Editing Forward the Foundation (section)

{{Short description|Novel by Isaac Asimov}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox book
| name          = Forward the Foundation
| title_orig    =
| translator    =
| image         = Image:Forward the Foundation cover.jpg
| caption       = Cover of the first edition
| author        = [[Isaac Asimov|Asimov, Isaac]]
| illustrator   =
| cover_artist  = [[Bob Larkin]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?14417|title=Publication: Forward the Foundation|website=Isfdb.org|access-date=13 February 2019}}</ref>
| country       = United States
| language      = English
| series        = [[Foundation (book series)|The ''Foundation'' Series]]
| subject       =
| genre         = Science fiction
| publisher     = [[Doubleday (publisher)|Doubleday]]
| pub_date      = 1993
| english_pub_date =
| media_type    = Print (hardback & paperback)
| pages         = 417 
| isbn          = 0-385-24793-1
| oclc          = 29849055
| preceded_by   = [[Prelude to Foundation]]
| followed_by   = [[Foundation (Asimov novel)|Foundation]]
}}
'''''Forward the Foundation''''' is a novel by American writer [[Isaac Asimov]], published posthumously in 1993. It is the second of two prequels to the [[Foundation Series|''Foundation'' Series]]. It is written in a format similar to that of the original book, ''[[Foundation (Isaac Asimov novel)|Foundation]]'', composed of chapters with long intervals in between; however, ''Forward'' takes place within only one lifetime. Both books were first published as independent short stories in science fiction magazines.

The parallels between [[Hari Seldon]] and Isaac Asimov found in this book— the last one written by Asimov before his death— and the focus on Hari Seldon as he grows old and dies, strengthen the idea that Asimov considered Seldon his literary alter ego. Critics such as Josh Wimmer and Alasdair Wilkins have regarded many of the opinions and viewpoints expressed by Seldon in this book as [[autobiographical]]. Thus, they say, a detailed reading of ''Forward the Foundation'' can shed light on Asimov's inner thoughts at the end of his life.<ref name=completed/>

Like other previous science fiction works by Asimov, the book was a commercial success, becoming a ''[[New York Times]]'' bestselling work.<ref name="completed">{{cite web |author1=Wimmer |first=Josh |author2=Wilkins |first2=Alasdair |date=15 May 2011 |title=In which a great work is finally completed: Isaac Asimov's Forward the Foundation |url=https://gizmodo.com/in-which-a-great-work-is-finally-completed-isaac-asimo-5801963 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120071947/https://gizmodo.com/in-which-a-great-work-is-finally-completed-isaac-asimo-5801963 |archive-date=20 November 2023 |access-date=10 December 2021 |website=[[Gizmodo]]}}</ref>