Award for Best All-Time Series (Foundation trilogy, 1966)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• Mitigating the Uncertainty Principle of Sociology
• The Essential Elements of Civilization
• Using Subtlety Instead of Force

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Gain an understanding of science fiction in the middle of the 20th century to analyze the literary and historical background of the novel.
• Discuss paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of Mitigating the Uncertainty Principle of Sociology, The Essential Elements of Civilization, and Using Subtlety Instead of Force.
• Think critically about the nature of imperialism in a group activity in which students design their own empire and make comparisons to the novel’s Galactic Empire.
• Evaluate the overall impact of Asimov’s novel in structured essay responses on imperialism, morality, and other topics.