What was the Foundation of Asimov's writing?

July 25, 2010 12:37 AM

Isaac Asimov (IIRC) wrote in a foreword or afterword to one of his books (a "Foundation" novel, perhaps) something about how space travel and galactic empires aren't possible due to the limitations imposed by the speed of light. But they're fun to write about. Can someone help me, please, with the full quote and its source?
posted by bryon to Writing & Language (3 answers total)

This wasn't in a foreword or afterword, but also seems like it might be close to what you're thinking of - from an interview with Slawek Wojtowicz:

SW: What do you think is the most difficult barrier to overcome in figuring out the methods of interstellar travel?

IA: The most insurmountable is the speed of light limit. As long as we can't go faster than the speed of light we can't reach any but the nearest stars in our lifetime. In a case of speeds close to the speed of light it may seem to the people who are traveling that in less than lifetime they can reach a distant galaxy. But here, on Earth, millions of years will pass - so that they'll never be able to come back to their own world. And I'm afraid there is no way of beating that...

SW: In your novels people are traveling faster than light...

IA: That's true! But that's in the novel. You must never confuse your dreams with reality. It is easy to dream and it is fun to dream. But if you actually think that reality is got to fit your dreams, then I'm afraid that you are not quite sane.... I'm sane. I know what is real and what is a dream.
posted by daelin at 9:23 AM on July 25, 2010

Response by poster: Those aren't the one I was remembering, but they're interesting; thanks for sharing them.
posted by bryon at 12:00 PM on July 26, 2010

I have a PDF of the introduction the OP is asking for. Given the ambiguity of openly distributing it online, if you want a copy, send me a MeMail!
posted by vkxmai at 7:24 AM on August 5, 2010