List of Foundation series characters

This is a list of characters in Isaac Asimov's Foundation series.

Characters with their own pages

Ammel Brodrig

Ammel Brodrig (Foundation and Empire) is an influential courtier and Privy Secretary at the court of Cleon II. He is sent to observe the general, Bel Riose; being anxious of Riose's abilities. However, he forms a partnership with Riose instead. Their military successes breed suspicion and jealousy in the court which, ultimately, causes their arrest and execution. He is depicted as a particularly corrupt character, lacking even the elementary honesty of honourable corruption. He is loosely based on the ancient Roman Sejanus.

Anselm haut Rodric

Anselm haut Rodric (Foundation) The sub-prefect of Pleuma and Envoy Extraordinary of his highness of Anacreon. He visits the foundation to offer it protection in exchange for other services. A veteran of several conflicts with the kingdom of Smyrno, he is an image of the beginnings of barbarism within the periphery of the galaxy during the fall of the 1st Galactic Empire. Haut Rodric was tasked with informing the rulers of the Foundation with the true intentions of the Kingdom of Anacreaon, and to determine the scope and nature of the Foundation's control of Terminus.

Bliss

Blissenobiarella, known informally as Bliss, is one of the inhabitants of Gaia. She was first introduced in Foundation's Edge to escort two Foundation men, Golan Trevize and Janov Pelorat, to their reception on planet Gaia. Bliss, like all Gaians, has an enormous affinity for life and can't bear to see life destroyed. She is long distrusted by Trevize while his partner, Pelorat, is quickly fascinated and they become lovers.

Particularly in Foundation and Earth, Bliss serves partly as a way of exploring the narrative, as she and Trevize engage in frequent debates. Bliss acts as an advocate for Gaia/Galaxia while Trevize, still somewhat uncomfortable with the decision he makes in Foundations' Edge, argues for individuality. As both an individual and an extension of the Gaia group-mind, Bliss is extremely intelligent and easily able to debate with Trevize, despite his skills as a politician.

In Foundation and Earth, Bliss leaves Gaia with the two men, helping them in their search for Earth. Because Bliss is a Gaian, she possesses considerable mentallic powers, which are often used as a plot device in Foundation and Earth to help her companions escape from dangers that they encounter during their quest. She commonly uses her empathic and telepathic powers to help deal with dangerous people and creatures. In addition, she also exhibits psychokinetic abilities as well as the power to help purge others of disease-causing organisms. At the climax of Foundation and Earth she, as an avatar of Gaia, bears witness to Trevize's explanation of why he decided in favor of Galaxia as humanity's best option for future survival.

Bor Alurin

Bor Alurin (Foundation) The sole member of the Second Foundation to be present amongst the initial members of the First Foundation. He taught Salvor Hardin the basics of psychology, but neglected to instruct his pupil further out of fears that a properly-trained Psychohistorian would catch on to the Seldon Plan. This resulted in Hardin's entry into politics and establishment as the first Mayor of Terminus.

Cinda Monay

Cinda Monay (Forward the Foundation) is a physicist working on the Seldon Project. She builds the 'Electroclarifier' based on the design of Tamwile Elar, and also an intense Electroclarifier that is stronger than the first type. She considers Elar to be a suitable candidate to lead the Psychohistory Project, should Seldon retire. Questioned by Dors Venabili, she maintains this view that Elar could take precedence over Yugo Amaryl, despite the fact that the latter had been working on psychohistory the longest after Hari Seldon.

Dom

Dom (Foundation's Edge) is one of the inhabitants of Gaia. He answers questions about Gaia for Golan Trevize and Janov Pelorat. His full name begins "Endomandiovizamarondeyaso..." and contains 253 syllables.

Dr Elvett Semic

Dr. Elvett Semic (Second Foundation) A physicist who works with Toran Darell II to make a mind static device.

Dr Lewis Pirenne

Lewis Pirenne (Foundation) Chairman of the board of trustees of the Foundation of the Encyclopedia Galactica on Terminus, about fifty years after its establishment. Salvor Hardin eventually takes over when it is clear that the Foundation needs to be led by a politician rather than a scientist. Doubtless his name refers to the famous historian Henri Pirenne.

Ducem Barr

Ducem Barr (Foundation and Empire) is the sixth son of Onum Barr, and enlisted in the fleet as a gunner under an assumed name in order to avoid being killed. Later, he takes revenge by killing the man responsible for the harm to his family. Forty years after this, he becomes an unwilling advisor to Bel Riose who blackmails him with the secret knowledge of Ducem's revenge. He forms a partnership with the Trader, Lathan Devers, and they escape Riose in an attempt to frame him as a traitor.

Eskel Gorov

Eskel Gorov (Foundation) Master Trader of the Foundation, sentenced to death on Askone.

Gambol Deen Namarti

Namarti, an associate of Joranum, builds a covert movement after the latter's death, with the aim of destabilising the empire and overthrowing Seldon as First Minister. He is financed and assisted by Gleb Andorin, nephew of Rachelle of Wye. His attempt to kill Seldon, via a drugged Raych Seldon, is foiled at the last moment by an undercover security officer, Manella Dubanqua, but leads to the killing of Emperor Cleon 1.

Golan Trevize

Trevize was a citizen of the First Foundation. He is a former officer of the military forces and later elected to Council. He is self-confident, almost to the point of rudeness, and arrogant, but also intelligent and with a sense of judgement. He is entrusted upon by Gaia to decide whether the future history and evolution of the Galaxy and the human species will be shaped by the First or the Second Foundation or by Gaia, and which of the three courses of action represented by the three parties is the best choice for humanity.

At the climax to Foundation's Edge, he chooses Gaia, using his particular intuition. In the sequel, Foundation and Earth, he debates with himself why — and if — he made the right decision. He searches for Earth and meets R. Daneel Olivaw, on Earth's moon. Olivaw discusses with him the Zeroth Law of Robotics, and Trevize suddenly realises the most basic postulate of Psychohistory: the species the predictions were being made for must be humans, under the assumption that they are alone in the Universe.

Harla Branno

Harla Branno (Foundation's Edge) Mayor of Terminus during the Eighth Seldon Crisis. Known informally as 'Branno the Bronze' or disparagingly as the "Old Lady". A quiet and calm administrator, she harbors secret sorrow at feeling she will not be remembered in history. For this reason her natural inclination to expand the Foundation Federation prematurely is able to be played upon by Gaia.

Homir Munn

Homir Munn (Second Foundation) is a librarian and owns one of the biggest collections of information about the Mule.

Munn is one of a group of conspirators who plan to find the location of the Second Foundation. Together with Toran Darell II, Pelleas Anthor, Jole Turbor, Dr. Elvett Semic they set about piecing together the evidence.

He agrees to go on a mission to Kalgan to find information about the second foundation from the Mule's palace. Arkady Darell, then 14, decides to be a stowaway on the flight, to take part in the adventure. Munn discovers her presence mid-trip. However she quickly persuades him that it is a good idea to have her along, and likewise persuades her father too, that her presence makes the whole trip appear more natural.

When at Kalgan, Munn, with Arkady's help, manages to persuade Lord Stettin to allow him access to the Mules palace for research purposes. Subsequently he unwittingly causes a war with the Foundation at Terminus, although the real cause is a combination of Arkady's machinations reinforced by Lady Callia.

He discovers the magnitude of the Mule's search for the Second Foundation and after the war finishes, returns to Terminus, convinced that the Second Foundation never existed. A mental analysis reveals that he has been manipulated by Callia into believing so.

Jaim Twer

Jaim Twer (Foundation) is one of the first outlanders to receive a Foundation education. Twer journeys with Hober Mallow, and campaigned for trader recognition on the Foundation council. However, during Hober Mallow's trial for leaving Jord Parma in the hands of the Korellians, it is revealed that Twer is in reality a priest and was sent to spy on Hober Mallow and perhaps frame him. (Mallow realises this when Twer demonstrates ignorance about the Seldon Crisis.)

Jenarr Leggen

Jenarr Leggen is originally introduced as a meteorologist at Streeling University. His contributions to meteorology pale before what has ever since been known as the Leggen Controversy. That his actions helped to place Hari Seldon in jeopardy is indisputable, but argument rages -– and has always raged –- as to whether those actions were the result of unintentional circumstance or were part of a deliberate conspiracy. The suspicions that were raised helped poison Leggen’s career and private life in the years that followed.

Jole Turbor

Jole Turbor (Second Foundation). A journalist and one of the conspirators with Toran Darell II, Semic and Munn.

Jorane Sutt

Jorane Sutt (Foundation) is Secretary to the Mayor of the Foundation in Hober Mallow's time.

Jord Fara

Jord Fara (Foundation) A member of the board of trustees of the Foundation of the Encyclopedia Galactica in its early years.

Jord Parma

Jord Parma (Foundation) appears to be a priest, but is really a member of the Korellian Secret Police sent to entrap Hober Mallow.

King Lepold I

King Lepold I (Foundation) King of the Anacreonian Empire. He is described as young, not yet of age, and more interested in hunting than in ruling the planet. His uncle Prince Regent Wienis is the current Regent. The story takes place when Lepold is coming of age and about to be crowned. Wienis convinces him to attack the Foundation, in order to become ruler of the whole Galaxy. Lepold, although not blindly trusting Wienis, agrees. When Wienis' plan is defeated by the Foundation, he is forced to accept the actual rule of the Foundation's Priesthood.

Lady Callia

Lady Callia (Second Foundation) is the consort of Lord Stettin, ruler of the planet Kalgan. Arkady Darell uses her to persuade Lord Stettin to allow Homir Munn access to the Mule's palace for research purposes. She does this by dropping hints to Lady Callia that Lord Stettin may be in line to rule the galaxy. Lady Callia helps Arkady escape Lord Stettin, who keeps Homir hostage while he sets his plans in motion. Arkady initially thinks (rightly), based on Lady Callia's information, that Lord Stettin may be interested in her as a new consort. Despite Arkady being only 14 at the time, a relationship with an established Foundation family might help Lord Stettin. So it appears that Lady Callia is just removing her as a rival. However, in the last seconds of their parting, Arkady realises there is a lot more to Lady Callia than meets the eye, and that she is in fact a member of the Second Foundation, and is subtly manipulating the power on Kalgan.

Laskin Joranum

Laskin 'Jo Jo' Joranum is a rising politician and demagogue on Trantor. He campaigns on a platform of sector equality, but is actually aiming ultimately at the imperial throne. He tries and fails to persuade Hari Seldon to join his organisation and later tries to destabilise the Imperial government. Hari deduces that he is a renegade from the Mycogen sector, not from the distant planet of Nishaya as per his claim. Seldon is able to unmask Joranum and have him disgraced and exiled.

Lathan Devers

Lathan Devers (Foundation and Empire) is a Trader sent by the Foundation to spy on Bel Riose and determine his military intents. He and Ducem Barr steal a message sent by Brodrig to Riose, attempting to use it to make it seem like Riose is betraying the emperor. However, this proves both futile and unnecessary, since socio-politic forces work to prevent Riose from defeating the Foundation. In the next story, he is described as having died in the slave mines, presumably a political prisoner under the tyrannical rule of the first Mayor Indbur.

Limmar Ponyets

Limmar Ponyets (Foundation) Master Trader of the Foundation who obtains Eskel Gorov's release by supplying the Askonians with a transmuter capable of converting iron into gold.

Linge Chen

Linge Chen (Foundation) Chief commissioner of Public Safety, and judge of Seldon's trial. He is described as the "real" ruler of the Galaxy while the child that actually bears the title of Emperor is merely a puppet in his hands. In Foundation he is described by Hari Seldon's word as a shrewd politician: although he publicly disputes Seldon's prediction of the incoming fall of the Empire. As a politician, he is aware of the value of public sentiment.

Lord Dorwin

Lord Dorwin (Foundation) is Chancellor of the Galactic Empire and a representative who arrives on Terminus in response to their appeal for military support.

Lord Dorwin has an interest in the origins of the human species, trying to determine if it began on a single planet, and, if so, which. He mentions 'Sol', Sirius, Alpha Centauri, 61 Cygni and Arcturus. The name Dorwin is a reference to Darwin, reflecting a common interest in the origins of humanity.

Although he claims to have an interest in science, Lord Dorwin does not wish to conduct original research (as indicated when Salvor Hardin asks if he plans to visit any of the possible originating planets) but rather bases his studies on the work of scholars dead many centuries before. Asimov marks this as a sign of stagnation of science outside Foundation. The noble lord presents himself on Terminus as an effete aristocrat, proud of his studied non-rhotic accent (which drops away when he is emotional). For example, he pronounces Sirius as "Siwius."

In addition to his (possibly bogus) status as an aristocrat, Lord Dorwin possesses genuine skill as an intragalactic diplomat in his capacity of a leadership representative of the Empire during its declining years. He is responsible for negotiating the treaties that granted autonomy to Anacreon and the other three entities collectively known as the Four Kingdoms. Dorwin disputes the thesis that these territories are independent of the Empire, and his comments are taken by optimistic members of the Encyclopedia Board as proof that the Empire will protect Terminus from threats made by the neighboring Kingdom of Anacreon. However, Hardin's analysis shows that all of his statements cancel out, meaning that he has spoken for five days without actually saying anything.

Lors Avakim

Lors Avakim (Foundation) Lawyer to Gaal Dornick when the Commission of Public Safety arrested Gaal Dornick. Used a static field to block out the Commission of Public Safety by using a pocket recorder.

Lundin Crast

Lundin Crast (Foundation) Member of the Board of Trustees of the Encyclopedia Committee.

Mandell Gruber

Gruber is a dedicated gardener on the grounds of the Imperial palaces on Trantor. Occasionally conversing with then-First Minister Hari Seldon, Gruber's cheerfulness, devotedness to the grounds and to the Emperor, and the simplicity of his life convince Seldon that he should be promoted to Chief Gardener. Gruber panics, afraid of the more demanding task, which would entail administrative work, and flees from his promotion ceremony, which is marred by an unsuccessful assassination attempt on Seldon by political enemies. Gruber attacks Emperor Cleon I at the base of the grand staircase of one of the Imperial palaces, killing the Emperor with a nuclear handgun. He is subsequently executed.

Mayor Indbur III

Mayor Indbur III (Foundation and Empire). He was a one time ruler of the Foundation. His grandfather, Inbur I, seized power and was described as brutal and capable. He removed the last remnants of free elections, and his father Inbur II, was described as only half of Indbur I: he was merely brutal. Mayor Inbur III was described as having neither trait, and as 'a bookkeeper in the wrong job'. He was obsessed by order and detail, and lacked the ability to see the bigger picture.

He dispatched Captain Han Pritcher to investigate taxes on Haven, an order the Captain ignored. He also met with Ebling Mis who alerted him to the fact a Seldon Crisis was about to occur.

Mother Rittah

Mother Rittah (Prelude to Foundation) is an elderly woman living in the Dahl sector of Trantor, who briefly meets Hari Seldon. She tells him of the ancient semi-mythical tales of Earth, and of a robot who has never died, known as 'Da-nee, friend of Ba-lee'.

Munn Li Compor

Munn Li Compor (Foundation's Edge) He is a fellow councilor with Golan Trevize, the story's protagonist. Compor's family come from a small world called Comporellon in the Sirius Sector.

Compor betrays Trevize to the Mayor, and also follows him in his search for the Second Foundation. He is also an agent of the Second Foundation, an Observer, with limited powers, but able to report back on new developments. This is a new category of Second Foundationer, created after the near-disaster involving the Mule, whose importance was missed until it was almost too late.

Well-meaning, but weak, his role is secondary. He does, however, give Trevize a vital clue about the location of Earth by directing him to Comporellon, which he visits in Foundation and Earth.

Onum Barr

Onum Barr (Foundation) is a patrician of the old Galactic Empire of Trantor, and a senator of Siwenna. He had six sons, five of whom died after being betrayed in a rebellion; his only daughter committed suicide as well. Whilst living quietly and in poverty in exile, Onum meets with Hober Mallow, who thinks that Siwenna is still the provincial capital; that position has been taken by Orsha II. Onum helps Mallow obtain information on the atomic power of the planet, and is repaid with a box of provisions.

Pelleas Anthor

Pelleas Anthor (Second Foundation) was originally introduced as a researcher in electroencephalographic analysis. Together with Toran Darell II, Jole Turbor, Dr. Elvett Semic and Homir Munn, he sets about using information obtained from brain scans to find the Second Foundation, and to eventually destroy it. However, it turns out that he is in fact a Second Foundation agent who had infiltrated the group to monitor, and if possible control, the direction of the dangerous actions being taken. In a twist within a twist, he was actually part of a Second Foundation deception led by Preem Palver.

Poly Verisof

Poly Verisof (Foundation) High Priest of Anacreon and Foundation Ambassador. He leads Hardin's mob to the Anacreon Royal Palace.

Prince Regent Wienis

Prince Regent Wienis (Foundation) The power behind the regency of Lepold I, King of the Anacreonian Empire, Prince Regent Wienis attempted a military conquest of the Foundation, but is thwarted by the religion of Scientism, which gives the Foundation control of Anacreon's technology, including its military. Frustrated by Salvor Hardin, he despairs and commits suicide.

Publis Manlio

Publis Manlio (Foundation) is Foreign Secretary to the Mayor and Primate of the Church, Purveyor of the Holy Food, and Master of the Temples.

Quindor Shandess

Quindor Shandess (Foundation's Edge) 25th First Speaker of the Second Foundation.

Rashelle of Wye

Rashelle (Prelude to Foundation) is the daughter of Mannix IV, the Mayor of Wye (a Trantorian sector) and effective ruler of the sector. She has Hari Seldon kidnapped and tries unsuccessfully to persuade him to work for her. She engineers a military coup, hoping to become ruler of the planet Trantor. The plot is foiled at the last moment by Eto Demerzel. The subsequent fate of Rashelle is not revealed.

Sef Sermak

Sef Sermak (Foundation). A young "Actionist" politician who tries to convince Salvor Hardin to change his policies; it is implied that he later becomes Mayor. His name may be an allusion to Anton Cermak, who was the mayor of Chicago and (briefly) one of the most powerful local politicians in America.

Sennett Forell

Sennett Forell (Foundation and Empire) is a leader of the Merchant Princes at the time of the conflict with Bel Riose. His exact status is slightly unclear, but he may be the effective leader of the Foundation behind the scenes, although if so he is a less able leader than Salvor Hardin or Hober Mallow. He is Mallow's illegitimate son, but publicly he is only acknowledged as his distant cousin.

Stettin Palver

Stettin Palver studied history at the University of Langano but worked at a menial job on Trantor. He was an accomplished student of a Heliconian martial art known as "Twisting," and was initially employed by Hari Seldon as his bodyguard because of this. He was later found to share mentalic powers with Wanda Seldon, and became a member of the early Second Foundation. After this discovery, he worked on the Seldon Plan along with Gaal Dornick, reporting directly to Seldon on its refinement. As Stettin worked with Wanda in finding other people with mentalic powers, improving and discovering their own, and continuing work on the Seldon Plan, Seldon observed that the two "seemed to be inseparable" and looked at each other "with an intensity born not only of intellectual stimulation but emotional motivation as well."[1]

One of his distant descendants was Preem Palver, a First Speaker of the Second Foundation.

Stor Gendibal

Gendibal (Foundation's Edge) is a Speaker of the Second Foundation; the youngest but privately acknowledged by the First Speaker as his probable successor. He is the only Speaker to realise that both Foundations are being controlled by another more powerful external force, which is eventually revealed to be Gaia.

Sura Novi

Sura Novi (Foundation's Edge) is an agent of Gaia (Foundation's Edge) who lives on the planet Trantor (Hame) in the guise of an unmarried Hamish woman. Her full name is Suranoviremblastiran. Foundation Speaker Stor Gendibal detects inconsistencies in her brain that cannot be accounted for, making him aware of the existence of a powerful mentallic agent interfering with the Second Foundation. She goes with him to the Gaia system, and then reveals that she has been part of a large plan to make him go there. After the final confrontation in Foundation's Edge, she erases Gendibal's memories of her being an agent of Gaia, and returns to Trantor with him, again (and permanently) disguised as a Hamish.

Tamwile Elar

Tamwile Elar (Forward the Foundation) is a senior mathematician working on the Seldon Project. The creator of 'the achaotic equations' that make it more possible to get around the problem of chaos and aid in developing psychohistory, Seldon thinks of him as a brilliant man, though is sometimes a bit begrudging or annoyed internally because he thinks of himself as no longer as good as he used to be, as he ages, and dislikes Elar's loud laugh and habit of calling Seldon 'the Maestro.' Elar designs an 'Electro-Clarifier' device to allow more information to be stored in 'Prime Radiants' that hold psychohistorical equations. However, whilst collaborating with the military junta that rules Trantor, he kills Dors Venabili with an intense Electro-Clarifier through its side effect of creating an electromagnetic field that damages the electromagnetic machinery of robots without harming humans. It seems Elar wants to become the head of the Psychohistory Project, and the junta wants Seldon out of the picture so he cannot decry their government as failing, but feels Dors would be difficult to get past. However, Elar does not appear to especially dislike Seldon, and perhaps is even glad that Seldon might drift away with Dor's death without having to be killed by the junta. Dors nevertheless manages to kill Elar and tell Seldon what has happened before dying.

Tomaz Sutt

Tomaz Sutt (Foundation) Member of the Board of Trustees of the Encyclopedia Committee.

Toran and Bayta Darell

Toran and Bayta Darell (Foundation and Empire) are husband and wife. Toran is a Trader and was born on Haven and married Bayta, of Terminus and a descendant of Hober Mallow. They are sent by the government of the Independent Trading Worlds to Kalgan to seek possible support from the Mule. There they rescue a small man who calls himself “Magnifico” and return to Terminus. It falls to the Mule, and they then flee to Haven with Ebling Mis, and then to Trantor. There, Mis attempts to find the Second Foundation, being driven by the Mule’s psychological control. Bayta realizes that Magnifico is the Mule and kills Mis before he can reveal the location, for which she becomes a Foundation hero. Their son is Toran Darell II, and his daughter is Arkady Darell.

Toran Darell II

Toran Darell II (Second Foundation) is the son of Toran and Bayta Darell and the father of Arkady Darell, and was known for his advances in electroencephalographic analysis. He was able to quit his job as he receives a stipend from the Foundation due to his mother's services in thwarting the Mule. The stipend is sufficient for a comfortable home in a pleasant suburb, and allows the presence of a servant named Poli to take care of him and his daughter. His abrupt resignation was due to fear that the Second Foundation might learn of his activities and adjust him.

Together with Pelleas Anthor, Jole Turbor, Dr. Elvett Semic and Homir Munn, he tried to locate the Second Foundation in hopes of eventually destroying it.

He discovered that the mental manipulations by the Second Foundation left a detectable pattern in brain wave activity, and called it a “Tamper Plateau.” Using this, he could determine who had been directly affected by the Second Foundation. With Semic, he developed a mind static device capable of protecting against this, and further refined it into a weapon against Second Foundationers. With the use of this, he and the First Foundation seemingly destroy the Second Foundation; the small group that is revealed is a decoy, though, and the Second Foundation survives on Trantor.

Yate Fulham

Yate Fulham (Foundation) Member of the Board of Trustees of the Encyclopedia Committee.

Yohan Lee

Yohan Lee (Foundation) One of Salvor Hardin's advisors and friends.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Asimov, Isaac. Forward the Foundation. New York: Doubleday, 1993. pg. 405
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