"Guitarfish" <not RemoveThis @here.com> wrote in message
news:rru6c.13292$rQ.5800@lakeread04...
> New here, couldn't find a FAQ.
>
> What is the recomended order for reading the Foundation and Robot novels?
>
> I understand that some later written ones are prequels, would they spoil
> anything if read in timeline chronolgy?
>
> I have always wanted to read these books, and have decided to take the
> plunge.
>
> Thanks!
> GF
>
Here is an excerpt from the FAQ which you can find at
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.asimovonline.com/asimov_FAQ.html" target="_blank">www.asimovonline.com/asimov_FAQ.html</a>
"What is the chronological order of the Foundation books?
In the Author's Note at the beginning of Prelude to Foundation, Asimov says:
"In any case, the situation has become sufficiently complicated for me to
feel that the readers might welcome a kind of guide to the series, since
they were not written in the order in which (perhaps) they should be read.
"The fourteen books, all published by Doubleday, offer a kind of history of
the future, which is, perhaps, not completely consistent, since I did not
plan consistency to begin with. The chronological order of the books, in
terms of future history (and not of publication date), is as follows:
"1. The Complete Robot (1982). This is a collection of thirty-one robot
short stories published between 1940 and 1976 and includes every story in my
earlier collection, I, Robot (1950). Only one robot short story has been
written since that collection appeared. That is Robot Dreams, which has not
yet appeared in any Doubleday collection. [Robot Dreams (1986) does contain
it; see also Robot Visions (1990)]
"2. The Caves of Steel (1954). This is the first of my robot novels.
"3. The Naked Sun (1957). The second robot novel.
"4. The Robots of Dawn (1983). The third robot novel.
"5. Robots and Empire (1985). The fourth robot novel.
"6. The Currents of Space (1952). This is the first of my Empire novels.
"7. The Stars, Like Dust-- (1951). The second Empire novel.
"8. Pebble in the Sky (1950). The third Empire novel.
"9. Prelude to Foundation (1988). This is the first Foundation novel
(although it is the latest written, so far).
[9a. Forward the Foundation (1993).]
[9b. Foundation's Fear (1997).] The first novel in the Second Foundation
Trilogy, it was written by Gregory Benford. Takes place after the first
chapter of Forward the Foundation.
[9c. Foundation and Chaos (1998).] The second novel in the Second Foundation
Trilogy, written by Greg Bear. Takes place at the approximate time of Hari
Seldon's trial.
[9d. Foundation's Triumph (previously titled Third Foundation and Secret
Foundation) (1999).] The third novel in the Second Foundation Trilogy,
written by David Brin.
"10. Foundation (1951). The second Foundation novel. Actually, it is a
collection of four stories, originally published between 1942 and 1944, plus
an introductory section written for the book in 1949.
"11. Foundation and Empire (1952). The third Foundation novel, made up of
two stories, originally published in 1945.
"12. Second Foundation (1953). The fourth Foundation novel, made up of two
stories, originally published in 1948 and 1949.
"13. Foundation's Edge (1982). The fifth Foundation novel.
"14. Foundation and Earth (1983). The sixth Foundation novel."
Note that this order is slightly wrong, in that Currents of Space actually
takes place after The Stars, Like Dust. Also Foundation and Earth was
published in 1986, not 1983.
What is the order in which the Foundation books should be read?
There are actually three answers to this question.
A) Read them in the order of action, as listed by Asimov.
B) Read them in the order of publication.
There is no real reason why (A) or (B) is the better order. If you're more
interested in seeing the development of Asimov's universe, writing, and
ideas, you may prefer (B). If you are more interested in the course of
events in Asimov's universe, you may prefer (A). Note, also, that some of
the more recent books contain spoilers for some of the earlier ones, so the
impact of some stories may be lessened if you choose (A).
Note that Asimov in the Author's Note quoted does not actually suggest one
order over the other, but does suggest chronological order as a possibility.
C) Just read the ones published in the 1950s (plus The Complete Robot)
because the later ones all suck.
No true Asimov fan, of course, would agree that any of the Good Doctor's
books "suck," but there is pretty broad feeling that the later books are not
as good as the earlier ones. (There is also pretty broad disagreement with
this assessment.) In particular, Foundation and Earth is considered one of
the weaker books in the series. Of course, your mileage will vary, and you
may be one of those who prefers the later books over the earlier ones."
Regards,
Peter.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
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