The foundation series by Issac Asimov is perhaps the grandest work of SciFi attempted to date. It was so successful that 
even a parody on this, Douglas Adams' Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy Series, became a massive hit. The storyline 
was inspired by the Fall of The Roman Empire, and "Foundation" seems to be a concise introduction to that other Classic, 
"The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire", by Edward Gibbon( of which I have read only small excerpts). In 
addition to this, I have seen the parallels with Medieval European history rather striking.

The series in turn was very influential in defining  the genre of space fiction like no other work since. Many followed in 
its wake, of which most were but pale imitations. Its largest influence on popular culture, of course, was through the Star 
Wars trilogy ( or sexlogy or nonalogy ? ) in which terms like 'Galactic Empire' were adopted per se.

The series consists of these books:
1. Prelude To Foundation
2. Foundation 
3. Foundation And Empire
4. The Second Foundation
5. Foundation's Edge
6. FoundationAnd Earth.


N.B.- 2,3 & 4  were the original foundation books, published in the 1960's.

 The first book largely describes the youth of Hari Seldon, and the circumstances surrounding the development of the 
science of psychohistory. Psychohistory, as I understand it, is a sort of statistical analysis of the trends of mass human 
behaviour ( in this case, that of the galaxy) , using mathematics so involved that not many besides Hari Seldon understood it. 
This was used to predict and then to chart the course of the galactic history. A consequence of the development of 
psychohistory, was the development of an elite group of intellectuals, the psychologists, who play a crucial role in the Second Foundation.

In Foundation, which was the first of the original trilogy, Hari Seldon plans for a mass exodus from Trantor, the galactic 
administrative centre.The express purpose was that of compiling an Encyclopaedia which will reduce the period of 
galactic anarchy by 29000 years. One 'Foundation' was to be established at Terminus on the rim of the Galaxy, and the 
other, at Star's End. At Terminus, control passes from the encyclopaedists to the religion of Salvor Hardin and the trade of 
Hober Mallow. The Seldon Plan is guided via a series of crises.

In 'Foundation and Empire', the first foundation encounters its greatest threat from the Empire, the able general Bel 
Riose. The Empire is in its death throes. A new mutant rises, the Mule, who was not foreseen by Hari Seldon, and poases 
the greatest threat to the Seldon Plan.

It was inevitable that the great mental powers of the Mule should end in a showdown with the Second Foundation, who 
is largely a 'mental' one. This is followed by a brief enigmatic contact between the foundations that leaves Terminus, the 
first foundation weary of their better half.

I read the "Foundation's Edge" a long time ago and now don't have a clue to the storyline.

In "Foundation and Earth", mankind attempts to search for their mythical planet of origin, the Earth. Also outlined is the 
unique existence of Gaia, the planet in which all the organisms are part of a single whole.

Asimov is the great epitome of Science Fiction, one of the visionaries who liberated Science fiction from the impression 
that it was one in which you substitued guns with lasers, and aliens for Indians, and wrote your usual cowboy stuff. In the 
words of Asimov himself," ... not about adventure primarily,but about science. It was not about saving damsels in distress, 
but it as about solving problems. It was not about mad scientists, but about hard working thinkers. It was not by writers 
who had a facile hand with a cliche, but it was by writers who understood science and technology ..." . Asimovian SF 
lives up to the grand idea of SF as "the only real conscience expanding drug"[ Carl F. Sagan].


Other SF Writers worth their salt
=======================
1. Ray Bradbury.
2. Arthur C. Clarke.
3. Theodore Sturgeon.
4. Frank Herbert.
5. Robert Siverberg.
6. Douglas Adams.

TRIVIA
======
1. Asimov's collegiate degree was in microbiology.