Foundation and the rest of his new empire. The existence of the Second Foundation, as an organization centered on the science of psychology and mentalics, in contrast to the Foundation's focus on physical sciences, is now known to the Darells and the Mule. Now that the Mule has conquered the Foundation, he stands as the most powerful force in the galaxy, and the Second Foundation is the only threat to his eventual reign over the entire galaxy. The Mule promises that he will find the Second Foundation, while Bayta asserts that it has already prepared for him and thus that he will not have enough time before the Second Foundation reacts. "The Mule" was first published under that title in the November and December 1945 issues of Astounding Science Fiction. Reception Groff Conklin described Foundation and Empire as "fine swashbuckling galactic adventure [based] on some extremely hard-headed, scientific and mature social-political thinking." Boucher and McComas, however, panned the volume, declaring that "Anyone with a nodding acquaintance with Gibbon, Breasted, or Prescott will find no new concepts [here] save the utterly incomprehensible ones contained in the author's own personal science of 'psycho-history'." In 1996 "The Mule" was retrospectively awarded a Hugo Award for best novel of 1945. The Foundation trilogy, of which Foundation and Empire is the second book, won a Hugo Award in 1966 for Best All-Time Series. The Visi-Sonor inspired the Holophonor, a similar instrument that appears several times in the cartoon Futurama. Characters "The General" or "Dead Hand" Bel Riose, the last strong general who attempted to capture the Foundation. Ducem Barr, a Siwennian patrician, the only surviving son of Onum Barr, and a hostage of Riose. Lathan Devers, a trader sent to spy on Riose. Cleon II, the last strong emperor before "The Great Sack" of Trantor. Ammel Brodrig, Cleon II's Privy Secretary. "The Mule" The Mule, a mutant who captures the Foundation and attempts to establish a Second Empire. Magnifico Giganticus, a fictitious identity assumed by the Mule to disguise himself and approach the unsuspecting Toran and Bayta Darell in Kalgan. Magnifico purports to be the former clown of the Mule, having escaped from his master. Toran and Bayta Darell, Husband and wife, Bayta a former citizen of The Foundation, Toran a trader of the periphery planet of Haven. Captain Han Pritcher, an intelligence agent for the Foundation, and the first to recognise the power of