Apple TV’s Silo: Inspired By Isaac Asimov’s Foundation

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Surprisingly, the book series that inspired the amazing space opera on Apple TV was a major influence on the creation of Silo.

Even without a confirmed release date, season 3 of Silo is already generating a lot of excitement as a top sci-fi show for 2026. Based on Hugh Howey’s novels, the Apple TV+ series tells a captivating story set in a post-apocalyptic future. It focuses on the last humans living in a huge underground city, where they follow strict rules and don’t know what’s really happening in the outside world.

The new season of Silo promises to expand on the mysteries of its world, both inside the silo and beyond, and finally reveal the secrets of its troubled past. What makes the show particularly exciting is that it’s based on a highly acclaimed science fiction novel.

The Books That Inspired Apple TV’s Silo Are Among The Best In Sci-Fi

Hugh Howey, the author of the Silo trilogy, has said he was inspired by a lot of different books when writing his series. In a Goodreads Q&A, he specifically mentioned Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series as a major influence. He explained that he borrowed the idea of using people’s motivations and psychology to drive the story across many generations. Here’s what he had to say:

I was really shaped by Fraggle Rock growing up – I loved the idea of a whole world existing beneath our feet, and the show’s opening always captivated me. In science fiction, Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series was a big influence, showing how psychology impacts people across generations. I also picked up some of the writing styles of Herbert and Asimov, though perhaps not as much as I’d like!

Despite appearing quite different in style, Silo and Foundation actually share a core theme, as Hugh Howey pointed out.

Both Foundation and Silo examine how large groups of people can be controlled over long periods. Foundation uses the concept of Psychohistory to foresee and influence civilizations, while Silo shows manipulation through the promise of safety. In essence, the characters in both stories are living out lives planned by those who came before them.

The link between the shows Silo and Foundation makes Apple TV’s adaptation of the Silo book trilogy even more interesting, especially since Apple TV also created a fantastic version of the Foundation series.

Apple TV’s Foundation Is One Of Its Best Sci-Fi Shows

Both Silo and Foundation are among Apple TV+’s top science fiction series. While Foundation started a little slowly, it’s consistently improved with each season and is currently renewed for a fourth. The show’s biggest draw is its stunning visuals and high-quality production, which successfully bring Asimov’s original story to life.

Even as a story, the show fully explores the complex and thought-provoking ideas present in the original books.

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The new Foundation series takes some liberties with the original books, but it remains intellectually challenging and doesn’t shy away from complex, slowly unfolding stories about the decline of civilizations and the tension between science and faith. If it keeps up this strong start, Foundation on Apple TV has the potential to become as popular and well-regarded as The Expanse, establishing itself as a significant work in science fiction.

The Apple TV+ series Silo is predicted to continue delivering compelling stories in future seasons as the plot moves towards its eventual ending.

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2026-02-06 06:18