1. Write a paper describing the Seldon Plan and comment on what you think are the Plan's strong points and weak points.

2. Several critics, such as Maxine Moore in her essay "Asimov, Calvin, and Moses" (in Voices for the Future, edited by Thomas D. Clareson, 1976), have pointed out the biblical parallels in The Foundation Trilogy. See how many biblical parallels you can find, and write a paper describing them. What purpose do they serve?

3. Research the fall of the Roman Empire, and write a paper discussing how Asimov draws on this event in the plot of his trilogy.

4. Determinism is a philosophy that asserts that every event is inevitable and that free will is nonexistent in humankind. How does Asimov address the issue of determinism versus free will in The Foundation Trilogy?

5. The Foundation Trilogy has proved to be a remarkably...