First Speaker

First Speaker is a post in Isaac Asimov's Foundation Series of stories and novels.

The First Speaker is the effective head of the Second Foundation. The occupant is the head of the council, and the first to speak at meetings of the council. The council itself consists of twelve speakers. Each speaker begins as a student, as at an institute of higher learning, and is expected to have made an original contribution to the Seldon Plan which has been scrutinised and accepted by the existing Board. Speakers frequently communicate via telepathy and generalised hand gestures, which can communicate a concept more clearly and directly than actual speech.

Whilst the title implies that the First Speaker is merely one of the twelve, in effect he is primus inter pares, and therefore in practice, the position holds more power than indicated. The position became more important through the history of the Foundation.

First Speakers

Notable first speakers include:
*Hari Seldon (1st)
*Zay Wax, appears in The Originist (2nd)
*Yokim Sarns, appears in Trantor Falls (possibly 16th)
*Not named, but he and Bail Channis defeated the Mule (18th)
*Preem Palver (19th)
*Kol Benjoam (21st)
*Quindor Shandess (25th)
*Stor Gendibal (possibly 26th)