Isaac Asimov's Galactic Empire Series

The Galactic Empire Series contains three of Isaac Asimov's earliest novels and one short story. In order of internal chronology they are: The Stars, Like Dust (1951). The Currents of Space (1952), Pebble in the Sky (1950), his first novel, "Blind Alley" (1945), short story reprinted in The Early Asimov. These stories are set in the same future as the Foundation trilogy, which had appeared in magazines starting in 1942. The tie is not close, and they are only loosely connected to each other, each being a complete tale in its own right. Their main common points are Asimov's idea of a future Galactic Empire, certain aspects of technology hyperdrive, blaster pistols, "neuronic whips," the possible invention of the "Visi-Sonor" and particular locations, such as the planet Trantor. Another connection was later established with Robots and Empire, where Asimov revealed how Earth became radioactive, as mentioned in The Stars, Like Dust and Pebble in the Sky. Some sources further this argument by asserting that The Stars, Like Dust takes place about one thousand years following the events of Robots and Empire.