# Foundation by Isaac Asimov

43 Hacker News commenters recommended Foundation by Isaac Asimov and 16 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 12 of 13 months. It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** Asimov's classic space opera, praised for its ideas and the first book. The Apple TV series is liked for its production and cast, but critics say it departs sharply from the novels.

## Why people recommend it

- Classic ideas and first book (4 comments): "Ender's Game and Foundation are timeless classics" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48161154)) "The book was just as brilliant as before" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46726176)) "The first book is outstanding." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46911512))
- Lee Pace's performance (7 comments): "Lee Pace did an awesome performance recently in Asimov's Foundation." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47059646)) "He's also really great in the show Foundation" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47063530)) "Foundation (also Lee Pace and also stellar)." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47056871))
- Strong production and cast (2 comments): "the plot of Apple's "The Foundation" is an infuriating insult to the original series. However, the production is great" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47061875)) "foundation has an incredible cast but even among such talent he's a clear outlier" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47057018))
- Dynasty storyline highs (2 comments): "The idea of the genetic dynasty with brothers Dawn/Day/Dusk, as well as how Demerzel fits in has been pretty great, and none of that was in the novels." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47318853)) "Foundation has decent highs especially with the dynasty and invictus in season two, but the lows are loooww." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47860014))

## What people warn about

- TV plot contradicts the novels (4 comments): "the plot of Apple's "The Foundation" is an infuriating insult to the original series. However, the production is great" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47061875)) "My problem is that the show essentially "says" the opposite of the novels." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47074223)) "write rambling, uninspired sequels that ruin the original work" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46911779))
- Superpowers and mind control plot (2 comments): "I liked that the original was about more or less competent people making decisions" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48845874)) "Foundation is so disappointing because the science of civilization turned out to be a front for mind controllers" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48556159))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir](https://hackerapproved.com/p/project-hail-mary.md): 117 recommend
- [There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm](https://hackerapproved.com/p/there-is-no-antimemetics-division.md): 98 recommend
- [Blindsight by Peter Watts](https://hackerapproved.com/p/blindsight.md): 96 recommend
- [Dune by Frank Herbert](https://hackerapproved.com/p/dune.md): 82 recommend
- [Accelerando by Charles Stross](https://hackerapproved.com/p/accelerando.md): 71 recommend

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Foundation by Isaac Asimov", https://hackerapproved.com/p/foundation/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).