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Ann Litz
I recommend reading the original trilogy, then the preludes. I found
this order very satisfying:
Foundation
Foundation and Empire
Second Foundation
Prelude to Foundation
Forward the Foundation
Don't even bother with "Foundation's Edge" or "Foundation and Earth" unless you like saying "WTF Asimov?!?!" a lot.
this order very satisfying:
Foundation
Foundation and Empire
Second Foundation
Prelude to Foundation
Forward the Foundation
Don't even bother with "Foundation's Edge" or "Foundation and Earth" unless you like saying "WTF Asimov?!?!" a lot.
Jim Davis
My feeling is too read them in the order published. I have a slightly different reason for this. The original trilogy was made up of stories written in the early to late 1940's. Technology was a lot different then and even trying to project 1940's technology 50,000 years into the future gives a much different feel than when you do it from the 1980's.
Although it appears that Asimov is being careful not to make the original trilogy look too dated there is a slightly different feel to the later novels, both technologically and socially. It's seems to me it would be a little jarring if you read the prequels first and then read the original trilogy which was written 40 years earlier. Also, the original trilogy doesn't need the prequels to build on since they weren't even being considered at the time.
If you really want to immersh yourself into Asimov's universe I would recommend reading all the stories related to Foundation in published order. This would include the Foundation series, the Robot series and the Galactic Empire series. In the 1950's you have the Foundation Trilogy based on stories from the 40's, I, Robot a collection of robot stories written in the 1940's,the three Galactic Empire stories beginning with Pebble in the Sky, which were written as novel in the early '50's and then the two Robot novels featuring Elijah Bailey in the mid 1950's. Then you have to wait until 1964 for another collection of Robot stories. In 1982 there comes another collection that includes almost all the Robot short stories up until 1977.
Then it's not until 1982 that Asimov is coaxed into writing Foundations Edge. As I mentioned earlier I'm sure that the concept of the planet Gaia would never have sprang to mind to Asimov in 1950 and was definitely a product of the times. Next is the Robots of Dawn which is a continuation of the Robot novels featuring Elijah Bailey.
In 1985 Asimov writes Robots and Empire followed by Foundation and Earth to begin consolidating the Foundation universe, the Robot universe and the Galactic Empire universe. I think he did a pretty good job considering that the 3 series were written as stand alone series although they did have a common overview of the future universe. Obviously there will be some discrepancies with dates and a small number of events but not enough to be a problem.
Then we finally have the two prequels in 1988 and 1993. I was born in 1947 and read the Foundation series in high school in the early 60's Read a lot of other Asimov over the years but it wasn't until recently that I made an effort to read the books and stories I had missed and attempted to read the major works in the order published even though it meant rereading some stuff that I had read 40 or 50 years ago. It was fun and enjoyable. As you realize by now I'm a big Asimov fan. I can't totally rely on a 50 year old memory but I think I thought of Asimov's Foundation series as specific sort of anti-space opera approach to SF that I liked. I also liked Simak and Sturgeon although their anti-space opera was much different than Asimov's.
Although it appears that Asimov is being careful not to make the original trilogy look too dated there is a slightly different feel to the later novels, both technologically and socially. It's seems to me it would be a little jarring if you read the prequels first and then read the original trilogy which was written 40 years earlier. Also, the original trilogy doesn't need the prequels to build on since they weren't even being considered at the time.
If you really want to immersh yourself into Asimov's universe I would recommend reading all the stories related to Foundation in published order. This would include the Foundation series, the Robot series and the Galactic Empire series. In the 1950's you have the Foundation Trilogy based on stories from the 40's, I, Robot a collection of robot stories written in the 1940's,the three Galactic Empire stories beginning with Pebble in the Sky, which were written as novel in the early '50's and then the two Robot novels featuring Elijah Bailey in the mid 1950's. Then you have to wait until 1964 for another collection of Robot stories. In 1982 there comes another collection that includes almost all the Robot short stories up until 1977.
Then it's not until 1982 that Asimov is coaxed into writing Foundations Edge. As I mentioned earlier I'm sure that the concept of the planet Gaia would never have sprang to mind to Asimov in 1950 and was definitely a product of the times. Next is the Robots of Dawn which is a continuation of the Robot novels featuring Elijah Bailey.
In 1985 Asimov writes Robots and Empire followed by Foundation and Earth to begin consolidating the Foundation universe, the Robot universe and the Galactic Empire universe. I think he did a pretty good job considering that the 3 series were written as stand alone series although they did have a common overview of the future universe. Obviously there will be some discrepancies with dates and a small number of events but not enough to be a problem.
Then we finally have the two prequels in 1988 and 1993. I was born in 1947 and read the Foundation series in high school in the early 60's Read a lot of other Asimov over the years but it wasn't until recently that I made an effort to read the books and stories I had missed and attempted to read the major works in the order published even though it meant rereading some stuff that I had read 40 or 50 years ago. It was fun and enjoyable. As you realize by now I'm a big Asimov fan. I can't totally rely on a 50 year old memory but I think I thought of Asimov's Foundation series as specific sort of anti-space opera approach to SF that I liked. I also liked Simak and Sturgeon although their anti-space opera was much different than Asimov's.
Elise Stone
I disagree. I read Foundation before the prequels were written. The trilogy stands on its own. The prequels are on my to-read list forty years after I read the original trilogy.
Frederick
Read the Foundation Trilogy. Take a deep breath and read something else while Foundation percolates. That alone would be enough. Read some Heinlein or Arthur C., staying with the Big Three. Then, when Foundation has become a nice haven of memories and thoughts about the grand opera future, begin with the successors... in sequence.. but not more than three in a row, or you will begin to quote Hari Seldon in normal conversation.
PaulESchilling
If you only read the original trilogy, you don't even need to read the rest of it. The prequels are really just Asimov's attempts to sell more books and tie his Robot novels in with his Foundation novels for one giant universe.
Pam
I agree with Elise. You lose nothing by reading it in the order it was written. Think of it as Star Wars.
Boy Blue
Read Foundation first, it is one of the most important sci-fi books of all time. Don't waste time with the preludes. Foundation is the eureka moment, the rest are all just by products of that moment of brilliance.
J
Skip it all. The first book is awful.
Justin Giraud
3 ways to read this, goes by you personality:
- Chronological: If you like order and in sequence. It gives the build up and how things came to be and how it all ends, in order.
- Published order. If you don’t mind going back in the past and learning how things came to be and going forward past original for the conclusion.
- There can be only 1. Read the original series and not care about the rest. Good if you cannot get into long. But these books are all short reads and easy reads.
- Chronological: If you like order and in sequence. It gives the build up and how things came to be and how it all ends, in order.
- Published order. If you don’t mind going back in the past and learning how things came to be and going forward past original for the conclusion.
- There can be only 1. Read the original series and not care about the rest. Good if you cannot get into long. But these books are all short reads and easy reads.
Linnea
I loved reading Foundation #1 first, as it was originally written to stand alone. Asimov only wrote others after great demand. After reading #1, I would say you could do the prequels and then the rest, or just go 1-5 and then prequels. But starting with 1, you will get some gorgeous world-building. I love this series, and I am not "well-versed" in sci fi, I would say. I'm jealous--have so much fun reading the first time!!
Joe Martinez
I don't think it really matters, all of the books are self contained.
Ånatóliy Smith
read the preludes.
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