In Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov, young mathematician Hari Seldon arrives on Trantor, the galactic capital, to present his revolutionary theory of psychohistory—a science capable of predicting the future behavior of large populations. When Emperor Cleon I learns of this discovery, he seeks to exploit it for political power, forcing Seldon to flee. Guided by the mysterious journalist Chetter Hummin and protected by the formidable historian Dors Venabili, Seldon journeys through Trantor's diverse districts, from its scorching deserts to its impoverished underworld. Through these travels, he discovers how psychohistory might become practical, laying the groundwork for the Foundation that will ultimately shape humanity's destiny.
