If you’re a STEM student or simply fascinated by human history’s vast complexities, Isaac Asimov’s Foundation will satisfy your reading needs. Asimov was a Russian-American biochemist turned novelist who became one of science fiction’s ‘greats’. He crafted a narrative that intertwines the scientific principles of his time with the vast history of a possible future where humanity’s destruction looms over future development. Foundation is the first novel of Asimov’s classic science-fiction series, which all began as a collection of short stories published in 1951. 

The novel has five chapters: “The Psychohistorian”, “The Encyclopedists”, “The Mayors”, “The Traders”, and “The Merchant Princes.” Foundation introduces the reader to the concept of psychohistory, where the world of fictional science merges with the fields of mathematics and sociology, predicting the futures of human populations. According to Asimov, psychohistory is a mathematical method that “deals with the reactions of human conglomerates to fixed social and economic stimuli.” The main character, Hari Seldon, uses psychohistory to predict human behaviour. Seldon has a vision that twelve thousand years into the Galactic Empire Supreme, the world will die. From here began the collection of all human knowledge — the Foundation.

Set on the planet Terminus, “The Mayors” explores the Foundation era, when the brilliant first mayor Salvor Hardin governed Terminus City. The Foundation ousted the Encyclopedists, a political party focused on only academic pursuits, becoming the dominant party in the political arena of the empire. Hardin uses nuclear energy to control the city, sustain its growth, and avoid control from other planets. In the novel, nuclear power is the main technological advancement in the world, symbolizing the weaponry nuclear power exhibits. This leads to warfare and an obsession for power — causing many of the worlds to regress from the technological advancements the empire has placed on the earth. Since Asimov’s novel was published in 1951, technology was not as advanced as today’s use of AI technology. Nuclear power was believed to be the power that provides infinite energy.

“The Traders” focuses on Limmar Ponyets, a shrewd trader who is responsible for influencing the sale of Foundation-controlled nuclear technology to other worlds. Ponyets rescues Foundation agent Eskel Gorov, who fails in attempting to introduce nuclear technology to worlds outside of the empire. Due to his actions on the planet Askone, Gorov is imprisoned until Ponyets rescues him and eventually gets the leader of Askone to accept the Foundation’s technology by disguising it as a religious artifact. 

“The Merchant Princes,” the first novel’s final chapter, introduces Hober Mallow, another master trader who tries to find if there are technological remnants in the Galactic Empire. He finds that the Empire’s economy is weakening, but he uses this knowledge to take the power of the Foundation’s trade business to become the first ‘Merchant Prince,’ a key power contributor alongside Seldon and Hardin. Ultimately, the world sees a shift from the scientific control of power to a more political force. 

I spent the summer mesmerized by Asimov’s fictional world, which pulled me into an addicting universe mirroring our world’s struggles but with a twist of adventure and ethical dilemmas. It kept me on my toes with characters that I am sure you will eventually be invested in as you start on this seven-book series. 

Asimov’s twists are unexpected. One thing that can be boring about science fiction is the constant need to include galactic battles like Star Wars to please the audience, but it does not add any depth to the storyline. Asimov takes the approach to science fiction with a bigger perspective, answering the big questions of today’s society without the extravagant big battles in space. 

The book is not just a work of fiction, but a mirror reflecting the relevance of science in shaping our future. It explores the role of science in shaping future human civilizations, preserving the knowledge we’ve acquired from past to present, and the nature of history’s repeated nature. The Foundation’s technological superiority allows the community and nearby worlds outside the Galactic Empire to become dependent on the Foundation. 

Some may say the story resembles Frank Herbert’s Dune, but some believe that Asimov’s work inspired Dune. However, the two stories and their purposes are entirely different. Asimov gives the reader a vision of what scientific insights may do to change an entire civilization’s fate in the long term, especially in a society where data and statistical models play an increasing role in how the world works. 

What makes Foundation an exciting read for adventure and novel scientific fiction enthusiasts alike is the love for introspection, challenging us to understand the power and limitations of science. By inviting readers to reflect on the forces that drive societal change, we know the importance of safeguarding humanity’s knowledge. Whether you’re a STEM or humanities student, Asimov’s classic tale will leave you pondering on humankind’s future and initiating controversial conversations about it. For U of T students looking to expand their horizons into the field of science and speculative fiction, Foundation is an essential complement to your reading list.