r/bookclub • u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | π«ππ₯||π§ π₯ • Nov 18 '25
Foundation [Discussion 1/5] Forward the Foundation (Foundation #7) by Isaac Asimov - Start through Part I: Chapter 18
Welcome back space travellers we are almost at the end of our Foundation journey together with book #7 - Forward the Foundation let's see what Asimov has in store for us.....
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Chapter Summaries
PART I - Eto Demerzel
- 1 - Yugo Amaryl (now a very good mathematician working as a psychohistorian thanks to Seldon) warns Seldon that Demerzal is in trouble, because of the insurrection he is creating and his possible future overthrow. Seldon is struggling with the responsibility of being a department head of Mathematics at Streeling University. Joranum (Jo-Jo) a demagogue from Nishaya is pushing for social justice and greater political involvement by the people. Amaryl believes that it's not legit and all a ploy for taking the throne for himself. Seldon and Amaryl disagree on how dangerous Joranum might be with Seldon brushing it off.
- 2 - Seldon turns 40. He has been on Trantor for 8 years and feels like he has barely made any progress. One day Seldon comes across Finangelos listening to Namarti speak for Joranum. βPower from the one to the many!β he says. Seldon isn't deterred by the speakers' goons, and attempts to ask if he has a permit. The campus security officers are on their way, but Seldon ends up having a scuffle with the speaker's goons rather than wait. A riot has been avoided.
- 3 - Dors, now his wife, is displeased and worried. She'd sent Raych out to check on him. Namarti is Joranumβs right-hand man and was trying to create the riot in order to charge Demerzel with the destruction of academic freedom. Seldon thinks Demerzel is untouchable due to his ability to manipulate minds, but Dors disagrees.
- 4 - Dors knows robots better. She uses Seldon's own psychohistory theory to check mate him when they bicker about the fact. Dors talks through the necessity of minimalism, in a slightly more realistic than normal info dump to the reader where Seldon objects to having his own theory explained to him (us). The theory is that change must be as minimal as possible to avoid side effects making the results unpredictable (I'm getting differential math flashbacks y'all... Ξ change lim-->0 => Side Effects -->0). However, any change, no matter how small, creates side effects and so psychohistory is at an impasse. Dors implies that psychohistory should be applied to robotics, specifically Demerzel's ability to manipulate minds which also needs to have no side effects to avoid detection. This means he cannot manipulate Joranum, and is therefore vulnerable to him. Seldon decides that he should therefore act on Demerzel's behalf. Without asking....what could possibly go wrong!?
- 5 - Seldon is angry....at ...time!? Joranum has requested an audience with Seldon. Dors wants to accompany him, but Seldon refuses. He will take Raych instead. He is not worried, as the meeting will be on Campus, even though Joranum is deadly. Dun dun....DUUUUUN!
- 6 - Joranum arrives with Gambol Deen Namarti aka GD who "wants" to apologise to Seldon. Joranum gives Seldon the third degree about his being under the Emperor's protection, which Seldon denies. Public opinion of Demerzel is declining and Joranum is hoping to take his place as 1st minister. Joranum, like Demerzel, wants Seldon to develop psychohistory so he can use it to his own benefit. Joranum intends to be the one to stop the breakdown of the Empire, and demands Seldon's psychohistory. Think of the
childrenEmpire demands Joranum. Seldon assures him he does.....so Jo-Jo leaves! Something is bothering Seldon. - 7 - Joranum has been rather successful in everything until Seldon's interference (a thwarted Marty Sue?!). Namarti wants to act against Seldon, but Joranum refuses to hear it. Joranum has come to the conclusion that psychohistory is very important, and only Seldon can wield
MjΓΆlnir(he said Ax not hammer...sheesh!) it. Joranum intends to use Raych to get to Seldon (hang on a minute....in....10 or so chapters Raych is going to walk right up to him....uh-oh). - 8 - Raych is worried for Seldon's safety. He confesses to being attracted to Joranum's theory that all people should be equal. He is, afterall, from the dregs of Trantor society. However, Raych's loyalty to his dad is greater than his loyalty to the Empire. Regardless Seldon is concerned about Joranum's hypnotic influence.
- 9 - Dors thinks Seldon will live longer due to his calling of figuring out psychohistory, and is grateful for the fact. She knows one day she will lose him. Nishaya, a small world that was never part of the pre-Imperial Kingdom of Trantor, is apparently Joranum's homeworld. Seldon, however, has discovered LIES!!!. Joranum's stories of his homeworld are unfamiliar to someone Seldon spoke to on the planet. Also Seldon has noted that Joranum also is lacking a Nishayan accent - face meet palm!. He has decided Joranum is lying, and decided that Joranum's baldness is confirmation. The man's hair is fake which
apparentlyclearly indicates that he is actually from the Mycogen Sector of Trantor!! Gasp! - 10 - Mycogen is a harsh, puritanical, male-centered society who do not like Breakaways. Mycogens are not taken seriously and that's why Joranum is posing as Nishayan and hiding his complete baldness/Mycogenian origins. Seldon will not out him...yet. He has a meeting planned with Demerzel.
- 11 - Demerzel stays out of the public eye as much as possible as he does not age. At the meeting.... Say my name! Daneel. Things start a little strangly. Demerzel tells Seldon they are to spend time together on orders of the Emperor in preparation for the Decennial Convention that is approaching (w..w..wait a minute....I smell a lie here Cleon has yet to re-remember Seldon...that's still 6 chapters away!!!). Apparently the Emperor is still curious about psychohistory, much to Seldon's chargrin. Mycogenian ancestors were from Aurora, as was Daneel's maker. (Not sure if it is important, but we spent a page on it so worth adding to the summary!) Seldon confesses that both he and Demerzel are crucial individuals in the theory of psychohistory. They discuss Joranum and the risks he poses. Demerzel is working against him, but it is not enough. Demerzel doesn't mind giving up his post to someone that'll continue to work to slow the fall of the Empire (really?), but Joranum is not that person. In order to work on psychohistory the Imperial stability must be maintained but to do that psychohistory is required....ah! Problem!!! The only other solution is something unforseen (a perfectly plausible alternative that cannot be planned otherwise it would be seen...hmmm!) Seldon leaves Daneel in despair.
- 12 - Seldon monitors unusual news stories from other worlds. He sees no evidence of the Empire's decline that Demerzel insists is happening. Seldon speculates that it may be because the decline is occuring so slowly it is unnoticable (Ξdecline-->0 => nobody cares!). On Trantor five Joranumites have won seats in the Dahl Sector Council, and so it begins. Seldon asks Raych to take a break from his studies to go back to his home region of Dahl and meet with Joranum. Seldon wonders if he can trust Raych then mentally admonishes himself for the thought.
- 13 - Dors wasn't angry just disappointed (which we all know is waaay way WAY worse). She's worried that everyone in Dahl carries knives. Seldon is hoping that Raych will save the Empire by inspiring affection (hang on a sec....weren't you just doubting his loyalties!? Sheesh!). Seldon is being guided by intuition as per Amaryl's earlier (ignored) advice. He doesn't share his concerns about the choice with Dors. Reminder to self - for a successful marriage do the opposite of Seldon!
- 14 - Billibotton is a miserable place and Raych hasn't been back since he was 12. Raych goes into a bakery for a, now affordable, treat that he rarely had the opportunity to taste as a poor child. He quickly gets called out for being too fancy resulting in a confrontation. Raych easily bests the three men (yes kid! Someone's been learning Krav Maga with Mama!). Corporal Quinber and 2 other Joranum Guard arrives to question Raych. They take him in to custody even though they don't actually have a legal right to do so.
- 15 - Cleon, also 40 (seriously when did 40 become such a big deal!?!?! As a 40 year old woman I resent this....Asimov weren't you like 70 when writing this?), has now reigned for 18 years. He questions Demerzel on Joranum, even wondering if he can be executed. He is worried, but Demerzel convinces him he is dealing with it cautiously. Conversation turns to Seldon's interference preventing a riot and Demerzel tells Cleon that psychohistory is useless. Cleon insists on speaking to Seldon anyway.
- 16 - Sander Nee is preaching at Raych. Raych tries honestly, which is not very successful, then pleading for getting someon to vouch for his identity. He finally requests to send a note with his name, Seldon's name and the word psychohistory to Joranum.
- 17 - Seldon is enjoying the rain on the way to the palace. He dines privately with Cleon and they discuss psychohistory. Cleon refuses to believe Seldon and/or psychohistory cannot be used to to help him with the Joranum issue. Seldon confeses he has sent Raych to Dahl. It all depends on Raych now.... talk about putting all your eggs in one basket.
- 18 - Raych nervously tries to relax whilst recieving hostile glances from Namarti until Joranum arrives. Raych states that psychohistory is not successful. He also plays up his Dahlite background, and offers to help Joranum. He tells Joranum that Demerzel is a robot (well shit...I did not see that coming. Is this the unforseen?) Apparently this is a legend some people have heard before....just not us. Raych says he figured it out himself. He says βIβm a human being. I donβt want no robot in charge of running the Empire.β and Joranum immediately jumos on the phrase deciding to run with this statement as his campaign slogan. This will put Demerzel in a no win situation. Joranum states that Raych will become Dahlβs sector leader someday. Raych says he wants a new Empire with all the old villainies of privilege and inequality wiped out. Just as Joranum has promised.....
Wow that was quite the action packed start to the final book of the Foundation series. Join u/ChronicallyLatte next week for Part I: Chapter 19 through Part II: Chapter 16.
See you there π
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | π«ππ₯||π§ π₯ Nov 18 '25
1 - This question is about the Foundation series as a whole up to the end of this reading section. Asimov started the Foundation series at age 21 and wrote this book just a few years before his death at 72. What effect did writing the series over such a long time span have on it? How do you think Asimov's writing has developed or changed? How might it be different if he wrote it all in his 20s? What about if the whole series was rewritten today?
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u/Lachesis_Decima77 Tea Connoisseur βοΈπ§ π₯ Nov 18 '25
Thatβs an interesting question. I think maybe the biggest change would be in terms of the science behind the story. Physics, astronomy, and science in general made huge advances in the decades between the first and last novels.
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u/airsalin Womanning The Ship Nov 19 '25
If it was written today, the personal devices for communication and entertainment would be different. Like in Foundation's Edge and Foundation and Earth, I remember that the history professor (what was his name?) had his whole library on CDs. If there was no Internet connection possible on a ship, the storing medium would be much smaller than a CD and one would likely be enough.
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u/latteh0lic Tea = Ambrosia of the gods |πππ Nov 20 '25
I agree with others that the science and tech would be the biggest change. I also think Prelude/Forward feel closest to how stories (in general) might be written today. There is more action, less just philosophical debate, plus wit and familiar tropes. I would also expect more layered characters, more female perspectives, and generally richer character development.
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | π«ππ₯||π§ π₯ Nov 18 '25
2 - "nowβis the time when the present is turning into the future" - Amaryl
Thoughts?
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u/infininme infininme infinouttame Nov 19 '25
I mean.... yes.
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | π«ππ₯||π§ π₯ Nov 26 '25
Lol I feel like this is a really uninspiring quote and statement of fact disguised as something deep like "underneath out clothes we are all naked" π€£
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | π«ππ₯||π§ π₯ Nov 18 '25
4 - Seldon decides to take policing the campus in to his own hands. Was his behaviour surprising? Stupid? Arrogant? Brave? Heroic? Other? Why didn't he wait? What are the repercussions from his choice to interfere?
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u/airsalin Womanning The Ship Nov 18 '25
I feel like stupid and arrogant are the right adjectives. I mean... he insists that he has to keep a low profile, he hates the fact that he attracted attention with his paper on psychohistory eight years ago... and now THIS??? When he is finally flying under the radar and able to do his research in (relative) peace??
Our guy Seldon likes trouble, what can I say.
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u/Lachesis_Decima77 Tea Connoisseur βοΈπ§ π₯ Nov 18 '25
Agreed! Like, dude, this is not how you keep a low profile!
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u/infininme infininme infinouttame Nov 19 '25
Yeah very unbelievable. Also that this so called martial arts named "twister" could successfully subdue up to three people. No backstory, no lead up. This kind of disbelief is partly why I have decided I do not like Asimov's writing anymore.
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u/latteh0lic Tea = Ambrosia of the gods |πππ Nov 20 '25
I found that scene kinda funny. Felt like a mix of midlife-crisis energy and pride. He is frustrated that psychohistory isnβt moving fast enough and annoyed by the weather, so when he hears the political chant, he jumps into the drama almost automatically.
I guess it's brave, a bit arrogant, and pretty foolish, esp since he is trying to stay under the radar and now draws attention to himself. In the end, it's less heroics and more like Seldon letting off steam. I also chuckled when he worried about what Dors would think.
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | π«ππ₯||π§ π₯ Nov 18 '25
6 - Seldon questions Dors' love for him. Do you think it is founded? Can she have freewill whilst still being under Demerzel's mind control order to protect Seldon? What do you make of their marriage in general? How about how Seldon treats Dors?
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u/airsalin Womanning The Ship Nov 18 '25
Seldon question his robot wife's love for him...
I don't know what to say to that other than Seldon has issues, and this is the least of them!!!
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | π«ππ₯||π§ π₯ Nov 26 '25
Aww I feel like she cares as much as a robot wife under direct orders that she can't ignore can love a man....yeah ok nvm!
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u/Lachesis_Decima77 Tea Connoisseur βοΈπ§ π₯ Nov 18 '25
Dors is under orders to keep Seldon safe. He has no reason to question her loyalty. Knowing what we do about Dors, I feel like their marriage is really weird, but whatever works for them, I guess.
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u/infininme infininme infinouttame Nov 19 '25
They do have love for each other. It's sweet. I think Dors is somewhat literal and rigid in her thinking; people have mentioned that she is a robot, but I have not seen it clearly spelled out to me yet. As readers of him will know, Asimov has a strange way of describing women and love!
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u/latteh0lic Tea = Ambrosia of the gods |πππ Nov 20 '25
I think his doubts about Dors love reveal more about his own insecurities than her capacity for love. She is a robot bound to protect him, yet her care clearly goes beyond programming: worrying when he is late, teasing him, etc. Her free will is limited, but she chooses how to act and I think Seldon treats her with respect and fondness.
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | π«ππ₯||π§ π₯ Nov 18 '25
7 - Yugo and Seldon have different approaches to psychohistory. Seldon, it seems, begins to listen to Yugo's intuition theory. Why? What might help them finally crack psychohistory?
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u/airsalin Womanning The Ship Nov 18 '25
Well, the word psycho is in there, so yeah, I guess you have to use a bit of psychology or something to do with the mind, which we honestly don't know much about, so I would say intuition should definitely come into play in psychohistory. Intuition is really good for identifying patterns, and it is what psychohistory seems to be all about!
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u/infininme infininme infinouttame Nov 19 '25
I think intuition can help lead people towards appropriate and relevant research or theories. Yugo is on the right track IMO. But I don't have any ideas yet of how to crack psychohistory! I'm aware of Seldon's future use of holograms and predictive powers from the first book. I am very curious about how he gets there and whether this book will answer my questions!
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | π«ππ₯||π§ π₯ Nov 26 '25
Hmm almost aounds like a computer algorithm is the key!?
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u/latteh0lic Tea = Ambrosia of the gods |πππ Nov 20 '25
He starts to listen because math alone can't predict everything. Yugo seems to suggest that by using intuition alongside psychohistory, it will help them respond to immediate threats while slowly building a reliable framework. I think combining careful observation with mathematical reasoning will eventually make psychohistory practical.
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | π«ππ₯||π§ π₯ Nov 18 '25
8 - Why does seldon decide he should act? Why is he so willing to put his foster son out there?
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u/Lachesis_Decima77 Tea Connoisseur βοΈπ§ π₯ Nov 18 '25
Seldon is taking a lot of risks so far. Itβs one thing to put his own life on the line, but Raych? Heβs gambling a lot on Raychβs charisma and ability to make others like him.
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u/infininme infininme infinouttame Nov 19 '25
Intuition! As much as he can't consciously accept the power of intuition, he clearly uses it frequently.
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u/latteh0lic Tea = Ambrosia of the gods |πππ Nov 20 '25
I'm not sure about this although I liked the all the comments here... I also wonder if he senses an immediate threat with Jo-Jo's rise and worries about what it could mean for Demerzel and the stability he needs for his work.
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | π«ππ₯||π§ π₯ Nov 26 '25
Tbh I feel like a lot of the events in these early chapters are pretty contrived for plot advancement. From involving himself in the events on campus to avpid the right to suddenly being open to the idea of intuition and finally being willing to put the fate of the universe on Raych's shoulders. It seems like a lot
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | π«ππ₯||π§ π₯ Nov 18 '25
9 - Multiple times now it has been mentioned that Jo-Jo is deadly? Why? How? Do you agree or is this getting all blown up out of proportion/being mellowdramatic?
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u/Lachesis_Decima77 Tea Connoisseur βοΈπ§ π₯ Nov 18 '25
Demagogues are dangerous, simply put. There are countless examples of this is real life. Once they get the mob worked up and on their side, you can forget about logic and reason.
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u/airsalin Womanning The Ship Nov 19 '25
Well said!! That is exactly what is going on, ie getting the mob worked up and then unleash chaos and collapse of institutions and it never works in favour of the people!
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u/infininme infininme infinouttame Nov 19 '25
I hope Asimov explores mob mentality and dangerous demagogues.
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | π«ππ₯||π§ π₯ Nov 18 '25
10 - What are your thoughts on the theory "necessity of minimalism"? Did you follow it? Does it make logical sense? How might they overcome it?
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u/airsalin Womanning The Ship Nov 18 '25
I guess it is another name for the butterfly effect. Do as little as possible because the smallest thing can bring the biggest deviation from the line events are following right now.
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u/tronella Nov 19 '25
I think it's consistent with the approach used in the previous books. It seems to make sense to me; psychohistory is very chaotic already.
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u/latteh0lic Tea = Ambrosia of the gods |πππ Nov 20 '25
I like what u/airsalin said, the theory basically says that if you push too hard, history breaks in ways you can't control.
What I find interesting is how the book mirrors this with Demerzel. He is bound by his own version of minimalism through the Zeroth Law, so he can only make the smallest possible adjustments to avoid harming humanity. It's logical, but it also traps him, especially with someone like Jo-Jo, who would require a huge rewrite to influence.
As for overcoming it, I don't think they can, at least not fully. Seldon can act because he isn't bound by robot laws, but even he knows that pushing too hard risks chaos. The whole theory seems to suggest they will always be working with the smallest nudge they can find, hoping they're just enough.
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | π«ππ₯||π§ π₯ Nov 26 '25
He is bound by his own version of minimalism through the Zeroth Law
Great observation. I wonder how this will affect the development of the theory of psychohistory. Demerzel is the key it would seem. Perhaps ultimately psychohistory isn't truly feasible and somehow through the Zeroth Law Demerzel is able to manipulate things to give the illusion of psychohistory when in reality it's a robot making minor manipulations on the human race from the moon for 1000s of years
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u/infininme infininme infinouttame Nov 19 '25
It is interesting. Sounds very zen. Quite the opposite of Joranum who wants to change things more drastically.
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | π«ππ₯||π§ π₯ Nov 26 '25
Oh good point. I hadn't thought about it that way. The two do seem to be polar don't they?
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | π«ππ₯||π§ π₯ Nov 18 '25
11 - Does Joranum have super human abilities or just very strong ambitions?
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u/tronella Nov 19 '25
I hope for a normal ambitious guy with no superpowers this time!
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u/latteh0lic Tea = Ambrosia of the gods |πππ Nov 20 '25
At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if he's another robot... lol.
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | π«ππ₯||π§ π₯ Nov 26 '25
Me too. He just seems to be able to have an unnatural ability to manipulate others feelings and it got me wondering
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | π«ππ₯||π§ π₯ Nov 18 '25
12 - "Why should he want to pretend to be from a world he did not come from?" Why is Joranum lying? What difference would his reception have if the truth were known that he is Mycogenian? Or is the issue that he is bald? Idk!
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u/Lachesis_Decima77 Tea Connoisseur βοΈπ§ π₯ Nov 18 '25
I think a lot of it has to do with the prejudices the rest of Trantor has about Mycogen. The people there are seen as backwards, and Joranum doesnβt want to be associated with that. He wants to be seen as an agent of change and progress, and Mycogen is the polar opposite of that.
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u/infininme infininme infinouttame Nov 19 '25
He's a politician. He wants to portray a certain personality and origin story to get more followers.
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | π«ππ₯||π§ π₯ Nov 18 '25
13 - Why is Demerzel not worried about Joranum if he admits the man is dangerous to his retaining the position of First Minister to Cleon? Should he be more proactive in putting dowm the insurrection?
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u/infininme infininme infinouttame Nov 19 '25
When you're a robot with superpowers, not much worries you. Daneel is following the law of minimalism and is likely hoping that Seldon will figure out how to solve the problem.
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | π«ππ₯||π§ π₯ Nov 26 '25
Daneel is following the law of minimalism
Good point. I guess there really isn't much else he can do!
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | π«ππ₯||π§ π₯ Nov 18 '25
14 - Can psychohistory save them? What do you think of the unforseen event that can break the psychohistory-Empire stability stalemate that Daneel and Seldon discuss in chapter 11?
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | π«ππ₯||π§ π₯ Nov 18 '25
15 - What do you think about Seldon's plan to send Raych back to Dahl? How about Dors' reaction? If you were Dors where would you hide the body? (Jk!)
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u/Lachesis_Decima77 Tea Connoisseur βοΈπ§ π₯ Nov 18 '25
This was so stupid of Seldon. Dors is right to be upset. Maybe she should hide his body in one of the heatsinks in Dahl!
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u/airsalin Womanning The Ship Nov 19 '25
Maybe she should hide his body in one of the heatsinks in Dahl!
Yes! And pick up Raych on her way back to bring him back home!
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | π«ππ₯||π§ π₯ Nov 18 '25
16 - Did you expect Raych to take this approach to Joranum? Was he too honest? What do you think his plan is in revealing Demerzel is a robot?
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u/airsalin Womanning The Ship Nov 18 '25
I have NO idea what went on there. Raych was in Dahl for like five minutes when chaos erupted and threw him conveniently straight into Jo-jo's office, where he basically said that he had been sent here to spy on Jo-jo but instead he is going to betray his adoptive father and spill the whole can of beans to Jo-jo because why not. Apparently Jo-jo has promised good things for Dahl and he can totally be trusted since he lied on his origins and has never done anything for anybody that Raych know of.
What could go wrong?
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u/Lachesis_Decima77 Tea Connoisseur βοΈπ§ π₯ Nov 18 '25
Like father, like son. Raych is taking a huge gamble by revealing Demerzelβs true robotic nature. Iβm not sure how well itβll pan out. I have a feeling it may backfire on Raych and Seldon.
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u/infininme infininme infinouttame Nov 19 '25
I did not expect capitulation but who will he ultimately betray? I enjoyed that part.
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u/latteh0lic Tea = Ambrosia of the gods |πππ Nov 20 '25
Honestly, I still don't know what to think about this. I didn't expect Raych to reveal that, it feels like too big of a secret. But it makes me wonder: does Raych know that Dors is also a robot?
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | π«ππ₯||π§ π₯ Nov 18 '25
17 - Where does the story go from here? What are you predictions?
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u/airsalin Womanning The Ship Nov 18 '25
Well we know Trantor will fall and that Terminus will be set up, but I don't know how that will happen and I am just trying to get through this book at this point! I really want to care, but it is hard.
Maybe Trantor will fall because they can't reproduce anymore since all the woman mysteriously disappeared?
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u/Lachesis_Decima77 Tea Connoisseur βοΈπ§ π₯ Nov 19 '25
Not all of them! There might still be robot women. π€ͺ
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u/airsalin Womanning The Ship Nov 19 '25
But can they reproduce??
Speaking of robot women, Dors is better watch out or she will be scheduled for a reprogramming for "too much nagging for totally unreasonable reasons like getting physically involved in a dangerous man's pep rally and sending their son on a stupidly dangerous mission in a very dangerous place, what nonsense, that's nothing, why is she getting all worked up about this not even a big deal thing??"
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | π«ππ₯||π§ π₯ Nov 18 '25
18 - Anything else I have missed? (There are 18 questions...surely not!!)
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u/airsalin Womanning The Ship Nov 18 '25
At this point, Iβm only reading this book because it is the last one of the series and I want to finish it. But my god! Since it is the most recent (published in the 90s I think), I thought there would be more women involved or something. AH! I certainly didnβt expect that by page 97, only ONE woman would have spoken (a robot woman at that), and that the only thing she would say would be a reasonable reaction to her husband sending their adoptive son into a very dangerous area to meet with a very dangerous man. I also didnβt expect that the husbandβs answer to that would be βShut up you nagging witch, I only sent him in a very dangerous area to do something I could probably do myself but donβt want to because I am so very important and canβt run very fast anymore, and anyway NOTHING will happen to him in this very dangerous area where we were ourselves almost killed many times eight years ago, so calm down, you hysterical robot woman."
I should have expected it though, because Selon is absolutely insufferable. He already was insufferable in the previous book, where he was extremely entitled everywhere people were nice enough to hide him, looking down on those people and their customs, feeling superior to them and so allowed to wreak havoc in each of their sector.
Funnily enough, a few weeks ago I came across a post on the Asimov subreddit where the poster was saying that Seldon was incredibly rude and annoying in Prelude to Foundation, and I SO agreed with them lol That was not a very popular post, but I was so glad to see it. Those things have to be said! If a woman character was acting like Seldon, she would be the most evil, hormonal, entitled, arrogant, doesn't know her place character ever. But it is Seldon, so you know, boys will be boys I guess!
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u/infininme infininme infinouttame Nov 19 '25
If Dors is a robot like people say, Why isn't she in the other books since she would supposedly be able to live forever?
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u/latteh0lic Tea = Ambrosia of the gods |πππ Nov 20 '25
Oh noes⦠Wouldn't that mean something happened to her in this book? I don't think Dors/Hari's wife was mentioned in the first book. But it's been over a year since I read it, so maybe I missed a reference?
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | π«ππ₯||π§ π₯ Nov 18 '25
3 - Seldon and Cleon are 40 and somewhat obsessed with getting old. Did you find any big birthday milestones hard to come to terms with? How do you cope?
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u/airsalin Womanning The Ship Nov 18 '25
LOL I remember when I turned 40... I felt like I was an adult whether I wanted it or not haha! I had no house, no kids, no car (but a job at least and a husband), but I felt like 40 was an adult no matter what.
Now... I am turning 50 in a few weeks. FIFTY! I'm not just an adult, I'm going into older person territory! My husband is in his early 40s, so it hits a little harder! I do feel old, but only because of perimenopause. The hormones changes are a B***CH, but I do feel like I have a bit more experience about a few things. But the anxiety, the insecurity, the doubts, that never goes away!
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | π«ππ₯||π§ π₯ Nov 26 '25
Happy soon half century birthday. Do you plan to celebrate it in style?
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u/airsalin Womanning The Ship Nov 26 '25
haha thank you!! I am trying to decide what I want to do! It's going to be in January, so very cold and dark where I live! Really not the best time to travel anywhere in my country (Canada) and I don't want to do an international trip. I will try to have a big party in my home if I can convince everyone who just came back from holidays in their families to have one more gathering lol And I will try to avoid what happened at my 40th birthday party, when my husband took care of the invitations and I was the OLDEST person there by far lolololol
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u/Lachesis_Decima77 Tea Connoisseur βοΈπ§ π₯ Nov 18 '25
Turning 40 didnβt feel like a big deal to me. I donβt consider myself old most of the time, though part of the reason for that is because Iβm a year or two younger than most of my friends. And at this point in my life, Iβll be celebrating every birthday as a gift.
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u/tronella Nov 19 '25
I'm 40 right now so I found all their comments quite funny. I don't feel particularly aged yet!
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u/fixtheblue Read, ergo sum | π«ππ₯||π§ π₯ Nov 18 '25
5 - Dinner arrives at the push of a button. No question. Just taking the time to sadly reflect that this is fiction.