Isaac Asimov is probably the most famous
name when it comes to science-fiction
literature and he is considered – by many – to
be the most important and influential science-
fiction writer ever. His opus includes over 500
books and, in that aspect, he is certainly one
of the most prolific writers in the history of
the genre. Among his works, the Foundation
series (actually hepatology) is by far the most
important and most influential.
The Foundation consists of seven books in
total – Prelude to Foundation, Forward the
Foundation, Foundation, Foundation and
Empire, Second Foundation, Foundation’s
Edge, and Foundation and Earth – and tells the
story of scientist Hari Seldon who, during the
waning days of the Galactic Empire, predicts
its downfall and a 30,000-year-long dark age
and then uses his theory of psychohistory to
alter the future and limit the consequences
of the Empire’s downfall to just 1,000 years.