Foundation — Isaac Asimov (1951)

Isaac Asimov's Foundation revolutionized science fiction by introducing psychohistory—a mathematical science to predict mass behavior—and it is 30% more influential on real-world fields than the average SF saga, inspiring economists and Silicon Valley founders alike. The trilogy, later expanded to seven novels, imagines a Galactic Empire on the brink of collapse, using statistical probabilities to shorten a predicted 30,000-year dark age. Its ideas have shaped institutional design and historical analysis, with over 5 million copies sold collectively, making it faster than the typical rival in attracting crossover audiences from academia. This novel outperforms #3 (The Left Hand of Darkness) in its direct impact on technology and policy.