Foundation cover art

Foundation

The Foundation Trilogy, Book 1

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Foundation

By: Isaac Asimov
Narrated by: William Hope
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About this listen

WINNER OF THE HUGO AWARD FOR BEST ALL-TIME SERIES

The Foundation series is Isaac Asimov’s iconic masterpiece. Unfolding against the backdrop of a crumbling Galactic Empire, the story of Hari Seldon’s two Foundations is a lasting testament to an extraordinary imagination, one that shaped science fiction as we know it today.

The Galactic Empire has prospered for twelve thousand years. Nobody suspects that the heart of the thriving Empire is rotten, until psychohistorian Hari Seldon uses his new science to foresee its terrible fate.

Exiled to the desolate planet Terminus, Seldon establishes a colony of the greatest minds in the Empire, a Foundation which holds the key to changing the fate of the galaxy.

However, the death throes of the Empire breed hostile new enemies, and the young Foundation’s fate will be threatened first.

©2019 Isaac Asimov (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers Limited
Hard Science Fiction Science Fiction Space Exploration Space Opera Space Fiction Interstellar Star Wars Robotics

Critic Reviews

"One of the most staggering achievements in modern SF." (The Times)

"Isaac Asimov was one of the great explainers of the age...It will never be known how many practising scientists today, in how many countries, owe their initial inspiration to a book, article, or short story by Isaac Asimov." (Carl Sagan)

"Asimov displayed one of the most dynamic imaginations in science fiction." (Daily Telegraph)

What listeners say about Foundation

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

starts slow, picks up exponentially.

the beginning is a little laboured, but quickly picks up pace and intrigue. really enjoyed it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Great book

I really enjoyed it, it's clear why this is considered to be such a sci-fi class.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

one of the most inspirational books ever written.

this book is the basis of almost all science fiction novels, audiobook done with a high quality of performance.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

So 1950s

It will be interesting to see what they do with the TV series. This series is firmly embedded in the years they were written- the 1950s. There is no diversity, only four women, two of which could be replaced by a description of a table lamp without affecting the plot. If you can get past the sexism, and the Buck Rogers level techno babble, then the ideas still hold value.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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still good

starting to age but still good tail to read/listen too. performance was good just at time did not sound right for me

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

Clearly the source of inspiration for many modern scifi authors, and for good reason.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good Political Thriller

Great story but some of the voices the narrator does are just comical and probably not what was intended by the author with such serious material.

I had to go back and re-listen to the start of the last part because the narrator made "Trader" sound like "Traitor ".

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Kazablanka

Wow! I read the Foundation trilogy as a kid many years ago, but this performance brought it to life for me. It is uncany how a work written so long ago can talk of the technology of the far distant future and still resonate. Asimov was a genius. Simply outstanding story, and outstanding performance.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Prequels were more enjoyable

I read the prequels before listening to Foundation and found them to be more enjoyable, mostly because there was action following Hari and Dors in their adventures. Foundation felt like, here’s what happened afterwards.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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An insight into a possible future!

Another masterpiece of Asimov. Looking forward to book two of the Foundation, the showdown between the Empire and the Foundation.

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