Prelude to Foundation
Encyclopedia
Prelude to Foundation is a Locus Award nominated 1988 novel written by Isaac Asimov
. It is one of two prequels to the Foundation Series. For the first time, Asimov chronicles the fictional life of Hari Seldon
, the man who invented psychohistory
and the intellectual hero of the series.
during the reign of Emperor Cleon I
. It starts with Hari's presentation of a paper at a mathematics convention detailing how practical use of psychohistory
might theoretically be possible. The Emperor of the Galactic Empire
learns of this and wants to use Hari for political gain. After an interview with Hari, however, Cleon concludes that Hari is of no use to the Empire.
Hari then meets reporter Chetter Hummin, who convinces him that Cleon's first minister Eto Demerzel is attempting to capture him, and that it is therefore imperative for Hari to escape and to try to make psychohistory
practical. Thus, Hari goes on his "Flight" and is introduced to Dors Venabili
by Hummin.
Hari and Dors narrowly evade capture at Streeling University, following which the pair move to Mycogen. Hari and Dors are welcomed to Mycogen by Sunmaster Fourteen, the leader of Mycogen. Determined to work out his psychohistory
with the knowledge that the Mycogenians supposedly possess, Hari decides to speak to a Mycogenian alone about history. He manages this by convincing Raindrop Forty-three to show him the prized Mycogenian microfarms, a prized source of food for the aristocracy and Mycogenians alike.
When Hari inquires about that the peculiar Mycogenian ways might be the product of religious belief, Raindrop Forty-three is offended and says that the Mycogenians have something better: History
. Hari inquires into the source of Mycogenian history and Raindrop Forty-three reveals that it is encompassed in "The book". Hari asks for the book but Raindrop Forty-three accepts on the condition that Hari allows her to touch his hair; (hair being expressively forbidden in Mycogenian society). When Hari starts reading the book, he finds it disappointing except for the revealing of what the Mycogenians call their home planet, Aurora
.
Hari and Dors are almost killed when they try to find what they suspect is a robot in the Mycogenian "temple" until Hummin arrives in the nick of time to save them. The action then shifts to the Dahl sector, where Dors displays her amazing knife fighting skills. While in Dahl they meet a guttersnipe named Raych (whom Hari later adopts as his son), and Yugo Amaryl (who would become Hari's partner in developing psychohistory).
Towards the end of the novel, Hari, Dors, and Raych are kidnapped by agents from Wye, a powerful sector situated at Trantor's south pole. The finale reveals that "Hummin" is actually Cleon's first minister Eto Demerzel, who we later learn is in fact the robot R. Daneel Olivaw
. By the end of the novel, Hari suspects that Dors is a robot, too. This theme would later be picked up in Forward the Foundation
.
Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000...
. It is one of two prequels to the Foundation Series. For the first time, Asimov chronicles the fictional life of Hari Seldon
Hari Seldon
Hari Seldon, a fictional character, is the intellectual hero of Isaac Asimov's Foundation Series. In his capacity as mathematics professor at Streeling University on Trantor, he developed psychohistory, allowing him to predict the future in probabilistic terms...
, the man who invented psychohistory
Psychohistory (fictional)
Psychohistory is a fictional science in Isaac Asimov's Foundation universe which combines history, sociology, and mathematical statistics to make general predictions about the future behavior of very large groups of people, such as the Galactic Empire...
and the intellectual hero of the series.
Plot summary
The story takes place on TrantorTrantor
Trantor is a fictional planet in Isaac Asimov's Foundation Series and Empire Series of science fiction novels.Trantor was first described in a short story by Asimov appearing in Early Asimov Volume 1. Later Trantor gained prominence when the 1940s Foundation Series first appeared in print . Asimov...
during the reign of Emperor Cleon I
Cleon I
Cleon I is a character in the fictional universe of The Foundation Series. He was the last Emperor of the Entun dynasty . He was Emperor of the Galactic Empire when Hari Seldon first arrived on Trantor...
. It starts with Hari's presentation of a paper at a mathematics convention detailing how practical use of psychohistory
Psychohistory (fictional)
Psychohistory is a fictional science in Isaac Asimov's Foundation universe which combines history, sociology, and mathematical statistics to make general predictions about the future behavior of very large groups of people, such as the Galactic Empire...
might theoretically be possible. The Emperor of the Galactic Empire
Galactic Empire (Asimov)
In Isaac Asimov's Robot/Empire/Foundation series of novels, the Galactic Empire is an empire consisting of millions of planets settled by humans across the whole Milky Way Galaxy. Its symbol is the Spaceship and Sun logo.-Author's creation of the empire:...
learns of this and wants to use Hari for political gain. After an interview with Hari, however, Cleon concludes that Hari is of no use to the Empire.
Hari then meets reporter Chetter Hummin, who convinces him that Cleon's first minister Eto Demerzel is attempting to capture him, and that it is therefore imperative for Hari to escape and to try to make psychohistory
Psychohistory (fictional)
Psychohistory is a fictional science in Isaac Asimov's Foundation universe which combines history, sociology, and mathematical statistics to make general predictions about the future behavior of very large groups of people, such as the Galactic Empire...
practical. Thus, Hari goes on his "Flight" and is introduced to Dors Venabili
Dors Venabili
In Isaac Asimov's Foundation Series, Dors Venabili is a good friend, protector and later wife of Hari Seldon, the primary character of Prelude to Foundation and Forward the Foundation. At face value, Dors is an attractive woman, two years younger than Seldon...
by Hummin.
Hari and Dors narrowly evade capture at Streeling University, following which the pair move to Mycogen. Hari and Dors are welcomed to Mycogen by Sunmaster Fourteen, the leader of Mycogen. Determined to work out his psychohistory
Psychohistory (fictional)
Psychohistory is a fictional science in Isaac Asimov's Foundation universe which combines history, sociology, and mathematical statistics to make general predictions about the future behavior of very large groups of people, such as the Galactic Empire...
with the knowledge that the Mycogenians supposedly possess, Hari decides to speak to a Mycogenian alone about history. He manages this by convincing Raindrop Forty-three to show him the prized Mycogenian microfarms, a prized source of food for the aristocracy and Mycogenians alike.
When Hari inquires about that the peculiar Mycogenian ways might be the product of religious belief, Raindrop Forty-three is offended and says that the Mycogenians have something better: History
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
. Hari inquires into the source of Mycogenian history and Raindrop Forty-three reveals that it is encompassed in "The book". Hari asks for the book but Raindrop Forty-three accepts on the condition that Hari allows her to touch his hair; (hair being expressively forbidden in Mycogenian society). When Hari starts reading the book, he finds it disappointing except for the revealing of what the Mycogenians call their home planet, Aurora
Aurora (planet)
Aurora is a fictional planet in Isaac Asimov's Robot Series. It was the first world settled by the Spacers, originally named 'New Earth'; it was located 3.7 parsecs from Earth.-Origins & development:...
.
Hari and Dors are almost killed when they try to find what they suspect is a robot in the Mycogenian "temple" until Hummin arrives in the nick of time to save them. The action then shifts to the Dahl sector, where Dors displays her amazing knife fighting skills. While in Dahl they meet a guttersnipe named Raych (whom Hari later adopts as his son), and Yugo Amaryl (who would become Hari's partner in developing psychohistory).
Towards the end of the novel, Hari, Dors, and Raych are kidnapped by agents from Wye, a powerful sector situated at Trantor's south pole. The finale reveals that "Hummin" is actually Cleon's first minister Eto Demerzel, who we later learn is in fact the robot R. Daneel Olivaw
R. Daneel Olivaw
R. Daneel Olivaw is a fictional robot created by Isaac Asimov. The "R" initial in his name stands for "robot," a naming convention in Asimov's future society...
. By the end of the novel, Hari suspects that Dors is a robot, too. This theme would later be picked up in Forward the Foundation
Forward the Foundation
Forward the Foundation is a novel written by Isaac Asimov. It is the second of two prequels to the Foundation Series. It is written in much the same style as the original novel Foundation, a novel composed of chapters with long intervals in between...
.
Character histories
Below is a list of all the major and minor characters in the book, in order of appearance, with plot detail.- Hari Seldon is the protagonist of the story. He develops the theory of psychohistoryPsychohistory (fictional)Psychohistory is a fictional science in Isaac Asimov's Foundation universe which combines history, sociology, and mathematical statistics to make general predictions about the future behavior of very large groups of people, such as the Galactic Empire...
. - Cleon I is the Emperor of the Galactic Empire, who lives on Trantor.
- Eto Demerzel, First Minister of the emperor, is sly, has connections everywhere, and attempts to capture Hari for his knowledge of psychohistoryPsychohistory (fictional)Psychohistory is a fictional science in Isaac Asimov's Foundation universe which combines history, sociology, and mathematical statistics to make general predictions about the future behavior of very large groups of people, such as the Galactic Empire...
. - Chetter Hummin is a reporter who runs into Hari. He helps Hari numerous times, setting him up at various sectors to avoid Imperial detection.
- Dors Venabili is a history professor at the University recruited by Hummin to protect Hari. She follows him throughout the book.
- Jenarr Leggen is a meteorologist of the University who helps Dors track Hari using specialized equipment.
- Rogen Benastra, a Chief Seismologist at Streeling University who helps Dors find Hari after he’s trapped Upperside.
- Endor Levanian is the pilot who flies Dors and Hari to the Mycogen sector.
- Sunmaster Fourteen is a High Elder of the Mycogen sector who greeted Dors and Hari.
- Graycloud Five is a novitiate resident of the Mycogen sector.
- Raindrop Forty-three and Raindrop Forty-five are two Sisters who instruct Dors on the operation of kitchen equipment.
- Mycelium Seventy-Two is a Mycogenian scholar whom Hari and Dors met on the gravibus to the Sacratorium.
- Skystrip Two is an Elder of the Sacratorium in Mycogen.
- Jirad Tisalver is a resident working as a holovision programmer of the Dahl sector who takes Hari and Dors into his home.
- Hano Linder is a heatsink manager of the Dahl sector.
- Yugo Amaryl is a heatsink worker who aspires to be a mathematician like Hari.
- Raych is a kid from Billibotton who helps Hari and Dors find their way around in exchange for rewards.
- Mother Rittah is a local prophet of Billibotton in the Dahl sector who gives Hari information regarding Earth.
- Da-Nee and Ba-Lee Refers to R. Daneel Olivaw and the Baley family, respectively (see below and in the article Robot seriesIsaac Asimov's Robot SeriesIsaac Asimov's Robot Series is a series of short stories and novels by Isaac Asimov featuring positronic robots.- Short stories :Most of Asimov's robot short stories are set in the first age of positronic robotics and space exploration...
). - Davan is a subversive of Billibotton who aims to unite the downtrodden against the oppressive Empire.
- Sergeant Emmer Thalus is a soldier instructed to bring Hari to the Wye sector.
- Rashelle is the daughter of Mannix IV and current mayor of Wye.
- R. Daneel Olivaw is the true name of Eto Demerzel and Chetter Hummin. The R stands for robot.
External links
- Prelude to Foundation at Worlds Without End