Raych Seldon

Raych Seldon is a fictional character in Isaac Asimov's Foundation Series. Raych is the adopted son of Hari Seldon and Dors Venabili, the primary characters in the first two books of the series. He lived in the slums of Billibotton, part of Dahl, on the world of Trantor.

He married Manella Dubanqua, an undercover security officer who helped prevent an assassination attempt on Hari Seldon. They had two daughters, Wanda and Bellis.

Youth

When Raych (no known surname) was aged twelve, Hari Seldon and Dors Venabili, while fleeing from Eto Demerzel, came to Dahl. where Raych lived. Hari Seldon has learned of the existence of Mother Rittah, an elderly woman who tells tales of the planet known as Earth. Seldon meets Raych and convinces him to show him the way to her home in the infamous Billibotton district.

He proves a trustworthy guide and maintains his new-found loyalty when he and Hari and Dors are captured and taken to Wye sector to meet Rashelle, Mayor of Wye.

Out of gratitude for his loyalty, Seldon and Venabili adopt Raych. He gets an education, which he has thus far been denied, and later enters Streeling University.

It is implied, but not explicitly stated, that Raych possesses latent mentalic powers, which re-appear with greater force in his daughter Wanda.

Young Adulthood

Eight years after his adoption by Hari and Dors, rising politician Laskin Joranum threatens to overthrow the Empire. Seldon recognises the danger and persuades Raych to join his organisation and become a follower of Joranum. Raych's plan is to persuade Joranum that Eto Demerzel is actually a robot and Joranum believes this story, using it in his publicity campaign.

When the Emperor learns of the claim, and Demerzel publicly denies it, Joranum is exposed. On Seldon's advice, he is exiled to where he claimed to come from, the backwater planet of Nishaya. At this point, Demerzel leaves his post as First Minister, and invites Seldon to replace him.

Later years

Ten years later, Joranum's former follower, Gambol Deen Namarti, has restarted the conspiracy under the leadership of Gleb Andorin, planning that he will become Emperor with Andorin as First Minister. Seldon sends Raych to join the Joranumite movement under an alias. But he is recognised and drugged with 'desperance', a drug which induces depression and reduces his willpower. He is forced to obey orders.

He is infiltrated into a group of newly-recruited gardeners for the grounds of the Imperial palace, and forced to use a blaster on his father, Hari Seldon.

Manella Dubanqua, an undercover security officer working within the Joranumite organisation, saves Raych by killing Andorin; Raych is saved from having to kill his father.

Final Years

Raych marries Manella; they have two children, Wanda and Bellis. As Hari Seldon starts losing funding for the Seldon Project at Streeling University, Raych moves to Santanni University. But when Santanni rebels against the empire, Raych is killed in the fighting. Bellis and Manella, who were on a ship to Anacreon, are never heard from again, believed killed.