BookBingeFoundation Books in Order
The short answer
Isaac Asimov · 7 books
- How many books?
- There are 7 books in the Foundation series, published 1951–1993.
- Is it finished?
- Yes — the series is complete; it ends with Forward the Foundation (1993).
- Where to start
- Start with Foundation (1951).
About 2,600 pages — roughly 40 hours of reading
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:
Reading order
- FoundationHari Seldon's psychohistory predicts the Empire's collapse; the Foundation is his plan to guide civilization through it.1951240 pages
- Foundation and EmpireThe Foundation faces its first true crisis — and a mutant called The Mule.1952253 pages
- Second FoundationThe search for the secret Second Foundation, said to hide at the other end of the galaxy.1953237 pages
- Foundation's EdgeA councilor suspects the Seldon Plan is being tampered with and searches for Earth.1982441 pages
- Foundation and EarthThe search for Earth continues — and reveals the true architects behind history.1986503 pages
- Prelude to FoundationYoung Hari Seldon flees across the capital world as he refines psychohistory.1988440 pages
- Forward the FoundationSeldon's later years, as he races to finish psychohistory before the Empire's decline accelerates.1993447 pages
Good news: for this series, reading order and publication order are the same — just read straight down the list.
On our lists: Completed sci-fi book series
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Get BookBingeFrequently asked questions
How many Foundation books are there?
There are 7 books in the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov, from Foundation (1951) to Forward the Foundation (1993). Together they run to about 2,600 pages.
Is the Foundation series finished?
Yes. Isaac Asimov completed the series with Forward the Foundation in 1993; all 7 books are out now.
What is the first Foundation book?
Foundation (1951) is book one, at 240 pages. Hari Seldon's psychohistory predicts the Empire's collapse; the Foundation is his plan to guide civilization through it.
Should I read the Foundation series in publication order?
Yes. For the Foundation series, reading order and publication order are the same — Foundation (1951) through Forward the Foundation (1993).
How long does it take to read all Foundation books?
About 2,600 pages across 7 books — roughly 40 hours at a page a minute. The longest is Foundation and Earth (503 pages); the shortest is Second Foundation (237 pages).