One of the most important works of Science Fiction- Foundation Series by Issac Asimov

I am a sucker for science fiction , the realms of possibility when you combine science with fiction is just mind boggling.

But I am ashamed to also admit that I have not read a lot of science fiction work. I have been feeding my appetite for science  via  books such as Brief history of time, theory of everything and also via numerous documentaries on string theory, m theory and movies and TV series such as Dr Who.

In all this I missed reading Issac Asimov, yes Issac Asimov.Yes I know I can no longer call myself an old Science fiction fan :). I am  like a new born.

So I strarted with the series called foundation, and man, I have been missing SO much.

People call it one of the most important work of science fiction.

The story is about the time when human kind spreads throughout the galaxy and a galactic empire is setup. A scientist Hari Seldon calculates that the empire will crumble in 500 years and the entire humankind will be in the clutches of chaos and barbarism for 30,000 years. No One can stop that , but he can reduce the chaotic time to a mere 1000 years. He sets up 2 planets at the opposite ends of galaxy  and names them Foundation, where he gets in scientists from all over the universe and puts them to the task of preserving the knwoledge of the universe. This is the story of one of the planets and how it navigates through a crumbling empire

The novel has many many incidences which make you question  the things you are taking for granted and see the world in a different light. It makes you see how histories are twisted and how beliefs are changed over the course of centuries .

Trying to imagine foundation as our future, we suddenly become aware that we also are someone’s future and our past is as forgotten , as misinterpreted and as lost in myths and fables like we might be.

The way the novel speaks about technology, the socio impacts of  haves and have nots , the way  science fiction  which eerily reminds you of the current state of affairs is simply brilliant and makes you   wonder , did Asimov look into the future ?

Currently on the second book in the series “Foundation and  Empire”