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Foundation Books in Order
Below you'll find the complete list of Foundation books in publication order. This is generally the recommended reading order for the series.
Reading order verified: March 2026
Quick Answer
What order should I read the Foundation series? Start with "Foundation / The 1,000 Year Plan" (1951) and follow publication order through all 7 books.
The complete Foundation reading order is listed below in publication sequence.
Publication Order
Foundation / The 1,000 Year Plan
1951
Foundation and Empire / The Man Who Upset the Universe
1952
Second Foundation
1953
Foundation's Edge
1982
Foundation and Earth
1986
Prelude to Foundation
1988
Forward the Foundation
1993
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