Regarding the ending of Asimov's the Second Foundation
At the end of the last book of the Foundation trilogy, we discover
that the Second Foundation is in Trantor.
This is said to be "Star's End".
Was there any previous mention of the place in a way that associated it with "Star's End"? Or was the mention only in the end of the third book?
foundation
asked Dec 11 '18 at 14:09
josinalvo
1263
add a comment |
At the end of the last book of the Foundation trilogy, we discover
that the Second Foundation is in Trantor.
This is said to be "Star's End".
Was there any previous mention of the place in a way that associated it with "Star's End"? Or was the mention only in the end of the third book?
foundation
asked Dec 11 '18 at 14:09
josinalvo
1263
I haven't read the trilogy in a long while, but isn't Star's End supposed to be another planet? Not saying which to avoid spoilers.
– Sava
Dec 11 '18 at 14:17
1
I think the question you're getting at is if it's a "fair" mystery that the reader could be expected to guess before the end of the book?
– user3067860
Dec 11 '18 at 23:19
Yes, that is the "meta" question behind it
– josinalvo
Dec 14 '18 at 21:27
add a comment |
At the end of the last book of the Foundation trilogy, we discover
that the Second Foundation is in Trantor.
This is said to be "Star's End".
Was there any previous mention of the place in a way that associated it with "Star's End"? Or was the mention only in the end of the third book?
foundation
asked Dec 11 '18 at 14:09
josinalvo
1263
At the end of the last book of the Foundation trilogy, we discover
that the Second Foundation is in Trantor.
This is said to be "Star's End".
Was there any previous mention of the place in a way that associated it with "Star's End"? Or was the mention only in the end of the third book?
foundation
foundation
asked Dec 11 '18 at 14:09
josinalvo
1263
asked Dec 11 '18 at 14:09
josinalvo
1263
edited Dec 11 '18 at 17:30
asked Dec 11 '18 at 14:09
josinalvo
1263
asked Dec 11 '18 at 14:09
josinalvo
1263
asked Dec 11 '18 at 14:09
josinalvo
1263
1263
I haven't read the trilogy in a long while, but isn't Star's End supposed to be another planet? Not saying which to avoid spoilers.
– Sava
Dec 11 '18 at 14:17
1
I think the question you're getting at is if it's a "fair" mystery that the reader could be expected to guess before the end of the book?
– user3067860
Dec 11 '18 at 23:19
Yes, that is the "meta" question behind it
– josinalvo
Dec 14 '18 at 21:27
add a comment |
I haven't read the trilogy in a long while, but isn't Star's End supposed to be another planet? Not saying which to avoid spoilers.
– Sava
Dec 11 '18 at 14:17
1
I think the question you're getting at is if it's a "fair" mystery that the reader could be expected to guess before the end of the book?
– user3067860
Dec 11 '18 at 23:19
Yes, that is the "meta" question behind it
– josinalvo
Dec 14 '18 at 21:27
I haven't read the trilogy in a long while, but isn't Star's End supposed to be another planet? Not saying which to avoid spoilers.
– Sava
Dec 11 '18 at 14:17
I haven't read the trilogy in a long while, but isn't Star's End supposed to be another planet? Not saying which to avoid spoilers.
– Sava
Dec 11 '18 at 14:17
1
1
I think the question you're getting at is if it's a "fair" mystery that the reader could be expected to guess before the end of the book?
– user3067860
Dec 11 '18 at 23:19
I think the question you're getting at is if it's a "fair" mystery that the reader could be expected to guess before the end of the book?
– user3067860
Dec 11 '18 at 23:19
Yes, that is the "meta" question behind it
– josinalvo
Dec 14 '18 at 21:27
Yes, that is the "meta" question behind it
– josinalvo
Dec 14 '18 at 21:27
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
What "actually" happened is that the First Foundation concluded that the Second Foundation was located on Terminus. One of the main bits of evidence leading to this conclusion is an enigmatic comment by Hari Seldon that he founded another Foundation (other than "Encyclopedia Galactica Publishing Foundation #1") at "Star's End". No one knows what "Star's End" is (in the book there's a visit to a planet named "Tazenda" on the theory it's a corrupted form of "Star's End"), but Arkady Darrell realizes that the Galaxy's rim (where Terminus is located) is a circle and "circles have no end." So "Star's End" is right at the start.
This deductive leap is proven correct when a nest of Second Foundationers is discovered on Terminus.
Except that it isn't correct. Hari Seldon was speaking as a sociologist, not a geometer and "Star's End" is the opposite social end of the Galaxy from Terminus: Trantor. And Preem Palver, a farmer from Trantor, is revealed as the First Speaker of the Second Foundation having sacrificed fifty members of the Second Foundation to fool the First that it had found and destroyed the Second.
"Star's End" as the location of the Second Foundation is first mentioned at the end of the very first Foundation story which later appeared as Part 1 "The Phychohistorians" in //Foundation//, the fix-up novel.
Seldon said, "...a scientific refuge will be established on Terminus. And another will be established at the other end of the Galaxy, let us say," and he smiled, "at Star's End."
Later at the end of Foundation and Empire, Part 1 there's a conversation:
"Then," said Forell, "there are no more enemies."
Barr was thoughtful. "There's a Second Foundation."
"At the other end of the Galaxy? Not for centuries."
Then in "Part 2: The Mule" a character says:
"I know that. Toran and Bayta are leaving with you for that very reason. And, Ebling, there's another, greater purpose. Hari Seldon founded two Foundations three centuries ago; one at each end of the Galaxy. You must find that Second Foundation."
There's a lot more discussion about the Second Foundation's location, but it all seems to be elaborations of this basic information.
answered Dec 11 '18 at 14:27
Mark Olson
12.8k24376
1
sorry, i wrote the name of the planet wrong. I mean to ask, was there some poem, some text, some hint of the fact, that trantor was usually called stars end, before the very last chapter?
– josinalvo
Dec 11 '18 at 17:33
1
I don't think it was usually called "Stars end". I seem to recall them looking pretty hard for something called "star's end" (and as this answer says they "considered "Tazenda" on the theory it's a corrupted form of "Star's End""). The name and location was pretty much a riddle by Hari Seldon that I suspect was never intended to be answered (or possibly only answered by somebody of the right mindset). I think Mark has pretty much given all the relevant references to "Star's end" by the end of Second foundation (though I think later books had some different ways of looking at it).
– Chris
Dec 11 '18 at 18:09
3
To clarify: the sentence "circles have no end" is really about the phrase "the other end of the Galaxy", not about the name "Star's End". (I think you probably realize this already, but this answer makes it sound otherwise.)
– ruakh
Dec 11 '18 at 18:37
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "186"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fscifi.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f200229%2fregarding-the-ending-of-asimovs-the-second-foundation%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
What "actually" happened is that the First Foundation concluded that the Second Foundation was located on Terminus. One of the main bits of evidence leading to this conclusion is an enigmatic comment by Hari Seldon that he founded another Foundation (other than "Encyclopedia Galactica Publishing Foundation #1") at "Star's End". No one knows what "Star's End" is (in the book there's a visit to a planet named "Tazenda" on the theory it's a corrupted form of "Star's End"), but Arkady Darrell realizes that the Galaxy's rim (where Terminus is located) is a circle and "circles have no end." So "Star's End" is right at the start.
This deductive leap is proven correct when a nest of Second Foundationers is discovered on Terminus.
Except that it isn't correct. Hari Seldon was speaking as a sociologist, not a geometer and "Star's End" is the opposite social end of the Galaxy from Terminus: Trantor. And Preem Palver, a farmer from Trantor, is revealed as the First Speaker of the Second Foundation having sacrificed fifty members of the Second Foundation to fool the First that it had found and destroyed the Second.
"Star's End" as the location of the Second Foundation is first mentioned at the end of the very first Foundation story which later appeared as Part 1 "The Phychohistorians" in //Foundation//, the fix-up novel.
Seldon said, "...a scientific refuge will be established on Terminus. And another will be established at the other end of the Galaxy, let us say," and he smiled, "at Star's End."
Later at the end of Foundation and Empire, Part 1 there's a conversation:
"Then," said Forell, "there are no more enemies."
Barr was thoughtful. "There's a Second Foundation."
"At the other end of the Galaxy? Not for centuries."
Then in "Part 2: The Mule" a character says:
"I know that. Toran and Bayta are leaving with you for that very reason. And, Ebling, there's another, greater purpose. Hari Seldon founded two Foundations three centuries ago; one at each end of the Galaxy. You must find that Second Foundation."
There's a lot more discussion about the Second Foundation's location, but it all seems to be elaborations of this basic information.
answered Dec 11 '18 at 14:27
Mark Olson
12.8k24376
1
sorry, i wrote the name of the planet wrong. I mean to ask, was there some poem, some text, some hint of the fact, that trantor was usually called stars end, before the very last chapter?
– josinalvo
Dec 11 '18 at 17:33
1
I don't think it was usually called "Stars end". I seem to recall them looking pretty hard for something called "star's end" (and as this answer says they "considered "Tazenda" on the theory it's a corrupted form of "Star's End""). The name and location was pretty much a riddle by Hari Seldon that I suspect was never intended to be answered (or possibly only answered by somebody of the right mindset). I think Mark has pretty much given all the relevant references to "Star's end" by the end of Second foundation (though I think later books had some different ways of looking at it).
– Chris
Dec 11 '18 at 18:09
3
To clarify: the sentence "circles have no end" is really about the phrase "the other end of the Galaxy", not about the name "Star's End". (I think you probably realize this already, but this answer makes it sound otherwise.)
– ruakh
Dec 11 '18 at 18:37
add a comment |
What "actually" happened is that the First Foundation concluded that the Second Foundation was located on Terminus. One of the main bits of evidence leading to this conclusion is an enigmatic comment by Hari Seldon that he founded another Foundation (other than "Encyclopedia Galactica Publishing Foundation #1") at "Star's End". No one knows what "Star's End" is (in the book there's a visit to a planet named "Tazenda" on the theory it's a corrupted form of "Star's End"), but Arkady Darrell realizes that the Galaxy's rim (where Terminus is located) is a circle and "circles have no end." So "Star's End" is right at the start.
This deductive leap is proven correct when a nest of Second Foundationers is discovered on Terminus.
Except that it isn't correct. Hari Seldon was speaking as a sociologist, not a geometer and "Star's End" is the opposite social end of the Galaxy from Terminus: Trantor. And Preem Palver, a farmer from Trantor, is revealed as the First Speaker of the Second Foundation having sacrificed fifty members of the Second Foundation to fool the First that it had found and destroyed the Second.
"Star's End" as the location of the Second Foundation is first mentioned at the end of the very first Foundation story which later appeared as Part 1 "The Phychohistorians" in //Foundation//, the fix-up novel.
Seldon said, "...a scientific refuge will be established on Terminus. And another will be established at the other end of the Galaxy, let us say," and he smiled, "at Star's End."
Later at the end of Foundation and Empire, Part 1 there's a conversation:
"Then," said Forell, "there are no more enemies."
Barr was thoughtful. "There's a Second Foundation."
"At the other end of the Galaxy? Not for centuries."
Then in "Part 2: The Mule" a character says:
"I know that. Toran and Bayta are leaving with you for that very reason. And, Ebling, there's another, greater purpose. Hari Seldon founded two Foundations three centuries ago; one at each end of the Galaxy. You must find that Second Foundation."
There's a lot more discussion about the Second Foundation's location, but it all seems to be elaborations of this basic information.
answered Dec 11 '18 at 14:27
Mark Olson
12.8k24376
1
sorry, i wrote the name of the planet wrong. I mean to ask, was there some poem, some text, some hint of the fact, that trantor was usually called stars end, before the very last chapter?
– josinalvo
Dec 11 '18 at 17:33
1
I don't think it was usually called "Stars end". I seem to recall them looking pretty hard for something called "star's end" (and as this answer says they "considered "Tazenda" on the theory it's a corrupted form of "Star's End""). The name and location was pretty much a riddle by Hari Seldon that I suspect was never intended to be answered (or possibly only answered by somebody of the right mindset). I think Mark has pretty much given all the relevant references to "Star's end" by the end of Second foundation (though I think later books had some different ways of looking at it).
– Chris
Dec 11 '18 at 18:09
3
To clarify: the sentence "circles have no end" is really about the phrase "the other end of the Galaxy", not about the name "Star's End". (I think you probably realize this already, but this answer makes it sound otherwise.)
– ruakh
Dec 11 '18 at 18:37
add a comment |
What "actually" happened is that the First Foundation concluded that the Second Foundation was located on Terminus. One of the main bits of evidence leading to this conclusion is an enigmatic comment by Hari Seldon that he founded another Foundation (other than "Encyclopedia Galactica Publishing Foundation #1") at "Star's End". No one knows what "Star's End" is (in the book there's a visit to a planet named "Tazenda" on the theory it's a corrupted form of "Star's End"), but Arkady Darrell realizes that the Galaxy's rim (where Terminus is located) is a circle and "circles have no end." So "Star's End" is right at the start.
This deductive leap is proven correct when a nest of Second Foundationers is discovered on Terminus.
Except that it isn't correct. Hari Seldon was speaking as a sociologist, not a geometer and "Star's End" is the opposite social end of the Galaxy from Terminus: Trantor. And Preem Palver, a farmer from Trantor, is revealed as the First Speaker of the Second Foundation having sacrificed fifty members of the Second Foundation to fool the First that it had found and destroyed the Second.
"Star's End" as the location of the Second Foundation is first mentioned at the end of the very first Foundation story which later appeared as Part 1 "The Phychohistorians" in //Foundation//, the fix-up novel.
Seldon said, "...a scientific refuge will be established on Terminus. And another will be established at the other end of the Galaxy, let us say," and he smiled, "at Star's End."
Later at the end of Foundation and Empire, Part 1 there's a conversation:
"Then," said Forell, "there are no more enemies."
Barr was thoughtful. "There's a Second Foundation."
"At the other end of the Galaxy? Not for centuries."
Then in "Part 2: The Mule" a character says:
"I know that. Toran and Bayta are leaving with you for that very reason. And, Ebling, there's another, greater purpose. Hari Seldon founded two Foundations three centuries ago; one at each end of the Galaxy. You must find that Second Foundation."
There's a lot more discussion about the Second Foundation's location, but it all seems to be elaborations of this basic information.
answered Dec 11 '18 at 14:27
Mark Olson
12.8k24376
What "actually" happened is that the First Foundation concluded that the Second Foundation was located on Terminus. One of the main bits of evidence leading to this conclusion is an enigmatic comment by Hari Seldon that he founded another Foundation (other than "Encyclopedia Galactica Publishing Foundation #1") at "Star's End". No one knows what "Star's End" is (in the book there's a visit to a planet named "Tazenda" on the theory it's a corrupted form of "Star's End"), but Arkady Darrell realizes that the Galaxy's rim (where Terminus is located) is a circle and "circles have no end." So "Star's End" is right at the start.
This deductive leap is proven correct when a nest of Second Foundationers is discovered on Terminus.
Except that it isn't correct. Hari Seldon was speaking as a sociologist, not a geometer and "Star's End" is the opposite social end of the Galaxy from Terminus: Trantor. And Preem Palver, a farmer from Trantor, is revealed as the First Speaker of the Second Foundation having sacrificed fifty members of the Second Foundation to fool the First that it had found and destroyed the Second.
"Star's End" as the location of the Second Foundation is first mentioned at the end of the very first Foundation story which later appeared as Part 1 "The Phychohistorians" in //Foundation//, the fix-up novel.
Seldon said, "...a scientific refuge will be established on Terminus. And another will be established at the other end of the Galaxy, let us say," and he smiled, "at Star's End."
Later at the end of Foundation and Empire, Part 1 there's a conversation:
"Then," said Forell, "there are no more enemies."
Barr was thoughtful. "There's a Second Foundation."
"At the other end of the Galaxy? Not for centuries."
Then in "Part 2: The Mule" a character says:
"I know that. Toran and Bayta are leaving with you for that very reason. And, Ebling, there's another, greater purpose. Hari Seldon founded two Foundations three centuries ago; one at each end of the Galaxy. You must find that Second Foundation."
There's a lot more discussion about the Second Foundation's location, but it all seems to be elaborations of this basic information.
answered Dec 11 '18 at 14:27
Mark Olson
12.8k24376
edited Dec 11 '18 at 15:16
answered Dec 11 '18 at 14:27
Mark Olson
12.8k24376
answered Dec 11 '18 at 14:27
Mark Olson
12.8k24376
answered Dec 11 '18 at 14:27
Mark Olson
12.8k24376
12.8k24376
1
sorry, i wrote the name of the planet wrong. I mean to ask, was there some poem, some text, some hint of the fact, that trantor was usually called stars end, before the very last chapter?
– josinalvo
Dec 11 '18 at 17:33
1
I don't think it was usually called "Stars end". I seem to recall them looking pretty hard for something called "star's end" (and as this answer says they "considered "Tazenda" on the theory it's a corrupted form of "Star's End""). The name and location was pretty much a riddle by Hari Seldon that I suspect was never intended to be answered (or possibly only answered by somebody of the right mindset). I think Mark has pretty much given all the relevant references to "Star's end" by the end of Second foundation (though I think later books had some different ways of looking at it).
– Chris
Dec 11 '18 at 18:09
3
To clarify: the sentence "circles have no end" is really about the phrase "the other end of the Galaxy", not about the name "Star's End". (I think you probably realize this already, but this answer makes it sound otherwise.)
– ruakh
Dec 11 '18 at 18:37
add a comment |
1
sorry, i wrote the name of the planet wrong. I mean to ask, was there some poem, some text, some hint of the fact, that trantor was usually called stars end, before the very last chapter?
– josinalvo
Dec 11 '18 at 17:33
1
I don't think it was usually called "Stars end". I seem to recall them looking pretty hard for something called "star's end" (and as this answer says they "considered "Tazenda" on the theory it's a corrupted form of "Star's End""). The name and location was pretty much a riddle by Hari Seldon that I suspect was never intended to be answered (or possibly only answered by somebody of the right mindset). I think Mark has pretty much given all the relevant references to "Star's end" by the end of Second foundation (though I think later books had some different ways of looking at it).
– Chris
Dec 11 '18 at 18:09
3
To clarify: the sentence "circles have no end" is really about the phrase "the other end of the Galaxy", not about the name "Star's End". (I think you probably realize this already, but this answer makes it sound otherwise.)
– ruakh
Dec 11 '18 at 18:37
1
1
sorry, i wrote the name of the planet wrong. I mean to ask, was there some poem, some text, some hint of the fact, that trantor was usually called stars end, before the very last chapter?
– josinalvo
Dec 11 '18 at 17:33
sorry, i wrote the name of the planet wrong. I mean to ask, was there some poem, some text, some hint of the fact, that trantor was usually called stars end, before the very last chapter?
– josinalvo
Dec 11 '18 at 17:33
1
1
I don't think it was usually called "Stars end". I seem to recall them looking pretty hard for something called "star's end" (and as this answer says they "considered "Tazenda" on the theory it's a corrupted form of "Star's End""). The name and location was pretty much a riddle by Hari Seldon that I suspect was never intended to be answered (or possibly only answered by somebody of the right mindset). I think Mark has pretty much given all the relevant references to "Star's end" by the end of Second foundation (though I think later books had some different ways of looking at it).
– Chris
Dec 11 '18 at 18:09
I don't think it was usually called "Stars end". I seem to recall them looking pretty hard for something called "star's end" (and as this answer says they "considered "Tazenda" on the theory it's a corrupted form of "Star's End""). The name and location was pretty much a riddle by Hari Seldon that I suspect was never intended to be answered (or possibly only answered by somebody of the right mindset). I think Mark has pretty much given all the relevant references to "Star's end" by the end of Second foundation (though I think later books had some different ways of looking at it).
– Chris
Dec 11 '18 at 18:09
3
3
To clarify: the sentence "circles have no end" is really about the phrase "the other end of the Galaxy", not about the name "Star's End". (I think you probably realize this already, but this answer makes it sound otherwise.)
– ruakh
Dec 11 '18 at 18:37
To clarify: the sentence "circles have no end" is really about the phrase "the other end of the Galaxy", not about the name "Star's End". (I think you probably realize this already, but this answer makes it sound otherwise.)
– ruakh
Dec 11 '18 at 18:37
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to Science Fiction & Fantasy Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Some of your past answers have not been well-received, and you're in danger of being blocked from answering.
Please pay close attention to the following guidance:
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fscifi.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f200229%2fregarding-the-ending-of-asimovs-the-second-foundation%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
I haven't read the trilogy in a long while, but isn't Star's End supposed to be another planet? Not saying which to avoid spoilers.
– Sava
Dec 11 '18 at 14:17
1
I think the question you're getting at is if it's a "fair" mystery that the reader could be expected to guess before the end of the book?
– user3067860
Dec 11 '18 at 23:19
Yes, that is the "meta" question behind it
– josinalvo
Dec 14 '18 at 21:27