Foundation and Earth

Asimov, Isaac. Foundation and Earth. Garden City, New York: Doubleday, 1986.

Brings together IA's robot and Foundation series. Deals briefly with the idea that extreme individualism can become downright patholgoical in a society "riddled with robots" (226-27; ch. 59). End of novel recounts how the robot Giskard (who could "sense and adjust" human minds) propounded the "Zeroth Law" of Robotics—"A robot may not injure humanity or, through inaction, allow humanity to come to harm"—and how the imperative to protect abstract humanity moved the robot Daneel Olivaw to bring about the founding of Gaia" (346-48; ch. 101). For the continuation of Daneel's existence, and the establishment of "Galaxia" (the galaxy as mostly conscious organism), Daneel will "merge a human brain into" his own to "achieve a two-brain Gaia" (350-52); the human he chooses is Fallom: "hermaphroditic, transductive, different"—and perhaps a new force in the galaxy (356). See IA's Foundation's Edge and Prelude to Foundation. Rev. Donald M. Hassler, FR, No. 98, 10.1 (Jan.-Feb. 1987): 32. Audio book listed under Drama. (16/05/92, rev. RDE 10/06/93 - 27/12/94.)