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{{Short description|Fictional character from the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov}}

In [[Isaac Asimov]]'s [[Foundation series]], the [[fictional character]] '''Bel Riose''' was the last strong General of the [[Galactic Empire (Asimov)|Galactic Empire]], Commander of the legendary Twentieth Fleet, who eventually came to be known as "the Last of the Imperials," and earned this title well. A man of great military genius, he was also brave, competent, good looking, neither too young nor too old, a taker of calculated risks, and good to his men - he was a popular general.

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}

{{Use American English|date=March 2024}}

{{Infobox character

| image = Bel Riose (Astounding Science Fiction - April 1945).png

| caption = Bel Riose as depicted in "Dead Hand" (''[[Astounding Science Fiction]]'', April 1945)

| series = [[Foundation (book series)|Foundation]]

| first = "[[Dead Hand (novella)|Dead Hand]]" (1945)

| creator = [[Isaac Asimov]]

| portrayer = {{ubl|

* [[Ben Daniels]]

* ''[[Foundation (TV series)|Foundation]]'' (2023)

}}

| voice = {{ubl|

* [[Dinsdale Landen]]

* ''[[The Foundation Trilogy (BBC Radio)|The Foundation Trilogy]]'' (1973)

}}

| species = Human

| gender = Male

| occupation = General

| affiliation = [[Galactic Empire (Asimov)|Galactic Empire]]

| spouse = {{ubl|

* '''TV series:'''

* [[Glawen Curr]]

}}

}}

'''Bel Riose''' is a fictional character in the [[Foundation (book series)|''Foundation'' series]] by [[Isaac Asimov]]. In the 1945 novella "[[Dead Hand (novella)|Dead Hand]]", he is the last great general of the declining [[Galactic Empire (Asimov)|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.

Unfortunately for him, he was born at a late point during the slow fall of the Empire. Riose yearned for the days when Generals proved their worth through the addition of new territory to the empire.

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== Literature ==

As a stalwart and patriotic defender of the original Galactic Empire, Riose was shocked by the legend of [[Hari Seldon]]'s plan to create a new Empire which would take over from his own; the Foundation was a real threat.

Bel Riose appears in the novella "[[Dead Hand (novella)|Dead Hand]]", published in the April 1945 issue of ''[[Astounding Science Fiction]]''. It was later retitled "[[The General (novella)|The General]]" and paired with the November/December 1945 novella "[[The Mule (novella)|The Mule]]", and published as ''[[Foundation and Empire]]'' in 1952.<ref name="gunn ppbk">{{cite book |last=Gunn |first=James |author-link=James E. Gunn |date=1982 |title=Isaac Asimov: The Foundations of Science Fiction |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=0-8108-5420-1 |edition=2005 Revised |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XQE2f6CWyvEC |access-date=March 26, 2024 |archive-date=March 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308200652/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Isaac_Asimov/XQE2f6CWyvEC?hl=en&gbpv=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{rp|26–29}}

=== Description ===

With several of the last great "[[ships of the line]]", pinnacles of Imperial technological and military prowess (of which few remained in those degenerate times), Riose set out into the barbarian Galactic Periphery to claim the Foundation in the name of Empire and Emperor.

Riose is loosely based on [[Belisarius]], a great general of the [[Roman Empire]] who served [[Justinian I]] during the 6th century AD.<ref name=Elkins>{{Cite web |last=Elkins |first=Charles |date=March 1976 |title=Isaac Asimov's ''Foundation'' Novels: Historical Materialism Distorted into Cyclical Psycho-History |url=http://www.depauw.edu/sfs/backissues/8/elkins8art.htm |website=[[Science Fiction Studies]] |issue=8 |volume=3 (part 1) |access-date=February 25, 2024 |archive-date=November 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231101024032/https://www.depauw.edu/sfs/backissues/8/elkins8art.htm |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Gevers>{{cite thesis |type=PhD |last=Gevers |first=Nicholas David |date=August 1997 |title=Mirrors of the Past: Versions of History in Science Fiction and Fantasy |publisher=[[University of Cape Town]] |url=https://open.uct.ac.za/handle/11427/10511 |access-date=7 October 2021 |archive-date=7 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007104202/https://open.uct.ac.za/handle/11427/10511 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{rp|56-57}} Josh Wimmer and Alasdair Wilkins of ''[[Gizmodo]]'' wrote:

{{quote|Bel Riose might be the best example I've seen of an anti-villain—his goal is the destruction of the Foundation and the defeat of the Seldon Plan, and he can be quite brutal in his means, but he's fundamentally honorable, honest, and really rather brilliant. You might even call him the tragic hero of the ''Foundation'' series, struggling in vain against the forces of history for no greater reason than to prove that he can. He certainly gets an appropriately tragic ending.<ref name="gizmodo 2">{{Cite web|url=https://gizmodo.com/in-which-events-take-a-generally-darker-turn-foundatio-5799689|title=In Which Events Take a Generally Darker Turn: ''Foundation and Empire'' by Isaac Asimov|first1=Josh|last1=Wimmer|first2=Alasdair|last2=Wilkins|date=May 10, 2011|website=[[Gizmodo]]|access-date=February 26, 2024|archive-date=February 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226010158/https://gizmodo.com/in-which-events-take-a-generally-darker-turn-foundatio-5799689|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

[[James E. Gunn]] saw Riose as "the only character who stares in the face of determinism". While his failure against the forces of historic necessity might seem depressing, the fact that he is not the viewpoint character changes the impact of the story: The reader sympathizes with the Foundation. Riose's failure is depicted as desirable, as it ensures the Foundation's survival.<ref name=Gunn>{{cite book |last=Gunn |first=James |author-link=James E. Gunn |date=1982 |title=Isaac Asimov: The Foundations of Science Fiction |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=0-19-503060-5}}</ref>{{rp|42}}

=== Plot ===

Seldon had predicted that the Foundation would survive all trials, and Bel Riose knew this, but he bet his living will against the "dead hand" of Seldon's [[Psychohistory (fictional)|psychohistory]].

In "Dead Hand", Imperial General Bel Riose governs the planet [[Siwenna]]. He investigates the Foundation and is soon determined to destroy it, both as a perceived threat to the Empire and to further his own ambitions. Foundation trader [[Lathan Devers]] lets himself be captured by Riose to disrupt his overtures against the Foundation from the inside. With Emperor [[Cleon II]]'s Privy Secretary [[Ammel Brodrig]] present to observe Riose, Devers attempts to implicate Riose in a nonexistent attempt to overthrow Cleon. His machinations are exposed, but [[Ducem Barr]], a Foundation sympathizer forced to aid Riose, helps him escape further interrogation by knocking Riose unconscious and fleeing the planet with Devers in tow. They travel to the Imperial capital planet, [[Trantor]], and plot to influence Cleon directly with Devers' invented conspiracy, implicating both Riose and Brodrig. Though they are caught by the Secret Police, they escape and later learn that Riose and Brodrig have been arrested for treason and executed. Asimov later explains the political dynamics of why Riose would never have been able to defeat the Foundation: a strong emperor's sense of self-preservation would never allow him to tolerate a subordinate who develops potentially threatening power.<ref name="gunn ppbk"/>{{rp|26}}<ref name="scifimind 2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.scifimind.com/foundation-and-empire/|title=Re-Reading ''Foundation and Empire'' by Isaac Asimov|first=John|last=Folk-Williams|date=October 24, 2023|website=SciFi Mind|access-date=February 27, 2024|archive-date=February 27, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227203903/https://www.scifimind.com/foundation-and-empire/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="sr changes">{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/foundation-show-book-differences-changes-explained/|title=''Foundation'': All Major Changes the Show Makes to Isaac Asimov's Books|first1=Shawn S.|last1=Lealos|first2=Thomas|last2=Bacon|date=September 26, 2021|website=[[Screen Rant]]|access-date=February 27, 2024|archive-date=September 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925114756/https://screenrant.com/foundation-show-book-differences-changes-explained/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In combat, Riose repeatedly defeated the Foundation through brilliant tactical and strategic planning. Eventually, Riose's fleet came within a day's travel of [[Terminus (planet)|Terminus]]. Before he could complete his conquest, however, he was recalled by [[Cleon II|Emperor Cleon II]], tried for treason, and executed.

== Adaptations ==

All had gone as Seldon predicted. A weak General could clearly never threaten the Foundation due to a lack of adaptability and innovation (the Galactic Empire had begun to stagnate in ''all'' things, including military strategy, and could have easily had its pre-planned and often repeated attacks easily thwarted). A strong General under a weak Emperor would overthrow the Emperor rather than make new conquests since control of the Galactic Empire is obviously more enticing than control over the so-called "barbarian hinterland". Riose, however, served under Cleon II, the last strong Emperor. When both General and Emperor are strong, the General can only keep his attention on outward conquest: that is why Riose was the only Imperial in many years to pose a threat to the Foundation. However, this situation also meant that the strong Emperor would never let the strong general become strong enough to dethrone him. Paranoia ran high in the Galactic Empire due to the staggering number of revolutions and political assassinations. Emperor Cleon II had Riose executed out of fear of his popularity and success.

=== Radio ===

In truth, General Riose never had any designs upon the throne and never did anything except to serve his Emperor faithfully.

Riose is voiced by [[Dinsdale Landen]] in episode four "The General" of the 1973 [[BBC Radio 4]] adaptation ''[[The Foundation Trilogy (BBC Radio)|The Foundation Trilogy]]''.<ref name="scifimike">{{Cite web|url=https://www.scifimike.com/sf-radio-foundation.html|title=''The Foundation Trilogy''|website=SciFiMike|access-date=February 26, 2024|archive-date=February 25, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225163819/https://www.scifimike.com/sf-radio-foundation.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="sffaudio">{{Cite web|url=https://www.sffaudio.com/bbc-radio-3-isaac-asimovs-the-foundation-trilogy/|title=BBC Radio 3: Isaac Asimov's ''The Foundation Trilogy''|website=SFF Audio|first=Jesse|last=Willis|date=April 21, 2011|access-date=February 25, 2024|archive-date=February 25, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225164106/https://www.sffaudio.com/bbc-radio-3-isaac-asimovs-the-foundation-trilogy/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Television ===

Asimov loosely based Riose on [[Flavius Belisarius]], the last great general of the [[Eastern Roman Empire|Roman Empire]] during the [[6th century]] AD. Like Riose, Belisarius served his Empire at the cusp of its fall, helped it to recapture much of its lost territory, and was called back (and, according to legend, if not truth, executed) on baseless suspicion that he was angling for the Imperial throne.

[[File:10.8.17BenDanielsByLuigiNovi1.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Ben Daniels]] portrays Bel Riose in the 2021 TV series.]]

Riose is portrayed by [[Ben Daniels]] in season two of the 2021 [[Apple TV+]] television series adaptation ''[[Foundation (TV series)|Foundation]]''.<ref name="dl first look">{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2022/02/foundation-season-2-apple-tv-plus-casts-10-first-look-1234923533/ |title=''Foundation'': Apple TV+ Sci-Fi Drama Adds 10 to Season 2 Cast, Unveils First Look |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |first=Alexandra |last=Del Rosario |date=February 1, 2022 |access-date=January 5, 2023 |archive-date=January 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105132713/https://deadline.com/2022/02/foundation-season-2-apple-tv-plus-casts-10-first-look-1234923533/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He is the last great general of the Superliminal Fleet, imprisoned by Emperor [[Cleon (Foundation)|Cleon]] for breaking orders to save troops, despite still achieving a victory.<ref name="sr changes"/><ref name="decider ep13">{{Cite web|url=https://decider.com/2023/07/28/foundation-season-2-episode-3-recap/|title=''Foundation'' Season 2 Episode 3 Recap: 'King and Commoner'|website=[[Decider (website)|Decider]]|first=Sean T.|last=Collins|date=July 28, 2023|access-date=March 5, 2024|archive-date=August 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801203834/https://decider.com/2023/07/28/foundation-season-2-episode-3-recap/|url-status=live}}</ref> Riose is described as "noble to a fault, but his fealty to the Galactic Empire is waning."<ref name="dl first look"/> The Empire has learned that the Foundation has not been destroyed as had been previously believed, and is in fact flourishing and amassing influence. Riose, known to be ruthless and unpredictable, seems the perfect military leader to set upon the Foundation, but he is also bitter toward the Empire.<ref name="wtw">{{Cite web|url=https://www.whattowatch.com/features/ben-daniels-on-playing-bel-riose-in-foundation-season-2-hes-based-on-a-real-life-roman-general|title=Ben Daniels on Playing Bel Riose in ''Foundation'' Season 2: 'He's Based on a Real-life Roman General'|first=Nicholas|last=Cannon|date=July 18, 2023|website=What to Watch|access-date=March 28, 2024|archive-date=October 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031162604/https://www.whattowatch.com/features/ben-daniels-on-playing-bel-riose-in-foundation-season-2-hes-based-on-a-real-life-roman-general|url-status=live}}</ref> Sean T. Collins of ''[[Decider (website)|Decider]]'' wrote, "I enjoyed Bel Riose's case for rejoining the government that destroyed him even though Empire clearly fears his strength: As the only human whom Cleon does ''not'' see as dispensable, it's his responsibility to protect the citizens of the Empire, since Empire himself cannot and will not."<ref name="decider ep13"/>

==== Storyline ====

[[Category:Foundation universe characters|Riose, Bel]]

In the 2023 episode "[[King and Commoner]]", Cleon's emissary [[Lady Demerzel]] visits Riose at the Lepsis penal colony, offering him his freedom to investigate the Foundation on behalf of the Empire. He is also reunited with his husband and former second-in-command, [[Glawen Curr]], both men having been previously told that the other was executed.<ref name="sr changes"/><ref name="decider ep13"/> In "[[Where the Stars are Scattered Thinly]]", Riose and Curr visit Imperial informant Ducem Barr on Siwenna and learn that the Foundation, and by extension their propagandists the Church of the Galactic Spirit, possess [[aura (Foundation)|aura]]s, protective force shield technology forbidden to everyone except the Emperors, and [[whisper-ship]]s, a Foundation-created type of [[jumpship]] which can perform [[faster-than-light]] travel without requiring an enhanced human [[Spacer (Foundation)|Spacer]] to navigate. As Riose and Curr flee an anti-Imperial mob, Riose mercy kills Barr at his request.<ref name="decider ep14">{{Cite web|url=https://decider.com/2023/08/04/foundation-season-2-episode-4-recap/|title=''Foundation'' Season 2 Episode 4 Recap: 'Where the Stars Are Scattered Thinly'|website=[[Decider (website)|Decider]]|first=Sean T.|last=Collins|date=August 4, 2023|access-date=March 1, 2024|archive-date=March 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240301230113/https://decider.com/2023/08/04/foundation-season-2-episode-4-recap/|url-status=live}}</ref> Riose and Curr debate their options for turning against Empire in "[[A Necessary Death]]", but Riose ultimately declares any such action to be too great a risk.<ref name="decider ep17">{{Cite web|url=https://decider.com/2023/08/25/foundation-season-2-episode-7-recap/|title=''Foundation'' Season 2 Episode 7 Recap: 'A Necessary Death'|website=[[Decider (website)|Decider]]|first=Sean T.|last=Collins|date=August 25, 2023|access-date=March 5, 2024|archive-date=September 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230910020742/https://decider.com/2023/08/25/foundation-season-2-episode-7-recap/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Category:Fictional generals|Riose, Bel]]

The Imperial fleet faces off against the Foundation in "[[Long Ago, Not Far Away]]", and Riose believes he can end the conflict without violence. But the Emperor clone [[Brother Day]], baited by [[Hari Seldon]], orders Riose to crash the ''Invictus'', an ancient Imperial warship commandeered by the Foundation, into [[Terminus (fictional planet)|Terminus]] to devastate the planet and destroy the Foundation. Riose reluctantly does so, even though he knows Curr is on the surface.<ref name="vulture ep19">{{Cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/article/foundation-recap-season-2-episode-9-long-ago-not-far-away.html|title=''Foundation'' Recap: Robot and Empire|first=Rafael|last=Motamayor|date=September 8, 2023|website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]|access-date=February 29, 2024|url-access=limited|archive-date=February 29, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229185321/https://www.vulture.com/article/foundation-recap-season-2-episode-9-long-ago-not-far-away.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="decider ep19">{{Cite web|url=https://decider.com/2023/09/12/foundation-season-2-episode-9-recap/|title=''Foundation'' Season 2 Episode 9 Recap: 'Long Ago, Not Far Away'|website=[[Decider (website)|Decider]]|first=Sean T.|last=Collins|date=September 8, 2023|access-date=March 5, 2024|archive-date=October 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014060852/https://decider.com/2023/09/12/foundation-season-2-episode-9-recap/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the season two finale "[[Creation Myths (Foundation)|Creation Myths]]", [[She-Bends-Light]], a Spacer on Riose's flagship ''Shining Destiny'', uses a jump sequence smuggled onboard by con man [[Hober Mallow]] to program the fleet's warships to jump into one another, which will inevitably consume the entire fleet and free the remaining Spacers from Empire. Riose battles Day in hand-to-hand combat, and uses Mallow's [[castling device]] to switch places with Day via [[teleportation]], venting the Emperor into space and killing him. Trapped on the doomed flagship, Riose and Mallow share a toast as the ''Shining Destiny'' explodes. Meanwhile, Curr and the population of Terminus have escaped the planet's destruction via Seldon's [[Vault (Foundation)|Vault]].<ref name="decider ep20">{{Cite web|url=https://decider.com/2023/09/15/foundation-season-2-finale-recap/|title=''Foundation'' Season 2 Finale Recap: 'Creation Myths'|website=[[Decider (website)|Decider]]|first=Sean T.|last=Collins|date=September 15, 2023|access-date=March 5, 2024|archive-date=September 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230929122900/https://decider.com/2023/09/15/foundation-season-2-finale-recap/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[es:Bel Riose]]

==== Reception ====

Collins wrote, "Ben Daniels, who goes from a hermit of the wastes to one of the handsomest men on TV with a shave and a haircut, has a great deal of screen presence as Bel".<ref name="decider ep13"/> Series executive producer [[David S. Goyer]] called Riose his favorite ''Foundation'' character.<ref name="collider deaths">{{Cite web|url=https://collider.com/foundation-season-2-deaths-david-s-goyer-comments/|title=''Foundation''{{'s}} David S. Goyer Reveals That Killing [SPOILER] Was Always the Plan|first=Erick|last=Massoto|date=September 23, 2023|website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]|access-date=March 28, 2024|archive-date=September 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930185523/https://collider.com/foundation-season-2-deaths-david-s-goyer-comments/|url-status=live}}</ref> He said that the deaths of Riose and Mallow were always planned for season two, adding that "I like that they meet their fates twinned together".<ref name="collider deaths"/> Gary Grimes of ''[[Attitude (magazine)|Attitude]]'' described the emotional reunion of Riose and Curr as "a cornerstone moment in the high-octane series."<ref name="attitude">{{Cite web|url=https://www.attitude.co.uk/culture/film-tv/foundation-star-dino-fetscher-we-need-to-raise-queer-actors-up-444370/|title=''Foundation'' star Dino Fetscher: 'We need to raise queer actors up'|first=Gary|last=Grimes|date=August 21, 2023|website=[[Attitude (magazine)|Attitude]]|access-date=March 20, 2024|archive-date=February 21, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221155159/https://www.attitude.co.uk/culture/film-tv/foundation-star-dino-fetscher-we-need-to-raise-queer-actors-up-444370/|url-status=live}}</ref> The series depicts their homosexuality as a non-issue. Curr's portrayer, [[Dino Fetscher]], said "It was so refreshing that our characters' sexualities were just incidental ... In this world, sexuality is very different. It's just the same as you have blue eyes and I have brown eyes. In lots of ways, it's really inspiring because it's not so far in the future."<ref name="attitude"/>

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* {{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/stream/Astounding_v35n02_1945-04_dtsg0318-LennyS_mod-color#page/n5/mode/2up |title=Dead Hand |first=Isaac |last=Asimov |author-link=Isaac Asimov |date=April 1945 |magazine=[[Astounding Science Fiction]] |page=6 |access-date=March 29, 2024|via=Archive.org}}

{{Foundation series}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Riose, Bel}}

[[Category:Fictional gay men]]<!-- TV series -->

[[Category:Fictional generals|Riose, Bel]]

[[Category:Foundation universe characters|Riose, Bel]]

[[Category:Literary characters introduced in 1945]]

[[Category:Male characters in literature]]

[[Category:Male characters in television]]

[[Category:Television characters introduced in 2023]]