Gaal Dornick

Last updated

Gaal Dornick
Foundation character
Gaal Dornick (Lou Llobell) - Foundation (2021).jpg
Lou Llobell as Gaal Dornick in the 2021 television series
First appearance Foundation (1951)
Created by Isaac Asimov
Portrayed by
Voiced by
In-universe information
OccupationMathematician
Affiliation
    • Foundation
    • TV series:
    • Seer Church
Relatives

Gaal Dornick is a fictional character in the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov. Introduced in Foundation (1951), he is a gifted young mathematician from a remote world who becomes embroiled in the conflict surrounding famed mathematician and psychologist Hari Seldon and his predictive science of psychohistory.

Contents

Dornick is voiced by Geoffrey Beevers in the 1973 BBC Radio 4 adaptation The Foundation Trilogy . A gender-swapped and expanded version of the character is portrayed by Lou Llobell in the 2021 Apple TV+ television series adaptation Foundation .

Literature

Introduced in Foundation (1951) in the story "The Psychohistorians", Gaal Dornick is a gifted young mathematician, newly awarded his doctorate, who has been invited to the Imperial capital planet Trantor from his home planet Synnax by famed mathematician and psychologist Hari Seldon. Seldon has developed the science of psychohistory, which uses sophisticated mathematics and statistical analysis to predict future trends on a galactic scale. Knowing that Dornick is possibly the only person in the galaxy capable of fully understanding his work, Seldon reveals his prediction of the unavoidable and relatively imminent fall of the Galactic Empire. He has conceived a plan, in which Dornick's participation is crucial, to mitigate the duration of this societal collapse. Under surveillance by agents of the Committee of Public Safety since his arrival, Dornick is arrested and interrogated. As orchestrated by Seldon, he and his followers are exiled to the distant planet Terminus, where he intends to execute this plan by establishing the Foundation. [1] :23–24 [2]

Describing "The Psychohistorians" as "28 pages of nonstop world-building", Josh Wimmer and Alasdair Wilkins of Gizmodo wrote that "the ostensible protagonist, Gaal Dornick, is such a non-entity that he barely even counts as an audience identification figure". [3]

The prequel novel Forward the Foundation (1993) notes, via entries of the fictional Encyclopedia Galactica , that Dornick carries the Crisis tapes recorded by Seldon to Terminus. There he oversees the construction and installation of the Time Vault. [4] Dornick relocates to Terminus immediately prior to Seldon's death, and inherits Seldon's own version of the Prime Radiant, a device which stores the entirety of his psychohistorical equations.

Adaptations

Radio

Dornick is voiced by Geoffrey Beevers in episode one "Psychohistory and Encyclopedia" of the 1973 BBC Radio 4 adaptation The Foundation Trilogy . [5] [6]

Television

A gender-swapped and expanded version of Dornick is portrayed by Lou Llobell in the 2021 Apple TV+ television series adaptation Foundation . [7] [8] Llobell's casting was announced in December 2019. [9] Dornick is a mathematical prodigy from the ocean world Synnax, where science and mathematics are considered heresy, and forbidden. [10] [11] Tara Bennett of Syfy described Dornick as "the audience's avatar into the complex world of the Galactic Empire. [10] In season one, Teyarnie Galea portrays Dornick at age nine. [12]

Season 1

In the premiere episode "The Emperor's Peace", Dornick comes to the Imperial capital planet, Trantor, having solved a complex mathematic proof that had been unsolved for over five hundred years. Famed mathematician and psychologist Hari Seldon had devised a competition to solve it to find another mathematical genius who could understand his work on psychohistory. Seldon and Dornick are subsequently arrested and put on trial, Seldon for his calculations of the Empire's fall and Dornick for corroborating them. They are sentenced to death, but granted a reprieve in the aftermath of a devastating terrorist attack that kills millions. During the multi-year journey to the remote planet Terminus to establish Seldon's repository of human knowledge in "Preparing to Live", Dornick and Raych Foss, Seldon's handsome protégé, have begun a romantic relationship, and Seldon disapproves. While Seldon values science and detachment, Dornick is open to emotion and human relationships. In the middle of her daily swimming ritual, Dornick has a sudden urge to seek out Seldon, and stumbles upon Foss stabbing him to death. Foss ushers her into an escape pod, hands her the murder weapon and jettisons her from the ship. [11] [13]

Dornick awakens from cryosleep 34 year later, aboard an automated starship prepared by Foss, in "Upon Awakening". He has been executed for Seldon's murder, and she is believed to be an accomplice. [14] [15] A digital, holographic copy of Seldon's consciousness, stored in the knife Foss used to kill him, explains himself to Dornick in "Mysteries and Martyrs". Afflicted with a rapidly escalating neurological disorder, he had planned to commit suicide to preserve his followers' devotion to his genius, while Dornick helped establish the Foundation on Terminus and Foss was to take the digital Seldon elsewhere. Foss and Dornick's unexpected relationship had jeopardized this plan, so Seldon had convinced Foss to kill him as the only way to guarantee Dornick's future, but in fact to force their separation. Foss had foiled this plan as well by sending Dornick off in the escape pod intended for him. [15] Dornick is furious with Seldon, while realizing that she had been drawn to the murder scene by some latent psychic ability. [16] In "The Missing Piece", Seldon explains that Foss was supposed to lead a secret, Second Foundation which Seldon created on his home planet, Helicon, and urges Dornick to let the starship take her there, but refuses to give details. Done with Seldon's manipulations, Dornick instead takes the escape pod on a journey to Synnax that will last 138 years. [17] On Terminus, Warden Salvor Hardin learns that she is the biological daughter of Foss and Dornick in the season one finale episode "The Leap". Dornick lands on Synnax and finds another pod underwater, containing Hardin in stasis. Awakened, Hardin tells Dornick she is her daughter, and then gives her Seldon's Prime Radiant device. [18] [19]

Season 2

In season two, Dornick and Hardin determine that Seldon's plan is off course, and digital Seldon explains that reviving the interrupted Second Foundation is the solution. Dornick has a vision of Hardin's death at the hands of a mysterious telepath, the Mule, 150 years in the future, and from her own future memories gleans that the Second Foundation is located on the planet Ignis. [20] [21] Seldon acquires an organic body in "King and Commoner", [22] and in "The Sighted and the Seen" the trio arrives at Ignis, a refuge for Mentalics, or telepaths, led by Tellem Bond. [23] Bond is welcoming to Dornick and her talents in "Why the Gods Made Wine", but resistant to Seldon and the idea of the Second Foundation. [24] After drowning Seldon and Hardin, Bond prepares a captive Dornick as a new host for the transfer of Bond's consciousness from her dying body in "The Last Empress". [25] Having survived in part thanks to Dornick, Seldon and Hardin save her and kill Bond in "Long Ago, Not Far Away". [26] Another Mentalic controlled by Bond's psyche attempts to kill Dornick in "Creation Myths", but Hardin dies taking the bullet meant for Dornick. The conflict with Dornick's previous vision of Hardin's death illustrates to Seldon and Dornick that the future can be changed after all. They decide to enter cryosleep, and awaken periodically to keep the Second Foundation on track. In the future, the Mule vows to destroy Dornick. [27] [28]

Reception

Daniel Bibby of Screen Rant called Dornick "of the most interesting and powerful Foundation characters". [29]

Related Research Articles

<i>Foundations Edge</i> 1982 novel by Isaac Asimov

Foundation's Edge (1982) is a science fiction novel by American writer Isaac Asimov, the fourth book in the Foundation Series. It was written more than thirty years after the stories of the original Foundation trilogy, due to years of pressure by fans and editors on Asimov to write another, and, according to Asimov himself, the amount of the payment offered by the publisher. It was his first novel to ever land on The New York Times best-seller list, after 262 books and 44 years of writing.

<i>Prelude to Foundation</i> 1988 novel by Isaac Asimov

Prelude to Foundation is a novel by American writer Isaac Asimov, published in 1988. It is one of two prequels to the Foundation series. For the first time, Asimov chronicles the fictional life of Hari Seldon, the man who invented psychohistory and the intellectual hero of the series. The novel was nominated for the Locus Award.

<i>Foundation</i> (book series) Science-fiction books by Isaac Asimov

The Foundation series is a science fiction book series written by American author Isaac Asimov. First published as a series of short stories and novellas in 1942–50, and subsequently in three books in 1951–53, for nearly thirty years the series was widely known as The Foundation Trilogy: Foundation (1951), Foundation and Empire (1952), and Second Foundation (1953). It won the one-time Hugo Award for "Best All-Time Series" in 1966. Asimov later added new volumes, with two sequels, Foundation's Edge (1982) and Foundation and Earth (1986), and two prequels, Prelude to Foundation (1988) and Forward the Foundation (1993).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hari Seldon</span> Fictional character from the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov

Hari Seldon is a fictional character in the Foundation series of novels by Isaac Asimov. In his capacity as mathematics professor at Streeling University on the planet Trantor, Seldon develops psychohistory, an algorithmic science that allows him to predict the future in probabilistic terms. On the basis of his psychohistory he is able to predict the eventual fall of the Galactic Empire and to develop a means to shorten the millennia of chaos to follow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">R. Daneel Olivaw</span> Fictional character from the Foundation Universe by Isaac Asimov

R. Daneel Olivaw is a fictional robot created by Isaac Asimov. The "R" initial in his name stands for "Robot," a naming convention in Asimov's future society during Earth's early period of space colonization. Daneel is introduced in The Caves of Steel, a serialized story published in Galaxy Science Fiction from October to December 1953. The full story was published by Doubleday as a hardcover book in 1954.

<i>Foundation</i> (Asimov novel) 1951 science fiction novel by Isaac Asimov

Foundation is a science fiction novel by American writer Isaac Asimov. It is the first book in the Foundation Trilogy. Foundation is a cycle of five interrelated short stories, first published as a single book by Gnome Press in 1951. Collectively they tell the early story of the Foundation, an institute founded by psychohistorian Hari Seldon to preserve the best of galactic civilization after the collapse of the Galactic Empire.

<i>Foundation and Empire</i> 1952 novel by Isaac Asimov

Foundation and Empire is a science fiction novel by American writer Isaac Asimov originally published by Gnome Press in 1952. It is the second book in the Foundation series, and the fourth in the in-universe chronology. It takes place in two parts, originally published as separate novellas. The second part, "The Mule," won a Retro Hugo Award in 1996.

<i>Forward the Foundation</i> Novel by Isaac Asimov

Forward the Foundation is a novel by American writer Isaac Asimov, published posthumously in 1993. It is the second of two prequels to the Foundation Series. It is written in a format similar to that of the original book, Foundation, composed of chapters with long intervals in between, although Forward takes place within only one lifetime. Both books were first published as independent short stories in science fiction magazines.

<i>Foundations Fear</i> 1997 novel by Gregory Benford

Foundation's Fear (1997) is a science fiction novel by American writer Gregory Benford, set in Isaac Asimov's Foundation universe. It is the first book of the Second Foundation Trilogy, which was written after Asimov's death by three authors, authorized by the Asimov estate.

Psychohistory is a fictional science in Isaac Asimov's Foundation universe which combines history, sociology, and mathematical statistics to make general predictions about the future behavior of very large groups of people, such as the Galactic Empire. It was first introduced in the four short stories (1942–1944) which would later be collected as the 1951 novel Foundation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bel Riose</span> Fictional character from the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov

Bel Riose is a fictional character in the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov. In the 1945 novella "Dead Hand", he is the last great general of the declining Galactic Empire. He targets the Foundation both as a perceived threat to the Empire and to further his own ambitions, but is outmaneuvered by its agents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salvor Hardin</span> Fictional character from the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov

Salvor Hardin is a fictional character in the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov. Introduced in the 1942 short story "Foundation", he is the first mayor of Terminus, the home planet of the Foundation. He defuses a potential political crisis with four nearby barbarian planets, while also securing their dependence on the Foundation. Hardin takes advantage of this power in "Bridle and Saddle" (1942) when one of the planets, Anacreon, declares war on the Foundation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hober Mallow</span> Fictional character from the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov

Hober Mallow is a fictional character in the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov. In the 1944 novella "The Big and the Little", he is a Master Trader for the Foundation who pioneers the use of commerce to increase the Foundation's power and influence across the galaxy.

The Foundation Trilogy is an eight hour-long episode radio series that was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 between 6 May and 24 June 1973. It is an adaptation of Isaac Asimov's The Foundation Trilogy. Patrick Tull presented the first four episodes while Mike Stott presented the last four. David Cain directed the series. The series was repeated in 1977 and 2002.

The Foundation universe is the future history of humanity's colonization of the galaxy, spanning nearly 25,000 years, created through the gradual fusion of the Robot, Galactic Empire, and Foundation book series written by American author Isaac Asimov.

Foundation is an American science fiction television series created by David S. Goyer and Josh Friedman for Apple TV+, loosely based on the Foundation series of stories by Isaac Asimov. It features an ensemble cast led by Jared Harris, Lee Pace, Lou Llobell and Leah Harvey. The series premiered on September 24, 2021. In October 2021, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on July 14, 2023. In December 2023, the series was renewed for a third season although it had already began filming as early as May 2023.

The Mule (<i>Foundation</i>) Fictional character from the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov

The Mule is a fictional character in the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov. First appearing in the 1945 novella "The Mule", he is a mutant and telepath who seizes control of the galaxy as a dictator after the fall of the Galactic Empire. Though he conquers the Foundation, his obsession with destroying the Second Foundation proves to be his undoing in the 1948 novella "Now You See It...".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demerzel</span> Fictional character in the Foundation television series

Demerzel is a fictional character in the 2021 Apple TV+ television series Foundation, an adaptation of the Foundation series of novels by Isaac Asimov. She is portrayed by Finnish actress Laura Birn. Demerzel is a gynoid, or female-presenting humanoid robot, who serves as the majordomo to the revolving trio of Emperor Cleon clones, Brothers Dawn, Day and Dusk. In season two, it is revealed that Demerzel is the real power behind the Imperial throne, guiding humanity on a millennial scale.

Cleon (<i>Foundation</i>) Fictional character in the Foundation television series

Cleon, commonly referred to by the metonym Empire, is the name of multiple fictional characters in the 2021 Apple TV+ television series Foundation. They are the Genetic Dynasty of clones who rule the Galactic Empire. In the series, the 12,000-year-old Empire has been ruled for 400 years by a revolving trio of Cleon I clones: Brother Day, a Cleon in his prime; Brother Dusk, a retired and aging Cleon who serves in an advisory role; and Brother Dawn, a young Cleon being trained to succeed Brother Day. The series is an adaptation of the Foundation series of novels by Isaac Asimov, and stars Lee Pace as Day, Terrence Mann as Dusk, and Cassian Bilton as Dawn. Cloning does not factor in Asimov's novels, though emperors named Cleon I and Cleon II appear as supporting characters.

References

  1. Gunn, James (1982). Isaac Asimov: The Foundations of Science Fiction (2005 Revised ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN   0-8108-5420-1. Archived from the original on March 8, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  2. Armstrong, Neil (September 20, 2021). "Foundation: The 'Unfilmable' Sci-fi Epic Now on Our Screens". BBC . Archived from the original on February 25, 2024. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  3. Wimmer, Josh; Wilkins, Alasdair (May 9, 2011). "Isaac Asimov's Foundation: The Little Idea That Became Science Fiction's Biggest Series". Gizmodo . Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  4. Ehiosun, Joshua (April 22, 2022). "Foundation Characters by Isaac Asimov". Book Analysis. Archived from the original on February 25, 2024. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  5. "The Foundation Trilogy". SciFiMike. Archived from the original on February 25, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  6. Willis, Jesse (April 21, 2011). "BBC Radio 3: Isaac Asimov's The Foundation Trilogy". SFF Audio. Archived from the original on February 25, 2024. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  7. Lealos, Shawn S.; Bacon, Thomas (September 26, 2021). "Foundation: All Major Changes the Show Makes to Isaac Asimov's Books". Screen Rant . Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  8. O'Keefe, Meghan (September 16, 2021). "Foundation on Apple TV+: How David S. Goyer Worked with the Asimov Estate to Update the Sci-Fi Classic". Decider . Archived from the original on October 4, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  9. Otterson, Joe (December 4, 2019). "Apple's Isaac Asimov Series Foundation Adds Five to Cast". Variety . Archived from the original on July 28, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  10. 1 2 "Foundation's Lou Llobell talks about Gaal Dornick's brainy strength". Syfy . October 7, 2021. Archived from the original on March 2, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  11. 1 2 East, Michael (September 24, 2021). "Foundation Premiere Review: 'The Emperor's Peace' and 'Preparing to Live'". Winter Is Coming. Archived from the original on January 16, 2022. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  12. Jong, Belle de (November 2, 2021). "12-Year-Old Maltese Dancer and Actress Rocks Episode of Sci-Fi Series Foundation". Lovin Malta. Archived from the original on March 27, 2024. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  13. Wanserski, Nick (September 24, 2021). "Foundation Arrives to Bring Hope in the Encroaching Darkness". The A.V. Club . Archived from the original on February 28, 2024. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  14. Wanserski, Nick (October 15, 2021). "Foundation Pairs a Weak Flashback with a Strong Move Forward". The A.V. Club . Archived from the original on March 1, 2024. Retrieved March 5, 2024.}
  15. 1 2 Bacon, Thomas (October 17, 2021). "Foundation: Raych's Death, Message & Hari's Murder All Explained". Screen Rant . Archived from the original on July 18, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  16. Wanserski, Nick (October 29, 2021). "Foundation Explores Old Mysteries and New Discoveries". The A.V. Club . Archived from the original on July 14, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2024.}
  17. Wanserski, Nick (November 5, 2021). "As Foundation Nears the End, It Remains a Fun Story Lacking Focus". The A.V. Club . Archived from the original on September 22, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  18. Wanserski, Nick (November 19, 2021). "In Its Finale, Foundation Narrows the Entire Galaxy Down to Two People". The A.V. Club . Archived from the original on March 1, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  19. East, Michael (November 19, 2021). "Foundation Season 1 Ending Explained". Decider . Archived from the original on March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  20. Collins, Sean T. (July 14, 2023). "Foundation Season 2 Episode 1 Recap: 'In Seldon's Shadow'". Decider . Archived from the original on October 22, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  21. Collins, Sean T. (July 21, 2023). "Foundation Season 2 Episode 2 Recap: 'A Glimpse of Darkness'". Decider . Archived from the original on August 4, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  22. Collins, Sean T. (July 28, 2023). "Foundation Season 2 Episode 3 Recap: 'King and Commoner'". Decider . Archived from the original on August 1, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  23. Collins, Sean T. (August 11, 2023). "Foundation Season 2 Episode 5 Recap: 'The Sighted and the Seen'". Decider . Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  24. Collins, Sean T. (August 18, 2023). "Foundation Season 2 Episode 6 Recap: "'Why the Gods Made Wine'". Decider . Archived from the original on August 29, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  25. Collins, Sean T. (September 1, 2023). "Foundation Season 2 Episode 8 Recap: 'The Last Empress'". Decider . Archived from the original on September 22, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  26. Collins, Sean T. (September 8, 2023). "Foundation Season 2 Episode 9 Recap: 'Long Ago, Not Far Away'". Decider . Archived from the original on October 14, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  27. Leite, Marcelo (September 15, 2023). "Foundation Season 2's Ending Explained". Screen Rant . Archived from the original on November 17, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  28. Collins, Sean T. (September 15, 2023). "Foundation Season 2 Finale Recap: 'Creation Myths'". Decider . Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  29. Bibby, Daniel (December 14, 2023). "Foundation Season 3 Still Needs to Explain One of Gaal Dornick's Most Interesting Abilities". Screen Rant . Archived from the original on January 8, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2024.