Several centuries after the events of Second Foundation, two citizens of the Foundation search for Earth, the legendary planet where humans are said to have originated. It was published in 1986, four years after the first sequel to the Foundation trilogy, which is titled Foundation's Edge. This is similar to Asimov's treatment of Gaia.Foundation and Earth is a science fiction novel by American writer Isaac Asimov, the fifth novel of the Foundation series and chronologically the last in the series. Marlene feels strangely drawn to the planet, and eventually helps Rotor realize that the mass of prokaryotic biomatter occupying the planet is not simple life, but rather constitutes a single planet-wide conscious lifeform. Marlene exhibits the ability to read body language and determine what they may be thinking or feeling. One of the main characters is the daughter of Eugenia - and her name is Marlene. This is thread '2', set in the past, and as the book wears on thread 2 will catch up with and its story will catch up with thread one. Their plans will come into fruition when the Superluminal is built. The reader will note that this is different from the derivation of hyperspace in the Foundation metaseries, as revealed in stories like The Little Lost Robot. Earth's scientists realize the danger Nemesis poses, and begin a program to realize hyperspace travel. The first thread of the story - set in the 'present' - is about Rotor.īack on Earth, Eugenia has left behind a husband who wants to be reunited with she and their daughter Marlene. One of its moons is an Earth-sized satellite with an atmosphere and oceans of water - but no intelligent life detectable beyond the prokaryote stage, or simple one-celled life without a nucleus. There they find an enormous gas giant they term Megas. For varying reasons, the commissioner decides to move Rotor to Nemesis. A star called Nemesis is traveling through the Milky Way and will enter the Solar System in 5000 years, altering Earth's orbit to the point that it will become inhabitable. One such Settlement, Rotor, is successfully able to use 'hyperassistance'.Ī scientist aboard Rotor named Eugenia Insignia and the commissioner of Rotor both realize that Earth's future is in considerable danger. Humanity has settled part of the Solar System through movable space stations called 'Settlements'. Be forewarned, plot and/or ending details follow. This article, Nemesis, contains spoilers.

Nemesis by Isaac Asimov