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Seek's avatar

In which order should I read Asimov's "Foundation" series?

Asked by Seek (30206 points ) June 4th, 2014

I like to listen to audiobooks while I’m weaving or painting or whatever, and I’m looking to get into something that will take a while (My last venture was Ken Follett’s Pillars of the Earth). I thought “Hey, I haven’t read Asimov yet!”

Should I start with Foundation and read by order of publication, or start with the prequels and work chronologically within the storyline?

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9 Answers

gailcalled's avatar

It’s been decades, but I’d suggest working chronologically within the storyline. (You are in for a treat. Those three laws of Robotics.)

canidmajor's avatar

I reread them a few years ago and really enjoyed them in order of publication, like I had the first time around many many many years ago.
Asimov is a treat to read, have fun!

DaphneT's avatar

order of publication, because of the build-up of character and world.

Yetanotheruser's avatar

I originally read the whole series in order of publication. When I first read it, I thought the trilogy was extremely well-written, and self contained as a trilogy. The additional works, prequels, etc., seemed to me to flesh out back stories, as well as some retconning due to some scientific discoveries that were not known at the original release.

Although the Robot series and the Empire series are sort of “folded in” with the Foundation series universe, there are some inconsistencies. Reading the books out of chronological order should pose no problem, since some of the books themselves have chapters that are written out of chronological order.

marinelife's avatar

I vote for in order of publication.

rojo's avatar

It has been a long time, I read them in order of publication. If I re-read them I would probably do it chronologically.

Tropical_Willie's avatar

Order of publication, I read them in order almost fifty years ago.

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ScottyMcGeester's avatar

I think it doesn’t matter either way. Just don’t read the Foundation novels that Asimov DIDNT write. I found them to be crap.

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