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Foundation and Empire

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Fulfilled by Random House LLC

Arrives Monday, Jan 26
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Description

The second novel in Isaac Asimov’s classic science-fiction masterpiece, the Foundation series THE EPIC SAGA THAT INSPIRED THE APPLE TV+ SERIES FOUNDATION Led by its founding father, the psychohistorian Hari Seldon, and utilizing science and technology, the Foundation survived the greed and barbarism of its neighboring warrior-planets. Now cleverness and courage may not be enough. For the Empire—the mightiest force in the Galaxy—is even more dangerous in its death throes. Even worse, a mysterious entity called the Mule has appeared with powers beyond anything humanly conceivable. Who—or what—is the Mule? And how is humanity to defend itself against this invulnerable avatar of annihilation? Filled with nail-biting suspense, nonstop action, and cutting- edge speculation, Foundation and Empire is the story of humanity’s perpetual struggle against the darkness that forever threatens to overwhelm the light—and of how the courage of even a determined few can make all the difference in the universe. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Spectra


Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more


Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 1, 2004


Language ‏ : ‎ English


File size ‏ : ‎ 4.9 MB


Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported


Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled


X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled


Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled


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If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is: Monday, Jan 26

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Top Amazon Reviews


  • Astute and intriguing
Format: Kindle
Upon finishing I am intrigued by this continuation of the Foundation odyssey: the evolving galaxy in barbarism after the defeat of the Foundation and the Empire by a new and innovative nemesis, the Mule the manipulator of individuals’ emotions to the extent he can work through individuals to consume planets. But there is the Second Foundation that Hari Seldon created. Now the Mule is on a desperate quest to locate the Second Foundation and to end the scheme of Seldin’s psychohistory. Vivid writing and keen imagination makes this series a compelling reading experience. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2025 by Jeff Lacy

  • The ending is worth it.
Format: Kindle
Long story short, I had a more difficult time getting into the characters and storyline than 'Foundation', but man did it pick up in the second half. It seems the book finally converged on a set of protagonists in the latter half of the book, and crescendoed to a satisfying end. Reading Isaac Asimov's writing is like eating a lean cut of meat. Sure, I enjoy the occasional juicy, fatty steak, with its meticulously crafted settings and deep character development, but Asimov wastes no time. He'll stop to add a bit of depth and explanation here and there, but that's all, and the plot progresses at a blistering pace. It makes sense though. 'Foundation' introduced some of the most compelling concepts I have ever read, and this book follows suit. But this is why I ultimately give this book 4 rather than 5 stars. It was not its predecessor. While the book adds more detail to Hari Seldons plan for the Galaxy, it was not nearly as progressive as 'Foundation's' ideas on psychohistory and cultural evolution. Nevertheless, 'Foundation and Empire' delivers many new elements and beautifully sets the stage for for the finale, 'Second Foundation'. It's amazing how a series published in the '50s can seem so new to me. So far Asimov's precise and deliberate writing style combined with a truly unique story has blown me away. I cannot wait to learn how Seldons plan continues in the final book. If you haven't read 'Foundation', you're missing out. If you have, I wholeheartedly encourage you to continue and power through the first half of 'Foundation and Empire'. Then, savor the building anticipation for whomever and wherever the Second Foundation is inconspicuously spreading its dominance! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2015 by Nicholas Ritter

  • 30 years on -- a great, but different, read
Format: Mass Market Paperback
I'm reading the original Foundation trilogy for the 3rd (or maybe 4th?) time, but the first time in at least 20 years. I've got a few points to note, in no particular order: 1) Old science fiction tells us so much about the past. The things they never thought would change -- cigarettes, newspapers, women in the home, microfilm (!) -- show us just how prominent our blind spots can be. And the things they didn't even dream of (most obviously, the internet, but also race and s*xual relations, cell phones, etc.) tell us just how far and how quickly things change. 2) Reading it the first (and 2nd) time through, the young ambitious Federation reminded me of the USA -- young, resourceful, growing, upstarts. Now, I read it and the dying, corrupt, Empire reminds me of the USA. I'm not sure if this is my getting older (and pessimistic) or whether the times have changed so much since the 40s and 50s. In any case, there's an optimism in these books (like a lot of old sci-fi) that has long since passed out of (American?) pop culture. 3) There's a funny disconnect between 1 and 2 -- and I'm not sure where it is. So much has improved for so many, and yet the future now seems more scary than ever. Part of me reads this as escapist fun, part of me reads it to try to exercise my powers of optimism. (Without starting any arguments about current politics or which apocalyptic future I fear, let me say that I grew up in the Cold War with a very real fear of dying in a nuclear war -- the only bright side being that living in DC meant that I'd be incinerated instantly, and not suffer a lingering post-war death. Are any our current fears more likely or more catastrophic than that?) 4) There is little emotional depth in the Foundation. We don't get outsiders or brooding introspection, we learn about the characters through what they do. It reminds me a bit of the Icelandic sagas I just finished reading: lots of who did what, over how many generations -- and while there's little internal monologueing, you see that actions give insight into character. Perhaps it's our blind spot now to to think that how things feel to you is the most important thing in the world. 5) The Mule seems -- to my eyes -- a portent of 1960's. Without giving any spoilers, suddenly everyone sees that people's feelings are far more important and disruptive than any technology. (And the visi sonor seems so close to a depiction of an LSD trip that it makes me wonder what was going on in Asimov's personal life around this time!) In conclusion, I encourage any old fans to pick up and re-read the series: you'll get something different out of it than the last time. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2016 by DcLonChi

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