this post was submitted on 05 Sep 2023
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Foundation series in hardcover? (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 year ago by TheGiantKorean@lemmy.world to c/books@lemmy.world
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Two questions:

I'd like to start reading the Foundation series. What order should I read them in? I've seen a recommended reading order by Asimov himself posted in /c/Foundation, which is in order based on when the events take place, but I've seen it suggested to instead read them in publication history order to avoid spoilers and so that things make sense. Which order would you recommend?

Also, where's the best place to pick up hardcover editions? I'd love to add them to my library. Is the Robot series sold as a hardcover collection anywhere?

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[–] TheGiantKorean@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

So with regard to the Robot series and publication order, would you suggest that I start with the Robot series first, then Foundation? Looking at the dates, it seems like it would be weird to read both series together in publication order.

[–] Khanzarate@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

I have yet to read the robots series but I have read all of foundation.

I'm doing a reread and I intend to read the robots series with it this time, after Second Foundation. That's the part where they blend more and I can tell I'm missing some context from Robots.

[–] jordanlund@lemmy.one 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

To get the most out of both series, it would probably look like this:

  1. Mother Earth (1949)

  2. I, Robot (1950)

  3. Foundation (1951)

  4. Foundation and Empire (1952)

  5. Second Foundation (1953)

  6. The Caves of Steel (1954)

  7. The Naked Sun (1957)

  8. Mirror Image (1972)

  9. Bicentennial Man (1976)

  10. Foundation's Edge (1982)

  11. Robots of Dawn (1983)

  12. Robots and Empire (1985)

  13. Foundation and Earth (1986)

  14. Prelude to Foundation (1988)

  15. Forward the Foundation (1993)

Those final two, chronologically, would be inserted prior to Foundation (#3), but because they were written SO MUCH later, you should save them for last.

[–] TheGiantKorean@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Thank you for typing that all out! I really appreciate it.

[–] jordanlund@lemmy.one 2 points 1 year ago

Mostly a copy/paste, but I did re-do the numbers so I'll take it! ;)