Author Guide
Isaac Asimov Books in Order
Complete reading guide to the Foundation series, Robot novels, and the essential works of the Grandmaster of Science Fiction.
About
Isaac Asimov (1920–1992) was an American biochemist and author who wrote over 500 books across almost every category of the Dewey Decimal System. He is one of the "Big Three" golden age SF writers alongside Arthur C. Clarke and Robert A. Heinlein. He coined the word "robotics," invented the Three Laws of Robotics, and created the Foundation universe — a galaxy-spanning future history that influenced practically every space opera written since. His stories are distinguished by clear prose, rigorous scientific logic, and a genuine pleasure in ideas. He was named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction Writers of America in 1987. Apple TV+ adapted the Foundation series in 2021.
Where to start: Foundation (1951) is the essential starting point for his most celebrated work. I, Robot (1950) for the Robot stories. Both can be read completely independently.
The Foundation Series
The essential Asimov. Read in publication order for the best experience.
1
Foundation
1951
Start HereA mathematician predicts the fall of the Galactic Empire and establishes the Foundation to shorten the dark age. Hugo Award winner.
2
Foundation and Empire
1952
The Foundation faces its greatest threat: a military genius and a mysterious mutant called the Mule.
3
Second Foundation
1953
Original Trilogy EndThe conclusion of the original trilogy. Where is the Second Foundation?
4
Foundation's Edge
1982
Asimov returns to Foundation 30 years later. Hugo Award winner.
5
Foundation and Earth
1986
The search for the origin world of humanity.
The Robot Novels
The Elijah Baley/R. Daneel Olivaw detective novels — SF mysteries.
1
I, Robot
1950
EssentialNine short stories that established the Three Laws of Robotics. The most important robot fiction ever written.
2
The Caves of Steel
1954
A human detective and a robot partner investigate a murder on a future overcrowded Earth.
3
The Naked Sun
1957
Elijah Baley investigates a murder on a planet where humans never meet face-to-face.
4
The Gods Themselves
1972
Hugo & NebulaHumanity discovers free energy through contact with a parallel universe. Hugo and Nebula Award winner. Asimov's personal favourite.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I start with Isaac Asimov?
Foundation (1951) or I, Robot (1950). Both are completely self-contained and demonstrate what makes Asimov essential: clear prose, rigorous ideas, and genuine pleasure in the act of thinking.
What are the Three Laws of Robotics?
Asimov's Three Laws: (1) A robot may not harm a human or allow a human to come to harm through inaction. (2) A robot must obey human orders, except where this conflicts with the First Law. (3) A robot must protect its own existence, except where this conflicts with the First or Second Laws. These laws have been enormously influential in debates about AI ethics.
How are the Foundation and Robot series connected?
They are set in the same universe. Asimov connected them later in his career — R. Daneel Olivaw, the robot detective from the Caves of Steel, appears in the later Foundation novels. The Apple TV+ series makes this connection more prominent.