Foundation and Empire

Foundation and Empire (original title in English: Foundation and Empire) is a science fiction novel written by Isaac Asimov, published in 1952 by the publisher Gnome Press. It is the second book of the so-called "Foundation Trilogy" (or "Trantor Cycle" as it is also called). The novel was put together as a fix-up of two short novels previously published in Astounding Science Fiction magazine in 1945. The title of the original novels Astounding differs from those present in the novel.

Structure

1. General (The General) - Novela Corta - Posted in April of Astounding in 1945 as Dead Hand (the dead hand)
2. The Mulo (The Mule) - Novela Corta - Published in November and December 1945 numbers as The Mule (The Mule)

Plot

The novel is divided into two parts, originally published as short stories in science fiction magazines of the time:

The General

The Foundation makes contact with the remnants of the Galactic Empire, and confronts its last great general, Bel Riose, in the war that must decide the fate of the Galaxy. For both the first novel (Foundation) and this story, Asimov was inspired by the fall of the Western Roman Empire. In this case, the Galactic Empire is inspired by the Byzantine Empire and Bel Riose is a character inspired by Belisarius, the general of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I.

The first part of the book explains how the rapidly collapsing Galactic Empire launches an attack on the Foundation. The attack is led by General Bel Riose. The Empire, despite its decline, is still far superior to the Foundation. Lathan Devers, a Foundation agent, goes on a mission to Trantor to try to see Emperor Cleon II. The Emperor reconsiders and executes Riose, for being too "effective" and, therefore, a threat to the emperor who on previous occasions has been assassinated by a soldier. The end of the war is the death of Riose.

The Mule

The second part of the book is about a mysterious man called El Mulo. He has a special ability that allows him to manipulate other people's emotions. The Mule uses his ability to create an Empire with the kingdoms that border the Foundation and start a war against the Foundation itself. Seldon's psychohistory can only predict the behavior of large numbers of people. The appearance of a person with a special gift like the one possessed by the Mule causes the course of history to change unexpectedly, there are first doubts that the Seldon Plan will fail and, for the first time, the Foundation feels in danger.

No one knows what the Mule really looks like so he travels incognito disguised as a jester, with Foundation citizens Toran Darell and Bayta Darell to different Foundation planets. Use their skills to win the war by destroying their morale. In the end, the Foundation's capital planet, Terminus, falls without the need for a fight.

Still under the cover of his secret identity, he travels with the Darells and psychologist Ebling Mis to the Great Library of Trantor. They hope to have a contact with the Second Foundation, which possesses mental powers, to help them defeat the Mule, who in turn wants to find the Second Foundation to destroy it with the power of the First Foundation, far superior in technology.

The Mule boosts Ebling Mis's mental capacity, allowing him to progress more quickly in his research in the Library's books. But he is costing his health and he falls ill. As he goes to reveal the location of the Second Foundation to Bayta, she shoots him, killing him. Bayta unknowingly deduced the Mule's true identity and killed Mis, as by revealing the location of the Second Foundation to him, he would also reveal it to the Mule.

Characters

The General

• Bel Riose, the last strong general of the Galactic Empire to conquer the Foundation.
• Ducem Barr, the only surviving son of the patricio of the Empire and senator of Siwenna Onum Barr, held by Riose as hostage.
• Lathan Devers, an independent merchant sent by the Foundation to spy on Riose.
• Cleon II, the last strong emperor of the Galactic Empire before the "Great Tartor Looting."
• Ammel Brodrig, private secretary of Cleon II.

The Mule

• The Mulo, a mutant of unknown powers who intends to establish a second Galactic Empire.
• Magnificent Giganticus, fussed jester from the Mule court.
• Bayta Darell, a citizen of the Foundation married to a merchant of the periphery named Toran Darell.
• Toran Darell, Bayta's husband, merchant of the planet Haven.
• Han Pritcher, a military officer with the rank of captain and intelligence officer of the Foundation, sent to collect information about the Mulo.
• Indbur III, mayor of the Foundation.
• Ebling Mis, a psychologist of the Foundation in charge of locating and warning the Second Foundation.
• Dagoberto IX, one of the last emperors of the Galactic Empire, resides in Neotrantor.