Description

FIRST EDITIONS OF THE ORIGINAL FOUNDATION TRILOGY, WITH FIRST EDITION OF ITS CONTINUATION, SIGNED IN EACH VOLUME BY ASIMOV

ASIMOV, Isaac. Foundation. WITH: Foundation and Empire. WITH: Second Foundation. WITH: Foundation’s Edge. New York and Garden City: Gnome Press, Doubleday, 1951-53, 1982. Together four volumes. Octavo, original half blue cloth, original dust jacket.

First editions of “one of the most influential works of modern science fiction” (Chronology of American Literature) and first edition of its continuation, each volume signed or inscribed on the title page by Isaac Asimov, for five decades “the default voice of science fiction” (Clute & Nicholls, 58).

Winner of a special 1966 Hugo Award for “Best All-Time Series”-an award even Asimov believed was created solely to honor Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings—this epic saga transposes Gibbon’s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire into a futuristic key.

Critic and fellow science fiction writer Thomas Disch praises the Foundation books for powerfully evoking the “gasp of wonder [that] was the Asimovian grail.” The original trilogy, based on stories published in Astounding Science Fiction between 1942-50, not only set the standard for all “future histories” to follow but also helped secure Asimov’s status as a giant in the genre. First editions, with correct page dimensions. All books of the original trilogy in “A” bindings and dust jackets (Currey, 12-13, 15). See Anatomy of Wonder II-46. “Foundation’s Edge is a fine continuation of the trilogy and recaptures the feel and mood of the original series? Foundation’s Edge was not only [Asimov’s first] best-seller but it won the 1983 Hugo for best novel and was warmly received by the critics, who universally acclaimed the book as a worthy continuation of the famous series” (White, 233-38). Anatomy of Wonder II-47. Foundation with owner signature, signed by Asimov. Foundation and Empire and Second Foundation signed and dated “6 January 1978” by Asimov. Foundation’s Edge inscribed, “To David Galenstein, best wishes, Isaac Asimov, 7 Jan 83.”

Books fine to about-fine. Bright and attractive dust jackets generally about-fine with light rubbing; Foundation and Empire dust jacket extremely good with inoffensive dampstain to lower right of front panel, two small tape repairs to verso. A beautiful and desirable set, with each book signed or inscribed by Asimov.