Prelude to Foundation
This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2007) |
ISBN 0-385-23313-2 | | |
Preceded by | Blind Alley | |
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Followed by | Forward the Foundation |
Prelude to Foundation is a novel by American writer Isaac Asimov, published in 1988. It is one of two prequels to the Foundation series. For the first time, Asimov chronicles the fictional life of Hari Seldon, the man who invented psychohistory and the intellectual hero of the series. The novel was nominated for the Locus Award.[2]
Plot summary
Prelude to Foundation is set in the year 12,020 G.E. (
Seldon then meets reporter
Hari and Dors narrowly evade capture at Streeling University, and Hummin arranges for them to be sheltered in the reclusive
The action then shifts to the Dahl sector, where Seldon and Venabili rent rooms from a middle-class family. While in Dahl, they meet a guttersnipe named Raych, whom Seldon later adopts. Also in Dahl, they are told by an old wise woman that the Aurora of the Mycogenians is not the original world, but actually the "enemy" of the original human planet, called
Towards the end of the novel, Seldon, Venabili, and Raych are kidnapped and forcibly taken to see Rashelle, who is the mayor of Wye, a powerful and vital sector situated at Trantor's south pole. Rashelle and her father have long been plotting to overthrow the Emperor and take his place. Seldon has the revelation that he could try to develop psychohistory using Trantor itself as a test case because of the great cultural diversity of its sectors. Rashelle launches her
Characters
Below is a list of all the major and minor characters in the book, in order of appearance, with brief descriptions.
- Hari Seldon is the protagonist of the story. He develops the theory of psychohistory.
- Cleon I is the Emperor of the Galactic Empire, who lives on Trantor.
- Eto Demerzel, First Minister to the Emperor, is sly, has connections everywhere, and attempts to capture Seldon for his knowledge of psychohistory.
- Chetter Hummin is a reporter who helps Seldon numerous times, setting him up at various sectors to avoid Imperial detection.
- Dors Venabili is a history professor at the university recruited by Hummin to protect Seldon. She follows him throughout the book.
- Jenarr Leggen is a meteorologist at Streeling University, who helps Venabili track Seldon using specialized equipment when the latter becomes lost.
- Rogen Benastra is the Chief Seismologist at Streeling University, who helps Dors find Hari after he becomes lost in the cold Upperside.
- Endor Levanian is the pilot who flies Seldon and Venabili to the Mycogen sector.
- Sunmaster Fourteen is a High Elder of the Mycogen sector.
- Graycloud Five is a novitiate resident of the Mycogen sector.
- Raindrop Forty-three and Raindrop Forty-five are two Sisters who help Seldon and Venabili with various aspects of life in Mycogen. They are also agents reporting to Sunmaster Fourteen.
- Mycelium Seventy-Two is a Mycogenian scholar whom Hari and Dors meet on the gravibus to the Sacratorium.
- Skystrip Two is an Elder of the Sacratorium in Mycogen.
- Jirad Tisalver is a resident working as a holovision programmer of the Dahl sector who takes Seldon and Venabili into his home.
- Hano Linder is a heatsink manager of the Dahl sector.
- Yugo Amaryl is a heatsink worker who aspires to be a mathematician like Seldon.
- Raych is a kid from Billibottonwho helps Seldon and Venabili find their way around in exchange for rewards.
- Mother Rittah is a local prophet of Billibotton in the Dahl sector who gives Seldon information regarding Earth, as well as "Da-Nee" and "Ba-Lee", R. Daneel Olivaw and the Baley family, respectively (see also the Robot seriesarticle).
- Davan is a subversive of Billibotton who aims to unite the downtrodden against the oppressive Empire.
- Sergeant Emmer Thalus is a soldier instructed to bring Seldon to the Wye sector.
- Rashelle is the daughter of Mannix IV and current mayor of Wye.
Influences
The novel is one of French politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon's main metapolitical sources of inspirations.[3]
References
- ^ Publication Listing. Isfdb.org. Retrieved on 2013-11-02.
- ^ "1989 Award Winners & Nominees". Worlds Without End. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- ^ "VIDEO. L'hologramme de Mélenchon s'inspire de "Fondation", le classique SF d'Isaac Asimov". France TV Info. March 22, 2018. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
External links
- Prelude to Foundation title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
- Prelude to Foundation at Open Library
- Prelude to Foundation at Worlds Without End