Foundation: The Mule's Conquest of the Galaxy

Foundation and Empire is the second published book in the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov. The Second half of the book depicts the Rise of the Mule. The Mule was an extremely powerful mutant with the power to sense an manipulate the emotions of others. He would pose the greatest threat to Hari Seldon’s plan for the future of humanity. The fourth released book in the series would later reveal that the Mule was born on the mentalic planet Gaia, within Sayshell Sector, an isolated sector of space. There he was regarded as a criminal, on the planet mental powers were being developed for helpful reasons, to suite benevolent ends, his abilities were considered an aberration. He managed to escape the planet at a young age. The Mules childhood was one of alienation and torment, this motivated him to use his powers to get revenge on the galaxy, once he became aware of them in his twenties. He gave himself the name Mule, in reference to the sterility of the animals he too was sterile due to his genetics.
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[@xeroxsaw1303]

I really love the part when Seldon appears and doesn’t mention the mule and everyone in the room is like “fuck”

[@HighMojo]

What makes stories interesting is their unpredictability, so how can you make a story about psychohistory that can predict all future events interesting? The Mule is the twist in psychohistory that makes it unpredictable. This is the genius of Isaac Asimov, he invented a new science/math, and then built a story around it, and then found a way to circumvent it.

[@charlestsai3708]

@@HighMojo Well Said my friend

[@Deridus]

What I never quite figured out was if the Second Foundation was actively providing Fixers to maintain the Plan, let alone what the Scowlers were actually doing with thier equations... Whelp, looks like I'm going to reread the series again.

[@HighMojo]

@@Deridus Both foundations were there to not merely maintain the plan, but to hasten it as well. Just remember that the entire purpose for founding the first foundation is to shorten the ten thousand years of chaos into just 300 years. This cannot happen without the intervention of the foundations. The first foundation was there to deal with physical threats, and the hidden second foundation to deal with psychic threats. The second foundation was specifically there to deal with unforeseen Black Swan events such as the Mule.

[@jbagger331]

Seldon thought that The Great Khan was a singular anomaly.

[@charlesajones77]

It's been a LONG time since I read the Foundation series, but the most memorable part of it for me was when they were listening to Harry Seldon's recording and they realize, with horror, that the future he predicted and what was actually happening had wildly diverged, thanks to the interference of the Mule. Their whole society was predicated on a timeline that was now broken, and they had no idea how to fix it, or if it even could be fixed.

[@geokon3]

For me the best part was the reveal that the clown was actually the Mule. I was like "I knew it!!!"

[@sandal_thong]

The trick is not just for the Second Foundation to defeat the mule, but restore the Seldon Plan to create a Second Empire in about a thousand years from the start of the Foundation. And as they say in the next book, not just any Second Empire but one that will be beneficial to humankind and last. To do so they will have also have to restore the belief in this manifest destiny. On to the next video.

[@jeromefecto8085]

The Mule, what a fantastic character. Thank you Mr. Asimov

[@Hartzilla2007]

Not going to lie his backstory was making me kind of root for him. Especially since Foundation and Empire went from the protagonists having to actually do something to help resolve the crisis to them being able to just stay home while it resolves itself.

[@jorgeduarte8021]

Sometimes I think that Asimov built that character based on Tartuffe from Moliere.

[@quintu5]

The location of the second Foundation is one of the greatest acts of trolling of a novel character ;)

[@TentaclePentacle]

actually the location of the second foundation was hinted at in the first book. When Seldon died who buried his body? Who took the cube from his hands? It was all there in the first book.

[@dwaynepeters4520]

@Leandro Donada The Second Foundation doesn't exist!

[@brownro214]

@riskyrisk663 I guess you are watching too much CNN.

[@BlueRidgeBubble]

@Bodie Harry I tried it, my phone gained sentience, turned into a spaceship and blasted off into space

[@cjcj7387]

The Second Foundation is actually located on Trantor-the former capital of the Galactic Empire-in the center of the galaxy. It was called "Star's End" due to the ancient saying that "All roads lead to Trantor, and that is where all stars end".

[@gammonlatrell6248]

J.R.R. Tolkien, Frank Herbert, Isaac Asimov, Arthur C Clark, C.S. Lewis, Ursula K. Le Guin. Yes, some write fantasy and some science fiction, but I was born in the sixties and as a young teen I fell in love with all of them. They each created worlds and epic designs for their creations. They increased my awareness of civilization and how each of us can have an effect on the world around us, close by and also perhaps someday, anywhere in the universe.

[@humboldthammer]

David Wingrove and his Chung Kuo series, is under-appreciated in my opinion. Newer than the others, of course.

[@MrKapeji]

Surely Jack Vance should be in that list of names too?

[@davidbowman271]

Add Clifford D Simak, Roger Zelanzy, Fritz Lieber, Michael Moorcock, Samuel Delaney, Frederick Pohl, Harlan Ellison to that mix as well!

[@hannabaal150]

That's a great list. Everybody has one. Some are the same, some are longer or shorter, but everyone who has one has something in common: They can read.

[@marjanperveinis8355]

A Polish fantasy writer Andrzej Sapkowski and his book series The Witcher should also be in this list

[@joey6818]

The Mule, with his power to control the emotions of others fell prey to the one longing emotion even he cannot control, "love". The subsequent sacrifice just to feel it for a brief moment meant his doom, willingly trading the whole universe for it. In an off-hand way, it was also sad. That is just one of the astounding plot twists of Foundation.

[@RafaelbySuzannah]

Wow! that's fascinating. Thank you for posting this comment. And thank you Quinn!

[@jeffeppenbach]

The Second Foundation is considered one of the inspirations for the Jedi in Star Wars. Like Dune, the Foundation series helped to form what Lucas did.

[@merrittanimation7721]

Really? I don't see much similarity between them.

[@roebuckmckinney]

Well, the Second Foundation don't use lightsabers or telekinesis, but they are a guarded, secret order who train in the use of psionic powers and serve as a defense against powerful mutant psychics like the Mule. The comparison isn't perfect, but it's easy to see Lucas getting that idea and applying it to his spacer samurai concept.

[@klyanadkmorr]

`No, actual samurai and bene jesserit training are the JEDI inspiration, trying to link Foundation is just fantasy need as Lucas has NEVER mentioned Asimov as his inspiring Star Wars. Asimov is to Freud like Herbert is to Jung in the scifi fantasy genre style of viewing humanity and future..

[@firetarrasque4667]

The Mule is thought to be the inspiration of Jar Jar Binks for believers in the Darth Jar Jar theory.

[@alanpennie8013]

3.14 Dragon

[@mrScififan2]

Thanks, for bringing me back to fond memories of my early teens (14-15) ; I forgot how much I loved those books in 9th and 10th grade.....a million years ago.😏

[@everdinestenger1548]

Even as an adult I loved Foundation, 40 years ago or so

[@TheSkepticalPanda]

I loved reading the Foundation series because you can see how it inspired so much of the fiction that followed.

[@urmo345]

Star Wars

[@knightshousegames]

What I love about it is you can tell it written in an era before technology looked how it does today. Pay attention and you will notice there are no screens in the first two books. We imagine a computer today having a screen, but back in the 40s, computers didn't have screens. You will notice all the tech is based around this, rather than movies, there are machines that read books to you. I think the closest they ever come to a screen is what they call a "lens" you have to look through to see a map hologram. And of course the 3D Holo projection Hober Malo uses in the first book to prove his innocence. No screens. It's just interesting to see how tech of the time informed their vision of the future

[@cedriceric9730]

All of modern scifi ALL of IT

[@agentoranj5858]

​@@knightshousegames It amused me while reading Prelude to Foundation that when Dors and Hari talk about books, they're actually referring to a sort e-reader that takes cartridges like a Game Boy.

[@Beastinvader]

The Mule is the most tragic and complex character in the trilogy. I wish Asimov explored his history and emotions a little bit more.

[@Sextus70]

A spin-off about his backstory and rise to power would have been great. He is along Salvor Hardin of one the best characters of the trilogy IMO.

[@geokon3]

I can't understand how the Mule was part of Gaia and then "escaped". Gaia is supposed to be a perfectly balanced ecosystem with everything part of the same consciousness and no genetic mistakes would be made. Maybe Asimov in his later years was not that good of a writer

[@eeyun5279]

@@geokon3he was a good writer but he had a bad habit of trying to try everything together. He knocked it out of the park imo with the ominous end and Daneel morphing to become something new… but yea, making the mule part of Gaia was a bad move imo. To truly be a threat to psychohistory the mule would’ve had to have been a true genetic freak, a 1 in 100 trillion chance of random mutation. Of course psychohistory also wouldn’t have accounted for Gaia at all, but it diminishes the mules themes as a character. And in a way he was the main character of the series, as he was the only one who wasn’t a static character and constrained by his environment.

[@shortanimations5207]

The twist in the last of "Foundation and empire" was great

[@atimholt]

The twists in the original trilogy from this point onward are my fondest early reading memories. Asimov is the reason I love science, science fiction, and reading in general.

[@NYPATRIOTBX]

You have got to be the best Narrator on youtube, i have listened to your Dune series multiple times. Im looking forward to hearing more about Foundation.

[@VentoRyder]

Awesome!! This series was the reason I started to love SciFi books and the whole Foundation series is a masterpiece. I hope you make a video about Daneel Olivaw in the future and Bliss and the Gaia project.

[@graceannpierce4302]

WOW ! Watching the news , i saw notification and had to check it out. Foundation / Asimov ! Now to date myself . I grew up with this series late 50's - 60's . What ! (that's how many yrs?) anyway, I couldn't go back ( or didn't want to) to the News ! Did this series become part of me . Yup ! amazing and so real ! Now back to the News . Nooooooo..... - Absolutely love what you do .

[@michaelkaiser5994]

Time to re-read the series!

[@glen1555]

Read it as a teenager, just re-read it via Audible 50 years later. I'd forgotten so much it's like reading it for the first time. Hope you did reread and enjoyed it as much as I did. Needs to be made into a movie

[@donbags5542]

Yeah...I did that 3 years ago...but started with the Robot series and then more Empire books, and finally the 9+ Foundation and Asimov inspired se/pre quels.

[@douglasbath976]

Apple + coming in 2021

[@drlaloblancor3789]

Great video! One of the best Classic Sci-Fi book series of all time! Thanks for sharing!

[@tlee656]

No. It's THE best Sci-fi book series of all time!

[@marksn4020]

The final clash was epic. Twists and turns. I felt totally immersed. More so than i ever felt reading a book

[@jacktribble5253]

Asimov was my first venture into Science Fiction as a child. The Foundation books were my introduction to the genre. I've loved these books most of my life, I still re-read them periodically. Thanks for helping keep them going.

[@messysnacks]

Loved how the Mule was hiding in plain sight all along.

[@benwilletts8250]

If Apple had you directing the Foundation series, I would have enjoyed it a lot more.

[@siphesihledlokolo4313]

Only been following your Dune series but it's definitely time I start following the others. Thanks for the consistent release of content.

[@chriselyr2484]

The Mules has so much nuance as a character! Hands down one of my favourites.

[@cpmf2112]

Actually the Mule broke the Seldon Plan because he was able to change people's emotions, which was one of the factors in Seldon's original assumptions that would never change in his calculations. This is explicitly stated by Ebling Mis while they were on Trantor.

[@ClaudioQuispeEspinoza]

Because The Seldon plan would fail anyway thanks to the Galaxia gestalt.

[@cpmf2112]

@ClaudioQuispeEspinoza not necessarily, that was up to Trevize to pick the Foundations or Gaia/Galaxia

[@marxnutz]

I've been re-reading the trilogy, it's amusing how dated some of the story sounds now, but still imaginative and, for its day, groundbreaking...

[@smashthestateX]

i found the book to be too slow and boring

[@amramjose]

@@smashthestateX Then your imagination and ability to visualize failed.

[@amramjose]

I agree; there is a reference in one of the books, which one escapes me, about something very similar to the internet.

[@braxxian]

Cleary not for you. Thinking mans sci-fi.

[@prasoonjha1816]

@@amramjose In "Forward the Foundation", Joranum using the video of a child spreads the rumour that Eto Demerzel is a robot (which was in fact true). That sounds very similar to social media. Is that what you were thinking?

[@lifesabeach2597]

Love Foundation, I first read it in the 1970s and re-read it every few years

[@MarcLombart]

Foundation and Dune are the two best science-fiction series of all time and have influenced many to follow.

[@samsohn]

The two greatest moments I've had in reading any book in my lifetime is (1) when Daneel is revealed as an immortal all powerful robot in Prelude to Foundation - & (2) when Magnifico revealed himself as The Mule and Beyta kills Ebbling Mis. Both moments had me in complete shock more than any movie or tv show had ever done.

[@thewayfarer8849]

Fantastic, my favourite antagonist in all of fiction

[@marknovak6498]

I remember reading this book and thinking it was so permanent. The idea that certainty and arrogance can be the enemy of success is an underlying issue. The mule was a brilliant character. I also remembered that Harry was not certain of the success of his plan. He would admit it in his videos but that part seemed to be ignored by the people of the Foundation until he was not right.

[@aajiv1748]

Notes: (1) John W Campbell , the great editor of Astounding Science Fiction, mentored Asimov in the creation of 'Foundation' and added a lot of ideas. Almost all the story appeared on the pages of Astounding between 1942 and 1950. (2) Indeed Lucas said in an interview long long long ago that he had read Foundation long before he made the first Star Wars movie.

[@jt7638]

The mule. First Citizen of the Union of Worlds

[@braderickson9996]

The Foundation Series, the yardstick everything else is is measured by. A teacher in high school, teaching an elective class of SciFi/Fantasy I was in, gave this trilogy to me. I ate it up and cemented my interest in Science Fiction.

[@jaygon8656]

Itd be cool of the Darth Jar Jar theory had played out, it'd be a cool story adapted out of the saga of the Mule in Foundation

[@deadbolt8706]

Huh, never thought of it that way. That could've been great.

[@edwardlecore141]

Yes, I agree this was probably Lucas' plan, but he made Jar Jar too annoying and not pathetic.

[@UtahGmaw99]

You should read Asimov's robot books and the Caves of Steel books. They all tie in. The I Robot movie is based on the robot books and short stories he wrote. Just remember they were written at a time when there wasn't even color TV or computers as we know them and no calculators just slide rules. (look up slide rules if you don't know what they were)

[@betobot2]

I'm not a big fan of the tie in actually. I love R. Daneel Olivaw, but when Asimov turned him into a Foundation protagonist in Foundation & Earth it really bothered me.

[@alanpennie8013]

betobot2 When GRRM promised not to link his SOIAF series to his thousand worlds series he may have responding to Asimov's ill - judged decision to link up his Olivaw stories and his Foundation stories.

[@betobot2]

I can believe it. I loved all the foundation books besides Earth. It just seemed a really weak link.

[@betobot2]

I was less than amazed. I thought it was a weak way to link the series. I wish he'd left them separate. I love both series, just not how they were chained together so awkwardly.

[@allanrichardson3135]

Actually, the "I, Robot" movie is based on the TITLE AND SOME CHARACTER NAMES in the Asimov book, but with a completely different, oversimplified story line, which is typical of many Hollywood "adaptations" of novels. In Asimov's books, Susan Calvin and Elijah Baley lived several millennia apart in history, and there was never a "mass robot revolt," although there were individual robots which "bent" but didn't break the First Law, but they were put down without violence.

[@tallmikbcroft6937]

Love the foundation series! Thank you for your work on this.

[@rhettramirez]

I thank and curse you for this well conceived overview of the Mule. It reminds me that it has been five years since the "Great Read". Time to begin with the simple joys of Robbie, visit Elijah again in the Caves of Steel, shed a tear or two as the torch is passed in Forward the Foundation and end at a new beginning as yet unknown in Foundation and Earth. Time to look for my reading glasses.

[@SJHFoto]

I have all of the unabridged audiobooks on my hard drive. That's how I read these days as I can listen while I work (I'm a youth sports photographer. I don't actually listen while shooting games, but my company travels A LOT. Between driving, and editing photos, I can listen to a lot of audiobooks. The only thing I regret about the Foundation series is that 1> It wasn't finished. I would like to have known what happened during the last 500 years of the Seldon plan, and 2> Gaia. I REALLY liked Seldon's plan. The derailment of it by Gaia isn't something I like. I actually feel that Gaia is somehow derailed as the Encylopedia Galactica WAS published in 1020 FE (Chapter's are headed with quotes from it). If Gaia was in place, there would be no need for books as everyone is basically the Borg (ok, that's unfair-the Gaians are nicer, and also more individual like Dom and Bliss, but still!)

[@helloim3j]

​@@SJHFoto Nice point about the Encyclopedia Galactica.

[@Feroxing12]

the fight between mule and second foundation was the best part of foundation series.

[@jackp492]

I was on the edge of my seat, the back and forth one upping eachother and the totality of his defeat

[@wannabefarmerr]

Here because Apple TVs adaption of the Foundation is getting crazy!!

[@SvenTuSventu]

Nice call. Deep cut. Loved all of these up to foundation and earth

[@erickelly1323]

Just when I was wondering if you were going to continue the Foundation series, you go and do it. Great summary of the book.

[@DianeGore-xw9bb]

I always felt the mule deserves more study of his motives and that he respresents Asimov’s uncertainty that his lovely seldon plan for restoration of the galactic empire via a technocrat elite and the control of that empire by a mind controlling elite (he has a Gaian character call it a living death later in the Trevise books) and later the Gaian- Galaxia collective are such great notions for humanity. The mule sure will control minds to create his union but he knows as we do that he can create no dynasty nor will his control out last the deaths of his converts. Whereas the second foundation’s rigid grip and the Gaian sacrifice of individuality would likely be forever. I felt the mule resented seldon’s elitist notions snd offered the anti-seldon option with neither a plan nor a galaxia

[@MaxSMoke777]

Seems like there's a bunch of stuff missing here. For starters, the Mule didn't manipulate emotions, he rewrote motivations. One of his protectors was a man originally sent to assassinate him. He detected the man's intent to kill him from some distance away and simply flipped some switches in the assassin's head to make him a stalwart guard. The effect was instant, as easy as a passing thought, and permanent. Also, when it came to manipulating the minds of others, the Mule reprogrammed the minds of a group of scientists to work themselves to death in order to create a transmitter that allowed the Mule to transmit his mental influence across entire countries and planets. This is how he made his own empire. I think about the Mule's powers often, and it's on my list as one of the top superpowers of all time. He didn't just change a thought or insert an illusion, like say Professor Xavier. Instead, he could easily and permanently change a person's desires. With one thought, he could change someone into his slave for life, and they would never desire anything else, ever.

[@robrussell5329]

I disagree. The Mule controlled (manipulated) their emotions. The knew, cerebrally, that they were being controlled. In a mental duel with the Mule, (Second Foundationer) Bale Channis dares The Mule to try to manipulate him (Channis). The Mule cannot, because in so doing, the Mule would have to release his (controlled) trusted Lieutenant, Hans Pritcher, who is pointing his blaster at Channis, but who would blast The Mule to smithereens if only given the chance.

[@RobbbbM-qk3ei]

I think both of you have cool ideas.

[@agentoranj5858]

Quick correction, he overclocked those Scientists's brains to develop a device to disable the Foundation's atomic technology and negate their tech advantage. It was noted by Foundationers as something hastily slapped together and easily countered. The device the Mule used to manipulate emotions on a massive scale was a piece of LosTech from Imperial times called a Visi-Sonor, which he manipulated Ebling Mis into acquiring for him.

[@solocajun3047]

A circle has no end. Nicely done.

[@francisdavis1271]

Andrea Norton was the first writer of galactic empires. Hyperdrive, telepathy, telekinesis, alien races of different forms, 6400 years of stellar expansion.

[@monsterx3055]

the mule is one of the coolest antagonist in sci fi

[@qq1648]

One of my favorite quotes from Foundation and Empire: “To me, men’s minds are dials, with pointers that indicate the prevailing emotion… Slowly, I learned that I could reach into those minds and turn the pointer to the spot I wished, that I could nail it there forever.” --The Mule Anyone with a background in behavioral psychology or neurolinguistics would realize how easy it is to modify the perceptions and emotions of an audience. Public relations firms hire teams of psychologists to do precisely what the mule does, just in a slightly less efficient way.

[@BiffDangles]

Dude, I haven't even read these books. I just like listening to the stories as you tell them. Great channel.

[@BigFrakkinOgre]

Foundation is my groove. Thanks

[@2ndhandbookclan274]

I’m working my way through foundation right now and your channel has the best related content! It’s really a pleasure to read a volume and then listen to your synopsis. Keep grinding, player

[@joaquincarrascosa91]

It´s funny how Asimov, instead of trying to solve the next Seldon crisis (wealth distribution crisis produced by growing inequality between social classes, analogous to modern XXth century societies) just decided it was simpler and more beliavable to solve one caused by a mentalic mutant clown with a visisonor as main weapon.

[@merrittanimation7721]

I think how unbelievable it is was the point. You've got a standard sociopolitical issue like the previous incidents but then some weirdo shows up and messes up everything.

[@daniels7907]

Exactly. The Mule was a demonstration of the fact that completely unforeseen circumstances could render conventional social issues irrelevant. This somewhat foreshadows Golan Trevize's decision to endorse Gaia on the grounds that psychohistory could not predict the actions of aliens, should any decide to invade the Milky Way.

[@alanpennie8013]

Joaquin Carrascosa I believe it was the suggestion of Asimov's mentor John W Campbell Jr that he screw up the Selden Plan. Asimov immediately saw that this would be a good way to shake up the series. Selden himself always spoke in terms of probabilities. Predicting history is tricky.

[@daniels7907]

DezPotik 219er - That is actually a false statement, at least in the United States. Wealth inequality during the 21st Century has exploded relative to the 20th Century. You really need to do more research and not just listen to pundits. When Foundation and Empire was published in the 1950's, the gap was a *lot* less severe, which may have influenced Asimov on the topic.

[@daniels7907]

DezPotik 219er - You are confusing Standard of Living with Wealth Inequality, which are two completely different things in the science of economics. Also, the current trend of the wealth gap increasing predates Trump and it remains to be seen if he will reverse the trend. From a Standard of Living perspective, that has gone up for everyone with advancements in technology and medicine. Remember that even very wealthy people like FDR could fall prey to diseases like polio in the days before mass-vaccination. However, the *monetary* gap between both income and assets held by the average citizen and the top 1% has grown dramatically over the last two decades and this has not been slowing down.

[@ipoopglitter726]

Holy fuck. How did I not find your channel until now? Amazing topics, script, information, editing, EVERYTHING. Now I shall binge 💛

[@chairmanzia3556]

The artwork of dune and this, plus the ambient music creates this eerie, hauntingly beautiful but also foreboding sense in one.

[@midnightwatchman1]

this was my favorite of the series.

[@relentlessmadman]

As much as I loved reading these books I could not help but seeing human hubris in the very Idea that that mankind would create a galatic empire the way empires havew been created on earth! and the thoughts that Psycohistory (Math) could predict or control such an empire! definately good fiction but fiction non the less! giving rise to thoutht, about the future of mankind< being dependant on A.I. to really solve the problems! thank you daneel Olivaw!

[@alanpennie8013]

Killgrave! Actually The Mule is a surprisingly sympathetic character and I rooted for him in his struggle against those psychological manipulaters of humanity The Second Foundation.

[@SJHFoto]

Are you serious?

[@allanrichardson3135]

If he hadn't become a sociopathic dictator he would have been a sympathetic character. A personality with similar powers of persuasion had just recently been defeated when the Foundation books were written; some chapters describing the Mule's war on the Foundation, in which women working in defense factories discuss their worries, and in some cases tragic news, about their men serving in the war, are reminiscent of the Rosie the Riveter movement during that actual war. The main difference is that the Mule actually won and occupied the Foundation until his death.

[@AxioProductions]

The Mule could be played by the actor who plays Kylo Ren.

[@erikmartin4996]

Agreed. The Mule was awesome

[@agentoranj5858]

@@allanrichardson3135 He changed between 'Foundation and Empire' and 'Second Foundation', he was very sympathetic at the end of the former and completely unlikeable by the start of the latter (well, except by those whose minds he manipulated).

[@XenosFiles]

Clearly a major inspiration for warhammer harlequins!

[@hannabaal150]

The Mule is a riddle wrapped in mystery inside an enigma. Churchill said that referring to the USSR, but it fits.

[@henrikg1388]

You're heading into Foundation too now. I can't wait to see more. Although Asimov doesn't really reach Dune-standards IMHO, Herbert was definitely inspired by his works.

[@cedriceric9730]

He was more than inspired, dune is written as a response to foundation, concept by concept

[@jovanovicoliver]

Asimov - glimmer of light in the eternal darkness.

[@diegoalbertoramirezhernand9985]

OMG quinns 300 thousands suscribers! good for you man, love your videos.

[@jppagetoo]

Asimov is/was my favorite author. I read nearly all his fiction and a lot of his non-fiction. He was prolific so that is no small amount of reading.

[@TrailTrek]

As usual you did a great outline of one of my favourite books. cant wait for your next video.

[@holygreedo5699]

I have a new drinking game, take a shot every time this guy says foundation.

[@jhill4874]

Thank you for all the different interpretations of the Mule's appearance. For some reason I picture him as looking similar to Dobby in Harry Potter.

[@johncorvo5520]

I like that the Mule manipulates emotions and comes within a hair's breath of conquering the known galaxy.

[@flexaeterna]

This has come in handy right now

[@adrianaslund8605]

I just Read that Dune was intended as a counterpoint to Foundation in which "The Mule" is kind of the protagonist. Also in how it focuses on a humanist centric perspective instead of a natural scientific perspective.

[@mandolinic]

I just devoured Asimov's back catalogue when I was a teenager in the 1960s and 70s, then eagerly awaited each new book he published. Classic space opera and brilliant SF.

[@chrisjohnson1049]

I hope the new TV series does this trilogy justice.

[@jonshum6232]

Thanks, Quinn.

[@stephensteele2844]

I swear to god I knew he was the mule the second he rolled up on the beach acting a fool lol But I disregarded the feeling as the book went on almost under his power lol (I literally just finished the book)

[@mruniquebro]

Same actually lol

[@prasoonjha1816]

Similar thing happened to me on another occasion in the trilogy. When I saw that the university at Trantor had survived the fall I immediately knew that it must be the Second Foundation. Then Asimov confused me in the next book with the whole Tazenda plot and I thought to myself that I must be wrong. But alas at the end I learnt that my prediction was right.

[@Tormalima]

Question from someone who hasn't read the books: This series is about the long history of humans. Not one life. So why would the Mule ruling the known galaxy really mean anything? The previous empire lasted thousands of years and ultimately goes away. What does one ruler's life mean in the long run? Even if it is a telepathic juggernaut? Why does it matter?

[@agentoranj5858]

That's precisely the problem, that he won't live long enough to maintain his empire. The Foundation's purpose was to catch the galaxy's fall after the collapse of the first Empire, but the Mule lived just long enough to derail the Seldon Plan badly enough that after his passing, there would not be a strong enough Foundation to catch the Galaxy and prevent an eon of barbarism from wracking the human race.

[@zachgunderman2120]

It matters because the third book reveals who Second Foundation is and what their role is in Seldon’s plan. Asimov’s brilliant twist with the Mule being a wrench in the plan to “guide humanity” to a second empire really highlights the flaws of that thinking. Then leads into another brilliant twist where Second Foundation is deliberately framed as antagonists in the second half of the third book. Both the Mule and the machinations of Second recontextualize Seldon’s plan. Maybe his and Second’s idea of humanity’s future is wrong and too controlling? Maybe the Mule was a hero, liberating humanity but it would cost great pain?

[@prasoonjha1816]

Read the books and you will know why it is problematic. But to put it shortly, the Mule made the future of humanity uncertain. Till the previous story, everything was working as per the Seldon Plan which was guiding human civilisation on a path to revival. Then the Mule came and defeated the Seldon Plan. Seldon Plan had guaranteed to give a happy ending, the Mule couldn't do the same. In fact, the original title of "Foundation and Empire" was "The Man Who Upset the Universe" referring to the Mule.

[@adamcheong4742]

The Mule story was exciting.

[@Automaton35555]

Love the show sir.

[@House2017]

The Mule has always fascinated me. Ever since someone mentioned him because I started on Foundation Edge’s. Easily among the best in the series.

[@zivkitaro]

This part of the story is my favorite of all the stories. Same story line was used in Person of Interest and it was well played.

[@macklee6837]

This makes me interested to read the books! 😍

[@MrJoncz]

Start with the robot series and even his first short stories, then tackle the Foundation series for I have read them all since way back in elementary school. (I'm 68 now).

[@MrJoncz]

I should mention that he was a teen when he started this work.

[@thomasciarlariello]

Asimov' s "The Mule" of "Foundation" was my role model of Passive aggressive victimhood of my 1960s inception debut so would rather wimp out while my mother was a one trick Pony who craved raw Physical Political Power of a 1930s inception debut of rugged robust self reliance. Apple TV+ version completely changed Asimov's "The Mule" from a Peter Lorrie type to action adventure.

[@shmookins]

We still don't know how Apple will treat the Mule since he hasn't appeared yet. Hopefully in the coming season. They alluded to him, but he hasn't appeared yet. Also, I am having fun with Apple's Foundation interpretation. The books don't really translate to TV/movie methods that well. And they did an incredible job with the invention of the Cleons method of preservation since you need constant characters for TV.

[@ernestbatiy1070]

The mule a man and another i think was the name of one of the best chapters ever made

[@noahbawdy3395]

Loved all of this stuph.

[@swirlcrop]

Your videos are excellent. I love them.

[@talsine]

i love all of your Sci Fi content! Is there any chance you will do The Lensmen series? Its an older series, but one that i have always had a soft spot for

[@alvinmwangi]

more foundation videos needed

[@daniels7907]

In a way, this fits very neatly. Daneel and Gaia did nothing to stop the Mule because they were thinking in even longer terms than the Seldon Plan. As the Mule was sterile, and of frail health, he wouldn't live long enough to do any damage that could not be undone. Stor Gendibal of the Second Foundation would later take note of these "anti-Mules" that seemed to be working behind the scenes to put the Plan back on track after the Mule was defeated.

[@TentaclePentacle]

That's because Daneel didn't really care about the seldon plan, he had his own plan. That is why he created Gaia. The seldon plan ultimately failed because of gaia.

[@daniels7907]

TentaclePentacle - Go back and reread the end of Foundation and Earth. The Seldon Plan was Daneel's backup in case Gaia didn't work out as he hoped. This is part of why Gaia worked behind the scenes to put the Plan back on track after the Mule. Either way, he didn't want humanity stuck in thousands of years of barbarism. But creating a Second Galactic Empire would not permanently solve the problems that brought about the fall of the first one and Daneel knew he wouldn't live forever. Gaia was favored because it was a more self-sustaining solution. But that didn't mean the Seldon Plan was useless, just that it's outcome wasn't the most desirable one.

[@TentaclePentacle]

Gaia didn't work to put things back together, it was the second foundation that worked behind the scenes after the mule. They kept the seldon plan on track, even according to schedule as if the mule never happened.

[@daniels7907]

@Tentacle Pentacle - Did you not read the actual books? Stor Gendibel, of the Second Foundation, deduced the existence of Gaia because putting the Seldon Plan back on track after the Mule proved to be unexpectedly easy. This led him to theorize that there were "anti-Mules" at work in the Galaxy who were covertly assisting the Plan for unknown reasons.

[@allanrichardson3135]

@@daniels7907 In fact, "Prelude to Foundation" and "Forward the Foundation" show how R. Daneel Olivaw MENTORED Hari Seldon with the grand tour of Trantor's districts and SUPPORTED him as the "First Minister" under Cleon I.

[@Shakastopthat]

Love your voice

[@mattgilbert7347]

Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader has more than a touch of The Mule in him.

[@jennygibbons1258]

The Mule - "A tool for manipulation of sociogalactic trends" I actually clicked on this cos I genuinely thought it was a spoof on Ellen 😅😂😂

[@ImpracticalDefects]

The mule's storyline is the best in the trilogy.

[@trevorbaker639]

Who do you think could play the Mule in the upcoming streaming series? My vote goes to David Tennant.

[@user-lp7tx1fe6t]

Beneditch cumberbatch

[@trevorbaker639]

@@user-lp7tx1fe6t Good choice, but a crash diet and some prosthetic make up would be needed.

[@BVargas78]

I think that had such a thing been produced 20 years ago, David Bowie (rest in peace) would have been a great choice.

[@marksn4020]

Absolutely badass series of books. I don't think it will translate well onto celluloid but of it does any justice that would be nice

[@kronoscamron7412]

This is built on ancient egyptian mythology, the Mule is Set whose symbolic animal is a "mule"

[@arvindgaurav1493]

The mule is one of the complex character ever written

[@Matatabi6]

The mules motivations honestly remind of gyro from hunter x hunter

[@cromwellcruiser]

Where do these amazing pictures come from?

[@kirgan1000]

Some is cover arts for the Fundation books.

[@plykkegaard1]

The other end 😂

[@jeramahia123]

Damn, recommendations is on point.

[@emsleywyatt3400]

In my head, I always saw the late Vincent Schiavelli in this role.

[@swirlcrop]

Great video.

[@captainmay9033]

Can anyone please confirm the music that’s playing for the first couple minutes in this video? It sounds a lot like something from one of the Dark Knight movies, but I’d love some confirmation. It’s a great track, whatever it is.