"Black Friar of the Flame" has a reputation as Asimov's worst story, based partly on what he described as an "awful" title. However, it serves as a precursor to Asimov's more successful venture into future history, the Foundation Series. The planets Trantor and Santanni make their first appearance in "Black Friar of the Flame". The general situation of an embattled Earth facing a vast empire is similar to that of "Pebble in the Sky", which like "Black Friar of the Flame" was based on the conflict between Judea and the Roman Empire. Another historical reference is the modelling of the climactic battle on the Battle of Salamis.