I discovered Isaac Asimov after I had read every Andre Norton book available in the local library. While his books were a different writing style than Norton's, they were every bit as good. I was introduced to R. Daneel Olivaw, a policeman of a different build, experienced the fantastic voyage of a small crew through a human system, and saw the birth of a foundation.
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A Fusion of Universes
Originally the Foundation, Galactic Empire, and Robot Novels were completely separate story lines. However, somewhere around 1985/1986 Dr. Asimov decided to meld them into a single coherent 'history'. The order in which these books should be read is debatable. To follow the course of events the chronological order is probably best, however some of the later published stories contain spoilers for the earlier published works. To follow the development of ideas and writing, the publication order is probably best. Several books in this series were written by other authors after Asimov's death
The "Greater Foundation" Series
(Foundation Universe Chronological Order)
1. The Complete Robot (1982) (Robot Collection)
2. The Caves of Steel (1954) (Robot Novel Series)
3. The Naked Sun (1957) (Robot Novel Series)
4. The Robots of Dawn (1983) (Robot Novel Series)
5. Robots and Empire (1985) (Robot Novel Series)
6. The Stars, Like Dust (1951) (Galactic Empire Series)
7. The Currents of Space(1952) (Galactic Empire Series)
8. Pebble in the Sky (1950) (Galactic Empire Series)
9. Prelude to Foundation (1988) (Foundation Series)
9a. Forward the Foundation (1993) (Foundation Series)
9b. Foundation's Fear (1997) by Gregory Benford. (Second Foundation Trilogy)
9c. Foundation and Chaos (1998) by Greg Bear. (Second Foundation Trilogy)
9d. Foundation's Triumph (1999) by David Brin. (Second Foundation Trilogy)
10. Foundation (1951)(Foundation Series - Original Foundation Trilogy)
11. Foundation and Empire (1952) (Foundation Series - Original Foundation Trilogy)
12. Second Foundation (1953) (Original Foundation Trilogy)
13. Foundation's Edge (1982) (Foundation Series)
14. Foundation and Earth (1986) (Foundation Series)
Series by Isaac Asimov
Empire
1. Pebble in the Sky (1950)
2. The Stars Like Dust (1951)
3. The Currents of Space (1952)
Foundation
Foundation (1951)
Foundation and Empire (1952)
Second Foundation (1953)
Foundation's Edge (1982)
Foundation and Earth (1986)
Prelude to Foundation (1988)
Forward the Foundation (1993)
R. Daneel Olivaw
(The Robot Novels)
1. The Caves of Steel (1954)
2. The Naked Sun (1956)
3. The Robots of Dawn (1983)
4. Robots and Empire (1985)
Lucky Starr (writing as Paul French)
1. David Starr, Space Ranger (1952) aka Space Ranger
2. Lucky Starr and the Pirates of the Asteroids (1954)
3. Lucky Starr and the Oceans of Venus (1954)
4. Lucky Starr and the Big Sun of Mercury (1956)
5. Lucky Starr and the Moons of Jupiter (1957)
6. Lucky Starr and the Rings of Saturn (1958)
Novels
The 1,000 Year Plan (1955)
The End of Eternity (1955)
Earth Is Room Enough (1957)
The Double Planet (1960)
Fantastic Voyage (1966)
The Gods Themselves (1972)
The Heavenly Host (1975)
Planet That Wasn't There (1976)
Good Taste (1976)
Destination Brain: Fantastic Voyage II (1987)
Nemesis (1989)
Nightfall (1990) (with Robert Silverberg)
Child of Time (1991) (with Robert Silverberg)
The Ugly Little Boy (1992) (with Robert Silverberg)
The Positronic Man (1992) (with Robert Silverberg)
Short story collections
I, Robot (1950)
The Martian Way and Other Stories (1955)
Earth Is Room Enough (1957)
Nine Tomorrows (1959)
The Rest of the Robots (1964)
Asimov's Mysteries (1968)
Nightfall and Other Stories (1969)
The Early Asimov (1972)
The Best of Isaac Asimov (1973)
Tales of the Black Widowers (1974)
Buy Jupiter and Other Stories (1975)
The Bicentennial Man and Other Stories (1976)
The Complete Robot (1982)
The Winds of Change and Other Stories (1983)
The Alternate Asimovs (1986)
The Best Science Fiction of Isaac Asimov (1986)
Robot Dreams (1986)
Azazel (1988)
Gold (1990)
Robot Visions (1990)
Magic (1995)
The first of the R. Daneel Olivaw books. This blend of murder mystery and science fiction is probably my favorite Asimov book.
From the Hardcover:
"A millennium into the future two advancements have altered the course of human history: the colonization of the galaxy and the creation of the positronic brain. Isaac Asimov's Robot novels chronicle the unlikely partnership between a New York City detective and a humanoid robot who must learn to work together. Like most people left behind on an over-populated Earth, New York City police detective Elijah Baley had little love for either the arrogant Spacers or their robotic companions. But when a prominent Spacer is murdered under mysterious circumstances, Baley is ordered to the Outer Worlds to help track down the killer. The relationship between Life and his Spacer superiors, who distrusted all Earthmen, was strained from the start. Then he learned that they had assigned him a partner: R. Daneel Olivaw. Worst of all was that the "R" stood for robot--and his positronic partner was made in the image and likeness of the murder victim!"
Combined talents of two of my favorite authors made this a must read for me - and it was as great as I expected. The novel is based on the original short story written by Asimov in 1941.
From Goodreads:
"Imagine living on a planet with six suns that never experiences Darkness. Imagine never having seen the Stars. Then, one by one your suns start to set, gradually leading you into Darkness for the first time ever. Image the terror of such a Nightfall.
Scientists on the planet Kalgash discover that an eclipse - an event that occurs only every 2049 years - is imminent, and that a society unfamiliar with Darkness will be plunged into madness and chaos. They realize that their civilization will end, for the people of Kalgash have a proven fear of Darkness, but they are unable to predict the insanity and destruction that will accompany the awesome splendor of Nightfall."
The first of the Foundation books, which is actually a set of stories that spans the expansion of the Foundation
From the Hardcover:
"For twelve thousand years the Galactic Empire has ruled supreme. Now it is dying. But only Hari Sheldon, creator of the revolutionary science of psychohistory, can see into the future--to a dark age of ignorance, barbarism, and warfare that will last thirty thousand years. To preserve knowledge and save mankind, Seldon gathers the best minds in the Empire--both scientists and scholars--and brings them to a bleak planet at the edge of the Galaxy to serve as a beacon of hope for a fututre generations. He calls his sanctuary the Foundation."
Daneel and Elijah return to solve another crime, this time on the Spacer Planet Solaria.
From the Paperback:
"The electrifying sequel to Caves of Steel in which Elijah Baley is once more teemed up with R. Daneel. The two must travel to Solaria, where no human has gone in over a thousand years...Reacting in fear against the technological superiority of the Outer Worlds, the people of Earth have hidden themselves in vast underground cities, nursing a hatred for Spacers. The fifty Outer Worlds of the Spacers together are home to fewer people than planet Earth. And home to many, many more robots. Earthmen hate Spacer robots, too...But Baley doesn't. He once had a robot partner, R. Daneel - and when the authorities of the planet Solaria request terrestrial assistance in investigating a murder, Baley is once again teamed with Daneel. He is the first Earthman in a millennium to travel to the Outer Worlds...and he must endure the glare of a sun far more deadly than Earth's."
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