Foundation Books in Order

by Isaac Asimov · 7 books · ⭐ 4.4 average rating · Updated 2026-07-11

Science FictionClassic

A mathematician predicts the fall of a galactic empire and establishes a Foundation to shorten the dark age to come.

Here is the complete Foundation reading order — all 7 books by Isaac Asimov, in the order you should read them:

Publication order (recommended)

  1. Foundation(1951)
  2. Foundation and Empire(1952)
  3. Second Foundation(1953)
  4. Foundation's Edge(1982)
  5. Foundation and Earth(1986)
  6. Prelude to Foundation(1988)
  7. Forward the Foundation(1993)

Good news: for this series, publication order and chronological order are the same — just read straight down the list.

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Frequently asked questions

How many books are in the Foundation series?

There are 7 books in the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov, beginning with Foundation (1951) and most recently Forward the Foundation (1993).

What is the first Foundation book?

The first book is Foundation, published in 1951. That's where new readers should start.

Should I read Foundation in publication or chronological order?

Publication and chronological order are identical for this series, so just follow the list.

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