Forward the Foundation

What is Nishaya?

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Nishaya is the obscure outer planet, disparagingly said to specialize in goat herding, where the demagogic politician Lasken (Jo-Jo) Joranum claims to have been born. Joranum recalls the folktale of a woodcutter, Venn, who alone can wield his magic ax. He applies this to Hari Seldon, who alone can wield psychohistory. Hari talks with many Nishayans and decides that Joranum could not have shed the characteristic heavy accent after living there nearly two decades. This suggests that he has laundered his life history. When Joranum is found out, he chooses exile on Nishaya over trial in Mycogen Sector, which could bring the death penalty. Joranum dies on Nishaya not many years later.