Science fiction · Classics
Foundation
A mathematician predicts that the vast galactic empire will fall and that a dark age of thirty thousand years will follow. He sets up a hidden colony of scholars at the edge of space to shorten that age to one thousand years.
Facts last checked 2026-10-16
- First published
- 1951
- Pace
- Medium
- Length
- Short
- Pages
- 272
- Format
- Book 1 of 7 in Foundation
Read this if you like big ideas about history and society, told as a series of clever crises.
Skip this if you want a single hero and emotional depth, as the cast changes across decades and mostly talks its way through trouble.
The feel
Content warnings
Quick answers about Foundation
- What is Foundation about?
- A mathematician predicts that the vast galactic empire will fall and that a dark age of thirty thousand years will follow. He sets up a hidden colony of scholars at the edge of space to shorten that age to one thousand years.
- Who should read Foundation?
- Read it if you like big ideas about history and society, told as a series of clever crises. Skip it if you want a single hero and emotional depth, as the cast changes across decades and mostly talks its way through trouble.
- How long and how fast is Foundation?
- It is a medium-paced, short read of about 272 pages, first published in 1951.
- Does Foundation have content warnings?
- Content we flag: War.
- Can I borrow Foundation for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends Foundation; the borrow button above searches it for you.
- What should I read after Foundation?
- Readers who liked it often move on to Dune, I, Robot, The Three-Body Problem.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Bookshop.org | Check price | Buy new from Bookshop.org |
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
| Google Play Books | Check price | Buy ebook from Google Play Books |
| Audiobook | ||
| Libro.fm | Check price | Buy audiobook from Libro.fm |
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
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If you loved Foundation
-
Dune
Another grand story about the fall and rebuilding of a galactic empire, with more atmosphere and personal drama.
-
I, Robot The same author's stories of logic puzzles and ideas, in a smaller and more playful form.
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The Three-Body Problem A modern book of big-scale ideas about civilisations and survival, with more sense of dread.
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