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Second Foundation (Foundation (Publication Order) #3)

4.16 of 5 stars 4.16 · rating details · 52,383 ratings · 637 reviews

So far the Foundation was safe. But there was a hidden Second Foundation to protect the first. The Mule has yet to find it, but he was getting closer all the time. The men of the Foundation sought it, too, to escape from Mule's mind control. Only Arkady, a 14 year-old girl seemed to have the answer, or did she...?

Paperback, 191 pages

Published 1964 by Avon Books (first published 1953)

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May 07, 2012 Elijah Kinch Spector rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It had been solidified heartbreak. It had been blasphemy.
p. 196

In the great tradition of First Lensman (the second Lensman book), Second Foundation has a title that wouldn't tell anyone that it is, in fact, the third in a trilogy. It refers to the actual Second Foundation, heretofore only hinted at as another, shadowy organization somewhere at the other end of the galaxy, far from our Foundation, who are of course preserving technology and re-civilizing parts of the galaxy nearer to them.

The Sec...more

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Aug 20, 2008 Jamie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Isaac Asimov's Foundation series is often cited amongst the nerdegalian as the best sci-fi series evar. It's set, as you may guess, far into the future where a man discovers that Rome ...uh, I mean The Galactic Empire is fated to collapse and bring about 30,000 years of barbarism unless certain actions are taken to start a long chain of events, the first of which is to create a kind of galactic Wikipedia. I'm not normally a fan of hard science fiction, and reading this trilogy kind of reminds me...more

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Oct 25, 2007 Donovan rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

As much as I did not enjoy reading Foundation and Empire, I had a good time with Second Foundation. I’m pretty sure that this is because in Second Foundation individual actions were actually of importance. What a character did mattered; and therefore, I could care about it again. I felt conflicted because I was almost allied with the Mule in the first half of the book because at least he had some influence and I could be interested in what he was doing. In the second half, who doesn’t like a pre...more

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Feb 07, 2013 Al rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

From the Paperback edition.

From the Inside Flap

So far the Foundation was safe. But there was a hidden Second Foundation to protect the first. The Mule has yet to find it, but he w

...more

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Jun 17, 2013 Andrewcharles420 rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sf12

This book, like the previous two, was split into loosely related sections with hardly any characters carrying over between them. The first half dealt with the newly empowered Mule searching the galaxy for the mysterious Second Foundation. Without finding too much (but for its existence), he is turned back to living out his few remaining days peaceably in his empire. The second half dealt with some first foundation citizens again searching for the Second Foundation, but in the process starting a...more

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May 08, 2013 Jen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Oh how I have missed The Mule! I was most recently sidetracked by my attempts to read the Foundation novels in Foundation-time chronological order, taking a break in between FOUNDATION AND EMPIRE and this novel.

Having read the first two books of the series as viewed in chronological order, I kept finding myself comparing what I was reading in this novel, Second Foundation (Foundation, #3), and so some of the plot twists weren't as suspenseful for me as they would have been for someone who was re...more

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Apr 29, 2013 David Rush rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I decided to read the original three foundation books by isaac asimov just because I read a comment on a blog. The blog post had something about big data analytics, which I gather is some new fangled statistics thing. Anyway a commenter said big data was like Harry Sheldon's law of mob psychology.

This will make the third time I've read these three books. The first time was maybe 35 years ago and the second 15 years back. I remembered only the sketchiest outline of the store, but I more or less h...more

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Feb 16, 2013 Andrew rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A trend is emerging in my reading habits: every eight or nine months, I break away from more intensive historical or biographical texts and retreat into the world of science fiction trilogies. Last year, it was The Hunger Games and the year before it was Ender's Games. This trend may reflect attempts to retreat from a stressful work environment, or it may be my effort to create more balance in reading genres. Whatever the case, I do appreciate a good sci-fi series.

Asimov, the true founder of th...more

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Jan 30, 2013 Joseph rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was all set to base this review on parallels between the Foundation trilogy and the original Star Wars trilogy; the first was groundbreaking, the darker second installment had stronger characterization plus 'empire' in the title and the third includes an element to appeal to kids (with a child protagonist taking the place of the ewoks,) plus there are prequels. That these parallels didn't make for more than one paragraph means this review will include a more standard list of literary strengths...more

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Jan 14, 2013 Jorge rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

La tercera parte de la trilogía de la Fundación se centra en la misteriosa Segunda Fundación, instaurada por Hari Seldon para preservar la integridad del plan y actualizarlo a medida que pasen los años y la posibilidad de error aumenten en forma significativa.

La historia empieza con la búsqueda del Mulo por la Segunda Fundación y la especulación que se trata de psicólogos poderosos, capaces de influir el pensamiento de los humanos. La segunda parte de la novela explora las consecuencias de esta...more

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Dec 09, 2012 Ariane Nazemi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Issac Asimov has captured the imaginations of millions with his Foundation series. From the humble beginnings of the early first Foundation, to the full-on space drama of the events that unfold in "Second Foundation", Asimov has never disappointed in his ability to create intricate and detailed plots.

In "Second Foundation", we follow the path of the Mule, now ruler of his "Union of Worlds", desperately trying to find and eradicate the only force in the galaxy that can stop his expansion: the Sec...more

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Dec 07, 2012 Esteban Armijo rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov is the final installment of the Foundation Trilogy. This book takes places a few years after the previous book. The Mule is now dead and we follow Adarky, the granddaughter of Bayta. The book revolves around how conspiracists from the First Foundation try and uncover the truth about the Second Foundation and where it is located. Overall I thought that it was very well written with plot twists left and right which kept me guessing the entire time.

I think that thi...more Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov is the final installment of the Foundation Trilogy. This book takes places a few years after the previous book. The Mule is now dead and we follow Adarky, the granddaughter of Bayta. The book revolves around how conspiracists from the First Foundation try and uncover the truth about the Second Foundation and where it is located. Overall I thought that it was very well written with plot twists left and right which kept me guessing the entire time.

I think that this book was one of the very pinnacles of Asimov's work. It shows his great creativity in the genre of Science Fiction. Considering that this work was done in the 50's, it is amazing how much science Asimov is able to include in his work. From my perspective, as being very interested in science, I found that this book explains a surprising amount of the basis of most sciences in the future. If that doesn't make that much sense let me explain. In a lot of future sci-fi books that I've read, they only really say that they have hovering cars and gadgets that can practically do anything. In this book however, Asimov actually gives a logical explanation of how it might might be logically possible. He doesn't just say that psychohistory is a science that can predict a future, but he explains that it works off the probability of masses and the larger the mass, the larger the probability. This was a very good part of the book for me.

But there are two parts to science fiction after all and Asimov is in no way a let down when it comes to the fiction. The book is so well written that it always kept me guessing what would happen next. Right when you think that you've finally found the answer to the question, Asimov throws another curve ball at you and your left in a mixture of wonder and amazement of what is coming next. Let me just say this, if you ever plan on picking up this book, our going to be in for a great surprise around every corner.

I would recommend this book to anyone that was interested in science fiction. Even if you generally dislike the genre, you might want to give this book a try and it might just open you up to the genre. The foundation trilogy after all is probably within the top ten greatest science fiction works of all time. Although, you might have to be a little older to understand all the various parts of this book. You don't have to be particularly well read to read this, but I would recommend an age of 15+ in order to get the entire book.(less)

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Nov 30, 2012 Mike rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone

In "Second Foundation" our humble and cunning author played his trump card.

The Mule is still running around looking to conquer everything in sight including (and most especially so) the Second Foundation. While he hasn't found it yet, he knows that it must be there and working against him.

In the first book, the scope of the story was "cosmic" - despite there being important individual characters. But everything is presided over by the demigod-like Hari Seldon and his predictions.

In "Foundation a...more In "Second Foundation" our humble and cunning author played his trump card.

The Mule is still running around looking to conquer everything in sight including (and most especially so) the Second Foundation. While he hasn't found it yet, he knows that it must be there and working against him.

In the first book, the scope of the story was "cosmic" - despite there being important individual characters. But everything is presided over by the demigod-like Hari Seldon and his predictions.

In "Foundation and Empire" his vision and solutions still seem to be working even as those in the Foundation appear to rebel against the strictures publicly laid down for them. The ascendance of the individual is important to the story line. The Mule is the pinnacle of this (or "acme" if you are a Roadrunner-Coyote fan): he is a "sport" whose personal abilities make him the most powerful and dangerous individual in these here solar systems.

In "Second Foundation" we move further into the realm of the individual as we play cat-and-mouse with protecting the Second Foundation from The Mule. This foundation consists of the true heirs of the founder. It is they who are developing psychohistory (no psychohistorians were included in the original foundation).

To keep the story fresh, not only is The Mule an enemy, but also the First Foundation. Both are "handled" in ways that best address the specific problem, but at a cost. (Another exercise for the "interested reader".)

Another "4.5" in spirit, but only "4" on the GR marking scale. A very good end to an influential and important series.

Postscript:

When first written this is where the series ended. Enough ends were tied up that the reader did not feel at sea. But I'm sure I wasn't the only one who would have asked for more. (Fortunately, we had the Robot stories to read by then!) And that's how things stood for almost 30 years.

In 1981 the first of four more novels was published giving readers new material to weave into that which had become familiar. In these books Asimov "normalized" a lot of his story "backgrounds" making it seem like many of them might have occurred in the same universe. It was a decent effort and one that bore fruit in many satisfying ways.
(less)

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Oct 28, 2012 Erik Erickson rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: prose, scifi

True to form: Space opera on a grand scale; a tale of an entire galaxy, spanning the course of a Millenia, and all the myriad characters and history this entails.

Just like the first volume, Foundation, it introduces and discards a roster of main and supporting characters at a fairly rapid clip but Asimov manages to establish distinct personalities sufficiently enough, so that each of the dispersed plot lines provide a consistently thrilling experience for the reader. I had to read it this far f...more True to form: Space opera on a grand scale; a tale of an entire galaxy, spanning the course of a Millenia, and all the myriad characters and history this entails.

Just like the first volume, Foundation, it introduces and discards a roster of main and supporting characters at a fairly rapid clip but Asimov manages to establish distinct personalities sufficiently enough, so that each of the dispersed plot lines provide a consistently thrilling experience for the reader. I had to read it this far fully appreciate the scale of the trilogy and its intricate threads of players and their individual, interconnected, parts.

A lot of the "action" is based just on the characters' thought processes and their twisty layers of realization, right or wrong. They're far from boring, although sometimes you do feel like you're watching some dense TV drama. Perhaps too many characters are smart enough to come to the realizations they do, which can require several layers of deduction, but I buy it. I buy it because it's so damn fun.

As with most classic scifi, it's also fun to read about the things we use every day that were complete fabrications at the time, things original readers probably marveled at. Like this description of a ticket machine, which foretells of ATMs: “It was the first she realized that she was standing in front of a ticket-machine. You put a high-denomination bill into the clipper which sank out of sight. You pressed the button below your destination and a ticket came out together with the correct change as determined by an electronic scanning device that never made a mistake. It was a very ordinary thing and there was no cause for anyone to stand before it for five minutes.”.

Bonus: having previously read a treatise by Asimov on how to reform the imperfect Gregorian calendar, it was cool to immediately understand the bizarre systems of dates used. The application of a numerical value from 1 to 365 for every given day in a year is exactly what Asimov had argued for in his essay in the issue of F&SF from June 1972 -19 years after Second Foundation was published. (less)

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Oct 03, 2012 Daniel rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The third part of Isaac Asimov's Foundation trilogy wraps up the events of Foundation and Empire, and then jumps to yet another timeframe to wrap up the series. I had expected some kind of dramatic end to the series, but in a way it kind of fizzled. In Foundation we were introduced to Seldon's Plan, which involved setting up the Foundation, a small group of bright folks that would weather the collapse of the Galactic Empire, and which would inevitably lead to the creation of a Second Galactic Em...more

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Aug 20, 2012 Ian rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The idea behind it's pretty good. Asimov has set up little philosopher kings to slowly shape the universe until they can accept being openly ruled by beings as superior as them, because of SCIENCE! It never actually handles the philosophical issues involved, but notes that they exist. Meanwhile, the plot is such:

Man1: Haha! I tricked you!
Man2: But I knew you were going to trick me. Instead, I tricked you!
Man1: But I knew you knew that I was going to trick you, so really *I* win!
Man2: NO! *dies*...more

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May 30, 2012 Erika RS rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read the three books of the foundation trilogy in such quick succession that I cannot separate them in my mind. So...

This is a trilogy with grand scope. The great galactic empire is falling, and the great psychohistorian, Hari Seldon, is the only one who knows how to shorten the period of chaos that will engulf the galaxy until a second empire is established. To this end, he establishes two Foundations to serve as the seeds of the new empire. This is their story.

As with much older science fict...more

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Mar 20, 2012 Robyn Blaber rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: american-literature, science-fiction

Well, this is the third installment of an epic science fiction trilogy and perhaps one of the best ever written (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, is another category for me), however the final volume eludes five star greatness for me. In a series where psychology and sociology reach such dizzying heights that they can be used to predict the future, they determine that the ultimate solution to good governance at a pan-galactic scale is in fact, Plato's Republic. Ugg...

It was here that I became s...more

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Jan 26, 2012 Prashanth rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sf

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. By the time I am reading this book, I am 3-4 novels old in the Foundation series. Since Asimov really strives to keep these novells independent, bits and pieces of this future-history appear sprinkled every where. As a result, I can start predicting what exactly will happen.

This book is about the second foundation in particular, and how Preem Palver, the first speaker of second foundation saves the day. As usual, i dont get too excited or too disappointed. We have all the usual masala of Asimov...more

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Jan 01, 2012 Ricky Ganci rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Dang—he got me again. Not so much that the Second Foundation was on Trantor (I figured it was close), but that Preen Palver was the First Speaker. And once again, my first reaction was “I gotta read these books again and catch all this hidden junk.” Because the realization, though less intense, was similar in its execution to the revelation of the Mule. The resolution of the plot was rather flat and uninteresting, but the idea behind it was cool—I guess it was just a conflict of execution vs. ex...more

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Dec 20, 2011 Matt Harris rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Asimov Has It Off

It's been a while since I read an epic. I do it every so often. I'm fond of Pynchon, fond of Eco, would have read DeLillo but I left Underworld on the train but stubbornly I won't go out and buy another copy.

Foundation, the Asimov trilogy, is in some ways a very simple read. It's not burdened with hundreds of characters, certainly only a small band gathers at one time and play out their parts in the drama. But the drama is nothing less than the good old "Fate Of The Galaxy."

The...more

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Sep 29, 2011 ***Dave Hill rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: text

Second Foundation consists of two tales -- the first the Mule's next effort to find the Second Foundation, the second the effort of a band of First Foundationers to do so.

The first tale reads the most like an old school SF novel, basically a travelogue of places and names and wondrous settings, mostly a story with little risk involved by the end. The second tale is more interesting, with a variety of characters, and some serious doubt as to who the reader should be rooting for (the First Foundat...more

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Aug 12, 2011 Bryant Rudisill rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Asimov has a linguistic prowess that is nearly untouchable - nearly. Not any skilled writer can project a copious amount of thought and ideals behind a few well-formulated sentences. Let alone have the innate ability to fabricate conundrums for the reader to so innocently and unwittingly plunge into around every other page. I figured myself top-notch, thinking I had discovered the hidden secrets behind the book; thinking I had discovered the ultimate truth behind the words of Harry Seldin and fo...more

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Aug 03, 2011 Steven rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: science-fiction

In this, the third (sort of) book in The Foundation story, Asimov brings together the story of the First and Second foundations, having them work with and against each other as they try to get Hari Seldon's plan back on track. It's easy to forget as you read these books, that they were written in the 1950s (or earlier). Of the three, this one's mid-century roots showed most clearly, particular through the Gidget-esque spunkiness of Arcadia Darrell. It's easy to imagine here gallivanting around t...more

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Mar 19, 2011 Alex Telander rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-read-in-2011

Second Foundation, the concluding volume to the first Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov was originally published in 1953. Using the same format of dividing the book into two parts, the first – “Search by the Mule” – takes place shortly after Foundation and Empire as the hunt is on now for this second foundation that has eluded the Empire, the Foundation, and all the inhabitants for a very long time. This first part is told from the viewpoint of the executive council of the second foundation who...more Second Foundation, the concluding volume to the first Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov was originally published in 1953. Using the same format of dividing the book into two parts, the first – “Search by the Mule” – takes place shortly after Foundation and Empire as the hunt is on now for this second foundation that has eluded the Empire, the Foundation, and all the inhabitants for a very long time. This first part is told from the viewpoint of the executive council of the second foundation who knows full well of the galaxy’s interest in discovering the elusive planet. The council is aware of the Mule’s intent to find them and even though the determined ruler has psychic powers, the executive council has psychic abilities of its own in store for him, as well as a fool-proof plan in place.

The second part of the book, “Search by the Foundation,” takes place sixty years after this first part. With the First Foundation now in ruins after the war, plans are afoot to discover the Second Foundation; the only problem is no one has any idea where it might be. The ends of the galaxy have been searched all to no avail. It seems that the Second Foundation will never be discovered, until we meet Arcadia Darell – a fourteen year old girl – who has snuck onto her uncle’s ship traveling to Kalgan where the Mule’s palace stands; it is here she will discover the answers and finally know the location of the Second Empire.

Second Foundation continues in the same style as the first two books in the trilogy, and while readers might expect an explosive finish from the unpredictable beginning from so many years and centuries before, the ending is a quiet one, however it is one fitting in with the trilogy as a whole and like any great mystery, the pieces to the answer were there all along. Readers may enjoy getting to the end, and then starting over once more to look for the clues along the way.

Originally written on February 26, 2011 ©Alex C. Telander.

For over 500 book reviews, and over 50 exclusive author interviews (both audio and written), visit BookBanter.(less)

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Aug 04, 2009 Jake rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction, fiction

Chief Recommendation: Commit to reading the trilogy (includes Foundation and Foundation and Empire ).

Foundation wasn't a quick read for me. Nor was this third installment, with its deep layered ideas. Also, these books are set so far in the future, and so far out in space, that they don’t offer many familiar trappings (for example, Earth). What is more, Asimov's narrative rarely hits you over the head. The high-stakes drama, the fascinating philosophy and the ethical dilemmas must be unraveled...more

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Dec 21, 2012 Jorge Caballero rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm not an avid reader of space-age / robot future Sci-Fi but decided to give it a try after learning it had once been awarded the "Best All-Time Novel Series" Hugo Award (which has only been given out that once in 1966) and that the runners-up included one of my all-time favorites: J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings".

I really enjoyed the first book, although a patchwork of episodic short stories it really did work as a single book, though characters didn't keep the spotlight long enough to...more

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Aug 25, 2012 Πέτρος rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After the Mule takes over the leadership of the fading galactic empire, he sets his goals to discover a second hidden Foundation that may threaten his plans of total dominance. And as important as that sounds, it played out in a completely boring way. The only worthy part in the whole book is the finale where the intellectuals argue on the location of the second Foundation; everything else was lame and boring. [SPOILER] First we get Mule looking for it and with little to no effort being brainwas...more

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Jun 15, 2012 Mirek Kukla rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

“The Second Foundation” is a solid conclusion to an awesome trilogy. Just as the second book was stylistically very different than the first, the third is thematically divergent from both. This time around, there’s a heavy focus on mental manipulation and emotional control. Where “Foundation” kicked you about through time and “Foundation and Empire” explored the galactic impact of the individual, “Second Foundation” focuses on minds, and in particular, on messing with yours. I found this shift i...more “The Second Foundation” is a solid conclusion to an awesome trilogy. Just as the second book was stylistically very different than the first, the third is thematically divergent from both. This time around, there’s a heavy focus on mental manipulation and emotional control. Where “Foundation” kicked you about through time and “Foundation and Empire” explored the galactic impact of the individual, “Second Foundation” focuses on minds, and in particular, on messing with yours. I found this shift in focus a bit jarring at first, but as a whole, this book is both brilliantly conceived and skillfully executed.

The book is broken into two parts. In Part 1, “Search By The Mule,” you follow the mule as he obsessively seeks out the mythical second foundation, which he is convinced exists as the sole threat to his plan for galactic dominance. Part 2, “Search By the Foundation,” you follow a group of first foundationers as they try to fight the invisible second foundation, which, they discover, is emotionally manipulating others for own presumed nefarious ends. The characters are smart and likeable throughout. In fact, you’ll struggle to decide who to cheer for: the mule? The first foundation? The second foundation? Indeed, you’ll find neither heroes nor villains – only people with divergent motives.

The plot itself is brilliantly constructed. Asimov does an excellent job of treading the line between free will and inevitability. Individuals act brilliantly and behave unexpectedly, and yet – it’s hard to shake the feeling that a prearranged tide is somehow sweeping everybody along. Feints and double feints abound, and nothing is quite as it seems. Asimov keeps you guessing quite literally till the very end - if I recall correctly, it’s not until the literal last page that the final puzzle piece falls into place. And indeed, you’ll be hard pressed to tear yourself away before then. Even if it’s very different than its predecessors, “The Second Foundation” stands as an awesome work of fiction on its own right, and one I’d heartily recommend.(less)

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Nov 22, 2011 Julio Cesar rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Casi 400 años despues de Seldon el mulo sigue en busqueda de la segunda fundacion empleando a sus esbirros Pritcher(el controlado)y Channis(el de libre albedrio que termina rebelandose como ciudadano de la sgunda fundacion),pero finalmente es confrontado por esta misma en uno de los mejores duelos del salvaje oeste donde la victoria es una pagina del mulo a la siguiente de Channis,con todas las triquiñuelas volteadoras imaginables pero finalizando en la desorientacion y neutralizacion del mulo,q...more

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About Isaac Asimov

Isaac Asimov was a Russian-born, American author, a professor of biochemistry, and a highly successful writer, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books.

Professor Asimov is generally considered the most prolific writer of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000 letters and postcards. He has works published in nine of the te...more Isaac Asimov was a Russian-born, American author, a professor of biochemistry, and a highly successful writer, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books.

Professor Asimov is generally considered the most prolific writer of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000 letters and postcards. He has works published in nine of the ten major categories of the Dewey Decimal System (lacking only an entry in the 100s category of Philosophy).

Asimov is widely considered a master of the science-fiction genre and, along with Robert A. Heinlein and Arthur C. Clarke, was considered one of the "Big Three" science-fiction writers during his lifetime. Asimov's most famous work is the Foundation Series; his other major series are the Galactic Empire series and the Robot series, both of which he later tied into the same fictional universe as the Foundation Series to create a unified "future history" for his stories much like those pioneered by Robert A. Heinlein and previously produced by Cordwainer Smith and Poul Anderson. He penned numerous short stories, among them "Nightfall", which in 1964 was voted by the Science Fiction Writers of America the best short science fiction story of all time, a title many still honor. He also wrote mysteries and fantasy, as well as a great amount of nonfiction. Asimov wrote the Lucky Starr series of juvenile science-fiction novels using the pen name Paul French.

Most of Asimov's popularized science books explain scientific concepts in a historical way, going as far back as possible to a time when the science in question was at its simplest stage. He often provides nationalities, birth dates, and death dates for the scientists he mentions, as well as etymologies and pronunciation guides for technical terms. Examples include his Guide to Science, the three volume set Understanding Physics, and Asimov's Chronology of Science and Discovery.

Asimov was a long-time member and Vice President of Mensa International, albeit reluctantly; he described some members of that organization as "brain-proud and aggressive about their IQs" He took more joy in being president of the American Humanist Association. The asteroid 5020 Asimov, the magazine Asimov's Science Fiction, a Brooklyn, NY elementary school, and two different Isaac Asimov Awards are named in his honor.

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“The most hopelessly stupid man is he who is not aware he is wise.” — 15 people liked it

“All roads lead to Trantor, and that is where all stars end.” — 6 people liked it

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