Kalle is a minor character mentioned several times in the Apple TV+ series Foundation. She is a mathematician whose work is vital to Gaal Dornick solving the Abraxas Conjecture, setting her on a course to meet Hari Seldon. A virtual representation of Kalle appears in the episode "In Seldon's Shadow", portrayed by Rowena King.
Biography
Mathematician
Kalle was a mathematician[1] specialising in chaos theory,[3] whose writing was considered to be poetic, with a rhythm to her words.[1] She used anapestic trimeter in her works.[2] Because of this, it was hard for scholars to take her work seriously.[1] Kalle dedicated her life to writing the Book of Folding,[3] which included her Kalle's Ninth Proof of Folding.[1] Centuries later, Hari Seldon incorporated Kalle's work on how to fold space into his efforts to build the Prime Radiant.[2] Gaal Dornick used the proof as a means to solve the Abraxas Conjecture. The original proof manuscript was kept in the Imperial Library, written in her native Thraxian.[1]
Prime Radiant
When Hari Seldon is trapped within the Prime Radiant, Yanna Seldon appears before him but he realises it is not actually Yanna. He notes differences in her speech patterns, that she is talking in an anapestic trimeter. Hari deduces that she is in fact Kalle, a poet mathematician who he knows uses that rare speech pattern. She reveals herself to him and asks him where he is. He deduces he was moved from one prison to another, to a place built using her formulations - the Prime Radiant.[2]
Hari then realises she is not Kalle either and he asks what she is - she is something new, containing parts of Kalle and part of Yanna. Hari correctly guesses she is an embodiment of the Prime Radiant with parts of Kalle and Yanna’s math calculations. Upon asking her what is her goal, she says she has an interest in humanity’s destiny. She says it is time for Hari to go and advises him on how to get out of this prison. She asks him to meet her at Oona's world when he escapes.[2]
Appearances
- Season One
- "The Emperor's Peace" (First mentioned)
- Season Two