I have always represented myself as a real Science Fiction fan, however realistically this has been more apparent in my viewing and gaming habits. I have for many years neglected reading much of the genre except for the occasional post-apocalyptic novel. After finally, getting around to reading Isaac Asimov’s Foundation after it has sat on my shelf for a few years it’s clear that this apathy has been to my own detriment. Not only was it a thoroughly engaging collection with a unique premise but Asimov demonstrates an exceptional understanding of the development of civilisation and society.

The Foundation – premise

The collection quickly introduces the concept of Psychohistory which is fundamental to the plot as the study of using a combination of history, sociology, and statistical probability to predict the future. It is through the introduction of this concept the Asimov established the impending collapse of the Galactic Empire which sparks the plan for the establishment of two Foundations to maintain civilisation and rebuild the Empire. This initial premise is straight forward enough but is quickly complicated by the overriding principal of prophecy and prediction that those involved in events must remain ignorant or risk changing the outcome. This is where a lot of the novel’s conflict and drama is established as characters with limited knowledge of the calculations of Hari Seldon must implement a response to his predictable crisis while continually managing the political intrigue of the remote periphery of the Empire. As a result, while there is the ongoing emphasis on technological development and its implications for military power, the story is primarily one of political intrigue.

Structure

The collection does follow a linear structure however it develops through a series of jumps through different points in the history of the Foundation. This is primarily because while published since 1951 it has been published as a single text the novel is composed of four short stories. As a result, the sections work as individual stories dealing with a common setting and building on a history of past events. Due to this unlike a traditional novel there is much more limited character development as due to their impact on events in the Foundation history previous protagonists are referenced and often revered however due to the passage of time take no further action in the plot. Additionally, as the focus of each story deals with the potential crisis and political machinations of the Foundation there is no explanation of personal relationships or other elements that would traditionally be used to develop characters.

However, what the combination of the short stories does create is the development of a more complex social political setting to explore the ideas of civilisation central Asimov’s work. Once again this is not necessarily fleshed out in the way of traditional world building with the layering of social customs, description of architecture and class conflict to any great extent. Instead, the structure allows for a focus on observing change within internal and external politics as well as the evolution of imperialism away from military expansion. In this way ‘Foundation’ creates a cohesive yet unique collection that almost reads like a novel despite its limitations. It is a success while breaking most of the rules of traditional genre fiction, perhaps this is the very reason for its success.

Failure of Imperilism

Asimov’s understanding of history is clear from early in the novel as the predicted decline of the Galactic Empire mirrors the fall of Rome. The overall problems of an unstainable frontier mixed with internal instability due to a succession of assassinations clearly reflect the crisis of the third century. In addition, a recuring theme of the novel is the declining technological understanding within the Galactic Empire which means that despite their resources that both politically and scientifically this vast imperial power is in a state of stagnation at the start of the novel. As predicted, like Ancient Rome, the Galactic Empire begins to decline due to these ongoing issues and while it remains intact for the entirety of the novel there is no real attempt to address these problems. In fact, the novel’s core assertion from the first chapter concludes that due to the size of the Empire it is impossible to prevent its eventual collapse. While it clearly references Roman history the context of Asimov’s stories published between 1942 and 1950 also in some ways mirrors the collapse of the 20th century Empires and therefore implies that systems of imperialism will inevitably fall.

The History of Civilisation

In contrast to the decline and fall of the Galactic Empire the collection focuses on the development of the Foundation. Through these different historical periods represented in each story Asimov can explore the development of society and the different methods of control beyond military power. Initially, the small outpost holds to an isolationist perspective and attempts to remain of the political upheaval present in the region believing in the old imperial power for protection. This is the clearest link to Asimov’s context as in many ways it echos the collapse of the old Empires during World War 2. As an Australian this is especially reminiscent of the fall of Singapore and the inability for us to rely on Britian for our security. However, it is clear the governing body of the foundation are resistant to change and fail to recognize the significance of events which inevitably leads to a coup. As is a common enough theme throughout history, the ability of the new leader to manage the crisis cements his position.

After this initial break with the Empire and the Foundation must form a relationship with the nearby kingdoms exploiting their only resources, scientific knowledge. The challenge here is for the outpost to make themselves indispensable to their more powerful neighbours in a way that does not encourage conquest. In this period, Asimov demonstrates the power of religion to manipulate the masses and to be utilised by those with knowledge to manipulate the view of the universe. Through this mechanism the Foundation can mythologise science to the extent that it underpins the divine right of rulers that is until actions are taken against the Foundation. Once again, the use of privileged knowledge as well as the connections between religion and the leadership of the state echoes the practices of medieval Europe. However, the reliance on religion is shown to have its limitations, eventually giving way to capitalist self-interest and economic influence. The representation of these various stages of civilisations is therefore like the ideas of Karl Marxx and his theory of the stages of history. In this way the stories explore complex social and political ideas by taking it beyond a contemporary context which is the strength of science fiction but is often overlooked by casual readers.

Final word

The depth and laying of historical illusions and the exploration of ideas around civilisation have really got me hocked and I am currently waiting for my copy of Foundation and Empire to continue reading. If you aren’t familiar with Foundation, it is a must for any science fiction fan, listen on Audible or get your copy of the whole series