Isaac Asimov's Foundation series appeared in Astounding Science Fiction intermittently from 1942 through 1950, and for long years has been a favorite of fans. It describes a multi-century vision, worked out with Astounding's editor John W. Campbell, of a Galactic Empire in decline and fall, followed by a chaotic Interregnum which may lead eventually to a new and better Empire. The statistical / sociological science of Psychohistory is the means by which the chaos and wars may be shortened by many millennia. Psychohistory is a predictive science, Hari Seldon's master plan for humanity, giving useful information only at the heights of mathematical abstraction over major populations. Eventually, after the Interregnum, all will march into the socio-mathematically managed Utopia.

The Foundation stories are dry and talky, very thin of action taking place onstage. Asimov's own acknowledgement of this was clear when he was prevailed upon, many years later, to write additional Foundation novels and he wanted to write to a similar plain style; and in fact those latter books are not only as dry but virtually action-free.

But — enter the Mule

"The Mule" is different. This novella is Asimov's own favorite of the original stories, and deservedly so. Its striking title character is Asimov's most memorable ever, and is vividly and sensitively portrayed. The Mule, as he calls himself, is a human mutant: a telepath and telempath able to share and manage both thoughts and emotions.

The Mule is effectively a superman, and he stands out the more because the billions of people in the galaxy are statistical sheep, units in the vast sweep of Psychohistorical analysis. This makes plotting the Foundation series rather challenging; if your side is going to win or lose each conflict as predicted by Psychohistory, then why worry about intelligence, initiative, or bravery? Psychohistory depends upon the sheep staying unaware of their secret sociomath-kings. Once the citizens see the inexorable predetermination of their history, why bother to continue? In fact, once the readers of Astounding see the inexorable pattern of the Foundation series, why keep reading? — Hence, "The Mule".

1946 Retro Hugo Award