The Isaac Asimov Foundation and the trilogy that bears its name represent the pinnacle of science fiction. Science fiction lovers from all walks of life united in praise of Asimov and the Foundation. Additionally, this series received the first Hugo Award for Best Science Fiction Series. Neither before nor after the publication of the Foundation was this prize awarded. Despite this recognition, mainstream literary critics ignore science fiction works as candidates for more prestigious awards. Instead, science fiction is often dismissed as technology-dependent literature, immature in character development, themes, and structure. Much of the literary world continues to despise and mock the Foundation and indeed the entire genre of science fiction. Asimov's Foundation can be seen as an archetype that demonstrates the validity of science fiction and refutes these criticisms. Asimov's writings are argued to be the foundation upon which much science fiction is built. From the beginning Asimov maintained a strong faith in the genre, believing that its status would improve with time. "If enough people read science fiction or, at least, are sufficiently influenced by people who read science fiction," he wrote, "a sufficient portion of the population might come to accept change...."(Asimov 4)Several differences between the Foundation, and therefore science the fiction exemplified by the Foundation and the other divisions of literature must be considered before judging the genre. First of all, a completely different approach must be taken before judging. Foundation deals with an almost limitless range of possibilities. Therefore, the mind must be adjusted to put aside disbelief and disbelief. Secondly, the Foundation deals with the event... middle of the paper... escape into unknown territory. This constitutes a change. Historically, change is slow to come. Negative and judgmental reactions to the Foundation and science fiction come from those who resist change, however unfounded their criticisms may be. Science fiction is the only branch of literature that accepts the reality of change, the inevitability of change. Without the initial assumption that there will be a change, there is no science fiction, because nothing is science fiction unless it includes events set in a social or physical context significantly different from our own. (Asimov 4) In our opinion, science fiction, particularly as represented by works like The Asimov Foundation, is a valid form of literature, and time will see through it. Works Cited: Asimov, Isaac. Foundation and Empire. Garden City, New York: Double Day and Company,. 1952.