Second Foundation (edit title)

Craig F edited the language of an edition of Second Foundation 15 hours ago.

Shelfari edited the summary of Second Foundation 12 days ago.

• It is written in two distinct parts.

  Part I: Search By the Mule is about The Mule's search for the elusive Second Foundation, with the intent of destroying it. In the end the First Speaker of the Second Foundation telepathically modifies the Mule to make him not care about finding the Second Foundation. Search by the Mule was originally published in the January 1948 issue of Astounding Science Fiction under the title Now You See It—.

  Part II: Search By the Foundation takes place sixty years after the first part, fifty-five years after the Mule's death (by natural causes). The members of the (First) Foundation are now fully aware that the Second Foundation is out there (they had known of its existence all along, but had not known its purpose or nature until the Mule). Also concurrent with this plot thread is the Foundation's ongoing conflict with the Mule's former imperial capital at Kalgan. The ensuing war is won by the Foundation, and is listed in the Encyclopedia Galactica as the last major conflict before the rise of the Second Empire.

  After inventing a device that can jam telepathic abilities and can even be used to cause telepaths great pain, the Foundation finds and locates telepaths on Terminus, "at"at the other end of the galaxy"galaxy" (from the First Foundation, also at Terminus). Since, as Arkady Darell puts it, "a"a circle has no end",end", then by tracing the disc of the galaxy around its edge, one would come back to Terminus. Thus, they declare the Second Foundation destroyed after finding the roughly 50 mentalist agents on Terminus, and are content to forget the matter. Finally, in response to the question "Where"Where is the Second Foundation?",Foundation?", the First Foundation had found an answer that fit. However, although this was "the"the answer that satisfied",satisfied", this was not "the"the answer that was true".true".

  The Second Foundation was actually located on Trantor, at the centre of the galaxy. It was called "Star's End,""Star's End," due to the ancient saying that "All"All roads lead to Trantor, and that is where all stars end".end". The location was also said to fit the "other"other end of the galaxy"galaxy" location since the galaxy is not in fact a disc, but a spiral — and from the edge, the other end of a spiral lies at the centre. The book also noted that Hari Seldon was a social scientist, not a physical one. When the two Foundations were founded, they could be described as being at opposite social ends of the Galaxy — with Trantor at the very center of galactic power and prestige, and Terminus at the other extreme.

Timothy Gray approved Bill Weinberger’s request to combine 2 books, including Second Foundation, 12 days ago.

Bill Weinberger submitted a request to combine 2 books, including Second Foundation, 12 days ago.

wadie w approved Timothy Gray’s request to change the title of Second Foundation Friday, October 30 2009.

Ulrich edited the series of Second Foundation Thursday, September 24 2009.

• Added this book in the series: Foundation Universe book 27

Teodora19 edited the books with additional background information of Second Foundation Saturday, September 12 2009.

• Added Isaac Asimov: A Life of the Grand Master of Science Fiction
• Added Conversations With Isaac Asimov (Literary Conversations Series)
• Added Monsters, Mushroom Clouds, and the Cold War: American Science Fiction and the Roots of Postmodernism, 1946-1964 (Contributions to the Study of Science Fiction and Fantasy)
• Added Foundation's Triumph (Second Foundation Trilogy)

Teodora19 edited the summary of Second Foundation Saturday, September 12 2009.

• It is written in two distinct parts.

  Part I: Search By the Mule is about The Mule's search for the elusive Second Foundation, with the intent of destroying it. In the end the First Speaker of the Second Foundation telepathically modifies the Mule to make him not care about finding the Second Foundation. Search by the Mule was originally published in the January 1948 issue of Astounding Science Fiction under the title Now You See It—.

  Part II: Search By the Foundation takes place sixty years after the first part, fifty-five years after the Mule's death (by natural causes). The members of the (First) Foundation are now fully aware that the Second Foundation is out there (they had known of its existence all along, but had not known its purpose or nature until the Mule). Also concurrent with this plot thread is the Foundation's ongoing conflict with the Mule's former imperial capital at Kalgan. The ensuing war is won by the Foundation, and is listed in the Encyclopedia Galactica as the last major conflict before the rise of the Second Empire.

  After inventing a device that can jam telepathic abilities and can even be used to cause telepaths great pain, the Foundation finds and locates telepaths on Terminus, "at the other end of the galaxy" (from the First Foundation, also at Terminus). Since, as Arkady Darell puts it, "a circle has no end", then by tracing the disc of the galaxy around its edge, one would come back to Terminus. Thus, they declare the Second Foundation destroyed after finding the roughly 50 mentalist agents on Terminus, and are content to forget the matter. Finally, in response to the question "Where is the Second Foundation?", the First Foundation had found an answer that fit. However, although this was "the answer that satisfied", this was not "the answer that was true".

  The Second Foundation was actually located on Trantor, at the centre of the galaxy. It was called "Star's End," due to the ancient saying that "All roads lead to Trantor, and that is where all stars end". The location was also said to fit the "other end of the galaxy" location since the galaxy is not in fact a disc, but a spiral — and from the edge, the other end of a spiral lies at the centre. The book also noted that Hari Seldon was a social scientist, not a physical one. When the two Foundations were founded, they could be described as being at opposite social ends of the Galaxy — with Trantor at the very center of galactic power and prestige, and Terminus at the other extreme.

Teodora19 edited the quotations of Second Foundation Saturday, September 12 2009.

• Added a quotation: “Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.”
• Added a quotation: “Never let your sense of morals prevent you from doing what is right.”

Shelfari edited the description of Second Foundation Friday, July 31 2009.

• Isaac Asimov's Foundation novels are one of the great masterworks of science fiction. As unsurpassed blend of nonstop action, daring ideas, and extensive world-building, they chronicle the struggle of a courageous group of men and women dedicated to preserving humanity's light in a galaxy plunged into a nightmare of ignorance and violence thirty thousand years long. After years of struggle, the Foundation lies in ruins—destroyed by the mutant mind power of the Mule. But it is rumored that there is a Second Foundation hidden somewhere at the end of the Galaxy, established to preserve the knowledge of mankind through the long centuries of barbarism. The Mule failed to find it the first time—but now he is certain he knows where it lies. The fate of the Foundation rests on young Arcadia Darell, only fourteen years old and burdened with a terrible secret. As its scientists gird for a final showdown with the Mule, the survivors of the First Foundation begin their desperate search. They too want the Second Foundation destroyed…before it destroys them.