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?
I answered rather lengthily about the reading order once upon a time when someone asked something similar. Hang on, I’ll see if I can find it.
EDIT: I’m a lazy bum, and I found my reddit post in my native language. So I ran it through google translate, and it produced the following. Note that the below was a comment reply I made to someone who had started watching the TV series.
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This question is more complicated than you might think, and I’m too lazy to answer the phone. Check back in a couple of hours when I have a keyboard.
It is worth noting that the series takes quite a lot of freedom in relation to the books, but I think that is necessary in order not to end up having to find new actors for each season, as the books take place over several thousand years.
Hokay, reading order…
I read them in the order in which they were released:
…and it worked fine for me. But since you’ve started watching the series, I’d recommend changing it up a bit, as the series starts a bit before the 1951 book and enters the prequel books (the two “last”), so I’d recommend you start with the two . So then we land on the order:
BUT, it so happens that there are also some other books that Asimov wrote, which were actually originally unrelated to Foundation. But after the Foundation books from the 80s and 90s came out, these became quite relevant after all, as the two series are connected by a number of common characters and background history:
…These work very much as the basis for worldbuilding, and might be a good idea to start with ahead of the Foundation series. Here you will find out what the thing about Demerzel is. Regardless, it’s a good read.
In conclusion, I would like to say that Asimov usually wrote short stories, so the list of books is not as scary and long as it might seem. With that said, I would recommend checking out a lot of the other stuff he wrote. My favorite is “The end of Eternity” (1955), as well as a good number of the short stories he wrote.
You’re not lazy, you’re smart! Why do the same work twice? And I’m a curious show watcher, so thank you for this!
Thank you for such a detailed reply! I really appreciate it!
Asimov included I, Robot along with the rest of the Robot series in his recommended reading list for Foundation. Do you think this is necessary or can it be skipped?
I’ve read it, and while it’s a good read I don’t think it’s important background for Foundation.